KidsEatOut

Free Frozen Lemonade and Frozen Strawberry Lemonade at Panera with Purchase Friday August 5th

2011-08-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Today only you can get a FREE Frozen Lemonade or a FREE Frozen Strawberry Lemonade at Panera Bread with the purchase of a Signature Salad. This deal is only good Friday August 5th, 2011. No coupon necessary.

Go here to find a Panera near you. Go here to see the menu of salads at Panera.

All martinis include a sidecar. Say what?

2011-03-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

You learn something new every day....... Who knew ordering a martini could be educational?

All martinis are $10 at J.Alexander’s and include a sidecar. If you could have seen a snapshot of my brain when I read this on the drink menu you would have seen: “$10 is a bit much! and, What the heck is a sidecar?” Well, let me tell you, the sidecar is why the drinks are $10 - and they're definitely worth it.

A picture is worth a thousand words so they say, so I took one to share with you. I’m glad I did because when I was trying to explain it to a friend, they had no idea what I was talking about!

This is it:

The sidecar is what is left in the shaker, served in a fun mini carafe, in a glass filled with ice. So not only do you get one and a half, if not one and three-quarters of a martini for the price, it’s totally fun! :)

I think I found my new favorite place to get a lemon-drop martini!! And just in case you are wondering, they don’t have a happy hour. :(

You can see a full review of J.Alexanders on our website.

Just for laughs.....

2011-03-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

there

One of the many many reasons I love the internet! This little video sure brought a smile to my face, and a really big one at that! My thanks to the person who took the time to upload it and put it out there for all of us to enjoy! :)

President's Day Restaurant Freebies

2011-02-20T08:21:00.000-08:00

Whatever your plans are for this President's Day, you need to eat, right?

Well, we found a few places that don't normally have Kids Eat Free days, but are offering some one or two day specials this week. Why not take advantage of their offers and treat yourselves to a breakfast, lunch, or dinner out?

And Happy (FREE) Dining! :)

Chick-fil-A in Hilliard is giving away free Spicy biscuit sandwiches from 6am - 10am this Monday.

Photo courtesy of Chick-fil-A.

Chili’s is offering Free kids meals with each adult meal purchase on Monday and Tuesday this week. (click on image to print coupon).

Photo courtesy of Chilis.

Noodles & Company locations are trading you a bowl of their signature Mac & Cheese for a donation of 3 boxes of your Mac & Cheese. Donations will go to a local food bank. The offer is for today and tomorrow - February 20th & 21st.

If none of these places work for you, check out our list of 27 local restaurants who offer kids deals every Monday!

Family Fun at CoCo Key Water Resort

2011-02-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

If you live in Columbus, I’m sure you have all heard at least something about Coco Key Water Resort either from an ad, a friend, a child, or a child’s friend. Maybe you’ve even been there for a kid’s birthday party 5 years ago (my experience). So you’ve heard different opinions or formed some for yourself. Upfront, I would have to say my general opinion wasn’t all that great. My thought was that it was just a cheaper alternative to the big boys, Great Bear Lodge and Kalahari.

So we went. And was I right? Yes and no. Sure, if you compare the water parks, the big boys win - in size, activities, and grandeur (and noise level!) . But depending on what you are looking for, if you compare the whole experience, I pick CoCo Key. That is, CoCo Key AND Cherry Valley Lodge.

I would definitely recommend staying overnight at Cherry Valley Lodge. It’s beautiful, clean, the rooms are laid out great for a family, the staff is very friendly, and if part of your crew gets tired or bored (I’ll get to that later), you can go relax in the room for a while. They have an in-room fridge so you can bring some food to cut down on the cost of snacks and such, rooms all have a large flat screened TV, the park clears out during the last hour they are open so there’s no waiting for tubes or waiting in line, you get free use of towels, and kids love staying at hotels! Since you have 2 days of water passes included in the price of your stay, you can take a much more relaxed approach to the water park, not feeling like you need to be there every available hour to get your money’s worth.

Also, once you look at the rates, you realize it’s only $40 - $60 more to stay at the hotel - given that 2 day passes for 4 people would cost $120 anyway.

Photo courtesy of Cherry Valley Lodge

So here’s a breakdown:

Positive #1: It took us only 45 minutes to get there.
Positive #2: It's significantly less expensive.
Positive #3: It is easier to find room availability.
Positive #4: You can’t lose your kids for very long. (+ or - ?) :)
Positive #5: Because it’s not huge, the kids had had enough around the same time I had had enough!
Positive #6 The lodge is not crazy in size or in atmosphere. (it was actually much nicer than I had expected)
Positive #7: Did I mention cost and close to home?

Neutral to Negative, depending on your perspective, would be that it is small, relatively speaking. The kids can pretty much do everything in 2 hours. For younger kids, there are a couple of areas for them to explore and play, they can do the lazy river with an adult, but they cannot go on any of the bigger tube slides unless they are over 48 inches tall. For the older kids, there are 3 big tube slides, a lazy river, and a pool area to shoot hoops and swim around. They may get ‘bored’ if they are accustomed to the big water parks. But again, unless you yourself are a big fan of major water parks, this means you get to take a break back in the room too!

On a weekend it’s busy, so be ready for that. Tubes, chairs, and tables can be hard to come by. Saturday was much more crowded than Sunday.

Photo courtesy of CocoKey

My 5th grader came home from school the week before we were scheduled to go and said “the kids at school said that CoCo Key wasn’t that great.” :(

“Did they go there?” I asked. He said that some had been there for a birthday party and some said that that’s what they had heard from someone else.

Here's my 5th grader as we pulled off on our exit after our weekend visit:

“We’re home already?! That was awesome! When can we go back?” :)

So in closing, I would say that, given my children’s ages, we will probably not go back to CoCo Key for the day, unless there is a birthday party. BUT we will definitely be going back for a family weekend getaway!! Hopefully soon!

Make reservations and check out their specials here.

Also, on Sundays Military can get day passes for half price, and Grandparents get in free to CoCo Key.

*In the spirit of full disclosure, our family was given a complimentary stay to check out Cherry Valley Lodge and Coco Key. The resort in return, was given no guarantee as to the type of review, positive or negative, that we would give them. My loyalties are always with you, my readers, and with me, so I can sleep soundly at night. (when I'm not being woken up by my kids!) :)

Saving Money with KidsEatOut.com....

2011-01-31T08:54:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post this video from NBC4 for those of you who would like to know part of the reason I started this whole KidsEatOut thing! My thanks to Ellie Merritt and Kim for helping me do that!! :)

A Little Perspective on Awesome

2011-01-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love motivational speakers. Call it a weakness, call it strange, call it whatever you want, but I’m a sucker for them. And I mean ‘sucker’ in a good way. I get sucked into the positive thinking, the ‘I can do it’ attitude, the positive outlook on life..... all of it.

Be it ‘The Secret’ or Randy Pausch (yes, he made me cry), I can always find something to take away from my encounter with the bright side. Admittedly, my high lasts a few days and then my old ways start to take over again, but I think it’s worth the ride.

I could feel like a failure because my new way of viewing the world is fleeting. It doesn’t totally transform my life. But I figure if I put enough good stuff in, some of it’s got to stick, at least somewhere in the back of my brain. So when I start freaking out about what to do about my child’s ______ (fill in the blank - schoolwork, social life, disrespectfulness, whining, lack of appreciation..... you get the picture) or complaining about life’s annoyances (telemarketers, waiting on hold with an insurance agency, being in the slow lane at the supermarket), I can sometimes pull something out of my memory banks from one of these speeches that helps me through it. Maybe even smile about it. Perspective is all you need. You can chuckle when you hit EVERY RED LIGHT, or feel sorry for that rude customer service rep, or melt when you see your sleeping child (forget about the monster from the day!).

So here is one for you. Listen to it. I will admit that I almost didn’t. When I first clicked on the link and saw that it would take more than 10 minutes, I almost bailed. I’m busy after all! But instead, I went and grabbed the dogs brush, sat down to groom her (something else I don’t have time for!) and listened. I’m glad I did. I hope you are too.

E-Clubs can save you $$$!

2011-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Sometimes getting a deal isn’t worth the hassle. Who hasn’t forgotten the coupon at home? (it was probably expired anyway!) How about that discounted restaurant certificate that can only be used Monday through Thursday - and not on alcohol? That’s one of the reasons we LOVE kids eat free nights. No coupons necessary, just go on the right night!

Having said that, coupons can be a great way to save money - which always makes you feel good. And sometimes you just need a good excuse to go out to eat! (“We’ve got a coupon honey!”)

Lots of restaurants have started e-clubs that offer free meals, treats, or money off certificates in exchange for signing up. Some offer great rewards, some not so great. Our advise would be to sign up to places you frequent often so you’ll be more likely to use them!

KidsEatOut.com has compiled a list of local restaurants for you to check out that offer e-clubs with promotions and give-aways. We are sure we missed a few so if you know of a great e-club - please share!

And if you plan on signing up for multiple clubs, you might want to think about setting up a email account exclusively for them so your main email account doesn’t overflow!

E-Clubs for Grown-Ups:

Abuelo’s - Get special offers throughout the year and on your birthday and anniversary.
Arby’s - Get a special promotion when you sign up and offers throughout the year.
Auntie Anne’s - Join Pretzel Perks and get special offers throughout the year.
Baskin Robbins - Free scoop on your birthday, coupons, and offers.
Beef O’Bradys - Special offers.
Benihana - Become a member of the Chef’s table and get $30.00 off your meal for your birthday.
Boston Market - VIP Club gives special offers.
Brio - Get a gift on your birthday and anniversary plus a free appetizer when you sign up.
Brueggar’s - Sign up and get a free bagel & cream cheese.
Buffalo Wild Wings - Receive free food and discounts.
Captain D’s - Get news of upcoming promotions and a coupon good for a free Fish & Fries or a free Chicken & Fries.
Caribou Coffee - Create an online account to get a free drink.
Cheeseburger In Paradise - Sign up and get a Buy One Get One Free Offer for your birthday.
Cheesecake Factory - If you celebrate at CF, let your server know, you will get ice cream with a candle and a birthday song.
Cold Stone Creamery - Free scoop on your birthday and other coupons through the year.
Culver’s - Get coupons, offers, and a treat on your birthday.
Denny’s - Get a free Grand Slam Breakfast on your birthday when you sign up.
Dunkin Donut - Sign up for the Dunkin Donut E-newsletter for free samples.
First Watch - Get a free meal on your birthday and other discounts throughout the year. Get a buy one get one free coupon upon signing up.
Fuddruckers - Sign up for the Fudds Club for a birthday burger.
Godiva - Join the rewards club at Godiva and you can stop by the Godiva store once a month for a free piece of chocolate.
Graeter’s - Sign up for the email club and get a Buy One Get One Free offer and special treat on your birthday.
Great American Cookie - Free cookie on your birthday.
I-HOP - Join the Pancake Revolution and get 3 free meals.
J.Gilberts - you will get $15 off your next visit and a free entrée up to $25 for your birthday every year.
Max and Erma’s - Good Neighbor’s rewards club where you earn points and get discounts off of your purchases as well as free treats on your birthday and throughout the year.
Melting Pot Fondue Club - Receive a free dessert on your birthday and anniversary.
Mitchell’s Fish Market - Join the eclub for special offers and a freebie on your birthday.
O’Charley’s - Get a coupon when you sign up, special promotions throughout the year, and special offer on your birthday.
Old Country Buffet - Get a Buy One Get One Free coupon.
Panera - My Panera – Special offer when you sign up, earn food and drink rewards, and get a free offer for your birthday.
Papa Murphy’s e-club - Special offers and coupons.
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Club - Get coupons, specials, and offers. Free cake on your birthday.
Qdoba Mexican Grill - exclusive offers, local event invitations, as well as a gift on your birthday. They send you a voucher for free chips and salsa for signing up.
Quizno’s - Q-club- Receive a free Sammie for signing up and get a free cookie on your birthday.
Red Robin - Join the e-club and get a free burger on your birthday (kids and adult club). Other offers throughout the year.
Ruby Tuesday - Get a free meal on your birthday.
Starbucks - Pick up a Starbucks card on your next visit and then register it online. You will get a beverage of your choice once a year and will earn “stars” with every visit.
TGI Friday’s - Join the “Give Me More Stripes Club” to receive information about free deals.
Unos - Join the insider’s Club and get freebies, coupons, and offers throughout the year including your birthday and anniversary.
Wendy’s - Sign up for Wendy’s mail and get special coupons and offers.

Just for the Kids:

Benihana - during the month of their birthday, get a FREE souvenir mug of their choice with the purchase of any Kid’s meal.
Bob Evans - Kid Time Birthday Club - Free meal on your birthday.
Boston Market - Get a freebie on your child’s birthday.
Burger King - Receive a birthday surprise.

California Pizza Kitchen - Free kids meal with drink and dessert in your child's birth month.
Denny’s - Receive a free kids meal for your child’s birthday.
First Watch - Sign up at First Watch and get a free kids meal on your child’s birthday.
Great American Cookie - Sign up at Great American Cookie and get a free cookies cake slice when you purchase a regular size soft drink.
IHOP - Sign up at IHOP and get a free kids meal on your child’s birthday.
Perkins - Free meal on their Birthday and other specials throughout the year.
Red Robin - Sign up for the eclub and get a free kids meal for your child’s birthday.
Shoney’s - Free meal on your Birthday.
Sonic - Wacky Pack Kid’s Birthday Club- Free meal on your birthday.

ENJOY!

One more thing......

It's not a restaurant but the deal was so good we thought we would share it anyway! Join Aveda’s Birthday Program today and get a free, full-size product (up to $24 value) on your birthday! :)

Family Fun this weekend!

2010-12-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Happy December everyone! We know it's a busy time for everyone, but rather than run to the mall this weekend, check out these fun things to do with the family.

Zoom: Family Film Festival
The Wexner Center for the Arts is holding it’s 7th annual film festival. They are hosting a FREE Breakfast Pajama Party tomorrow, Saturday the 3rd, with a waffle bar from Taste of Belgium from 9 - 10am in their cafe.

If your family doesn't like to rise early, don’t fret. You can go for their FREE Ice Cream Social tomorrow from 1 - 3pm. Did we mention the ice cream is provided by Jeni’s?

The Zoom festival runs until December 5th. The movie tickets are $3 each with a couple of them offered for free. Check this link for all the details!

Gingerbread Houses from all three of Dublin’s high schools will be displayed at Sisters Sweet Shoppe in Historic Dublin on Saturday, December 4 - more than 60 gingerbread houses in all! Visitors can bid on the houses, with all proceeds going to charity.

In addition, little ones can take part in crafts including decorating their own gingerbread houses. Sisters Sweet Shoppe will provide free hot chocolate for visitors, and samples of their popular fruitcakes, nuts and chocolates. For more information, call 614/761-1118.

Stay and take part in the historic district's Chili Cook-Off. For $5, participants will be able to sample 9 different chili's, made by local residents. Tasting stations include La Chatelaine, J. Liu's (final judging location) and Brazenhead, between 12.30 - 3.30pm.
The winner of the chili contest will be named at 4 p.m. at J'Liu's.

Please share this with anyone you like!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Restaurant fined for use of trans fats. Good or Bad?

2010-11-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

Headline Baltimore: "The Baltimore City Health Department issued its first environmental citation for repeat violations of the city’s trans fat ban."

Did you hear about this? I know it's not the biggest news story of the year (or even the day) but it did cause me to stop and say 'what?'. I had heard that some cities were talking about banning trans fats, but to be honest, I didn't really think they would, or could, do it. I agree with eating healthy and educating kids about good food choices and exercise - I talk about that stuff to my kids quite a bit. BUT..... An 'Environmental Citation' for margarine?

**********************************

Here is the story:

Since Baltimore's trans fat ban went into effect a year ago, the city has issued more than 100 warnings, but now it has levied its first environmental citation for repeated violations.

The Health Department issued Healthy Choice, a food facility in the 400 block of Lexington Street, a $100 fine on Thursday.

In July, Health Department inspectors found the store using margarine containing 3 grams of trans fat per serving, according to Juan Gutierrez, assistant commissioner for environmental health. That exceeded the limit of 0.5 grams per serving set by the ban, which took effect in September 2009.

Of more than 100 businesses found in violation during the ban's first year, this was the only one found in violation a second time, said Health Department spokesman Brian Schleter.

"While we are pleased with the high rates of compliance we've seen since the ban took effect," said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, "we will continue to sanction businesses that repeatedly fail to comply." Repeated violations can lead to closure and license revocation. (my bold for emphasis)

Baltimore's ban follows the step taken by other cities, including Philadelphia and New York, which enacted similar bans on a substance that health officials say clogs arteries. The ban took effect in fall 2009.

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Maybe I am hyper-sensitive to this sort of thing because of the business I'm in, or maybe it's my inner teenager who doesn't like to be told what to do, but something about this story really BUGS me.

How about you?

To be fair, this cartoon is way more mild than the story. It only warns us. The restaurants haven't actually been fined and shut down.....

More Kids Eat Free and Halloween Fun!

2010-10-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

Just found a new Kids Eat Free on Halloween deal that I wanted to share and a fun Halloween event at the North Market.

Abuelos at Easton;

Bring your little ghosts, goblins and super heroes to Abuelo's this Halloween!

Kids age 12 and younger who are dressed in a costume on Sunday, October 31, will receive a FREE kids meal. Limit two (2) free kids meals for each adult entrée purchased.

This sounds like a fun one;

Here is the press release from the North Market.

IT’S NO TRICK! IT’S TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE NORTH MARKET!

Columbus, OH—Come one, come all ye tiny ghouls, goblins, transformers and otherwise Halloween-adorned tots. The North Market will host its annual childrens’ Halloween party and trick-or-treat bonanza on Sunday, October 31 from 12-3PM.

Scheduled Halloween Party activities include:
North Market merchants open at 12-5PM.
Trick-or-Treating at the North Market, 12-3PM while candy supplies last
Backstage tours, cupcakes and punch at neighboring Columbus Children’s Theatre
Mark Wood Fun Show, 12-3PM
Crafts with the Columbus Artmobile, 12-3PM
Bounce house on the patio, 12-3PM
Face painting, 12-4PM
Bugman Enterprises with creepy crawlies, 1-3PM
Melody the Clown, 1-3PM

Additionally, if you've always wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Columbus Children's Theatre this is your chance to find out! Our neighbors will have their theatre open with cupcakes and punch for your little Drama Queen or King and will be giving backstage tours of the facility. Staff members will be on hand to answer all of your questions about classes, performances and other ways your child can be involved in the arts in Columbus.

The North Market Halloween Party runs Sunday, October 31 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is a free event for all costumed youth from toddlers to twelve-year-olds. For more information, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664.

2 MORE Halloween Deals

2010-10-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

These 2 just in......... :)

#1
Max & Erma's says HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Sunday October 31st, 2010
411 Metro Place North

Kids 12 & under, wear a costume and receive one kids meal per adult entree! Soda, juice and milk included. THIS DUBLIN LOCATION ONLY!

#2
Frisch's Big Boy: Get eight kid's meals for just $1! Frisch's Halloween Kid’s Cards can be purchased at any location until Oct. 31 and can be redeemed from Nov. 1 - Dec. 14. Each card is good for one kid's meal (including a drink). Must be accompanied by an adult for dine-in only, but no adult purchase is necessary.

Halloween Deals and Happenings in Columbus

2010-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a few Halloween Deals and Happenings around Columbus that I thought some of you may be interested in trying out with your little ghosts and goblins. They can’t survive (at least not for long!) on candy alone......

IHOP: Free Scary face pancake Friday, October 29, 2010 -1 per child (12 and under). In addition to the scary face pancake for kids -adults can see about 1 of their all-you can eat pancake combo deals. Be sure to check their website for more information.

Chick-Fil-A: At the Hilliard location get a Free 8-count Nugget if you come in wearing any appropriate Halloween costume. No purchase necessary, limit one offer per person, must be present to receive.

Chili's: Bring the kids in their Halloween costume on October 30 or 31st and they get a free kids meal. To save even more, join Chili’s e-Club and get FREE Chips & Queso appetizer to round out your meal. Limit 1 child per adult entree purchase. Children must be 12 years or under and accompanied by an adult.

TGI Fridays: Friday & Saturday, October 29th & 30th get a Free appetizer (Fried Mozzarella, Pot Stickers, or Crispy Green Bean Fries) if you are dressed in a costume. Sunday 10/31 Kids in Costume eat free all day from the kids menu. Must have one paid adult entree per child.

Chipotle: They are offering another Halloween deal this year. It’s not as good or as easy as last year’s offer, but it is my guess that last year’s Halloween turn-out for a FREE burrito ‘scared’ them a bit. This year you have to come in after 6pm dressed as a ‘horrifying processed food product’ and they will give you a burrito, bowl, salad, or an order of tacos for $2. I love Chipotle but I’m not sure I will work that hard for a few dollars off. I’m just sayin’.... :)

Mimi's Cafe: No costume necessary, but coupon is required! Friday-Sunday nights in October kids eat free -Up to 4 kids (with qualifying adult entree' purchases). Be sure to check out their website and print off the coupon for this deal.

These are specials because of Halloween. You can always go to our KidsDealDays section to find the places that offer deals on a weekly basis.

And a few fun things to do with your little ghouls.....

Boo at the Zoo: Activities, reptile station, haunted rides, and,of course, the animals. Note: Children are welcome to dress in costume. However, only adults accompanied by a child or children under 13 years of age will be permitted to wear costumes on zoo grounds.

When: Oct 22-24, Oct 29-31

Where: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Time Fri: 5-9 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Treat Stations open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Inniswood’s Metro Park is having it annual Halloween Party in the gardens. Enjoy games, face-painting, and crafts that celebrate this traditional annual holiday.

When: Oct 31st, 2-4pm

Cost: free

"Trick or Treat at Tuttle" runs from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27th. Costumed children under 12 and their families are welcome (if a weapon, plastic or not, is part of their costume, it should be left at home). The kids will be given bags, and they can collect treats and coupons from many of the mall merchants who have a Candy Stop sign in their window.

In addition to candy collecting, kids can enjoy entertainment by local children's band The Shazzbots, PT Reptiles, Yellow Rose Cloggers and balloon artists. The Hilliard and Hilltop YMCAs will be conducting carnival games (a quarter a game) in the food court, with proceeds going to the Central Ohio YMCA.

Happy Halloween Everybody! And if you have a picture of your costumed kiddos that you would like to share, I would be happy to post it!

The Taste of Fall

2010-10-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

In an alternate universe, my home looks like the Pottery Barn catalog. Neighbors and family gather around the Fall inspired, tastefully decorated hearth, a fire warms them as I effortlessly create magazine photo worthy Fall culinary delights that everyone swoons over.....

In this universe, I usually don’t have time to go to the orchard, pick honey-crisp apples, arrive home to my soon to be, when I get the time, beautifully decorated home, and make homemade pie crusts with my grandmothers recipe for said apples in order to serve warm apple pie a la mode (with easily whipped up carmel drizzle and a cinnamon stick garnish) to my family.

But I love Fall anyway. Even if it’s not picture perfect around here. Beautiful colors, crisp air, football fever, bon fires, pumpkin patches, fuzzy blankets, warm cozy comfort food. Warm cozy comfort food. As much as I love it, I can’t seem to find the time to make it. The kids need costumes, school parties need coordinators, pumpkins need carving, leaves need raking..... you get the picture.

Here’s my thought. Let someone else make the food! Lots of restaurants have added seasonal items to their menus or already have great comfort food that will warm you up on a cool crisp Fall day. So I’m going to go spend time carving pumpkins with my munchkins and treat myself and family to a cozy comfy meal --- out.

A few places I have found that seem to fit the bill;

Pumpkins say Fall. And Sunny Street Cafe says let’s make Pumpkin Pancakes! Sweet cream sauce and butter with walnuts and cinnamon to top it off. Breakfast and dessert have always been interchangeable in my mind anyway!

I have to admit to eating this in the Spring on the patio too, but for Fall you should go to La Chatelaine for their cream of tomato basil soup - and don’t skip the croutons and cheese! The bakery atmosphere and warm cozy dining room with the stone fireplace is the perfect place to be on a Fall day.

They say appetizer, I say entree. To each his own. Matt the Millers Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Grits are absolutely crave-able. Warm white corn and cheddar grit cakes topped with sauteed shrimp, tasso ham, peppers, onions and a creamy cajun cream sauce. Just writing about them makes me want to jump in my car and go!

An age old way to warm up, Bravo offers hot Apple Cider with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum - and a new tredier way to warm up - their Apple Cider Martini. Any of their pasta dishes warm my sole, but for Fall you can finish your meal with their seasonal Pumpkin Creme Brulee and housemade biscotti.

The Morgan House serves a warm and delicious Kendra's creamy chicken pot pie. It’s topped with puff pastry and served in a fun terra-cotta pot. Their hot hot mulled cider works too to warm you on a cold Fall day.

Hearty Fall favorites can be fancy too. Although you can get it year-round, Hyde Park warms you inside and out with their classic favorite, Steak Kosar. 7oz or 10oz filet mignon over bordelaise crowned with lobster and bearnaise; asparagus and mushroom caps.

What is Fall without Mac-n-Cheese. And NOT the boxed kind. Good, homemade style Mac-n-Cheese. Hoggy's Mac-n-cheese is made-from-scratch with a combination of three different cheeses and two different types of macaroni. Finishedunder the broiler, the top is slightly browned and crispy, but the inside is smooth and creamy. In my picky family, the kids don’t like ‘the brown stuff’. Lucky for me - I do! Yum!

A ‘featured dish’ for the chilly months at Kogen's is called Beef Pho (this is pronounced Beef Fuh - as in.... uh, let me think about that) Traditional Vietnamese Pho ( Beef Noodle Soup ) is a hearty soup of Beef simmered for over 8 hours with onions and spices. It is served with a side of vegetables and sauces that can be combined to create a custom flavor.

Just in time for Fall, Rusty Bucket has added some new menu items. Three new wing sauces - mild with teriyaki, spicy with sriracha sauce, and chipotle for those looking for a medium flavor. They also have added some new comfort foods including Short Ribs Sloppy-Joes, Pork Wing Tacos and Shrimp Grilled Cheese.

Did Scotland invent comfort food? It seems like everything on Digger & Finch's menu says “come on in and get comfy”. The two that stand out to me are the Guinness Stout and Cheddar soup and Scotland Yard’s Shepherd’s Pie. The pie is made with ground chuck, lamb and pork simmered in cabernet, with carrots, onions and peas baked in a cheddar potato crust - you can start your diet tomorrow!

Traditional Fall comfort food, maybe not, but Gooseneck Tavern has added a few new ‘spicy’ dishes to their menu that are sure to warm you up. Boom Boom Shrimp, Willow Noodles, and Grilled Andouille Sausage and Shrimp are all touted as having a bit of a kick!

I was at the Dublin Village Tavern last week and gave their Village Chowder a try in honor of the season. Potato, ham & cheese chowder with fresh jalapenos. Let’s just say I will definitely be back for more.

Do you have a favorite Fall restaurant dish? If so, please share!

One more thing..... I haven’t found my favorite place to get chili - almost the very definition of Fall food. (Actually I have, but my mom doesn’t own a restaurant.) Who serves your favorite?

Beauty comes from the inside, unless of course, you use Photoshop.

2010-10-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my heart just broke a little. My beautiful little girl just said she was fat. Not my 13 year old. My 9 year old. 9 years old! The thing is, she's not fat, not even close. She's sporty and cute and has an adorable little body - not rail thin skinny like some kids she knows, but not even close to 'fat'.

So why? I have made a very conscience effort to NEVER call myself fat (even when I've felt it!) or to complain about my body in front of my kids precisely because I didn't want them to even think about being fat or thin. I want them to be healthy and fit and comfortable in their own skin. I don't want them to be self-conscious about their thighs like I was (okay, am) or go on their first diet in the 5th grade like I did. So what more can I do?

I guess you can't totally shield your kids from society's take on what is beautiful. Everything from the magazines in the grocery checkout line to the Disney shows on TV promote being Hollywood beautiful as the most important life goal to achieve. No wonder our girls have a tough time recognizing their own beauty. But what I am trying to do and will continue to try to do is emphasize the importance of being a good person, being empathetic, and finding like minded friends. I do realize that saying "being kind is much more important than being beautiful" won't make them believe it, and I will get my fare share of eye-rolls. But I am hoping that if they hear it enough, maybe someday it will sink in. It's an uphill battle that I am willing to fight, and though I realize I might lose, maybe somewhere in the process I will learn a little something myself.

Luckily there are groups and companies out there that are helping with the fight. I saw this video produced by Dove for their 'Real Beauty' campaign a while ago and showed it to my kids. My son too, so that he may have a more realistic view of women. They thought it was 'cool' and we talked about how what you see in magazines is not 'reality' etc. etc., but truth be told, it's a good reminder for all of us as we look at the 'perfect people'. So I'll watch this again, show it to them again, and hope at least a little bit of it sticks....

Notice how they lengthen her neck and make her eyes bigger! This 'new' girl they created is whose idea of beauty?

Weighing in on BMI (Body Mass Index) testing in schools.

2010-10-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

Did any of you read the article in the Dublin addition of ThisWeek News about BMI (Body Mass Index) testing that is to be done at the public schools? It sounds like it is going to be state-wide in the next year or so. I am trying to have an open mind about this but I am finding that an open mind lets both good and bad things in......

Believe me, I am heartbroken when I see an overweight or obese child because I know it is a huge obstacle to overcome not only in their own health but in society. But can government really help here? Is that the goal? Education about the importance of good nutrition and plenty of exercise is key, but my question is, where are we going with weighing the children and testing their BMI at school? Don't doctors do that? What will be done with the information that is gathered?

The people pushing for this have a game plan. Data can be manipulated and interpreted in multiple ways. What comes next? Does anyone really think that the data will show that on average, kids are healthy and nothing more needs to be done? Millions of dollars have gone in to this already and with implementation, millions if not billions more will follow. Speaking of following, maybe if we 'follow the money' we will see more clearly who is leading us.

I found this interesting little blurb on the government changing the definition and standards of measure of obesity in 1998 which shifted close to 30 million people to the 'over-weight or obese' category without gaining an ounce. If that is true and you run the numbers, true obesity is down since 1980. Huh? That flies totally in the face of everything we have been told about the Fattening of America. Are we being sold a bill of goods? I know, healthy food is good, being fat is bad....... Education is good, being told what we can eat, what we can feed our kids, how to live our lives............... very bad.

How much do we really want other people telling us what to do and how to live? As a parent of 3 children, I am just trying to see how this is going to play out. Mrs. Johnson's 3rd grade class is lined up to be weighed and pinched and categorized as being good enough or not good enough? By whose standards? Will this be a good platform for skinny children to be mean to the heavier ones? (as if gym class isn’t bad enough?) Will those that are categorized as overweight or obese be put in special PE classes or have to eat from a different menu than the others, or only be allowed to bring certain foods from home? Who will police that? Who should police that?

I don't THINK that this will happen, but I actually didn't THINK that anyone would ban McDonald's Happy Meal toys either.

Funny, only not so much......