Right next to the Trader Joe’s, in Glenview, is a tiny little Thai restaurant. We’ve peeked at it as we walked from the parking lot into TJ’s but neither of us has ever suggested we try it.

The last couple of times we’ve gone to TJ’s, I’ve noticed there were actual people inside. Eating. All of the other times I’ve glanced in, there was nobody there - possibly because we usually go to TJ’s early in the morning? Heh.

So yesterday, as we went into TJ’s, I said “Someday we’re going to try that place.” And on the way out of TJ’s, TW ran in and got a menu.

Tonight, we ordered takeout from Your Choice.

First, I don’t think I’d call this “cheap” as some of the reviewers on Yelp did. But maybe it is cheap for Chicagoland standards? I don’t know, we haven’t eaten any Thai since we’ve been here. It’s not cheap for Gainesville standards - just average priced.

Next, it was fast. When I ordered, she said “15 minutes” - sure enough, it was ready when we arrived twenty minutes after I ordered it.

All of the food was good. The pineapple fried rice, spicy veggie fried rice, the Phad Thai, the thai iced tea and most important - the Beef Salad.

I’ve been looking for a Thai Beef Salad since I left the Philippines. Actually, I’ve been looking for a Thai Beef Salad like the one I used to eat at The Thai House in Angeles City, Philippines. Until tonight, I’ve never found one that even comes close. This one was THAT salad, or would have been if it had been a wee bit spicier. That’s ok, next time I order, I’ll tell her hot - not medium hot.

When TW said she wanted to go to the Valley Lodge in Glenview for her birthday dinner, I was a little confused.

It’s just down the street from us and it looks like a bar/steakhouse combo. It’s often crowded, from the looks of the parking lot, and it just didn’t seem like her thing.

Apparently it was her thing primarily because it is celebrating it’s 40th birthday this year, too.

So, TW and the kids and I went to the Valley Lodge shortly before 7pm on the 29th. When we arrived we discovered it is not wheelchair accessible (good thing TW’s mom decided not to go with us) and that it was jam packed with people. And also loud. The children would also say that it was full of old people, which is relatively true.

The server said 20 minute wait, so we stood on the stairs and waited. And waited. And waited. And even when a table for five opened, still we waited because maybe that one was reserved? Or something. We waited for more than a half hour, closer to 40 minutes. By the time we were seated, we were starving and also a little grouchy.

The bread they brought to the table was fabulous, which went a long way toward making us not grouchy. (The dark bread in particular I highly recommend.)

We ordered two flaming cheeses and those also went a long way toward making us not grouchy.

The real food arrived just as we had finished the flaming cheeses and I believe we all agreed that the food was pretty darn good. Everything from Liz’s mac & cheese to my sloppy joe to RJ’s gyro sub. Excellent.

It was a pricey meal but we were stuffed and happy by the time we left. All in all, excellent birthday choice - except for that whole 40 minute wait thing.

Last month, TW read about Spiro’s Deli and mentioned that it was just down the road from us and supposed to be really good. She mentioned all of this right about dinner time, on a night when she did not feel like cooking. That’s what they call a hint. So, I took the hint and we headed out to run some errands and then tracked down Spiro’s Deli - in a little strip we pass every day, sometimes ten times a day, and have never really noticed. It’s right next to the Dunkin Donuts and that sign draws the eye, so we’d never noticed the tiny little run down looking Spiro’s right next door.

We stopped. It was a dumpy little place, that looks like it has been there for years. And, they do not take cards. We had no cash. So, darn, no Spiro’s for us. (We ended up at fRed Hots that night.)

One day last week, we were in pretty much the same fix. TW did not feel like cooking and I certainly didn’t. So, we made sure we had cash and then headed to Spiro’s.

A woman went in right before us who knows the gentleman who appears to be the owner. She chatted him up, when she noticed us behind her she moved aside and told us to order from the best deli in the world. Huh. That was an awful lot of enthusiasm from a little hole in the wall that didn’t really look like it was going to be anything special.

We perused the menu. We ordered… TW ordered something called an Athena. I ordered a Lady Di. We ordered an Italian for TW’s mom and we grabbed a couple of tubs of pasta salad. All to go.

While we waited, the woman ahead of us continued to chat up the owner as he cooked. A young young young couple came in and ordered Bombers. And we all waited together. It wasn’t quick. It was just this one guy (presumed to be the owner) and a young guy.

Most of the food was finished at the same time. The woman left first, then the young couple with their Bombers, and then our turn.

We drove home with food that looked less than spectacular. Not bad, just nothing to write home about.

We unwrapped our food, headed to our various eating spots (in front of our computers or in our beds) and proceeded to eat some of the best deli food we’ve ever had. I have no idea what made this exceptional food. Really no idea at all. But it was.

Cora Lee Candies is a block away from our house. We’ve been here almost a year and we’ve never gone inside.

A few weeks ago, Liz and I walked over to check it out but they’re closed on Sundays. Darn. This week, we remembered before they closed and before it was Sunday again.

Liz is really happy with their selection of novelty candy. She bought stuff like super sour gum and pop rocks. (I bought some lemon zotz for myself and some wax fangs for RJ.)

I was really thrilled to see hard candy by the pound. We’ve had so much trouble finding plain old sour balls (to take to JR at the nursing home) they have them at Cora Lee’s… along with sugar-free butterscotch candy for TW’s mom.

Liz bought a marzipan elephant gumball and I impulse purchased some Violets (both the candy and the gum) along with a tiny chocolate heart with a pink flower on top (again for JR.)

I can’t believe we spent $15 and didn’t buy any of their English Toffee or Grumpies (aka Turtles.) Next time, I’m buying those plus a chocolate mold of some sort.

One of the very best things about living in the house that we live in is Fredhots and Fries. It’s just at the end of our street. Literally across the street from our neighborhood. So close, we can run over there and grab lunch and be back at our desks in 10 minutes.

The vegetarian sausages are fan-freaking-tastic. Everyone else says the non vegetarian sausages are fan-freaking-tastic. The sandwiches/burgers that we’ve tried have been excellent. And the fries… with all of the different dipping sauces…. mmmm, the fries… (is it lunch time yet?!)

The first breakfast restaurant we went to after moving here was Eggcetera Cafe in The Glen. It was a little loud and the waitstaff whisks your plates away as soon as you finish and they question you indepth if you do not eat everything on your plate. I appreciate the former but not so much the latter.

We went back again yesterday and had the same experience.

Also, the food was good but not great.

The potato pancakes were probably the worst I’ve had.
The caramel pecan apple pancakes TW ordered were good but the apples were cold which wasn’t a good mix.
TW’s mom complained that the granola was too granola (which apparently has something to do with crunchiness, I dunno - I didn’t understand that.)

The coffee is excellent. The service really is good. The food should be just a wee bit better, particularly since there are so many breakfast restaurant choices in the area.

We have been to a lot of breakfast restaurants since we moved here but the one we go back to over and over and over again is Egg Harbour Cafe in The Glen.

There are only two problems with Egg Harbour Cafe - 1) it can be really crowded (and thus loud) 2) I love the eggceptional skillet combo so much that I don’t order anything else.

I think about ordering something else. Their seasonal items are always interesting. Their specials always sound great. But in the end… it has everything I love, why order something else?

The spinach mushroom skillet is the perfect size with just enough cheese and just enough potatoes. The one slice of banana bread french toast covered in sliced bananas is so perfect that I wouldn’t think of putting syrup on it. And the little fruit cup, I always eat the grapes and pineapple and pass the orange slice to someone else and sometimes eat the melon, sometimes not. Regardless, it’s the perfect breakfast item for me. LOVE it.

TW usually orders something different everytime we go. Prince J likes the cinnamon roll french toast. RJ has ordered several different things, including eggs benedict without eggs. Speaking of which, Liz loves Egg Harbour Cafe because it has a whole section of ‘benedicts’, I think she’s ordered a different one every time.

I like it when other people order the specials and the seasonal stuff, so I can have a bite. (Remember that, if we ever go together - you’ll give me a bite, right?)

When our move to the Chicago area was only a rumor, we did what smart women do - we turned to Google. We googled everything and one of the first restaurants we got really interested in was Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House.

We are big breakfast fans and the very idea that we would not be anywhere near a Waffle House scared us to the core of our very southern bodies.

Walker Bros. was one of the first restaurants we ate at when we arrived in the area for our house hunting visit. The Glenview branch is very, very close to the house we decided to rent and if truth be known, one of the reasons why I was in favor of renting this little yellow house.

On our first visit we were seated relatively quickly (for Walker Bros. which is ALWAYS packed) in a very nice corner booth and we took our time figuring out what to order. I went for the spinach crepes because I have yet to find spinach crepes that I love and I’m ever hopeful. These are not spinach crepes that I love. They were fine but not love-worthy. TW ordered some pancake variation and enjoyed her meal much more than I did mine.

We’ve been back to Walker Bros. several times, taking various combinations of all of the kids with us and we’ve always enjoyed our breakfasts. We’ve had everything from the pumpkin pancakes to the challah french toast to the chocolate chip crepes to the apple pancake.

Just writing this post makes me wonder if it isn’t time for another trip to Walker Bros. Original Pancake House. Saturday morning, possibly?