Archive for "Food and Drink"
Cheezepanzee
Posted on February 22, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
We had Cheezepanzee food truck again at work last week. Brian didn’t get to try it the last time but this time around he met Chris and I at work and we all enjoyed Cheezepanzee together. Food pics follow.
They had a promo where if you bought a Cheezepanzee shirt you would get a free cherry lemonade and I really almost bought one. #girlmath
I didn’t need the shirt though so I didn’t. Paid for my $4 drink and enjoyed the food. It’s pretty good but I’m ready for them to bring other food trucks to work.
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Livingston’s Diner
Posted on February 20, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
This is a late post from a couple of weeks ago. Decided to take Brian on a brunch date but our “go to” place HomeGrown had a 2.5 hour wait. I really should have put us on the waiting list when I first woke up that day but it was going to be a nice leisurely day so I didn’t really mind waiting, even if we had to wait an hour. I just didn’t expect 2.5 hours. Anyway, we decided to go to Livingston’s Diner instead and made the best of it. There was no wait there.
Livingston’s Diner was voted “best breakfast” in Wichita for 2023 so it baffles me that there’s rarely ever a wait here; whereas there is always a wait at HomeGrown. I told Brian will have to go to both places back to back and confirm.
I started with a mimosa because can you even call it brunch without one?
Here are some pictures of our breakfast. We asked for crispy bacon and they weren’t playing. These were extra, extra crispy. LOL.
I almost ordered some cinnamon rolls but I’m glad I didn’t because they gave us two free ones. The free cinnamon rolls they give you are smaller than I remembered but at least they’re free. Doo-dah doesn’t give you free monkey bread anymore. I think it’s a sign of the times.
Brian and I went to HomeGrown this morning after his dental procedure and, now that we have a recent comparison, I can objectively say that, although Livingston’s in good, HomeGrown is way better. Stay tuned for our HomeGrown breakfast post.
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Back to Regularly Scheduled Food Posts – Prost
Posted on February 16, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
Prost is our go to spot whenever we feel like having some German food. These are some pics of the food we had when Brian, Chris, and I went to lunch there last week. I always get some form of schnitzel – either the sandwich, the jagerschnitzel, or the schnitzel “wiener art” which is what I had this time.
If you’re a beer drinker, they also have some pairing suggestions. Anyway, if you’ve never had German food or are craving it, check out Prost.
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Itzcali Tapas & Tequila
Posted on February 15, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
My friend Chris Townley and I went to check out a new place for lunch a couple of weeks ago. Itzcali is a new Mexican-Italian fusion tapas place that’s actually been open a few months. As with any new restaurant, you never want to go when they first open. You want to give them a bit of time to work out the kinks. Fast forward to the other day when we finally ventured out there for lunch to check things out.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about this place. Either people really love it or absolutely hate it. Part of the problem is the sub-par service but that’s probably when you go at dinner when they are super busy. We went during lunch when it was slow and had decent service. Our server was helpful and friendly.
The interior of the restaurant is nice. There’s plenty of seating. You can sit at a table, booth, or at the bar. The decor is unique and they designed the bar to have ample room for customers who want to sit up there. I also really like the large, custom chandelier, which is a nice interesting touch. When you see it, you know you’re at Itzcali and nowhere else.
The furniture and the art on the walls all tie with the theme.
I’ll have to take Brian there for dinner at some point because the lunch menu is limited. We look at their dinner menu and there are several options that are not available during lunch. Anyway, what is extensive is the tequila menu. They had page and pages of it. No tequila was consumed at lunch. That’s another thing I will have to go back for at some point.
Here are some pictures of our food. It was good but I think expensive for lunch. Although, I think you are paying for the setting as well. This is kind of nice sit-down place as opposed to Chipotle.
I’m making the comparison because I probably could have gotten a similar bowl at Chipotle for half the price. LOL.
I suppose, when you’re eating out, you’re paying for more than just the food. You’re also paying for the experience. And that’s what you’ll have at Itzcali. It’s a pretty good experience as long as you go when they’re note getting slammed. Have you been? What did you think?
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Brian’s Work Dinner at Firebirds
Posted on February 8, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
It’s been a while since we were last at Firebirds. Has it really been 10 years? There’s no way! Grandma’s 92nd birthday was the most recent blog I could find that mentions the restaurant and she’s turning 102 this year. It’s crazy how quickly time flies. Anyway, Brian and I met his work team there last weekend for dinner because their boss Rune Larneng wanted to take the team out for a celebration.
Since it has been quite literally a long time, I guess I owe you all some pics.
Right as you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by the fully stocked bar with a really cool pineapple light fixture. I don’t remember this from before so it must be something they added within the last few years.
I thought it was neat and worthy of a pic. I feel like it distinguishes the Firebirds bar from all the other bars in town. I like when restaurants have unique elements like this. Anyway, I kinda want a pineapple lamp for myself now. It will go fantastically well with my Sand Cloud pineapple blanket!
Brian and I were the first ones to arrive so we took a selfie while we were waiting. I don’t know how Brian managed to talk the group into going to Firebirds because everyone on their team lives on the West side of town but I am grateful they picked an East-side restaurant because Firebirds is just a few minutes from our house.
While we were waiting, we also took a moment to peruse the extensive drink menu.
I didn’t get pics of everyone’s drinks but these were some of the cocktails we tried.
The ladies (April and Debbie) had martinis. They had a good selection of them. Mike had some old fashioneds (not pictured). I think Cory had rum and cokes. Brian just had the red wine we had with dinner.
I pretty much stuck to my “go to” drink – sangria. The white sangria at Firebirds is made with moscato and it fruity and refreshing.
Rune picked a Cab off the menu called Two Hands Sexy Beast that none of us had ever heard of or tried before and he ordered two bottles. I’m pretty sure he went through the list and just picked the one with the most fun name. Anyway, it was a risky move considering we didn’t know what we were getting but I guess, as red wines go, Cabernet Sauvignon wines are a pretty safe bet.
Everyone enjoyed it. Brian liked it so much he said he would look for it at Groves next time we go. I looked online and I think you can get it for $30-40 a bottle, depending on the vintage. The restaurant charged almost $90 for each.
Dinner was fantastic. April and I started with the spinach side salad that our server recommended. It’s not on the menu so you just have to ask for it. It was really good.
April didn’t want hers doused in dressing so she asked for her dressing on the side. That’s the picture above. Below is what the salad looks like tossed in dressing (mine). Not being much of a vegetable eater, I always cover my salads in dressing. I joked to April that I only ask for dressing on the side when I want extra. LOL.
This was easily the best side salad I’d had in a long time. Below are pictures of our entrees. Everything was fabulous. I did not hear a single complaint about the food the entire evening.
At the end of the meal, we ordered three kinds of desserts.
Cory and April shared a five layer lemon cake and Rune had a slice of it for himself.
Mike and Debbie shared a carrot cake.
Brian and I shared the big daddy chocolate cake. Our server told us they only had one slice left when she last checked and so our alternative was going to be the brownie. I am sure the brownie would have been good too (everything we had was great that night), but I am so glad we got the last slice of the chocolate cake because it was amazing. I am seriously still dreaming of it.
I don’t know why we ever quit going to Firebirds. The place is fabulous. Brian and I decided it was time to put this restaurant back on the regular weekend dinner rotation. Thank you for the fabulous dinner, Rune!
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