Memorable Meal Moments- including the snot out the mouth story, by request

Visited here many years ago while skiing with some friends. Absolutely the best Beef Stroganoff I have ever eaten. All of the meals were perfect and the atmosphere cozy and enchanting.

This is one of those dressed to the nines type places. We went with some friends who were celebrating their anniversary. Napkins placed on laps, many courses with the sherbet to cleanse our palate, the sommelier, a dessert cart to die for, coffee with a tray of mix-in options, a chocolate covered strawberry for all and a rose on the plates of the ladies complete the experience.

A good friend of ours had some friends over and made the most delicious pasta primavera I have ever tasted. Since this is one of my favorite pasta dishes, I've tasted quite a few. I will always remember this meal with fondness for the special efforts of our hostess, providing a wonderful repast combined with great company.

This is one of those revolving restaurants. Some friends visiting from AZ were flying out of St. Louis. He had to entertain an older couple who were business associates. But we were there in a hotel with 3 kids, everyone had to go. The other couple suggested this restaurant and a Sunday evening. We dressed the kids up (boys 10ish and Brie 6ish) and off we go. The kids were amazed by the revolving restaurant, disappointed they couldn't get grilled cheese sandwiches and fairly well behaved; we enjoyed a lavish meal with all of the accouterments. Our friend and host for the evening had been treating his son as though he was the boss and the waiter was going along; he delivered the check to the 10 year old son: who said in a very loud voice, "OH MY GOSH, $449 DOLLARS, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY." So much for our friend trying to act sophisticated and debonair. He shushed his son, plunked down his business credit card and we made a hasty departure.

We go every summer to this wonderful small restaurant at Osage Beach. It is fine dining at it's finest, casual style. The surroundings are pleasant, the service is impeccable and the food is over the top. However, you can go in your nice shorts and sandals joining those who have docked their boats at the private dock and come up for dinner. The best on the menu is the batter fried lobster tail, but the aged beef comes in a close second.

Our good friend came up with this concoction, don't even know what made him think of it. Take some green tomato, brown it in a skillet, remove, throw in a bunch of onion (vidalia is the best) and garlic, brown until you have some scorchin's, remove. put the green maters back in, the onion garlic mixture on top, some sliced red tomato and top with white and yellow cheeses and some Italian seasoning. Let the whole thing meld into kind of a stew and dump over angel hair pasta. Serve with lots of cold beer and, maybe, a salad.

I love this stuff. It is always my requested birthday meal.

Prior to our marriage, the hubband took me and a friend out for a steak dinner. We went to Monti's La Casa Vieja in Tempe, AZ. First let me tell you a bit about Monti's; it is an original pioneer home and the oldest continuously occupied structure in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The original adobe hacienda was built as a home by Charles Trumbull Hayden in 1871 and was the birthplace of his son, Carl who would go on to become a sheriff, cavalry soldier and congressman, serving more than 57 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The Arizona Republic has ranked Carl Hayden first on a list of the most important people in Arizona history.

Now, the rest of the story. We were drinking margaritas out of a really cool Jose Cuervo pitcher. I asked the waiter if any one would care if we adopted the pitcher. He said, please don't, and mentioned that there was a rear exit to the parking lot. The girls consumed the margaritas, emptied the contents of one purse and stuck the pitcher into it, the soon to be hubband, put a red napkin on his head, to hide. We paid the bill, exited to the rear and laughed so hard we almost peed our pants on the way home. Ok, well maybe you had to be there.

The Spaghetti Factory, Central Ave. Phoenix, where I fell in love with my Hubband. It's in an old house, has a cable car inside, we ate in the car, he told hilarious stories about his friends from SMS. He was nothing like the guys I dated, neither suave or debonair; just for real, honest, smart and funny. And I just fell...

Oh yeah, I had the Mizithra Cheese spaghetti; still one of my favorites.

1996 took the family to Orlando. Did Universal Studios. Lunchtime - found a fairly nice restaurant serving Italian food. Sat, ordered, eating, having a great time, laughing, talking, laughing some more; all of a sudden the son has this gigantic rope of mucus propel out of his mouth, with a big ball of something at the end, we were just mesmerized, he took a breath and back in it went. Kind of like a frogs tongue. OMG we cracked up. The older couple at the next table were stunned, then they cracked up. One of our best Orlando memories.

Bill Johnson's Big Apple for breakfast in Phoenix.
http://www.billjohnsons.com/

Garcia's, the original one on Central Ave in Phoenix.
http://www.garciasmexican.com/history.htm

Flame in Springfield. http://www.flamesteakhouse.com/