Amazing Lunch

Yesterday I met some people for lunch at Luigi's in Akron. A great Italian place on N. Main Street. After lunch we walked out and saw a sign for an organic restaurant. Organic, yuck! We had just had pasta, salad with lots of cheese and bread. Who wants organic?

I walked up to the window and started reading the menu. It really didn't look so bad. A guy who worked there made his way to the door and opened it. He asked me if I was hungry and I said, "No." (I know, it is hard to believe that is what came out of my mouth).

He invited me in to see what they were serving for lunch. It looked amazing. Salisbury steak, roasted carrots, pasta with alfredo sauce. (I started getting hungry again. But I did not fall to temptation and eat again).

As I was walking out a man with a thick gray beard asked me where I was from and what I did. I hate that question sometimes because i never know how someone is going to react. I also stumble with what to say because I am not sure what to say. Do I call myself a "pastor," "minister," "preacher," or "rabbi?"

When I said I was a minister, the guy showing me the food said let's say a blessing together. He grabbed my hand along with the bearded guy and we prayed. It was awesome. I was hoping Doug and Clay would walk up at that moment to see us standing in the front window praying. They came a few minutes later while I was sitting down talking to Rockne. The Rockne. The guy Rockne's restaurant is named after. Another local restaurant chain this guy founded.

Clay, Billy and I went back today for lunch. It was incredible! Yeah, that's right I ate at an organic restaurant and liked it. I am going back once a week. I do not know what day yet, it depends on what they are serving. They took down my email address and each morning I will get the menu for that days lunch. I can't wait.

Since they are just trying to get their lunch business launched, there is hardly anyone there. So Rockne talked to us about his sausage making class he is going to teach. For $85 you get to learn the right way to sharpen a knife, get an apron/hat, 5lbs. of Hungarian Sausage and a meal. I'm in, like Kramer and Newman in Jerry's apartment.

He gave us a tour of the upstairs art gallery's. He also gave us a history of the building. The rooms artist are now using to create their art started out as rooms for workers in the rubber plants. Each room had three beds and three lockers. Each worker rotated through the rooms. They had eight hours for sleep, eight hours for work and eight hours for fun, where they may have spent their time in the pub downstairs.

Once they began building houses in Akron. The rooms were used for, well let's just say a place where ladies entertained men. That is where it gets the name "Red Light Gallery's."

I have to say it was one of the most entertaining lunches I have had lately. I learned some good history of Akron and had a great meal. If you get a chance stop by and have lunch at "The Northside," tell them Scott sent you. If they look at you with a blank face say "the preacher from Tallmadge." I am sure within the next few months they will know who you are talking about.

One last thing, they are open for dinner and have the oldest stage in Akron where local talent play just baout everynight. I am going to check this out in the near future as well.

Top Ten Favorite Places to Eat

One of my favorite shows to watch is Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.If you have never it seen the show it is hosted by Guy Fieri on The Food Network. Guy has a great job. He travels throughout the United States looking for unique places to eat. It is a great job. A job I think I could do. Since that is never going to happen I thought I would do my own top ten list of favorite places to eat. None of them are chains, but they all have their own character and good food.

Here are my top ten places to eat.

1. Chili Willi's(www.chiliwilli.com), Huntington, West Virginia. I use to go here when I was in college. I usually get the Cadillac Nachos and a Super Burrito. For dessert you have to get the famous Ice Cream Taco served with cinnamon ice cream.

2. Mac & Bobs (www.macandbobs.com), Salem, Virginia. This was a high school hangout. It has great pizza and calzones. Being a Roanoke College hangout the they had on the menu "The Second Semester." It was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for all those poor college students. When I use to go, it was one room, now it is huge.

3. Roanoke Weenie Stand, Roanoke, Virginia. Absolutely the best hot dog I have ever eaten. I get one or two or three almost every time I am in Roanoke.

4. Mama Santa's Pizza, Cleveland, Ohio. It is in the middle of Little Italy in Cleveland. My favorite pizza. I usually get a mushroom pizza and an order of garlic toast.

5. Frenchy's Seafood (www.frenchysonline.com), Clearwater, Florida. They specialize in grouper sandwiches. They are creative in their service. You have to try a grouper rueben.

6. Harold's Pit Barbecue, Abilene, Texas. I have only eaten there once, but I will never forget it. Plus their hot sauce is called, Harold's Damn Hot Sauce and it will light you up. Just when you taste it, you think, "That's not so hot." Then it hits you. The baked beans are the best!

7. Smokey Valley Truck Stop, Olive Hill, Kentucky. Another college hangout. This one has been on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The Smokey Burger is huge. They have great homemade pie and a great breakfast.

8. The Texas Tavern (www.texastavern-inc.com), Roanoke, Virginia. The best time to go is early morning (2am) when all the street people are out. I will order for you here- a cheesy western (burger with a fried egg and relish), bowl of chili and a coke. Don't ask for fries, they don't have them. They have a sign that says, "We serve a million people. Ten at a time." They only have ten seats, but they move people through.

9. Diamond Deli, Akron, Ohio. If I could ever own a place it would be just like this place. A New York style deli that has awesome sandwiches, soups and sides. I love the broccoli salad.

10. Lou and Bea's Diner, Greenpoint (Brooklyn), NY. This is not the name. It is owned by a couple from Greece. It is cheap! My favorite is egg salad on a grilled bagel with lettuce, tomato and onion. The egg salad is made fresh to order.

Honorable Mention:

The Oyster Shanty, Tampa, Florida. It had the best clam chowder I have ever eaten. It was also the place where I fell in love with oysters on the half-shell. Good luck finding this one though. It is no longer in existence.

Yesterdog (www.yesterdog.com), Grand Rapids, Michigan. Great atmosphere, great dog.

Firehouse (www.thefirehouse.com), Johnson City, Tenn. Great barbecue. I also use to be a cook there.

Let me know if you have been to any of these places. Let me know of some of your favorite places so I can look them up.