Place: The Cheesecake Factory
Lunch: Pepperoni pizza, strawberry lemonade
I woke up this morning with one thing in mind...
Chili.
I had a craving for chili.
When it comes to chili, it works out like this for me (in order): Steak n Shake, Huddle House, Waffle House, Big Boy, Jason's Deli.
And Jennifer's, but I can't go bugging her at any hour of the given day to make me some chili.
Problem: Steak n Shake is a two hour drive. Huddle House is a fourteen hour drive. Waffle House is a three hour drive. Big Boy is a six hour drive.
I debated driving to Steak n Shake. I really did. Ultimately, I should have. But I wanted to see a movie that started at 11:30, so I decided to stay in town.
Jason's Deli is the "last resort" desperation stop for chili because it's local. It's also not quite on par with any of the aforementioned, but it'll do. It's "Texas style" meaning no beans. Or very little beans.
Jason's Deli's posted hours state that they open at 10:00am seven days a week. I arrived at 10:25am and found the doors locked.
The entrance was locked. The take-out entrance was locked. The delivery driver entrance was locked.
The lights were on. People were inside. They saw me. They ignored me.
At 10:35am, I arrived at the multiplex. The food court in the mall it's attached to doesn't open until 11. The restaurants around the mall lake don't open until 11. Except for one. So that's where I had lunch.
The Cheesecake Factory's strawberry lemonade can solve almost any crisis just by existing. It really can. But it doesn't solve the fact that the Cheesecake Factory doesn't have chili. They have the most extensive menu you've ever seen, but it doesn't include chili. And even if it did, it would probably be some goofy crap with 1,800 ingredients. I want a chili that is meat, beans, and a meaty chili tasting gravy.
Then I went to my movie. As I passed Auditorium 12 on my way to Auditorium 18, I saw church literature on a table and heard preaching.
Auditorium 12 plays host to worship services on Sunday morning.
I know this is becoming a regular alternative use for auditoriums, but it's the first time I've ever actually witnessed it in action.
I just kind of peeked from the door. I didn't actually go in.
Fascinating. But they'd better wrap it up..."Pink Panther" plays in there in about an hour.
When I got home, I found a simple and quick chili recipe on the back of the Gebhardt Chili powder label. Chili powder. Garlic. Salt. Cumin. Tomato sauce. Beef. Onion. 20 minutes. Beans optional. I used red kidney. I also tossed in a little unsweetened cocoa.
It wasn't great, but it wasn't half bad.
