In Search of.......

Anyone who knows me well, knows I do not like to cook. I really do not like to cook! Lunch and dinner, I can take care of but, breakfast.....that is another matter. I am in search of the perfect place for breakfast. Good food, good selection, reasonable price and a pleasant atmosphere. Is that too much to ask? I have no problem with "greasy spoon" type places and will "dress up" a little if I have to.

I know there are numerous places left to try, but here is the list as it stands today:

• Bartonville Diner - so far #1 in my book. Stuffed French Toast to die for
• The Lighthouse in Rome - small, but good buffet. They will be closed for awhile in January. Reasonable price, even though they had raised it $1.00 the last time I was there.
• LePeep - Good, but kind of middle of the road
• Home Town Buffet - lowered their price and took the good stuff off the buffet
• Butcher Block - small, but good buffet. Nice atmosphere. Service was questionable
• Zim's - the fact that it is closed says it all
• Childer's (old Ranchero Fiesta building) - based on Childer's on University, it was a real disappointment for the price
• The Mayflower - standard fare, nothing to go back for
• Denney's - standard fare, lousy coffee but it is pretty inexpensive
• Mushrush - buffet was pretty good, but they stopped having it
• Lee's (old Steak & Shake on N. Adams) - solid home cooking and reasonable
• Hungry Moose (Farmington Road) - small, busy, good food, reasonable and the coffee was fairly good (I am somewhat of a coffee snob)
• Eamon Patrick's - fantastic, but closed. Eagerly awaiting the Fahey's opening the Sunday Buffet at the Cornerstone Building facility.
• Maid Rite - traditional fare, reasonable price. I like the atmosphere and gift shop.

Making a trip to One World and Sterling Family Restaurant are on my list to revisit since I have not been to either for a long time. Other recommendations?

Pet Peeve

Just sitting here doing not much of anything and realized I have not visited this blog for some time. I don't usually write unless there is something that really gets to me, either in a good or not so good way. This gets to me - GENERALIZATIONS! Generalizations about a group of people, generalizations about a system, generalizations about an organization, even generalizations about a family - as if everyone involved is the same. "They are (fill in the blank); therefore, they must (fill in the blank).

I work in an environment about which many assumptions are made. I live in an area about which many assumptions are made. Is there a grain of truth behind the assumption? Of course there is! But when that grain of truth is applied to everything and everyone in a certain group, without knowing the facts about the individuals it is the smoldering pot of prejudice. Not necessarily racial or ethnic, but just plain old prejudging without knowledge. It is like saying that everyone with the last name of Smith or Jones behaves and thinks the same way. They all (fill in the blank). Especially if your name is Smith or Jones, you know it is not true.

I learned a long time ago, that it does no good whatsoever to try to refute a prejudgment. All I can do is to try as hard as I can not to prejudge, not to make those assumptions and not to generalize and to tell the truth as I know it when the opportunity presents itself.

Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter

I stopped by PAWS today to get a copy of their Wish List. PAWS is located at 2600 NE Perry. Their phone is 494-8911. In addition to having their funding restored, here is their Wish List:
Toilet seat covers/fleece mats for cats to lay on
"Kuranda Dog Beds" check the Kuranda web site
Towels - they give lots of baths
Science Diet Kitten food - canned & dry
Science Diet Cat food - dry
Science Diet Puppy & Dog food - dry
Dog biscuits - not rawhide
Kong toys
Tearless puppy & kitten shampoo
Guinea pig/rabbit/hamster/gerbil/bird food - they get those animals too!
Wild bird seed
Plastic cat toys - Busy Balls
Copy paper - colors & white
Liquid laundry detergent - cheap generic is fine
Dishwashing liquid - again, cheap generic is fine
Paper towels
Aluminum cans - there is a recycle bin at PAWS
Ink jet & laser cartridges & cell phones for recycling
Empty coffee cans with lids

Of course, they accept cash donations (and give receipts). They also look for volunteers. Call 682-9015. I still need to talk to the shelter director concerning possible fund raisers the community could do.

OK, Peoria

I would ask everyone who reads this (the few that do) to take a look at the Rover or Smokey in your life. Think about how much pleasure the four legged critters in your life give to you. The unconditional love that you get when you walk into your home after having been gone for a bit is irreplaceable.

It concerns me greatly that part of the budget short-fall in the city budget includes a $250,000 cut to PAWS. Whether it is through massive donations of pet food, donation of items to recycle (aluminum, printer cartridges, etc.) the pet owners and animal lovers of Peoria need to step to the plate.

Peoria raises money for all sorts of causes. I remember when the police needed bullet proof vests and the city said the money was not there, citizens raised the money. We can do it again. I am not an organizer. It is pretty chilly for a fund-raising walk, but maybe the park district would have a time when an indoor walk could be done at the RiverPlex....there has to be something that can be done to keep the services of the animal shelter at the level they are now.

Let's all put on our thinking caps. The idea of more strays, fewer spay/neuters, abused or neglected animals, fewer adoptions and fewer services is not what a caring society tolerates.

Again, I ask that you take a look at the "Rover" or "Smokey" in your life. Six of my ten are in the living room with me right now. They are all PAWS adoptions. Only one of the ten is not. That one was a street rescue that didn't have a lay-over at PAWS.

Chi-Town

Chicago, here I come! I haven't been to the Windy City for several years, but this Sunday I am headed there. Not just for pleasure as I will spend the daytime in seminars on Monday through noon on Wednesday. It will still seem like a mini-vacation though. Can't wait to visit Bobak's again. Might even be able to convince my traveling companions to stop at IKEA in Bolingbrook. Hey, wait, I am driving!

Get Those Taste Buds Ready!

Heard by way of the "Grapevine" that good food is on it's way again. The grapevine says that Mary Ann Fahey (of local fame, most recently Eamon Patrick's) will be opening Cornerstone Catering and The Underground in the beautiful Cornerstone Building. All the delicious soups, salads and sandwiches will be served at The Underground and the MARVELOUS Sunday Brunch will be served on the first Sunday of the month. Grand opening is scheduled for early Fall. I sure hope that Peoria supports this local business and the wonderful old building it will be housed in.

I read so much concerning the disdain of "one more chain restaurant". I hope that words turn into action and that this courageous venture is a great success.

I Won't Be Back

First of all, I have to make a couple of admissions. I am not a particularly good cook, nor am I a food critic. But, I do have a fondness for Sunday Buffet Brunches and Sunday morning breakfast in general. Since learning that Childer's had opened a new (well, since around Mother's Day) Sunday Brunch at the old Ranchero Fiesta next to Landmark, I planned to check it out. Today was the day and I won't be going back.

The atmosphere was fine, the staff pleasant but, the food was lacking and quite overpriced. Brunch was $15.39 including tax; no Senior Discount available. The usual items were available along with items more associated with lunch. Even with salt and pepper, the sausage gravy lacked flavor. The bacon ranked an O.K. rating. Sausage links were a failure. I didn't try the scrambled eggs as they looked "slimy". I don't know if it was too much butter or if they were undercooked, but they sure weren't pretty. I tried the waffle. It was fair, although it could have stood another 10 seconds in the waffle maker. They also have an omelet station that I did not try. One saving grace was a hash brown mixture that seemed to include egg, cream and sausage. It was good.

Small salad bar, pasta salad, some veggies, stuffed tomato (looked like tuna salad stuffing) and pastries rounded out the menu.

The cashier did not question my response when after she asked, "How was everything?", I simply said, "O.K.". I am glad that she didn't.

I am not sure what I expected, but with the Childer's name on it, the quality and price of this brunch, certainly was not it.

I still have to try Sunday Brunch at the Par-A-Dice. Any other suggestions?

Or do I just stick with the Bartonville Diner and The Lighthouse in Rome?