Text 25820, 148 rader
Skriven 2009-07-10 15:54:11 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 25799 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: steak 810
=================
Hi Michael,

 RH> Ponderosa in Florence, KY last week.  As usual, I asked for my steak
 RH> to be done meduim, Steve asked for rare.  They were done to that order
 RH> on one end; the other end was definately shaded upward.  Not the
 RH> greatest steaks in the world but at the price we paid (senior
 RH> discoount) and location, it was about right. (G)  Definately not like
 RH> the Stuart Anderson's we had in HI tho; those were really good!

 ML> That's another danger with thin-cut steaks - any unevenness shows
 ML> extra in the cooking. Which is part of the reason for the custom of
 ML> ordering one big steak for two rather than two little ones (assuming

We should have done that--if Ponderosa has any big ones.  This seemed to
be a shadow of the ones that were big in the 70s and early 80s.


 ML> both diners like similar degrees of doneness). Hey, did you know

We like different degrees of donenes so we'll probably keep with our
custom of ordering separately.

 ML> that Stuart Anderson is bankrupt? Still operating though, as are
 ML> so many Chapter 11 companies.

Didn't know that as we've not seen any since leaving HI. With the
coupons we'd get from the newspaper, we'd get a good meal at a really
decent price.

 RH> In Las Vegas, the
 ML> food was bad, though, the steak dry and tasteless though rare, and
 ML> I almost said, I changed my mind, I'll take that butter after all.

 RH> Probably figured you were in the city for other than eating purposes.

 ML> That should be irrelevant, though you may be right.

 RH> It should be irrelevant but that doesn't mean it is.  Some people come
 RH> to the city for purposes other than losing money.  We go to visit our
 RH> grand kids. (G)

 ML> Vegas was one of the places I used to go on a lark when I needed to
 ML> top up my frequent flyer account. The odd thing is that if you get
 ML> near a bonus threshold, it almost pays just to take a trip of a
 ML> couple thousand miles to get the additional perks. I'm thinking of

We've not gotten that many miles with any carrier over the years.  The
best we were able to do is the time we flew to the Big Island.  didn't
know we'd be in HI another year and a fewmore flights on Hawaiian so we
cashed in our miles.  My flights were free but for a small service
charge; Steve had to pay one way and the service charge.  Had we known
then, we could have saved the miles for our trip to Maui after our trip
to the Mainland.  We still have some miles with them.

 ML> taking a cheap trip to Singapore this fall (in addition to my annual
 ML> trip there), because for $1400 I get $1600 in benefits - long story,
 ML> but it's deferred cost to the airline but $1400 in ready cash; plus
 ML> half of these benefits are good only if I buy additional tickets
 ML> next year ... . So if I endanger my cash flow for the well-being
 ML> of United's, I get some vig out of that.

Sounds interesting.  We can't just "pick up and go" quite as easily but
more than previously.  No pets to worry about and nothing major on the
agenda until school start next month.  We're debating a couple of during
the week trips to either the coast or the mountains.


 ML> Anyhow, Las Vegas was cheap - I didn't need a hotel, as I would
 ML> stay up all night; it was temperate at night but with lots of
 ML> A/Ced places to duck into during the day; plus the food was
 ML> generally pretty good and reasonable in price (which is what
 ML> sucked me in to Ruth's Chris - I thought, with this competition,
 ML> what could be bad? but I was optimistic). And back in those days

RC had reasonable prices in Las Vegas?  Too much competition I guess.  A
couple of years ago, Rachel told us of a similar place (non chain) that
had the same kind of pricing. She & David went there for their
anniversary.

 ML> I swear that the convention bureau or someone was subsidizing the
 ML> airfares, they were so low.

Could be; now the president is trying to tell us to avoid going there.
As if!


 ML> I have never had an improperly cooked steak at Texas Roadhouse,
 ML> which I was introuced to by Clean Dave some years ago.
 RH> We've never had a bad one there either. And, now that I remember to
 RH> ask for no egg on my tossed salad, I'm a happy camper with that and a
 RH> baked potato (no sour cream, extra butter on the side) as sides to a
 RH> good piece of meat.

 ML> I suppose I should remember to ask for my chili without the darn
 ML> grated cheese on top as well. My standard order was (as you know

They would do so if you remember to ask.  Just remember to specify it's
for both orders, not just the first or second.

 ML> but others may not, 2 sides come with the full meals) a sirloin,
 ML> either the NY strip or the shell, which costs $2 less and is about

We've not tried the shell (that I recall) but the sirloin is pretty
good.  I think it's our standard unless we have the extra $$$.


 ML> $3 less good, but when you're short you're short; chili as the

I know the feeling.

 ML> first side, to be served as an appetizer; and chili as the second
 ML> side, served with the meat.

I'd rather have the potato; I like the salt rub.


 RH> Sigh!  When we got back from our trip & picked up mail, there was a
 RH> note from the Brio manager with 2 $25. coupons enclosed.  Don't know
 RH> when we'll use them but they're good for a year.

 ML> Will you go there con brio, or do you think it's a Brio con?

Not sure which right now. We won't go for my birthday; Steve was asking
a local about a place in town called "The Backfin Crab."  It's owned by
a couple of brothers from MD; they supposedly make an outstanding crab
cake.  He (Steve) said that he was thinking "we know somebody who makes
one that's probably better" but didn't say anything or mention names.
But, we'll give them a try shortly.

 ML> Brio Tuscan Grill Steak Bruschetta
 ML> cat: tastealike, starter
 ML> yield: 4


Loks good, but then I like bread & tomatoes.  Got some basil & oregano
plants last night, as well as parsley seeds. (G)


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Gone crazy, be back later. leave a message at the Beep!

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)