FOODIES

I discovered a new breakfast place!

Oldwest Cafe was our stop in Denton, Texas. We couldn’t find a place to park at first and there was a fifteen to twenty minute wait for a table. I’m glad we stuck around though, because the food was great.

I found out about Oldwest Cafe through my Urbanspoon app. It had really good reviews. Out of 243 customer reviews, it had a 99% approval rating. I figured 240 Urbanspoon users can’t possibly be wrong so it was a safe bet. The fact that it was just down the street from our hotel was an added bonus.

This is a picture of my yummy hot chocolate.

This is David’s breakfast. Our server gave me an option of bacon, sausage or ham. I asked for bacon automatically because that’s what I always get. When they brought David’s plate out and I saw the huge slice of ham, I immediately realized that I made the wrong choice. LOL.

Brian ordered the “bandit,” which is exactly what he gets at every breakfast joint. He usually has to piece the meal together from side items listed on the menu. At Oldwest Cafe, they have at of those things that Brian gets as a menu item.

I had two eggs, hashbrowns, two slices of bacon and a side of French toast. It was yummy but, I must admit, I had ham envy. LOL.

I put II because I’ve used this title before. LOL. Brian and I had brunch with Anthony at Succotash on Sunday. I have no idea what that word even means but, to me, it’s become synonymous with fantastic food.

The restaurant is located in downtown Kansas City. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. Brian and I actually started to wonder where Anthony was taking us on the drive up. The area is not the best. LOL. Although, after tasting their food, I’m really glad that Anthony suggested it.

Our friend Anthony…

Thanks for introducing us to a new and unique restaurant, Anthony!

The food at Succotash is almost as quirky as their decor.

Me and Brian at Succotash

They serve freshly squeezed juices that are so delicious you don’t even realize your drinking vegetable juice. Brian and Anthony had the “ninja sunrise” which consists of carrot, orange, grapefruit, ginger, and beet juices.

I had the “best lemonade” which is made with apples, pineapples, cucumber, a hint of ginger, and fresh lemons of course.

With so many interesting things to pick from on the menu, it was difficult to decide what to order.

While I was trying to make a decision, our server offered me a “sample” of their chocolate chip pancakes for only $2. It was a generous sample. I think I could have just ordered that for breakfast and been done. LOL.

I ate the entire pancake and didn’t stop there. It was “cheat” weekend and I was determined to take advantage, so I ordered pigs in a blanket. Naturally, because I’m a little piglet, I ate almost all of it too.

Anthony ordered Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, two eggs, and bacon. He’s vegetarian so I got to eat his bacon.

Brian had the burrito of love, which he said was very good and very filling. It doesn’t look like much from this picture, but Brian said it was yummy.

This is what a bite of it looks like.

I was tempted to order their signature 8-layer cake but, after my chocolate pancake and pigs in a blanket, I’d had enough. I could not eat another bite. I guess we’ll just have to go back for a slice of 8-layer cake next time.

The sancocho soup at Sabor. It is one of my favorite soups in the whole wide world.

I had it for the first time when we treated Jenni and Rene to birthday dinner at Sabor last month and have been hooked ever since.

Brian ordered some empanadas which were delicious also. You know what I just realized? I forgot to use the gift certificate for Sabor that Cory and April gave us. Now we have to go back! LOL.

Thanks for the gift certificate, Cory and April!! You guys are the best.

We didn’t eat out this weekend, but we might as well have. I totally over-ate. But I couldn’t help it. Between Donna’s delicious scalloped potatoes and Brian’s super tender and yummy pork roast, I had no chance. Donna also made French silk pie. It was sooo good, but sooo bad at the same time.

Today I ate the leftovers so the poor nutrition continued throughout the weekend. Now I have to punish myself for not exercising more self-control. Ugh. I did do Amie’s ab workout today after Zumba. I think that qualifies as penance. I’m going to be in pain tomorrow. I just know it.

P.S. Brian and I agreed that our favorite part of his mom’s scalloped potatoes is the crunchy top layer. It is sooo good!

The good news is there is now an Olive Garden in Derby. The bad news is that, even though it’s only their second day, the food and service already suck. LOL.

The calamari was not as good as the the calamari at the Central and Rock location. Then again, maybe Olive Garden’s calamari is just not as good as Carrabba’s calamari. I have to admit, it’s been a while since I’ve eaten at Olive Garden. Maybe Carrabba’s has spoiled me.

Brian and I weren’t supposed to eat out again in January to start. At least we were good and just split a chicken flat bread pizza. Although, it wasn’t even that good. The flat bread pizza we had at Granite City a few months ago was better.

As for the service, where do I begin? I had to ask her for paper napkins almost five times. She kept forgetting to bring them. The salad and bread sticks took forever to arrive at our table. When she brought us our salad, she placed the big bowl of salad on our table and then proceeded to talk to the other table, without giving us any salad pates. After she was done talking to the other table, she almost took off with the salad plates if we hadn’t protested. She didn’t bring me my minestrone. She said that she thought I didn’t want it because it was extra. Hello? If I didn’t want it, I wouldn’t have asked for it. Our server just seemed very distracted and was all over the place. She kept forgetting stuff.

The sad thing is that usually the food and service are fantastic when a restaurant first opens and it is only after several months that the quality starts to decline. If it’s this bad at the start, I can’t imagine how much worse it will be a few months from now. Ugh. I feel sorry for the people of Derby. One can only hope that the restaurant will get their act together eventually.