By Mike Thayer

The Buffalo Chicken

Regular readers know that I'm not a huge fan of Papa John's pizza.  To me, it's average pizza.  But they've been teasing us all with their Papadias, the flatbread sandwiches which look delightful.  You've no doubt seen the commercials and with dinner to think about on a Monday night I decided to give these Papadia things a try.

Here's the description from the Papa John's website:  A Papa John's Papadia isn't just any flatbread sandwich. It's a hot, beautifully balanced meal that's everything you do love about a hot, flatbread-style sandwich, but taken to the next level with generous portions of all your favorite Papa John's ingredients and flavors. Think real cheese melted to perfection, juicy meats, and mountains of colorful veggies, all nestled snugly into fresh-baked flatbread made from Papa John's own signature dough. Each Papadia features its own flavor profile and comes served alongside the ideal Papa John's dipping sauce for a perfect series of bites from the first to the last.

That's a good read, but the visual on a TV commercial is damn near a mouthwatering experience and if smellivision existed, it truly would be.

Papa John's has a variety of these flatbread sandwiches on the menu to choose from:  Buffalo Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, Grilled BBQ Chicken and Bacon, Meatball & Pepperoni, Italian and a new offering, Double Cheeseburger.  There's also an option to create your own!

The Double Cheeseburger

Shoving my Papa John's has average pizza experiences aside, I ordered two of the flatbread offerings for this delivery dining occasion, going with the Buffalo Chicken and the Double Cheeseburger.

The Buffalo Chicken description:  Flatbread-style sandwich made from original fresh dough and loaded with grilled chicken, onions, our signature cheese plus our 3-cheese blend, buttermilk ranch sauce, and buffalo sauce. Served with ranch dipping sauce.

The Double Cheeseburger description:  Our meatiest Papadia ever. Flatbread-style sandwich with zesty burger sauce, 1/4 pound of seasoned beef, dill pickles, and signature cheese baked to a toasty perfection. Served with zesty burger dipping sauce.

Ordering on the Papa John's website is easy and I was able to take advantage of a promotional coupon.  These sandwiches normally cost $6 each, or $12 for two, I got them both for $9.  After delivery fee and tip, I shelled out just over $15 for my Monday night meal.  Delivery was on time as well, the Papa John's tracker they send you in the confirmation email is accurate.

I bit into the Buffalo Chicken Papadia first.  Nice!  Delivering classic Buffalo sauce flavor, the grilled chicken was tender, I got chicken and onions in each bite, the 3-cheese blend was melted to perfection and complimenting it all of course was the ranch dipping sauce.  But what puts this sandwich in the YUM category is the great foundation of that flatbread!  Papa John's has done a nice job with this, the bread is crispy on the edges, but warm and soft at the same time.  If there's a knock to be made on this particular sandwich, is that it wasn't toasted quite enough though, the flatbread on the Double Cheeseburger had a better toast to it.  Inconsistent preparation.....

The Double Cheeseburger Papadia was also quite good.  You get the good burger flavor you can really sink your teeth into, with that zesty sauce making it and you get the tartness from the pickles. Topped with that melted cheese and combined with that flatbread, it's quite tasty!  I ate a half of each Papadia for dinner, saving the remaining halves for a leftover lunch.  Of the two, I'm giving the flavors of the Buffalo Chicken the preferred nod, even though the flatbread on the Double Cheeseburger was toasted better. 

I'm giving both of these Papa John's Papadias 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars, they are repeat buys and very tasty cheap eats!  I'm looking forward to trying the other Papadia options!

$pend Wisely My Friends.....

For more food, drink and other reviews, go to www.bacheloronthecheap.com

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the corridor area.  Up-to-date weather conditions for the Iowa City area are observed at the Iowa City, Iowa City Municipal Airport, IA.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the corridor area, just type in your zip code below.

Advertisement

On Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at approximately 3:39 a.m., Iowa City Police were in the area of 3^rd Avenue and I Street, after officers received reports of a group of people arguing and yelling about a gun. While on this call, officers heard multiple shots being fired to the east, followed by 911 calls reporting the same. There were no reports of injuries, property damage, and no additional information is available at that time. 

On Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, at approximately 5:18 p.m., Iowa City Police responded to the 200 block of Myrtle Avenue in Iowa City, for a report of shots fired. Upon police arrival, a caller reported that just prior to hearing gunshots, they saw a white car with blackout, customized license plates, a white spoiler and silver rims, being driven by a dark-skinned male. After hearing multiple shots being fired, the caller saw the white car speed off. Officers located damage to a house that appeared to be caused by a BB gun, and are working to determine if the damaged sustained is related to this event. There were no reports of injuries during this incident, and no additional information is available at this time.

How you can help:

It is unknown if these events are connected, and both are being actively investigated by the Iowa City Police Department. We are asking the public for assistance with these investigations. Anyone with information is asked to contact the ICPD at 319-356-5275. In addition, anyone in these areas with security cameras are asked to review their recordings and contact the Iowa City Police Department with any potential footage or information about this incident.

Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about either incident that leads to an arrest. Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted via the P3 Tips app, online at iccrimestoppers.org, or by phone at 319-358-TIPS (8477). All tips and calls are held in strict confidence and anonymity is guaranteed. Individuals providing information are not required to reveal their identity to collect a reward.

• 3rd Avenue & I Street Case # 2020007592
• Myrtle Avenue Case #2020007627

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Accident reconstruction specialists have completed an investigation into the November 13 fatal accident involving a vehicle striking a pedestrian at Edgewood Road and 12^th Avenue SW.  The driver of the vehicle, Karol Lenore Jones, DOB/05-27-1967, age 53, was charged with Driving While License under Suspension.  The pedestrian, Patrick Joseph Morrissey, DOB/10-29-1959, age 61, was determined to have been at fault for the accident.  Morrissey was wearing dark clothing and attempted to run west to east across Edgewood Road.  Witnesses indicated the vehicle had a green light.

Previous Media Release (November 16, 2020, 5:00 p.m.):

On Friday, November 13 at 5:57 p.m. police officers, firefighters, and ambulance personnel were dispatched to Edgewood Road and 12th Avenue SW for a car that struck a pedestrian.  

A 53-year old female driver struck a 61-year old male pedestrian. The driver of the vehicle was injured and transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The pedestrian sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

The Police Department has been notified by the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office that the pedestrian was pronounced deceased on Saturday, November 14 at 3:55 a.m. The victim was identified as Patrick Joseph Morrissey, DOB/10-29-1959, age 61.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Karol Lenore Jones, DOB/05-27-1967, age 53.  

The accident remains under investigation.  

Disclaimer:  Any arrest information included above is based on the legal conclusion that, as with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

CORALVILLE -- The Library will be closed, and all services suspended, on Thursday, November 26, and Friday November 27. Services resume on Saturday, November 28, at 10:00 am.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Firefighters are hoping to keep a wreath displayed over the front doors of the Central Fire Station, 713 1^st Avenue SE, decorated in red bulbs through New Year’s Day.  The wreath display is a Community Risk Reduction program to remind citizens of the importance of fire prevention, particularly from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day when the number of residential fires increase significantly throughout the United States.

The wreath is displayed prominently at the Central Fire Station entrance along 1^st Avenue East where over 30,000 vehicles pass each day.  Firefighters will replace a red bulb with a white bulb for each residential fire that occurs during the holiday season.  The goal is to keep the wreath illuminated with all red bulbs. 

Firefighters hope that the wreath is a visual reminder that the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day can be a dangerous time for fires in the home.  Typically, there is a disproportionate number of cooking fires, candle fires, short circuits in holiday lights, and combustible holiday decoration fires during this time.  Further, because the temperatures continue to get colder, there are more chimney fires and fires caused by home-heating appliances like electric or kerosene space heaters. 

The “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign reminds citizens to be safe when it comes to holiday lights, candle use, chimney fires, space heaters, and power strips.  In addition, the Fire Department wants to make sure citizens are checking to make sure their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly.

According to Firefighter Jason Aarhus, who was one of the firefighters who championed the “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign, “Thousands of people pass Central Fire Station each day and many of them will glance over to look at the wreath and will notice if any of the red bulbs have changed to white.  That action, even if just a fraction of a second, may subconsciously prompt a reminder to citizens of our holiday fire safety message. It also is a reminder that fires are always possible during the holidays, and the Cedar Rapids Fire Department will be there when needed.”

Updates to the “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign will be posted on the Fire Department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cedarrapidsfiredepartment.

Iowa City Update is a weekly video featuring City of Iowa City projects, programs and events. Topics this week include tips to cut energy costs during winter, a grant to enhance ecological restoration at an Iowa City park, and much more. Click the image below to watch Iowa City Update.

Do-It-Yourself Weatherization Tips

Taking these simple, inexpensive steps can help save you money on energy costs and contribute to our community-wide Climate Action goals.

Restoration at Whispering Meadows Wetland Park

Learn how an Iowa DNR grant is going to be used for ecological restoration and enhancement of this recreational green space on the southeast side of town.

Small Business Saturday

This national celebration is designed to support small, local businesses. In honor of the day, Nov. 28, 2020, the City is providing free parking in all downtown parking ramps!

Thanksgiving Schedule

Discover which City departments and services will be impacted by the Thanksgiving holiday.

Iowa City Update - Your source for Iowa City news and information.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The bridge replacement project on 34th Street SE just south of Cottage Grove Avenue SE has been completed and 34th Street is now open to traffic. Brief lane restrictions will occur while crews finish installing temporary erosion control and painting pavement markings.

The 34th Street project started in May and included bridge replacement at Spoon Creek, drainage improvements, utility replacement, and pavement repairs. Permanent seeding will take place in the spring with brief lane restrictions.

List Your Business!

Reach the corridor audience with a LOCAL search directory.  Get listed in the Coralville Courier search directory.  It's easy, it's direct, it's cost effective, it's LOCAL and mobile friendly.  And once you're listed, you're always listed.  That's right, no renewals, no sales calls, it's just a one-time $30 set-up fee to get listed forever and take advantage of unlimited updates!  You can change/update/add to your message at any time.   Running a special?  We'll post it.  Holding an event?  We'll post it.  Just want to say you had a great weekend, "Thank you patrons" or "Congratulations Hawkeyes?"  We'll post it!   We promote you online, it's what we do.

Your profile includes:  Your business listed with your logo, a profile narrative and a link to your website.   Then sit back and let your listing go to work for you.  Get your listing today, your new customers are waiting.  

Simply enter your business name, click the 'Buy Now' button to submit payment and we'll get to work on your listing, it will be up and working for you in no time!

Enter your business name

Save