Goodbye A&J's Polish Deli

This afternoon Lisa and I met up with YaYa and Alex at A &J Deli on Lincoln, just east of 13th St. Earlier in the week we'd heard the sad news on Facebook that they were going out of business, and we wanted to stop by, not only to stock up, but to say our goodbyes to a fine place. 

From the first glance, it was obvious the news wasn't just correct, but had been met with a similar reaction in the Polish community. 

All we wound up walking out with was a jar of pickles, red cabbage, jam, beet chrzan, and a bag of milk cookies. Oh, and a bottle of Polish alcohol for YaYa. 

The owner was there and said he was retiring, but I don't know, it didn't seem like a planned move. In recent years another Polish store, Wioletta's, has gotten a lot of press attention and foot traffic. I have to imagine - and imagine is all it may be - that Wioletta's greatly impacted their bottom line. If so, it's a shame. A&J's felt real - Wioletta's  . . .man, it's like shopping at a Target. 

RIP A&J's. We'll miss you. 

.

Breakfast at the Copper Kitchen

On the surface, chicken and waffles qualifies as an unhealthy late breakfast at the Copper Kitchen. Lisa and I did split the meal tho, as you can see here, ordered it sans cheese, and . . . and it's none of your business anyway bub.

White Castle

Most of you probably live near a White Castle, but alas there are none within Milwaukee county. The nearest is down in Kenosha, two counties and 35 Freeway miles away.

So when Lisa and I found ourselves in Kenosha on this bright and sunny day, we stopped in for some yum-yum get you some. 

I texted these pictures to a friend who's never been to a WC, and he responded that it didn't look appetizing at all. 

Perhaps. 

But as I replied to him, it tasted "divine."

Bon Appetit

Let it be known throughout the land:

This meal, imagined and financed by Lisa, and cooked by Smiley, is the bomb diggity.

Smashed red potato drizzled with oil and baked with fresh parmesan, a side of grilled mushrooms and onions, and hand to heart, cube steaks so tender you could have poured them into a cup and drank them like wine. 

Bravo!

Dan and Lisa's Low Key Day of Fun

Yesterday I took a day off to have a Dan and Lisa's Low Key Day of Fun with my lady. First stop, DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) out on 115th and Burleigh, in the Mayfair Collection outdoor mall. We spent an hour there finding sandals for Lisa's upcoming NKOTB cruise, then Lisa treated me to lunch at the Corner Bakery.  

I had turkey, bacon, and avocado on wheat with a side of Caesar's Salad, and Lisa had a lovely chicken sub with a side of fruit. 

Afterwards we made a brief stop at Aldi for protein drinks, a gas station for fuel, stopped at Maadc to look at the kitties (alas, they had a health outbreak and all but two cats were quarantined). Then we stopped at the bike shop to pick up her bicycle, the library to look at yesterday's paper (alas, it turns out my column was online only, and not included in the razor thin print edition), and then a nap. 

In the evening we headed out again, this to time to get dinner at Hot Dish Pantry , a new  restaurant on Howell near the airport. It's counter-service, which is an annoying but popular trend, and features both indoor and patio dining. We chose the latter. 

The entrees were very good. I had a simple smashed burger, plain, while Lisa had a take on Minnesota's Juicy Lucy's. 

I don't think the sides were as good a value, in taste or price. There was a crab rangoon pierogi, which is further ethnically confused by the inclusion of a corn garnish. It was very good, but there wasn't much to distinguish it from your standard order of rangoon at a Chinese restaurant.

A potato croquette failed to impress either of us, beyond a nice presentation. 

I'm not a desert guy, but Lisa said the chocolate tasted a little off  - vegan perhaps? The desserts rotate very frequently, so any review must be treated as unique to that visit anyway. 

Now up to this point I'd grade the experience at Hot Dish Pantry very positively. A little hit and miss, a little pricey, but a good time and overall very good food. 

Then a drunk appeared, knocked a full recycling bin into the street, and wandered up to the guests on the patio and unleashed a screed, lasting several minutes, about how we were all going to burn in hell  "you n-words." Disgusting, and equally odd as everyone on the patio was Caucasian. 

Most of this was addressed at a woman sitting with her male companion and a friend, none of whom said anything. I told the guy to move on, but he didn't, and Lisa got up to tell the employees. That put her very close to the guy, which was a boiling point - had he touched her I'd have had to retaliate and I wasn't looking to escalate the situation. Instead he took her threat of police seriously and started down the road. 

To our shock, the employees/owner? claimed the man was "harmless," often wandered by drunk but "never did that before" and not only didn't want to call the police but didn't have the police non-emergency number on hand. 

Man, I don't run to the police for every interaction, even of this kind, but if I was running a business again I would take the comfort and safety of my guests a little more seriously. You didn't hear the bottles spilling into the street? The constant shouted "n-word" for a good few minutes wasn't overheard? A diner shouldn't have to tell a drunk to move on; his wife shouldn't be the one to ask the police to get involved. And once the situation WAS identified, you didn't think to come out and offer at least an apology to your guests? That poor woman took the brunt of his venom for a good two minutes.

I didn't pay close to $70 to listen to a  drunk racist you know and let skate.  

(and nevermind what I think of the diner's boyfriend/husband, who sat there and let her be insulted and berated and let another guy speak up for her) 

Not cool. 

Anyway, later, before she went to bed, Lisa and I used up the last of the zucchini making bread together. 

A fun if low key day together :)

    

Fresh Zucchini Bread

Yesterday after work I made zucchini bread for the first time, largely because Lisa was growing upset that we were wasting the veggies in the fridge. I think it turned out pretty darn good, even if I was the only person in the house that will eat it (I did deliver some to my appreciate Mother-in-law). 

It was easy to make, and the cooking time is long enough that I cut the grass in the time it was baking. 

There is nothing earth shattering or unique about this recipe, I'm merely bookmarking it for the future. Feel free to ignore this post.   

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2  teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 teaspoons  ground cinnamon

• 2  large eggs

• 1/2  cup vegetable oil

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups grated zucchini, peel and all. Do NOT remove the moisture

1. Toss together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl

2. Combine the oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and zucchini in another bowl.

3. Add the wet mix to the dry ingredients and stir only until combined. 

4. Spoon the batter into a loaf pan

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for around an hour or until done

Unpopular Opinion (exclusive SE Wisconsin edition)

Marty's Pizza is subpar, largely tasteless fare. 

Hospital Gowns, Battered Cod, and a New 'Do

Disregard the hospital gown, as nothing was wrong. I was just in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy ordered by my doc because of my age. And no, I'm not as happy to have a camera up my bum as I appear here lol

I had been spooked by a bunch of people warning me the lead up to the procedure  aka the colon cleanse, was torturous. I didn't think it was bad.  Tiring, and I developed a headache from being dehydrated, but that's it. By the time Smiley drove me to the 10am procedure, I just wanted it over and done. 

Unfortunately, the guy in front of me in the queue passed out when getting his IV  - don't get me started on what I think of him - and delayed my time on the table. So I sat in a hospital gown and watched the Simpson's "Dome" episodes while they fanned and doted on the first guy. 

An hour later I woke up from the anesthesia, was told I was good to go for the next ten years, and sent on my way via a ride from Lisa. 

Anyhow, the moral of the story is, if you're an old man like me, listen to your doctor and get the procedure.

*****

After a few hours recovery at home, I took Junie for a haircut and styling at a salon on the East side. 

Here's the before pic: 

The "during" pic: 

And the after: 

Then, not having eaten anything for 46 hours at that point, I feasted on a fish fry from Saraphinos, while Junie had pizza. 

Public School Has Failed My Children

What kind of monster cuts a watermelon like this?????? 

My kids. That's who. 

Just mind-blowing. 

JJ and Dave's Wedding Reception

This afternoon Team Slap was happy to attend the wedding reception of JJ and Dave, held at Maggiano's at Mayfair Mall. As you can see from the tabletop menu, it was a heck of a meal (not to mention an open bar for soda/wine/beer). 

Frankly, there were soooo many good appetizers in such abundant quantities that I was well past full by the time the main course was served - not that that stopped me!

Note that Lisa and I didn't look too shabby! 

Neither LuLu nor Smiley could attend because of work obligations (although Lu did JJ's hair early in the afternoon). But Lisa's Mom was there

As was Junie and YaYa

and YaYa's long time beau, Alex

An elderly couple (friends of the bride's Mother) were seated along at a nearby table and Lisa invited them to join us, and they did!

This "butter cake" - whatever that means - was to die for. My word!!

Here's wishing the newlywed couple decades of love and happiness!

Lunch at Egg & Flour

Yesterday Lisa, the two youngest, and her Mom ate a late lunch/early dinner at Egg & Flour, the restaurant of hometown Hells Kitchen contestant Adam Pawlak.

The food looked great. Carbonera and bolognese, meatballs, bread, salad ... it figures, since I wasn't invited! Lol

Lisa and Smiley visit Tupelo Honey

A Long Time Coming

By choice, I have not had dark meat in close to forty years.  Today, bc my son took a good chunk of the day to cook it for dinner, I had my first drumstick since I was a kid.  Not bad honestly - not nearly as "moist" as Mom described it.  Good job Smiley!

Lunch

This wasn't bad at all, and healthy too! . Cauliflower rice, ground turkey, black beans, and tomatoes. 

Dinner on the Cheap

Ok don't come for me foodies. Sometimes you just need quick and easy. Prob about $3.50 for this plate. Truffle Mac n cheese and Korean chicken breasts found in the clearance section of pick n saves deli case. Yes, I should have included a veggie but this was a delicious plate of food. Highly recommend both! - Lisa