dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 2, 2019 9:32:15 GMT -6
I recently visited a diner and a Chinese restaurant that we frequented when I was growing up and they were exactly as good a I remembered, up to and including Almond Boneless Chicken which is definitely Canadian and not Chinese, but it's freaking delicious.
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Post by haleyscott on Apr 2, 2019 9:33:07 GMT -6
There used to be this place in Western PA called "Hoss's" and it was sort of like a Ponderosa. We went there a lot too. Hoss’s Is still around. Annnnnd I request it when I’m feeling homesick. Ha
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2019 9:33:11 GMT -6
A lot of these definitely seemed like only the wealthy families had stuff. Especially the second fridge in the garage. And snacks. We never had snacks. Only food to prepare.
I really found out about the difference between poor and wealthy when my friends mom drove me home from a Girl Scout meeting in 5th grade. As she drove through a certain road, she locked her car doors. Not only did I notice the hightened awareness of where she was, I also noticed she has power locked doors, we lived that manual lock and window life.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Apr 2, 2019 9:33:42 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me.
I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much?
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Dr. Cox
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Post by Dr. Cox on Apr 2, 2019 9:34:01 GMT -6
I did this with Shoney’s. So depressing. When I lived in Mississippi, I was so excited to try all the new places I had never heard of. Shoney's was not a hit. Every time you bring up that you lived in Mississippi, my immediate reaction is “ What? No. No, that can’t be right.” 😂
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2019 9:34:37 GMT -6
I recently visited a diner and a Chinese restaurant that we frequented when I was growing up and they were exactly as good a I remembered, up to and including Almond Boneless Chicken which is definitely Canadian and not Chinese, but it's freaking delicious. I can not find almond boneless chicken outside of Windsor & Michigan. That brings me right back to being home. And saganaki of course.
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dc2london
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Post by dc2london on Apr 2, 2019 9:38:19 GMT -6
I recently visited a diner and a Chinese restaurant that we frequented when I was growing up and they were exactly as good a I remembered, up to and including Almond Boneless Chicken which is definitely Canadian and not Chinese, but it's freaking delicious. I can not find almond boneless chicken outside of Windsor & Michigan. That brings me right back to being home. And saganaki of course. I read a blog once about how it started in Toronto and just kind of spread from there but never made it any further west than the Detroit area. Every so often I like to blow mack's mind with random great lakes nonsense like this.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Apr 2, 2019 9:38:36 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burger, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? there is a pizza place in Connecticut that offered me a similar experience. I took DH there and RAVED about it the entire time and he was insanely underwhelmed. It’s so awkward when you talk about how it’s going to change their life and then they just spend the weekend in the bathroom.
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Post by shan-ah-doo on Apr 2, 2019 9:38:40 GMT -6
Just to circle back around to the original intent of the OP, I don't know if I saw it as the pinnacle of wealth, but it was a source of envy... people who had a second fridge in the garage that was just full of beverages. I always wanted one. I still want a second fridge... we just don't have the room. I feel like I’ve made it in life. Although our garage fridge is full of beer and it’s 30 years old. The fridge, not the beer.
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Post by shan-ah-doo on Apr 2, 2019 9:40:29 GMT -6
I also thought people whose moms stayed at home were rich. But... as it turns out... I also had a mom that stayed at home I just didn't know that until I was an adult. Like... within the last year I learned that my mother quit her job when I was a freshman in high school. I had literally no idea. I thought she worked full time owing to the fact that we had two nannies plus other help. One day I will get to the bottom of what in the actual fuck she was doing during all that time. Idk why but I absolutely love this story since the first time you’ve mentioned it and I’d like to be one of the first people you tell when you find out please and thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2019 9:41:37 GMT -6
I can not find almond boneless chicken outside of Windsor & Michigan. That brings me right back to being home. And saganaki of course. I read a blog once about how it started in Toronto and just kind of spread from there but never made it any further west than the Detroit area. Every so often I like to blow mack's mind with random great lakes nonsense like this. That makes sense then! I was only 22 when I moved away from Michigan and had not been many places before that. So little things like that just blew my mind.
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Post by Sweetjane on Apr 2, 2019 9:41:52 GMT -6
Every single time I go back to a restaurant that I loved as a kid, I am so disappointed at how disgusting it is. And yet, I keep tricking myself into trying them all. Nostalgia is strong. I did this with Shoney’s. So depressing. I sometimes daydream about that square chocolate ice cream cake desert. I might should leave it in my head. My H thinks about their strawberry pie.
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Post by notblanche on Apr 2, 2019 9:42:54 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? There was a Nifty Fifty's in Mh's hometown outside Philly. TIL it's a chain. He's always talked about it like the best place in the whole dang world but there was a fire and it closed permanently before he had a chance to take me. I feel there was a silver lining, given your cautionary tale.
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Post by bearfootzcontinued on Apr 2, 2019 9:43:51 GMT -6
If we're talking nostalgia, sometimes my friends and I would splurge and split a fried ice cream at Chi-Chi's and think we were pretty fancy. Until we were old enough to drink margaritas and then screw that weird dessert, all our $ went towards booze and enchiladas.
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sterling
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Post by sterling on Apr 2, 2019 9:44:04 GMT -6
Did you guys have Rax? I think it was like an Arby's... but lord I thought it was teh best roast beef ever. Yep! Also Sizzler, poor man’s Ponderosa. Which is saying something.
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gussie
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Post by gussie on Apr 2, 2019 9:44:08 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? We visited a pizza place that MH loved growing up with the same result, he was so upset. Moral of the story is don't revisit beloved childhood food places if you don't want them ruined.
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piratecat
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Post by piratecat on Apr 2, 2019 9:45:39 GMT -6
Oh god speaking of nostalgia... my nanny used to bring us to Chili's all the time. I want to say this had to be around middle school? Anyway, the Chili's salad with honey mustard dressing and then the boneless buffalo wings were the height of amazing dining to me. That has... not held up to the test of time. And in the continued questionable eating adventures of my pre-Connecticut life, there is another place in Pittsburgh called Eat N Park and I used to get iceberg lettuce with catalina dressing and I felt so sophisticated eating salads. I'm going to google what the fuck catalina dressing even is... I almost don't want to know. We frequented Eat N Park a lot during college, especially in the middle of the night/early morning. ETA: I did not eat salads there because I was not that sophisticated.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Apr 2, 2019 9:45:59 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? There was a Nifty Fifty's in Mh's hometown outside Philly. TIL it's a chain. He's always talked about it like the best place in the whole dang world but there was a fire and it closed permanently before he had a chance to take me. I feel there was a silver lining, given your cautionary tale. I know the one that had the fire. I was literally boarding a plane when I heard about the fire. That’s how influential that place is on me. I can actually remember where I was when I heard about the fire. Growing up, there was only one in Philly. But as I got older, they opened up a couple more. I think there’s three or four now.
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Post by shan-ah-doo on Apr 2, 2019 9:47:46 GMT -6
Wtf is a spaghetti sandwich. So good. So good. Ya gotta like butter.
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Post by DavidRose on Apr 2, 2019 9:49:02 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? I could still eat a texas tommy though.
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brux
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Post by brux on Apr 2, 2019 9:49:05 GMT -6
When I lived in Mississippi, I was so excited to try all the new places I had never heard of. Shoney's was not a hit. Every time you bring up that you lived in Mississippi, my immediate reaction is “ What? No. No, that can’t be right.” 😂 lolll. I feel the same way. And yet, there I was. It was a confusing time where I planned to apply for grad school at a historically black college and I worked cleaning cages at a vet clinic.
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brux
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Post by brux on Apr 2, 2019 9:50:34 GMT -6
Oh god speaking of nostalgia... my nanny used to bring us to Chili's all the time. I want to say this had to be around middle school? Anyway, the Chili's salad with honey mustard dressing and then the boneless buffalo wings were the height of amazing dining to me. That has... not held up to the test of time. And in the continued questionable eating adventures of my pre-Connecticut life, there is another place in Pittsburgh called Eat N Park and I used to get iceberg lettuce with catalina dressing and I felt so sophisticated eating salads. I'm going to google what the fuck catalina dressing even is... I almost don't want to know. I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS. CHILI'S IS PRETTY FUCKING GREAT.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 2, 2019 9:51:00 GMT -6
Wtf is a spaghetti sandwich. So good. So good. Ya gotta like butter. There is very little butter in mine.
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brux
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Post by brux on Apr 2, 2019 9:51:07 GMT -6
And Eat N Park gave me some free cookies at the Pirates game last year, so me and Eat N Park are cool.
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sterling
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Post by sterling on Apr 2, 2019 9:51:32 GMT -6
Chili’s was ABSOLUTELY peak dining as a kid. And a college kid. And slightly after college for Fajita ‘Rita Mondays.
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Post by notblanche on Apr 2, 2019 9:51:47 GMT -6
So good. So good. Ya gotta like butter. Not sure why, but I sang this in my head.
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Cher
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Post by Cher on Apr 2, 2019 9:52:12 GMT -6
There’s this place in Philly, Nifty Fifty’s. It has all these crazy shakes, burgers, fries, etc. It’s 50’s themed with a jukebox, black and white tile, etc. It was literally the most amazing restaurant of my youth. There was a summer I, dead serious, ate there every day and applied for a job every time. They never hired me. I took MH and my oldest there about a year ago. We waited like an hour for a table and I talked it up the entire time. I was so excited. The food was garbage. Even MH who will get down on some garbage food, was like, “this is disgusting.” We basically all felt like shit for 2 days afterwards and my mental state still has not recovered. Was it always that bad? Why did I love it so much? I could still eat a texas tommy though. Lol! My go-to was the honey mustard grilled chicken sandwich, cheese fries and a cotton candy milkshake. In my head, it tastes so good. In real life, it tastes like grease and chemicals.
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Post by notblanche on Apr 2, 2019 9:52:50 GMT -6
Chili’s was ABSOLUTELY peak dining as a kid. And a college kid. And slightly after college for Fajita ‘Rita Mondays. As a college kid I lived for Applebee's happy hour food specials. APPLEBEE'S
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brux
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Post by brux on Apr 2, 2019 9:53:48 GMT -6
Chili’s was ABSOLUTELY peak dining as a kid. And a college kid. And slightly after college for Fajita ‘Rita Mondays. As a college kid I lived for Applebee's happy hour food specials. APPLEBEE'S A roommate introduced me to these. I mean, I still couldn't afford half priced apps in college, but god bless my roommate with her parents' credit card floating me many cheese sticks and buffalo wings.
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Post by sweptaway on Apr 2, 2019 9:54:08 GMT -6
And we used to have birthday parties at McDonald's and Pizza Hut. I have no nostalgia for a McD's birthday party but Pizza Hut is permanently stuck in my head as delicious. I eat it maybe twice a year (usually from the Target food area and I eat it while roaming) and then I feel like shit and swear it off. Then nostalgia creeps back in and I return to it. Did you do Book It in school? That is my pizza hut association. If you read enough you got a free personal pan pizza
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