What did you cook or eat today (March 2026)

Late lunch today, and it was a delight, at a new place we wandered into out of desperation, after finding three other places either with no power for the pay system, or no power for this or that.

Anyway, place was very unassuming on the outside (ok…it looked like a dumpy faded greasy spoon diner on the outside), sign a little worn, but the front door opened onto a cozy dining room and bar, and the waitstaff assured us everything was working.

She went over the specials (1/2 order fish and chips, pork chop with two eggs and home fries, and country fried steak steak with two eggs and home fries, and each one included a generous side salad), and mentioned they make all their dressings in-house, and all their bread and desserts come from a local bakery/pastry shop, and their coffee from a local roasting house. Not bad for a place that looked like a truck stop diner in a low-budget movie.

We each had a special, and everything was top-notch. Furthermore, the woman waiting on …well, everyone, knew everything inside and out, didn’t write anything down, knew the beers she had tap and their characteristics, and I overheard her assuring another customer that there was no MSG in the dressings (honestly, the customer was being a bit much with it, sounding more like she was trying to catch her out somehow), and to top it all off, the price was very reasonable.

All that means when we go back in a couple of months, they’ll be out of business or under new owners. Never fails. :laugh:
 
I need to work on its looks, so no picture. Needed to use up the spinach and feta I didn't use in the grilled vegetable orzo and shrimp kebabs the other day, so decided to make a spanikopita and chicken pie for Pi Day, with an egg enriched béchamel. Had the rest of the leftover orzo and tzatziki with it.
 
I took another hiking trip into the mountains today and covered an 8 mile loop to explore the ruins of another long-forgotten, 170 year-old coal mining village. I discovered more of the old town and actually found the mine entrances and coal breaker foundations, which was very cool. 👍 Lunch consisted of a Mountain House meal and some Earl grey tea, while sitting on top of the old tailings pile.
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I took another hiking trip into the mountains today and covered an 8 mile loop to explore the ruins of another long-forgotten, 170 year-old coal mining village. I discovered more of the old town and actually found the mine entrances and coal breaker foundations, which was very cool. 👍 Lunch consisted of a Mountain House meal and some Earl grey tea, while sitting on top of the old tailings pile.
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We used to have the tailings piles (gold) assayed in Searchlight NV and then we'd file a placer claim with the BLM, rights to 20 acres for a year. Put a trailer on it, truck in water once a month, buy lots of beer, no power, and crush and shake dust to get around $800/week of crude gold to sell in Boulder City NV.

If you could document $100/year of improvements you could stay! We'd get a 'dozer and "make a driveway"... 😉
 
So lunch out was a fail big time. It was my OH's b'day and he wanted to eat out.

I asked what they had that was vegan, you know vegetarian minus dairy. She went into the back and asked the chef, i could have chicken burger and chips, Hamburger and chips, schnitzel and chips or...

Yeah.

So we had a plate of chips and asked for 2 slices of vegan chocolate cake. They served it with dairy cream despite being told i was anaphylactic to dairy. I made them change it, but i think they must have just moved it plates because I had so many breathing problems the hour afterwards.


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My oh had his with the dairy cream you can see in the background.
 
After many months, probably years without making or eating this dish, I’m finally having it today! Probably someone’s gonna flip out about it 🤯
Liver and onions, I really love it. Onions cooked in a mix of Evoo and butter until very soft, nearly caramelised, liver roughly cut into piece, lightly floured and place into the pot (I’ve used a clay pot) with onion, 5 mins and ready.

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She went into the back and asked the chef, i could have chicken burger and chips, Hamburger and chips, schnitzel and chips or...
These people shouldn’t be working in a restaurant!


I made them change it, but i think they must have just moved it plates
While not allergic to them, I don’t like mushrooms, and I’d ordered a steak once that came with mushrooms, so I’d asked the waitress to leave the mushrooms off.

Of course, it came out with the mushrooms on it. 🤦‍♂️

Normally, I would have just scraped them off to the side, but because the waitress had been a royal bi…difficult person with a lot of bad attitude from the moment we sat down, I sent it back, and told her, “…and don’t just scrape them off. I want a new steak.”

“What?! A new steak! Are you allergic or something?” she snapped.

I snapped right back with, “That’s none of your business!” and as an afterthought, I cut a big hunk out of my steak and said, “There. Now I’ll know!”

I’ve no doubt everyone in the kitchen spit on my steak before she brought it out. :laugh:
 
After many months, probably years without making or eating this dish, I’m finally having it today! Probably someone’s gonna flip out about it 🤯
Liver and onions, I really love it. Onions cooked in a mix of Evoo and butter until very soft, nearly caramelised, liver roughly cut into piece, lightly floured and place into the pot (I’ve used a clay pot) with onion, 5 mins and ready.

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I love liver and onions.
 
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