lunch

Lunches with Dad – Hospital Style

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So lunch this week took an unexpected turn.  Technically it was my week to choose but Dad’s body had different ideas.  Thus we ended up eating at the hospital this week.

I got to peruse the cafeteria for my lunch.  I chose chicken strips, mashed potatoes with gravy and corn.  It wasn’t bad for hospital food, actually.

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Hospital chicken strips, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.

Dad had considerbly less choice in the matter of what he ate.  He had just gotten back up on the floor from recovery and he got a clear liquids tray.

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Mmmmm…clear liquids lunch!

I don’t know that he remembers his lunch to give it a rating, but I give mine a solid 3.  However, I try to avoid eating here whenever possible…

Lunches with Dad – Ophelias

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Yesterday Dad and I headed to Independence, MO for lunch.  He had a gift certificate for restaurants on the square that needed to be used and that’s what we did!  He chose to try out Ophelia’s.

Its a lovely restaurant on the Independence Square.  It’s clean and cozy and not too dark.

To start we got an appetizer of Portobello Rangoon Rolls.  These were delightful.  They had great flavor and the sauce over them was yummy too.  We are lucky we caught a picture of them before they were all devoured.

Portobello Rangoon Rolls (with 2 missing...)

Portobello Rangoon Rolls (with 2 missing…)

Dad chose the special, which was a Turkey sandwich of some sort that had sliced turkey, some cranberry-ish sauce and other toppings.  He chose sweet potato fries as his side.

I got the Oak Grilled Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato chips.  I’ve had better sandwiches but it was good.  The best part was the house made pickles on my sandwich.  They were perfect.

My lunch

My lunch

Dads lunch

Dads lunch

I would go again, they have lots of interesting things on the menu.  So would dad.  He did mention that it was the cleanest mens restroom that he had ever been in.

Scores?

ME:  3.5, DAD: 5

Lunches with Dad – El Patron

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We are BACK!  Posting has been sporadic lately.  Things get hectic in summer in fall with Dad traveling to flying events often.  For the first time in a long time, there is nothing that should keep us from our regular Thursday lunches for awhile.

Today we were feeling like Mexican food was the order of the day.  I chose El Patron Cocina & Bar.  It’s “down on the Boulevard” with a whole host of other Mexican (and other) restaurants.

The chips and salsa were decent.  I liked the salsa quite a bit.  It was blended fine but had just enough tang and flavor that it didn’t taste like plain tomato sauce or tomato soup.  They brought a mild and hot to the table.  We both preferred the mild but would occasionally dip in the hot before the mild to mix it up.

El Patron chips and salsa

El Patron chips and salsa

We both ordered meals of their lunch menu.  I got a #7 (I believe) which had a beef burrito, a chicken taco (I chose the meats on both) and beans and rice.  The burrito was nice and I really enjoyed the taco.  Instead of the usual corn tortilla shell on the taco, it was a hard flour tortilla shell.  Very yummy.  The refried beans were nice and smooth and the rice was good too.

#7 Burrito Spread

#7 Burrito Spread

Dad ordered the 2 Flautas lunch special.  It came with 2 Flautas (duh) and rice and beans – but he decided double rice, no beans.  He had never had Flautas before and said he enjoyed them.

2 Flautas lunch

2 Flautas lunch

Best thing?  No cilantro!  I am firmly in the “hates cilantro” camp.  It tastes like soapy dirt to me!  YUCK!

Scores?  ME: 4, DAD: 3

We both agree that we would go back, me probably sooner than him, I would guess 🙂

Lunches with Dad – Cafe Al Dente and Pizza Glen

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So with the hectic last month or so, we haven’t been getting to lunch much lately.  Plus, I haven’t been keeping up with blog posts either.

A couple weeks ago we did make it to a new place in town.  We went to Cafe Al Dente which is down close to the City Market.  They were super busy, but it was worth the wait.  I got a lemon chicken sandwich and pasta salad.  Dad got the special of the day, which was a chicken parmesan sandwich, and chose cottage cheese as his side.  Both sandwiches were heartily sized and so were the side dishes.

I liked them on Facebook and even got a nice message from the owner (?) thanking me for liking the page.  That was a nice touch and one I will use more with our work Facebook page, I think.

Scores?  Me: 4, Dad: 4

Mine on the left, dads on the right.

Mine on the left, dads on the right.

Dad and I were in Clinton visiting a few days later and took my Grandma to a family favorite, Pizza Glen, for lunch.  It has been around forever and is just good, simple food.  They have sandwiches, pizza and salads.  I can’t vouch for the sandwiches because I always get the same thing;  A salad with poppy seed dressing and a mini pizza with pepperoni, pineapple and mushrooms.  It’s cheap and the service is always prompt and friendly.  No pictures because, well, I forgot.  I was hungry!

Scores?  Me: 5, Dad: 4

Now I am off to find a place for this week.  Dad is heading out of town so we are going to hit up a breakfast spot this week.

Lunches with Dad – a catch up

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It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and my lunch recaps/reviews have fallen by the wayside!

Let’s see.  Three weeks ago Dad and I set out for an RC Flying event in Green Bay, Wisconson.  We decided to do some pre-road trip fueling at The Big Biscuit in Liberty.  It’s not our first time there, but we wanted something reliable and fast to get us on the road.  It was yummy, as usual, and I think it was my best trip to BB ever.  Maybe I was just hungry?  It was good.

Once in WI, we checked into our hotel and tried a local spot we could walk to called Mackinaws.  It was a decent meal, albeit a little on the pricier side for what it was.  We both were full and the food was good, what more could you ask for?

On our way back to MO, our path took us by the Amana Colonies in Iowa.  We figured that we just couldn’t let an opportunity to go there just pass us by, so we stopped.  A family favorite dish of ours is Sauerbraten.  There is a restaurant, called The Ox Yoke Inn, to procure said dish.  We stopped and enjoyed a meal of Sauerbraten, potato dumplings, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and the BEST strawberry jam, made fresh in the restaurant.  YUM.  After we got our fill there we stopped at a winery and picked up some plum wine.  Now Dad has no excuse not to whip us up our own batch of Sauerbraten at home!

Two weeks ago, Mom joined us for lunch too!  Our entertainment area, the Power and Light District was hosting a restaurant week.  Several restuarnts were participating and Dad chose McFaddens.  We got to choose an appetizer, and entree for $10 and also got a $5 gift card for a later visit.  We all tried something different and had TONS of food.  It was pretty tasty and I will definitely try it again, especially since I have $15 in gift cards to use.

Last week was my choice again and I took Dad to First Watch.  I had been there the week before with my BFF and thought Dad needed to try it too.  When Carrie and I went, I had a much better meal then when Dad and I went, I am sad to say.  We tried the biscuits and gravy, which is how dad judges a lot of restaurants, and was not impressed.  It’s more of a turkey gravy instead of the traditional creamy sausage gravy. It is not what we were expecting!  It’s still good food at a good price and I will go there again.  Scores?  Dad: 3, Me:4

My fruit bowl from my first trip to First Watch

My fruit bowl from my first trip to First Watch

This week there will be no lunch for us.  Dad is out of town :(.  I think it will be back to regularly scheduled lunching next week.

Lunches with Dad – Ponaks

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After a couple weeks off, Dad and I got back in the lunch game today.  It was my week to choose.  I was in the mood for Mexican food.  Not any Mexican food, however.  I wanted a sure thing that wasn’t covered in cilantro.  Therefore, I invoked the repeat rule this week and we went to Ponaks.

I did learn something about the salsa at Ponaks last time I went, but didn’t get to test it until this time.  If its too warm, ask for the “extra mild” salsa and then you can mix it and make something in between!  I do really enjoy their salsa, but it does tend to get a little warm sometimes.  I guess that’s what happens when you make it in batches in house, and i’m OK with that.

I got my usual, which is a “Number 1”.  It is a LOT of food and you get 2 enchiladas (ground beef, please), a tostada, a taco and beans and rice.  Dad got the lunch special which was a chicken chimichanga covered in cheese sauce with rice and beans.  We both got our fill and had some to bring home.  Mine is going to be eaten shortly for dinner, as a matter of fact. 🙂

We are both sticking with our original scores for this one.  ME: 5, DAD: 4

Top: my "Number 1" Bottom: dads Chimichanga lunch special

Top: my “Number 1”
Bottom: dads Chimichanga lunch special

Lunches with Dad – The Brick

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Another week, another lunch!  This week we switched it up and went Tuesday instead of Thursday since that worked better for the both of us.  This was a dad pick week and he chose a place that I have been wanting to go but he has already been, The Brick.   I first heard about the restaurant on an episode of Diners, Drive In’s and Dives and have wanted to visit ever since.

The Brick is in the Crossroads Art District and is as colorful as the neighborhood name suggests.  They have artwork from local artists on the walls which rotates every month and a stage where they frequently have live music.  Maybe i’ll hit it up sometime to listen to some live music.

We started out with some fried ravioli as an appetizer.  It was a yummy cheese filled ravioli served with a very good marinara sauce.

I got one of the dishes I saw when Guy was here, the meatloaf sandwich.  I had them leave off the chiptole ketchup and it came with a side of fries.  The meatloaf was flavorful and the bread was perfectly toasted.  It was a pretty yummy meal for me.

Dad had the fish and chips, with tater tots.  The fish was flaky and the tater tots were perfectly cooked, according to dad.

Over all it was a good meal, we both would go back.

Scores?

ME: 3.5

DAD: 3.5

Dads Fish and Chips (Tots) from The Brick

Dads Fish and Chips (Tots) from The Brick

My Meatloaf Sandwich and Fries from The Brick

My Meatloaf Sandwich and Fries from The Brick

Lunches with Dad – Ming Dragon

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This week it was my turn to choose the restaurant.  I had a place chosen, but it wasn’t exciting me this morning.  So, I let Audrey have some say.  She was in the mood for Chinese food.  Not just any Chinese food, but a buffet.  We have an old favorite close to home but decided not to invoke the repeat exception and take a chance.

This led us to Ming Dragon, in Liberty.  I’m not going to lie.  Its unimpressive to look at, both outside and in.  We were greeted right off by a very nice server and seated.  Our drink orders were taken and we were invited to help ourselves to the buffet.  The buffet had the standard choices of most Chinese buffets.  The egg drop soup and crab rangoon were both good.  This buffet also had delicious chicken dumplings/potstickers which I hadn’t seen before (on a buffet).  The dessert buffet was pudding and jello and an assortment of cookies.  I was very amused with the fig newtons and generic cream sandwich cookies that were featured on the bar.  We all got our fill.  I will go back as it seems to have good bang for the buck.

Scores?

Dad: 3

Me: 3.5

Audrey 3.5

I think we would all agree that even though overall scores make it look like we didn’t enjoy it, if we compared it just to other Chinese buffets, it would score higher.