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Monday, November 30, 2009

Thanks for Coming! Come Back Soon!

Big Willie and I don’t go out to eat a whole lot. We’re a dull pair, not to mention that when we pay for a meal, we expect more love than the average staff is prepared to give. My water glass should never be empty, plates should be cleared, and would it kill you to say I looked nice tonight?

So we’re picky.

Oh, and we’re cheap. It hurts my head to pay more than $20 a plate, particularly when my Dad makes a better steak or Big Will makes a better baklava.

Big Willie and I are seen as “adventurous eaters” by his extended family. They are staunch, salt-of-the-earth types, people for whom black pepper is “spicy” and whole wheat bread is, mysteriously, “hippie food”.

In Willie’s family, all birthdays and family events are met with good old-fashioned family tradition: the silent dinner at Timberlodge Steakhouse.

Timberlodge Steakhouse, every single time.

All the Throckmorton birthdays come in a 90-day clump between January and March. What’s that? What are we doing Friday? We’re going to Timberlodge. How about Sunday afternoon? Yep, Timberlodge. What about the weekend after that? Yep, we’ll be at Timberlodge.

Initially, I couldn’t help but want to mess with their system.

“We should go to Nala Pak,” I’d say.

“Isn’t that South Indian?” Willie would say.

“Yes.”

“My brother won’t know what to do.”

“How about the new fish and chips place? It’s owned by two real Irish guys.”

“Genuine Irish guys, you say,” Willie would muse. “That might be a lot for the kids to take in.”

“How about we go to McDonald’s, fill the ball pit with fries and roll around in it until we’re shiny?”

No one can say that I didn’t fight the good fight. I dragged them to Thai restaurants on one birthday, out for fondue on another. They endured politely, ordering fries whenever possible, biding their time until the checks came. I can’t fight them, they of the Sunday-roast-sized calves and heads chock-full of sports statistics. They are solid folk with both feet on the ground, and truth be told, they are forced to endure me as much as I am forced to endure them.

Luckily, the Happy Hour at the Timberlodge is wrapped pleasantly around the dinner hour; and after a couple Bloodies for me, and a couple of large beers for them, the rough edges come off.

The Timberlodge Steakhouse looms in our immediate future, as Christmas, Throckmorton-style, approacheth.

We are resigned to it.

20 comments:

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

I'm afraid I'm a Timberlodge Steakhouse kind of girl. But then, I also like Thai, Italian, Mexican and Chinese food. Any place where somebody else cooks and does the dishes sounds pretty good!

Lee said...

i will do anything but Indian...can't do it, threw up at 7 months preggers with it and just can't do it.

Pearl said...

Oh, I love a good steak, don't get me wrong! Honestly, I think the only think I can't eat is a hardboiled egg. Ack. Something about those things...

Ms Sparrow said...

My condolences. Who can eat that much steak!?

Guillermo said...

Thanks, now I have to shit.

molly said...

I'd betcha those Throckmortons are big Vikings fans too! I've sat through those silent dinners ---painful.

Anonymous said...

I like your compassionate attitude. It speaks volumes about you. Hope you are feeling much better.

The Jules said...

Do they do steak?

Unknown said...

Morton's is one of my absolute favorites. Unfortunately, we don't have a Morton's in Kinston NC, so I have to wait until I go to Atlanta. But at least it's there...

justsomethoughts... said...

meh, if it comes with a steak and bloodies, i'll take the silence.
enjoy it even.
the song, not so good.

Douglas said...

We have two great steak places here; The Watering Hole (see the live 14' alligator!) and Yanni's. Both are better, and much cheaper, that Ruth's Chris. Both places grill their steaks with hickory chips. And they are very good. I eat chicken or pork at Yanni's and Fish (swordfish or Mahi Mahi) at the Watering Hole. I am not a red meat kind of guy though I will eat steak now and then.

I am no gourmet, I will eat at Village Inn and Captain D's. I draw the line at McDonald's and won't cross it.

Pretty Zesty said...

NOw that I've mastered quite a bit in the kitchen I have a hard time paying for food in restaurants when I think I could have done a much better job! haha

mapstew said...

We ate at a beautiful little Italian place on the quays in Galway at the weekend. Small, cosy, romantic. Wonderful attentive staff, delish food, and we weren't rushed. I highly recommend 'Trattoria Magnetti' if you ever happen to be in the area. www.magnettifoods.com :¬)

xxx

Stephanie said...

Black pepper is spicy. I love that!

Fragrant Liar said...

Yeah, that's a whole lotta Timberlodge. But I'm thinking a good steak and some bloodies would make the whole deal survivable, at least January through March. Maybe double up on the bloodies this year.

Joanna Jenkins said...

WHAT!?!?!?!? Big Will makes baklava!!!!

Pearl babe, you've been holding out on us. I say it's time for a baklava giveaway! What do you say?

;-)

Ed Kohler said...

If I was in your situation, I'd challenge myself to try everything on the Timberlodge menu. It sounds like you could accomplish that in one season.

Anonymous said...

There has to be a salad bar or a minimum of Huge salads, otherwise I eat too much bad stuff.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Yeah...that 'solid folk, both feet on the ground' thing? What else could they be and where else would their feet be after eating all that steak?

Have you tried smuggling some fish and chips in with you? How big is your purse? ;)

Diane said...

Is is bad to say I'd much rather be forced to endure you? Well, I guess it's not bad if I say it to you, right? So just don't tell the Throckmortons. K? Thanks.