Sonic Drive In (not Drive thru)

Sonic Drive-in opened last summer in Spokane and it was all the rage for weeks. No doubt this was partially due to the fact that Californians who move to Spokane miss their old favorites and Sonic is one of them. I think that a lot of people just like the nostalgia of the 50's too. I never hear of Sonic before the new restaurant opened in our town, and I never took the opportunity to try them until last weekend after we watched Spokane Community College Theater's production of Hole in the Sky. (which, BTW, was an intense and amazing production~)

First we were simply going to go through Wendy's drive through, but before we reached the window we change our minds, thinking to try Sonic instead. We drove through the drive thru without stopping to order; we just drove right through. However, Geo decided that he wanted Wendy's not Sonic, so we drove back trough and ordered some stuff, then we went to Sonic for the rest of our order.

The nice thing about the experience was not having to hurry and and order because people were behind you. I also liked the fact that you sit there instead of drive away with your food. It's still eating in the car... but there is more mess control than what usually happens in a car when you go to fast food drive through.

Comparing Burger to burger... ice treat to ice treat...( between Wendy's and Sonic)... Wendy's wins, and I am sad to say, I did not think it was a very great burger, which was all I had.

Beth ordered a coconut something or another that didn't taste like coconut to her, but rather banana... George concurred, "banana." N. ordered food too... and I don't remember what Nate's verdict was on the matter, but I would probably not go there again as a first choice of someplace to go. We figured the confusion came about because Geo had to order the food three times because the person behind the speaker-phone and cash register asked him to repeat the order that many times. Later there was problem with the billing too and after swiping the card in the machine in front of him, the guy on skates had to go inside to redo the billing.

Okay, so maybe I am just being nice when I say that all in all, it was worth the experience. I was glad to finally be able to say I had tried the Sonic. I drive by it all the time, and now, I know that I am not missing much, except the unlimited selection of drink flavors you can order. If I do go again, it will probably be just for some fun slurpular thing... and I will check to be sure the order is right too. I will have to say that it was a kinda fun thing to do at least once. After all, it's not every day that you get your food brought to you on roller skates...and this while you sit in your car and eat, complete with kids in tow (in the back seat.)

I have to say that it was truly a family experience... a flashback in time...Before my time.. and yet, I think it might even be more fun... sipping a silly soda in say, a 57 Chevy, or maybe a mustang convertible.

A Taste of Thai

Tonight I am thinking of Thai Food.
The first time I had Thai food I ate something with a flavor that I didn't think was so great. I do not remember what it as, but I am glad I returned and tried Thai food again. It sure is a treat. I think one of my favorite dishes is Coconut Milk Soup.

Last night, after working hard outside all day, Geo and I went to one of our favorite Thai restaurants, A Taste of Thai. As we were looking for the number to find out the hours he read several reviews on line that gave this place a five star rating. We agree. It's five stars in our book too.

The food here has always been delicious. Tonight we ordered: Coconut Milk Soup, Pad Thai and Basil Chicken.

Coconut Milk Soup, (Tom Kha Gai,) is amazing. It's salty, sweet, sour and spicy, all in one bowl! It is made with chicken, coconut milk, lemon grass, lime leaves, mushrooms, red pepper, and a tuberous rhizome called galangal, or Siamese Ginger. always think of the 1971 calypso song, Coconut, by Harry Nilsson, when I am eating this stuff.

The song goes, "Put the lime in the coconut, you drink 'em both together, Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better....Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em both up, Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the mo-o-ornin'. I am not sure what the song means, or what it's about, but it's probably not lime coca cola as that's a relatively new invention... but who knows? It's probably not about coconut milk soup either, but it's a catchy tune and it works for me.
It's lime in coconut... yum! I even like Lime Coke...

Pad Thai is a dish made of stir fried rice noodles, eggs, tamarind, chili pepper, crushed peanuts, fish sauce, bean sprouts and coriander. We ordered ours with pork, which was very good. Usually we order chicken.

the Thai people really like basil and the Basil Chicken was something the owner recommended to us, so we tried it and it was most enjoyable too. It's a sauce dish that is served over rice, or at least that is what we did with it.

I guess you could say this was a new experience for us as we ended up ordering our food "to-go;" usually we eat there in the dining area. But we arrived there late in the evening and took the food home with us. It was just as good at home!

Here are some other Taste of Thai specialties:
Garlic Shrimp

Chicken Musselman Curry

Mr.Wok

Did I mention that we like oriental food?

Mr. Wok is one of those places that we have frequented time and time again. The food is good, the bathrooms are clean, (at least when I have been inspecting them) the service is nice, the price is reasonable and we like the people who run the restaurant. What more could a costumer ask for?

We have our favorite dishes that we like to order here: Kung Pao Chicken, Ma Po and seasoned noodles. These are the usual unless of course we deviate from the norm or have guests with us. We also like the rice bowls which are about $5.00.  More places should offer rice bowls, especially for lunch.  As a side note: This place makes the best Ma Po Tofu ever.

The atmosphere at Mr. Wok is sort of a cross between a sit down restaurant and fast food. When you arrive, you do not get seated, instead you place your order at the counter, as if you we eating at MacDonalds. Then you take a seat and the server brings your food to the table, unless of course, you order your food TO GO. Then it is all packaged nice and neat so you can take it with you when it is ready.

That's what we do sometimes, order it TO GO.  We eat in sometimes too. 

Mr. Wok is located in a small shopping mall next to Wendy's at the Division "Y."