I get very excited when I find a great eating establishment. It’s just one of those things that blows my skirt up.

This diner in Middleton, RI was a great find. The art deco design of the building made Neighbors Susan, Beth and I exclaim, “How cute! We have to eat there!” as we drove by.

Service was fast and friendly and the food was wonderful. I had the Blueplate pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns, juice, and about twelve cups of coffee.

I’m still working it off as of this week…

As you eat you can read the commands as laid out for you by the owners.

“Thou Shalt Eat A Hearty Breakfast At Any Hour Of The Day.” – I agree.

“Thou Shalt Tip Thy Waitress Generously.” – Here here.

“Thou Shalt Not Hang Out And Order Nothing But Coffee.” – and we didn’t.

“Thou Shalt Not Eat At Fast Food Restaurants.” – I’ve been telling the kids this for years.

“Thou Shalt Sit At The Counter.” – had to disobey this one.

“Thou Shalt Eat Facing The Capital Of Providence.” – I would if I knew which way it was.

and my favorite.

“Thou Shalt Not Worship Golden Arches.” – Amen.

I wanted to purchase my coffee cup but I was told that they didn’t have any left. I think they said it was made of pewter. The handles weren’t hot so it must have some kind of insulation in the handle.

Anyway, everything was tickling me about this place.

Thank you for the service. I hope we weren’t this hard on you!

If you’ve been following my ramblings over the last year or more (and thank you if you are), then you will know that the husband and I are foodies at heart. We will take vacations just to eat at some of the restaurants owned by celebrity chefs.

Because that’s the way we are. Bobby Flay (no introduction necessary) has a restaurant in Las Vegas (what celebrity chef doesn’t), (there’s a lot of parentheses in this post already isn’t there?)

Where was I?

Bobby Flay has a restaurant in Las Vegas called the Mesa Grill in the very fabulous Ceasar’s Palace on the strip. It did not disappoint.

What a gorgeous place. The ceiling was a fiery mural (can murals go on ceilings?) Bobby Flay has a reputation for spicy food, another reason for us to try his restaurant.

The waiter however, was a hoot. He knew a ton of trivia about Maryland. Did you know that Edgar Allen Poe and John Lennon both died at the age of 40? And that the Baltimore Ravens were named after Poe’s famous poem? I didn’t, and I live in this state.

He asked he could take our photo. I obliged and he took my camera and ran off. The husband and I looked at each other inquisitively…hmmm…Then I saw him in one of the balconies. What a hoot! Hey! There we are!

He made his way off the balcony and disappeared for a while again.

When I downloaded the photos I saw that he snapped a few of the kitchen.

I loved it! The guy should be in show business.

Before we ate, the boy called from home and said to me, “Mom, you’re gonna laugh.” Another story for another day.

What did we order?

Wild Mushroom Quesadillas – it was heavenly
Rough Cut Tuna Nachos – we like raw fish, probably from our time in Japan
Sixteen Spiced Chicken Salad – it was very good but I wished I had something more substantial. All that walking made me hungry.
New Mexican Spiced Pork Tenderloin Sandwich – the husband loved this

Someone explain the cut off letters to me please? I thought half the lights weren’t working. In spite of my confusion, it was a fabulous time…and a fabulous lunch.

After almost two weeks of suffering from the flu, the husband wanted to get out of the house as he is now recovered. Friday night, we had a date to a restaurant owned by an acquaintance. The reviews and talk around town were good so I was very much looking forward to it.

And I was not disappointed.

The food was out of this world. It was low country South Carolina fare and the best collard greens I’ve ever had.

The atmosphere was calming and sophisticated. I felt like I was somewhere other than my little town. I loved the French Bistro chairs.

The proprietor came out to see us and told me that he and I have actually met. That I had taken his photo on many occasions. I was embarrassed to say that I didn’t remember…possibly because he was out of context on those occasions where we had met. And he had on a tie.

Even though the husband stood in extended conversation with some friends who were dining at another table, I rathered enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant. By myself.

He eventually came back to me. He was confined to the house for a long time so I wasn’t upset.

I enjoyed it so much that we went back with my visiting mother and our reluctant and tired kids the next night. However since they served the best crab dip and mac & cheese in town, the kids came around. This plum wine came with the girl’s crab dip, which I drank rather than risk having giving her the first sip of alcohol at 13. And the reading glasses were a great touch at each table.

I obviously needed them to take this shot since the boy is out of focus. And the glasses don’t do anything for him.

Bravo on a wonderful restaurant. I hope they continue to do well.

Visit Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday.

Hosted by Cecily and Izzy ‘N Emmy

After an “early dinner” we went to a “late breakfast.” We tried to get on the senior’s schedule but it was hard. We have two teenagers. There was only one place to go to breakfast in that area, Steve’s Diner. It’s the kind of place I like, great food and great prices. I wish we could have stayed for dinner too. The country fried steak sounds good.

It was a place run by a first generation American who’s obviously loves what he does. And the food is fantastic, did I say that already?

But part of the charm is that Mr. Steve runs his place like he runs his home. With a tight fist. This patron behind Frank was having a discussion with Mr. Steve about seating arrangements when Mr. Steve finally yelled, “Then sit on the floor!” Which caused the husband to both cringe and laugh at the same time.

This waitress rushed by yelling at Mr. Steve, “You’re killing me!”

I love it. After breakfast the husband takes out his wallet to pay and was told that they only accept cash. Which then forced Frank to break out his wallet too. It’s an authentic atmosphere for sure.

And the food? Lots of it, homemade and delicious.

The husband was praying over the food while I was snapping photos. Lord forgive me.

And my little girl? Well, she can eat. Just like her mamma and her grandma. She ordered two huge (I mean huge) pancakes, a breakfast sandwich on a bagel and some hashbrowns. She also ate some of my steak. Yes, I ordered a sirloin steak with two eggs. I have to step up my cardio workout this week.

When it was all over with,all that was left was this lone breakfast biscuit.

The next time I complain about my weight, I want you to slap me.

]]> http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/10/late-breakfast/feed/ 13 http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/10/early-dinner/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=early-dinner http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/10/early-dinner/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:53:47 +0000 Puna http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/?p=8175

Last weekend the family and I flew to Tampa, FL to spend some time with my in-laws. It was a quick trip, literally an over-nighter. We flew in Saturday night after the boy refereed his game and flew out a short 24 hours later.

We have been meaning to go for so long…but schedules, life, work, and school prevented us from doing it. Grandma Lybrook was not happy about it either. So instead of disappointing her again, we thought a quick trip was in order.

It was really rather fun…the benefits of the husband’s job made it possible. And I’m so grateful.

As a result of the late start, we didn’t get to Florida until late evening and we then made dinner plans. But I forgot that seniors like to eat early. I’m not sure why but they do. We on the other hand, are used to a much later dinner hour, we have to get in all of our commitments before we can sit down and eat. Why is life so crazy?

Anyway, we didn’t arrive to the restaurant until after 7 pm…and by now Grandma Lybrook and Frank were pretty hungry.

In keeping with my penchant to photographing food at restaurants, this was our menu.

Saganaki. A fried Greek cheese dish that is incredibly delicious and way too many calories to count. I ate the whole thing.

Oysters on the half shell. Not for everyone but definitely for me…I love them.

and this dish…shrimp Parmesan. Oh my aching heart and hungry tummy. I loved it so much, I’m going to copy it in my kitchen one day. I swear I will.

And this gourmet masterpiece? It’s what the boy would eat every day, except on Sundays which are  mac and cheese days.

I guess I was hungry too…

Last week, I took the sister out to lunch. The fact that she can’t feed herself really doesn’t matter. It’s a way to get her out of the house and get some air, it’s really not for the food.

However, one of my favorite things to do is eat, so I constantly look for a place that has great ethnic food, a place where the cook is indigenous to the country whose fare the restaurant boasts. This place is one of those. It’s a Vietnamese pho (roughly translated noodle soup) place. It’s a place that where the cook, the waiter, and the patrons are mostly Vietnamese.

So like I said, the sister can’t feed herself, so I get her a lot of things that doesn’t require the use of hands. I get her a lot of drinks with straws.

This is what I order, a bowl of steaming hot pho with noodles, rare flank steak and other unmentionables.  It’s delicious. I guess the sister could have used a straw to drink out of the bowl. I have long gotten over the fact that people stare at us with pity when I’m out with her, but drinking soup out of a bowl with a straw in public may be pushing the envelope.

Instead, I order her a simple rice and beef meal and I feed her with chopsticks.

I order this every time I go to this place. It’s a coconut, red bean, and jelly drink. I don’t have the ingredients at home to make it, so it’s my treat every time I go there. I’m going to find out and send all of you the recipe.

I am so hungry.