Posted by amy on January 30th, 2009 — Posted in Mayor's Decree
America is a vast wasteland melting pot where one can find a mixture of food, fun and ideas that varies greatly even by a short distance. It is often easy to take the local flavor for granted assuming something is nearly a rule rather than an exception. Such was the case this week.
My new VP is in the process of relocating to Bentonville from Newark, New Jersey (can you say culture shock?). After a brief description of the “mystery meat” she encountered in an area restaurant I realized she was talking about chicken fried steak, a delicacy or abomination(depending on your culinary stamina) she had apparently never heard of before. Our team graciously clarified that it was not, in fact, chicken but rather cheap cube steak beaten to a pulp, battered, fried (like chicken) and topped with gravy. To serve without mashed potatoes and more gravy was criminal. She assured us she had received the requisite sides.
Her next culinary encounter was the serving of biscuits where ” people poured fluffy, white sauce on top.” Yes, biscuits and gravy (i.e., B&G) – another culinary delight of the heartland although not really too healthy for the heart. The latter she questioned which we replied: “Yes it’s full of cholesterol and fat but it’s Arkansas and no one cares.”
Salute to local delights and whatever trans-fats they may carry. Here are a few of my own regional indulgences. What are yours?
Chicago Style Pizza – Gino’s East
St. Louis Style Pizza – Balducchi’s
Guacamole and Chips – Garcia’s, Matamoros, Mexico
Fried Green Tomatoes – my dad’s
KC BBQ (preferred over any other style) – Jack Stack, Overland Park, KS
Memphis BBQ – Rendezvous, downtown Memphis
Clam Chowder – the Black Pearl, Newport, Rhode Island
Italian (in general) – Zia’s or Mama Campisi’s on The Hill
Parmesan Egg Salad Sandwiches – Pret a Manger (originally in London)
Cappuccino – Cimatori Bed & Breakfast in Florence
Springfield Style Cashew Chicken – looking for my new fave place
Mexican – Mexican Villa but it’s got to be the original on National
Spaghetti Bolognese – Il Gatto e la Volpe (The Cat & the Fox), Florence
Macaroni and Cheese – my mom’s
Shrimp Scampi – Anthony’s Fish Grotto, San Diego
Conch Fritters – Topsider, Bristol,RI
4 Comments »
Posted by amy on January 16th, 2009 — Posted in Mayor's Decree
My team has moved to a new floor of our office building. The cubes – or “poffices” as Wal-Mart likes to call them – are so small I am probably going to have to go on a diet to ensure I can fit myself, my trash can and a coffee mug into the space all at the same time.
The situation is intensified given that there are four of us in a bull pen-type setting. I envision spending most of my waking hours feeling like veal awaiting slaughter AND being compressed up into the personal space of three other people. Not only will I have a mental tally of my own work and personal tasks but apparently I can be intimately aware of whether my co-workers have used soap, what they are eating for lunch or if they are in need of a termite inspector or an annual exam.
We moved a week ago and still have to use the printer on the floor above us. There IS a printer on our floor but for reasons unexplainable to modern man it is not working and remains backed up like a fiber eschewing tortoise. It’s not that I mind the extra walking it’s just the inconvenience and the frustration of trekking upstairs to find your documents have vanished like cheap beer at a truck and tractor pull contest.
I guess I’ll survive just so long as they don’t take my stapler.
2 Comments »
Posted by amy on January 6th, 2009 — Posted in Mayor's Decree
We have mail.
Actually, that’s not new. We started tracking down some of our mail a couple of weeks ago when the Bentonville post office finally decided holding our mail was within its realm of responsibilities. I guess since we filled out not one, but two Hold Mail Order forms they realized we were either expecting a shipment of high-grade heroin, wanted to be sure we didn’t all behind on our reading of The Leaven and the Allied Painters Union No. 14 newsletter, or were just serious about getting our mail.
However,like any normal Americans we wanted more. Although we could conveniently pick up our past-due utility bills and Bed Bath & Beyond coupons we really wanted these fine paper treasures delivered right to our door – hot, fresh and with less than eight steps required. So, after another friendly chat with the landlord (including a refusal to establish the required automatic bank draft arrangements) we thought we were on our way. Sure enough, a truck showed up that week and began installing mailboxes for everyone!
Well, everyone but us. No kidding, every house on the street got a mailbox but us – even the unoccupied houses.
I called to chew a** explain that this was “unacceptable” and we got a box the very next day.
Who says the meek will inherit the earth?
No Comments »
