So...whats for dinner?

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited September 2015

    Carole, I wish you had said hello in person!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited September 2015

    Dinner was rotassarie chicken served with rice from PF Changs (sold in the freezer area now).

    Trying to get ready for Boston & the cruise. Way too much left to do. Last Thursday night I found out some 'fool' had stolen my Amex card number & started charging $1.00 tests. Got the card canceled, but couldn't get a new one until this afternoon so airport parking, cruise excursions, etc were all on hold. (and I'm not so quietly jumping up & down w/frustration). Of course had to notify the credit bureau too. Ugh.

    I'll PM Lacey & Susan & Bedo.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited September 2015

    <-- ready for you. We have reservations!!!! Fancy restaurant that food folks just love! So sorry to hear that your AMEX was used for fraud.

    Made two pizzas tonight with frozen dough I found in the magic freezer. Dough had lost its oomph, and yet, it was still good. It wasn't great dough to begin with, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a few months in the freezer didn't help it.

    *susan*

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  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited September 2015

    Minus, sorry about the Amex.

    We arrived home about 4 pm. Five minutes later I had broken out into Louisiana-style perspiration. In other words, I was dripping with sweat. The good news is that the a/c works and everything looks ok. We have ice out of the cooler and a big bottle of Grey Goose we've been hoarding since purchasing it at the Canadian border.

    Dinner will be sautéed pork medallions and a baked potato with butter.

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited September 2015

    Welcome home Carole!

    Tonight is chicken cacciatore and an Italian chopped salad. I was pleasantly surprised to find several ripe juicy tomatoes and a nice cucumber in the garden yesterday.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited September 2015

    Oh both of your dinners sound lovely.

    Carole - My Mother always told me - 'horses sweat, men perspire, ladies glow'. Hmmmm - and she wasn't from the South. Imagine poor Scarlett in that gown made of the green velvet curtains w/all those petticoats. We had a little break in the heat today - only 89 degrees.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited September 2015

    I had my annual physical tonight. This was an appointment that I waited a full 18 months to have! The few times i have had to see someone in my primaries office, I saw Nurse Barbara who I have liked a lot. The doctor??? Oh my goodness. Worth the full 18 months. What a wonderful woman! At the end of the appointment Dr. Jennifer said "You know, you are awfully healthy for someone with your medical record." :-)

    But I didn't get home until 7:30 which feels like midnight to me these days. But, there had to be dinner so I diced some tomatoes to drain, started the bacon, diced some feta, whipped up some eggs, threw the last of the Greek lemon potatoes into a pan, and made a tomato and feta omelette. The Mr_02143 toasted up some English muffins. Once again, I was unable to eat what was on my plate, but what I did eat was delicious. The tomato plants continue to give us some wonderful tomatoes. They were wonderful, and feta, what is not to love?

    Very excited to meet Minus this weekend! Can't believe that her trip is upon us, and regret that a tropical storm is moving up the East Coast just as she lands in Boston. Then the next day, I head to Tiverton RI to spend time with my best friend from high school. She is East to attend her son's wedding and is squeezing us in for one night. Two social occasions in one week! And I am the original hermit.

    Best to all.

    *susan*

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited September 2015

    Susan, enjoy your visits!

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  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited September 2015

    Minus, it was 90 degrees here, too.

    Yay, Susan, on being healthy! I always admire (and envy) people who maintain old friendships.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2015

    Ugh, 90 and raining here too, lol!

    susan - yay for the positive report from your primary care doc - and yay for being happy to have a good one! I wish I could jet up for the group dinner!

    carole - I have found old friendships more important to me now that my parents and only sibling are gone - those folks are the only ones who knew me when I was young. I find it comforting to be around them, and I have zero relatives in the U.S. as both parents were naturalized citizens. I have an aunt and cousins in the UK, but that is it - you are so fortunate to have your mom and sibs still! I find my DH does not have a lot of friendships, but has his parents and four sibs still, and sees them fairly often even though none live near us - he doesn't seem to need friends the same way I do - but I think there is also a gender difference. He also deals with people all day - he manages about 160, so I think he likes more solitary activities during his time off. He has maintained friendships with two high school friends, one who is local - but they only get together a couple of times a year and never discuss anything meaningful, lol!

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited September 2015

    Minus, pack your macintosh and driest boots. Oh my.... http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2015/09/30/h...

    *susan*

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  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited September 2015

    HaHa Minus my PE teacher used to say that. Ugg no AC old, old school 3 stoires meant to catch the breeze. I had PE just after lunch talk about stinky Texas heat. Sorry about your AMEX card. News blurb today about new cards going out with chips. Hmm wonder if we will get one.

    Not much cooking going on. Bean burritos, easy, no mess. Went out to eat with church ladies yesterday at Chili's. Would have brought home leftovers but we were on church van and went to movie afterward. So I had cheese and crackers for dinner after going to grocery on way home. I will have to make something tonight, probably stir fry. DH's oral surgery is tomorrow. We are stocked with puddings, eggs and popsicles. Also grocery was clearancing lots of soups some of which I could understand the clearance, others not so bad. I can make lots of spaghetti which hopefully he can gum. Planning on back to work on Monday even if he looks like a chipmunk.

    Yes Susan you are the social butterfly today. (Where is Lacey our original?) And you went all social on us what weekend b4 last? Congrats on the great PCP visit. I am the worst at keeping up friendships. I need to reach out to college suite mate in Dallas. I was in the area where we met up 5 years ago - gessh - on Saturday getting DD at Love Field. Reminded me of my social nothingness.

    DD did pick a good week to go to Boston. Weather could not have been better. I got a postcard from the "Friendly Toast" in Cambridge. I think they did not do much after the social report I posted. Went to the Boston Tea Party re-enactment. I think a couple of days lazing around. I don't see much action on moving to Boston. Fella needs to get more experience under his belt b4 any changes for him. He does not have a degree only "training" - my word because I cannot think of what she called it. Maybe vocational stuff. I know he only in the last year or so started working where he does. Anyway stalemate.

    Hoping the rain is not the amounts you are dreading. We could certainly use some, 90 or so here today but humidity tolerable. Wish the pollen was. Lots of cleaning up fields for fall. Dusty pall in air.

    Anyone heard from Bedo? Is she part of the meet up? Red is vacationing or was that last week? Who else hasn't checked in recently?

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  • Redheaded1
    Redheaded1 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited September 2015

    I am back. Had a wonderful time. The area has become obscenely commercial since my last visit. The shops sell designer boutique stuff and you are in the heart of rural America. Shameful! brought home fabric (I am a quilter wannabe) and patterns. Also some fresh produce--peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn. Dined on really good home cooking type meals. Melt in your mouth roast beef, Amish chicken roast dressing, noodles, fried chicken, fresh veggies, and dessert---I can actually say this time I had no pie---I had apple dumplings, fried apples, and some kind of Amish pudding, with all kinds of stuff in it, frozen fruit salad, homemade ice cream from a dairy I visited. and the best darn porkchop I have ever had at a FOOD STAND.... Gained 5 lbs, so I am working on getting that off me... Also, mush and tomato gravy (i could just as soon skip that) but I love the fried mush with syrup. Brought home several cheeses from the place that makes it. They won a award for their Colby cheese last year.

    Walked well over 10,0000 steps daily. Saw a few of the quilt gardens----this is something I hope to see sometime when they are in full bloom. (mid summer). Also came up on an accident where a car collided with a buggy. Scared me cause the buggy was on its side, no sign of the horse and the car looked like it had rolled several times and the front end was pushed to the windshield. Waited at the intersection of 5/20 for the ambulance. Found out a day later from an amish gentleman that everyone was ok, but the horse was killed. Said he thought they got it cleared away right away. It happened on State route 5 in front of a large Amish Bulk foods store. Signs all over the place about buggies but some folks just don't understand about spooking a horse by driving too close or too fast. They even have their own lane where the accident happened. I hope the jerk's insurance has to replace the horse, but the Amish won't go after compensation of any type....The guy I talked to said "it happens"....

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  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited September 2015

    Skirt steak and broccoli stir fry with soba noodles. Missing some ingredients like fresh ginger.

    My new goal is to use up stuff in the pantry.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2015

    We are having spaghetti with meat sauce and a green salad. I haven't started it yet and it's 730 so it won't simmer long. DH is at the gym, DD still at work and I am out feeding my friend's cats

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited October 2015

    Oh dear... he lost her at the Friendly Toast.

    Red, that is quite the menu! What is a fried apple like?

    Lunch today was steamed smoked roasted salmon with some pasta. Dinner was Pasta e Fagioli soup which I made with turkey stock. Tomorrow, I have my monthly oncologist meeting, and then we are headed to Sarma for dinner. Then Saturday will be a What is For Dinner group, and Sunday we eat with my high school friend [barring a hurricane.] Three restaurant meals in four days which is unheard of around here! Tuesday is colonoscopy day for Mr. 02143. Ugh.... and of course, I need to drive him to the procedure out in the 'burbs. And listen to him whine about the prep. Yea, total first world problem.

    *susan*

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  • eric95us
    eric95us Member Posts: 2,845
    edited October 2015

    Yes, Susan, enjoy the visits and I'm glad the doctor visit went well. :-) You, too, Minus..on the visit enjoyment.

    And, welcome back home Carol...I don't know how folks managed (here, or there) before the invention of air conditioning.


    I have been watching the storms as I've been on call this month. I'm supposedly off call in a few hours, but in any event, I hope the storm doesn't do much...while it's exciting to go somewhere and do what I do, the excitement is tempered by the reason for being there.

    I always find the friends discussions interesting....I used to be a social butterfly...until Mickey got sick and the supposed friends disappeared and my standards for friends became almost impossibly high....I guess my social butterfly turned back into a caterpillar. I don't have many friends, but the ones I do have are *VERY, VERY* close...

    Dinner tonight is leftovers..or more properly, pre-cooked dinners.. This weekend, I did a roast pork recipe from my mom's probably 150 year old family cookbook and the Jasmine Rice chicken dish. Sharon did a southwest chicken dish and chili mac & cheese...



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  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited October 2015

    Eric, that is such a good idea to cook extra meals on weekends so you and your family can have home-cooked food during the week when you and Sharon are very busy.

    Last night's beef, broccoli and soba noodles dish was very good. I made a big potful so there are leftovers. I really, really like soba noodles. Thank you, Nance, for recommending them a year or two ago.

    Eric's mention of his Jasmine rice chicken dish struck a memory chord. I may make that tonight. Only food left in the freezer are fish fillets and 8 oz ground chuck.

    Luv, the chest freezer isn't even plugged in. You would have a nervous breakdown!

    When time permits, I plan to inventory the pantry (since freezer can be inventoried with a quick glance!) and start cooking meals to use up what has already been purchased.

    Driving the length of MS on Tues., I listened to NPR talk radio. One segment featured an Intellectual Property attorney who answered people's call in questions on copyright and trademark. According to her, recipes cannot be copyrighted because a list of ingredients is in the public domaine. People have a right to cook any list of ingredients to feed themselves. The only parts of a recipe book that are copyrighted are the personal touches. Photos, anecdotes. It wasn't clear to me whether the recipe instructions are copyrighted. I'll have to look that up. But it seems that we wouldn't be plagiarizing to give the ingredients in any recipe.

    The attorney said that Grandma's special recipe for whatever cannot be copyrighted.

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited October 2015

    Carole, so glad you love soba noodles, I love them too. So much in fact, that any time they're mentioned I start craving them. Interesting about the copyrights.

    But tonight is chicken and sausage gumbo. I'll cook some shrimp separately to add to mine. I'll use the jarred roux that I bought. Can't wait to try it. My last loaf of French bread will be the only accompaniment, besides rice of course.

    The free range chickens that I bought from the Amish are out of this world. They are so flavorful and juicy--well worth the somewhat (in my opinion) exorbitant price of $2.30 per pound. I've ordered two more for October then I'll have to wait until spring to order again since he only butchers about 8 times a year. The Berkshire pork arrives in March so I have the winter to clear out the freezer. It will probably take that long.

    I was so happy to see that my Thai basil, which is in full bloom, was covered with honey bees, the first I've seen all year. I've made a garden note to plant some Thai basil in the main garden next year. It's time for pho!

    Susan, it's wonderful that you found a doctor you like so much. That's no mean feat. My new doc and I are still getting acquainted. I miss my old doc a lot. We had a great relationship.

    To everyone in the storm's path, stay safe! That includes you Eric, if that's where you find yourself.

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited October 2015

    My beautiful herb bed gone wild:

    image

    image

    To chilly this a.m. for bees

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  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited October 2015

    Oh my yes Carole I would not have a non plugged in freezer lol. But then I've not been away for months. Yuck would be a freezer of food and power outage.

    My stir fry turned out good too. Cleaned out bunches of dying vegies, turkey smoked sausage, spaghetti, lots of garlic, Parmesan. I have plenty for leftovers. May pick out softer pieces for DH or make the meatloaf - miracle it is 82 degrees. DH had his "root end surgery" - cleaned out the end of his root canal. Endo says junky stuff down there and something I think he called a canal that was extraneous. Filled it with bone graft. We stopped at Chik Fil A for milkshakes and ice. He sat in car while I went in to get his prescriptions here. Ate a chicken salad sandwich and is snoring now on the couch with bag of green peas (sound familiar?) on his jawbone.

    Wow Nancy your herbs look very happy and healthy. Thai basil - spicy? I think I might like to make pho.

    Susan, Bedo, Minus, Lacey, Eric (and your fellow disaster responders) anyone if they or loved ones are in this storm's path I'm praying for you. I get drifts they think it is going out to sea but one never knows until it's passed.

    Good Golly Red. Just turn me loose there. Maybe not mush and tomato gravy lol but everything else sounds delish.

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  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited October 2015

    Tomato gravy... One of the cheap dishes my mother cooked to feed our large family. She first made a roux. No, she first fried some bacon and then made a roux in the bacon grease. Added canned tomatoes from a jar if they were her canned tomatoes or from a can if they were bought. Simmered the gravy and cooked some white rice to spoon the gravy over. Two of my sisters still love this dish. My mother may have cooked onions in the roux, too. The gravy was cooked in a large iron skillet with high sides. I may just have to make it soon but with dry roux and bacon for the flavor.

    Nance, the brand of dry roux I usually buy is Savoie's. Love your herb garden. So pretty.

    I just went to a lot of trouble to find Eric's Chicken with Jasmine Rice dish. I had it listed in my documents but when I opened it, it was chicken with cream sauce. I don't have cilantro so I'll cook the chicken tomorrow. Tonight will be pork chops and baked sweet potatoes. Maybe a romaine salad with add ins.

    I will be looking forward to a detailed description of food consumed by the What's For Dinner group that will include Minus. Wish we could all be there.

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  • Redheaded1
    Redheaded1 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited October 2015

    Susan, fried apples are like apple slices that are put in a skillet with butter and cinnamon, sugar, and other spices and then "fried" until soft. , and the butter and sugar get sauce like... Maybe they are more like stewed apples. They are dark with cinnamon and would be really good with ham, or any roasted meat. Because they are so sweet, if I have them, that is my dessert.

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  • eric95us
    eric95us Member Posts: 2,845
    edited October 2015

    Susan...fried apples are awesome.... :;-)

    For me, it's butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and granny Smith apple slices. A Dutch oven is my favorite cooking vessel for fried apples.

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited October 2015

    Carole, Savoie is the brand I bought.

    Forgot to mention, last night I made SpecialK's childhood dish, roast beef with potatoes, onions and gravy. It was very good. DH loved it.

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  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited October 2015

    Back after my travels and managing the busyness of the return home.
    We had a wonderful trip to Chicago and to the ND/UMASS football game. Our trip out on Thursday was a very long one. I'd forgotten that "Mercury was in retrograde" and our plane needed a battery replaced that was not available in the Providence airport. So we got started five hours later than planned....certainly less of a problem for us than for the tons of passengers who had to be rebooked to make connections to the west coast.

    Then since we arrived in Chicago during rush hour my SIL (who was constantly texting me about when we would arrive) told us to take the train to our hotel area, which would have been fine except that I did the stupid human trick of trying to get my suitcase through the turn-style since the large handicapped gate was out of order....and it got caught, bent the metal walking handle, and required assistance from the local guards to extricate it and myself from the turnstyle! Oy!

    Only a few more minor glitches and we arrived at our hotel to get ready for dinner with DB and SIL at a place called Tavern on Rush....basically an upscale steak place. I had a filet that was nicely done and much to my SIL's chagrin ordered lots of veggies. The sides are family style and she is a potato girl, so veggies were not her cup of tea, and she wanted me to eat potatoes so she would not be stuck eating all of them. Yikes! I resisted her attempts to sling them onto my plate. Ha! We did all enjoy sharing a delicious peach pie and large slice of carrot cake.

    Friday morning DH and I took a nice long walk along the lake....so beautiful.....and stopped for coffee before heading to the train (again!:) to attend a Chicago Cubs game where we met up with DS2 and his DGF. It was fun to see another very old baseball park, and I was amazed to see so many people who got out of work early for a 1PM game! It was an important game, and the fans were excited, so the tone at the park was fun. DH ate a Polish hot dog that I could barely stand to look at, with all sorts of stuff on it that did not seem to "go" in my narrow little mind. He loved it. I had a Kind cranberry and nut bar. :)

    Afterwards, we had planned to meet UP with DS2's friends from UMASS at the Handcock Tower and I executed my stupid human trick #2...left my driver's license at the hotel, so could not be admitted to the observation deck/bar (at the tender age of seventy!;) So we returned to our hotel and had a few appetizers at the UMASS "peprally" being held for folks who made the trip out. Then we went to dinner with DS2 to a great little italian restaurant that we'd passed several times on foot....Tri Soldi. DS2 had gnocchi and DH and I had salads and shared a very tasty mushroom pizza.

    Saturday we took the train to South Bend with the rest of the UMASS folks on the excursion and after arriving at ND (with a large police parade escorting our buses to campus ...sort of funny! I can just imagine the tadoo when a "real" team comes to campus!) we spent lots of time trying to find DS2 and crew or DB and his crew tailgating. They ended up being within twenty yards of each other, but we missed DB who had gone off to connect with other classmates of his. Mercury retrograde was in full force that day!

    But we did get to enjoy time with DS2 and DGF and some of their friends. The tailgating at ND is pretty elaborate.The game was at least initially competitive before ND did UMASS in. But I think we all expected it to be much more of a slaughter. We ended up being on the train with the parents of a UMASS player who hail from Hawaii and they were delightful.

    On Sunday, DH and I took The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Tour which was educational and fun, especially with the beautiful weather pattern we enjoyed. Then off to the airport (we learned from our cab driver that Chicago has worked out a reasonable plan between the Uber and Taxi drivers...they can be both!), where we had salads and more pizza at an Italian restaurant whose name escapes me. But it was pretty good food for the airport.

    Monday we got back to the gym and afterwards, picked up our favorite pre-made Greek Chicken and orzo dinner from Trader's, to go with the salad I made. Tuesday, DH was out, so I ended up eating practically nothing...some peanuts and some hummus, even though I planned to have kale and egg. I was busy getting materials ready for my K social skills class today.
    Last night I decided to make a tagine chicken and eggplant dish, and as the recipe progressed and I cut into the eggplant, it was a brown no go. So I made the tagine with three fourths of the recipe...no complaints from DH. I would not repeat it.
    Tonight DH grilled the balsamic and rosemary marinated chicken thighs I had prepared. They were good. Sides were farro, and a spinach and arugula salad with apples, cranberries and pecans.

    I find myself thinking a lot about making soups since our temp has dipped to unpleasant numbers after we've enjoyed almost two months of great summer days and cool nights. So interesting how our culinary tastes can be dictated by weather!

    Carole, Nance, and Red, glad you are all home safe and sound! And yes, that copyright (or non copyright) info is interesting!

    Sorry for such a long post.....an internet connection in Chicago was high way robbery except for my Iphone and I cannot type on that thing!

    Am hoping the "thread meal" this weekend is as good as the menu sounds! You can bet Susan will do a great report like she did for our Babbo visit. :)






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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    May have to look up Tri Soldi--I'm going to be in Chicago next weekend for an opera. (not commenting on the South Bend cuisine scene....though you're absolutely right about tailgating being as important as the game itself for a LOT of people)

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  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited October 2015

    Oops, Queen, it's Tre Soldi on E. Ohio St, not Tri Soldi. I misspelled it.

    When we arrived w/o a reservation there was a wait, and we were tired so considered not waiting, but a man who offered me his seat in their entry way was awaiting a take out order and said that he and his wife loved their food, recommending it highly. We stayed and were happy with the food and the service, and the manager was attentive to how satisfied the customers were.
    If you are staying anywhere near it, I think it's worth a try. I was less crazy about DS2's gnocchi, but I am not a fan of gnocchi unless it plays just a support role with green veggies and/or meats on the plate. DS2 was very happy with it. Are you going to see The Marriage of Figaro? Enjoy!




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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2015

    auntie - yay for the leftover roast beef dish! I am so glad you liked it - I use a liberal amount of pepper when I make it. It makes the house smell really good too!

    lacey - the Cubs have our former Tampa Bay Rays manager, Joe Madden - and he has done so well with the team in his first year, very exciting for the Cubs! The team here has a new manager, Kevin Cash. I met Kevin's mom, who is lovely, at a little shop I like to stop in to near my hair salon on the other side of town, which is also conveniently close to Whole Foods - so yay!

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    OK Tre Soldi-my husband and I have a joke-tradition about trying a new restaurant every time we go to Chicago. Maybe this will be it.. And we will be staying nearby. The opera this time is Cenerentola, though we'll be seeing The Marriage of Figaro in a couple of weeks.

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