I just realized the other day that July was just about over and we hadn’t had a MBIP Contributor’s Lunch yet! Fearing a strike, I sent out a gang email and a Contributor’s Luncheon was planned for today, the last day in July. To the MBIP mobile!
It's a grey old day as we head out for the Contributor's Lunch. We're on our way to a popular Peoria lunch spot, the Lariat Steakhouse over on Glen, right next door to Acme Comics.
And there it is, right down there on the horizon.
It's always bugged me a little that there's no sign on the building, but what are you going to do?
Once again, I'm a little crazy early. The clock in my car says 11:22, but it's set six minutes ahead of time, so it's really 11:16. I have this thing where I have to be first whenever I meet people, just one of my many hangups in life.
So let's go in and see what's going on at the Lariat this afternoon.
Here's the bar, where we sat at the last time I was in here for a Saturday Night Cheeseburger episode, last February. February? Wow, time is flying by!
Here's the tap shot for the Spike-O-Rama rating of the day.
And here's where we're having lunch today, the dining room at the Lariat Steakhouse. This is one of the darkest rooms in Peoria. It always feels like midnight in here and that's why I love it!
See what I mean?
Wooden booths with green leather padding line the walls in here.
And here's a couple more tucked away in the corner of the dining room.
I chose a round table to sit at and here's Naomi, our pretty and friendly waitress serving me up the first of many iced teas of the day.
I love the vintage chandeliers and wooden ceiling hanging overhead in here.
Okay, here's three of the Contributors who've shown up...
And here's the usual gang of idiots, assembled for our monthly lunching get together. From left: Mike Foster, Paul O'Connor, Chip Joyce, Bob Gordon, Yours Fooly and Scott Turley. Not present are "Boris" Boden, Gene Rubbico and Jaws the Cabbie. M.I.A. are Whale and Jeff Putnam. Hike!
Naomi comes by to take our order as Paul tries to hypnotize me. Look into my eyes...
Paul finally gives up on trying to hypnotize me and orders as Chip stares at Naomi in a Ted Bundyish way and Bob is just about to hurl. Perfect!
The food arrives, but put down your sandwiches everyone, time for food porn shots at the Lariat Steakhouse!
I got a bowl of the chicken rice soup and assembled all four of the crackers that came with it into the aforementioned soup.
I also got a Caesar salad which came on a red plate. For whatever reason, this salad presentation made me think of Sgt. Pepper. I guess it had something to do with the colors, but I didn't think too long about it.
Scott got the Reuben, with a side of the homemade potato chips.
Bob got an order of the pot roast with mashed potatoes.
Paul got a Reuben as well and here he is displaying it in all it's meaty glory. Meaty beaty big and bouncy.
Both Mike and Chip got the French Dip with chips. Who's order is this? I'll never tell!
We had a nice and lively conversation at lunch as always with topics ranging from: Lacon, Illinois, bridges, death, Hunter Thompson, Hell’s Angels, Tom Wolfe, death, Ken Kesey, homemade potato chips, death and pasta. I'm going to be totally self-centered and give myself credit for the best line of the lunch which was: "I wish the entire world was sober, then there’d be more people to drive me home at night." Baboom!
We now pause for a couple of Chip Joyce plugs: Chip is performing in the upcoming prodcution of "Chitty Chtty Bang Bang" August 2nd through the 10th at Eastlight Theatre and he'll be directing The Graduate at Cornstock Winter Playhouse, November 1st through the 10th. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to see who's going to be playing Mrs. Robinson. Kook, kook a choo!
Wake up, Scott!
On my way out I ran into the owner of the Lariat, Dan Kouri, who was chatting with Bruce Saurs, who we met on a Saturday Night Cheeseburger at the Black Rabbit. It was great to see both of them and cheers to all of the MBIP Contributors! We'll see you all tomorrow.
The Lariat Steakhouse
2232 West Glen Avenue
Peoria
309-691-4731
Related Posts: SNC @ The Lariat, CL @ Jimmy’s Bar and CL @ Mike’s Tavern.
