Tuesday, March 14, 2006

More Odd Realities

This always seems to be everyone's favorite blog topic so back in its second edition, more things that consume my daily life that I find un poco strano.

1. We use old newspapers to clean the mirrors instead of windex.
2. Instead of doormats, a pair of old jeans greets visitors at each doorway.
3. For as many dogs that roam the streets, I never see dog crap anywhere. Maybe we as Americans are doing something wrong with our pooper scoopers and plastic bags.
4. Once when a child had splattered paint all over my shirt, my host mom used a little gasoline to take the stains out. Hmmm....
5. We reuse our clothes washing water. Now seriously, we're not that poor.
6. Instead of ice cream trucks, we have ice cream bikes here in Costa Rica.
7. Why are we cooking in the kitchen with 25 watt bulbs overhead when we leave the 75 watt bulb on in the bathroom all day long?
8. For some reason, Ticos find it a good idea to burn their trash (OK, mostly brush and dry leaves) in open air fires alongside the road or next to their houses. Now who told them it was a smart idea to start fires in an already hot and dry climate? Most of the time it smells like marijuana. Oh wait...
9. A popular dessert treat is mixing cut up fruit with jello and ice cream. It's a lot better than it sounds.
10. When baby girls are born, it is customary for them to leave the hospital with their ears pierced.
11. And the last oddness of my daily life, in most Tico homes, a broom can be found accompanying you in the shower. I guess they really like clean cooters!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amy,

Where's the oddities list about you? As for the dogs, as long as you're not eating them, that's ok.

Anonymous said...

Hey Amy look at this oddity:
Menu seems familiar? They say hello!

Tex Mex Eggrolls
with avocado dipping sauce 8
Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip
with Reggiano parmesan, jack cheese &
tortilla chips 9
Eight Layer Dip
& chips with cheddar, jack, quacamole, chipotle cream, black olives & salsa 7
Homemade Soup
Sun...Crab & Corn Chowder
Mon...Chicken Tortilla
Tue...Lobster Bisque
Wed...Crab & Corn Chowder
Thur...Chicken Tortilla
Fri...Clam Chowder
Sat...Lobster Bisque 5


Traditional Caesar
hearts of romaine with Reggiano parmesan 5
Mixed Greens Salad
with tomato, sun dried cranberries, dates, pine nuts & champagne vinaigrette...
with blue cheese or goat cheese, add $1 5
Chop House Salad
with romaine, fresh grilled corn,tomato & basil tossed
with buttermilk herb...with monterey jack & cheddar, add $1 5
Chop House Salad with Bacon
cheddar & jack, fresh grilled corn, tomato & basil w. buttermilk herb 6
Asian Two Noodle Chicken Salad
with mixed greens, mango, ginger vinaigrette, sesame noodles & spicy peanut sauce 12
Monterey Salad with Spiced Pecans
lightly fried chicken on greens tossed with fresh avocado, grilled corn, tomato, crisp tortillas, sun dried cranberries & buttermilk herb 11
Mike’s Roast Chicken Salad
with fresh corn off the cob, tomato, sun dried cranberries, dates, pine nuts, goat cheese & champagne vinaigrette 12
Short Smoked Grilled Salmon
over mixed greens w. champagne vinaigrette, sun dried cranberries, dates, new potatoes & pine nuts...goat cheese, add $1 14
Grilled Tuna & Mixed Greens
sesame crusted tuna drizzled with cilantro ginger sauce & served over mixed greens tossed with champagne vinaigrette, sun dried cranberries & pine nuts 15


Our choice chuck is ground here daily, grilled over hickory
and served with Great American fries
Hickory BBQ Burger
cheddar jack & BBQ sauce on our great burger bun 9
Cheddar Burger
with mustard mayo, ketchup, pickle, lettuce & tomato 9


Today's Fresh Vegetable
3
Sauteed Mushrooms
2
Basil Redskin Mashed Potatoes
2
Loaded Baker
3
French Fries
2
Cole Slaw
2
Our servers work as a team to guarantee the best service around.
Our breads are baked fresh daily at our bakery,
Best Buns Bread Company in Shirlington.



Our steaks and prime rib come with your choice of
caesar, mixed greens or house salad
Aged Black Angus Prime Rib
traditional or blackened...while it lasts...with basil redskin mashed potatoes 12 oz...23
16 oz...27
20 oz...31
Filet Mignon
on basil redskin mashed potatoes with sauteed mushrooms 7 oz...23
10 oz...28
Black Angus Rib Eye Steak
with basil redskin mashed potatoes & sauteed mushrooms 24
Drunken Ribeye
marinated in our Great American Pale Ale...with sauteed mushrooms & basil redskin mashed potatoes 24


Sauteed Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
w. remoulade sauce, fries & cole slaw market
Hickory Grilled Fresh Fish
hand filleted in house daily market
Grilled Portobellos & Warm Goat Cheese
with asparagus, red & yellow peppers & arugula over angel hair 13
Virginia Trout
w. the original chardonnay citrus sauce, roasted pecans & mashed potatoes 16
Grilled Short Smoked Salmon Filet
w. mashed potatoes & dijon cream sauce 17
Crab Cake & Filet Mignon
with mashed potatoes 5oz...24
7oz...28
Jambalaya Pasta
w. shrimp, chicken & andouille sausage in spicy Creole sauce 16
Sauteed Filet Mignon Tips
in tequila lime cream on penne pasta...while it lasts 15
FRESH MOZZARELLA & TOMATO
with basil & olive oil and sauteed onion on our FRENCH BAGUETTE...AVAILABLE EVERYDAY (MON-SUN)
Crab cakes...while they last


Fried Chicken Tenderloins
served w. honey mustard sauce, fries & cole slaw 12
Roast Chicken
w. basil redskin mashed potatoes & brown butter sauce...while it lasts 12
Sauteed Chicken Breast
with roasted red peppers, mushrooms & arugula on capellini pasta & brown butter sauce 13
Grilled Pork Chops
on basil redskin mashed potatoes w. roast corn salsa 18
Hickory Smoked Baby Back Ribs
french fries & cole slaw 19
Substitutions may include a reasonable upcharge


Key Lime Pie
with candied vanilla cookie crust 5
White Chocolate Cheesecake
with raspberry sauce 6
Deep Dish Apple Pie
with almond streusel & vanilla ice cream 6
Flourless Warm Chocolate Waffle
with vanilla ice cream

Anonymous said...

Now who would be so nasty and send you a menu from Mike's???
Only one person I can think of... Minnie Mouse!!!

Anonymous said...

At least Minnie didn't entice you with a menu from Maggionos!!!

Maybe she's planning a surprise trip there when you're home for Christmas!!