A BAKER’S DOZEN OF THINGS THAT SENIORS LIKE IN A RESTAURANT!
Posted: September 30, 2018 Filed under: Florida, geezerEats, geezerTrips, Uncategorized | Tags: restaurants Leave a comment »We are retired and eat out frequently; especially when on vacation in Florida. I got to thinking about what I liked in restaurants, given my age of 78. I like small French, Mexican, Italian and Chinese restaurants. I like table cloths, cloth napkins and water. I also realize that I am inconsistent, so you should take this list of a baker’s dozen with a grain of salt. Trust but verify, a senior’s mantra!
- Quiet – The app Soundprint registers noise in restaurants. I, like many old people, am deaf and it is hard to hear in a crowded restaurant where the tables are close together or where you are seated near a large group of people.
- Share a plate – We don’t eat as much, so if we can share a plate, even for an extra charge, that is great.
- Smaller portions – We don’t need huge portions, or all you can eat buffets.
- Water – some of us drink a lot of water, and I, at least, judge a waiter by whether or not my water-glass is kept full.
- Parking – easy access and spaces wide enough to get in and out of the car with ease.
- Uber or Lyft – Uber or Lyft is great for old people. They are fast, convenient and allow us to have a glass of wine, without worrying about drunk driving. Nothing like a newspaper article that describes me as “elderly.”
- Enough light to read the menu – Not only am I deaf, but I have trouble seeing in dim light. My i-Phone, with its built-in flashlight, has been a boon to my old age. Until you are old, you don’t realize how hard it can be to see in dim light.
- Simple choices – My mind is not as quick as it used to be, so the fewer, easier, and simpler choices, the happier I am.
- Doggy bags – if we can’t or don’t share a plate, a container to take half of our food home is great; even if we don’t have a dog.
- Non-fried preparation – Digestion can be a problem; and, of course I am very conscious of the life expectancy tables. I like to keep my options open.
- Easy access – I need to get to my table and to the men’s room. Stairs, rugs, close tables, servers, folding tray tables, and using the hall to the men’s room for storage can lead to falls and always makes me nervous. Remember, falls are the leading cause of …….. for seniors.
- Bargain – a price I think is fair,
- Non-processed food – Too much food today is processed – at my age not only do I not need it, it is bad for me.
One French restaurant that I like is Chez Colette’s in Belleair Bluffs, Florida, which meets all my criteria.
THINK OLD!
A WALK ON THE BEACH AND BREAKFAST FOR THE geezer!
Posted: September 29, 2018 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerTrips, SIMPLICITY, Why Am I Here? | Tags: beach, Breakfast, Florida, health, simplicity, walking Leave a comment »Walking on the beach and breakfast at Crabby Bill’s in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.
I was raised in the mid-west and have lived in New Mexico for over 50 years, so the beach has always drawn me.
My wife’s family lived in Largo, Florida and Indian Rocks Beach has been a place she has been familiar with for over 50 years.The attraction has rubbed off on me.
Our life there is simple. We rent a condo overlooking the beach, we rent a car through Costco, we use Uber, we go to the library and frequent consignment stores. We have wi-fi. Good restaurants are within walking distance.
My interest in genealogy leads me to the Pinellas County Genealogy Society which has regular meetings and lots of sources. It is located on the second floor of the Largo library.
My morning routine is what makes my day. I wake-up early and walk a mile and a half on the beach to Crabby Bill’s, a restaurant/bar that awakens at 7:00 AM. It is simple, indoors and outdoors, and caters to different customers depending on the time of the day. At 8:00 AM there is a smaller more mature crowd. At noon and in the evening they serve great fresh fish and beer at long communal tables.
Prior to breakfast is a stop at the CVS Pharmacy next door for the New York Times, a habit I have even in New Mexico. (Today, the first time in years, they didn’t know what I was talking about when I asked for the NY Times.)
As an aside, since old people always have something wrong with them, don’t forget that CVS Pharmacies have a “Minute Clinic.” They can handle all sorts of minor health problems; and, if nothing else triage you and get you more help if needed. You can get a place in line on-line, but I have always found them to be quick, helpful and professional. Why go to an emergency room unless it is an emergency?
I read the times while eating the All American Special with crisp bacon for $6.00. I then walk a mile and a half back to the condo; hopefully with a new blog topic.
Fresh air, great breakfast and the news by 9:00. What could be better?
THINK OLD!
SONORAN HOT DOGS IN TUCSON!
Posted: June 27, 2018 Filed under: ARIZONA, geezerEats, geezerTrips, Uncategorized | Tags: Bourdain, Sonoran hot dogs, Tucson Leave a comment »I have been coming to Tucson for over twenty years and have never tried a Sonoran Hot Dog. Recently I have been reading Anthony Bourdain’s books, Kitchen Confidential and The Nasty Bits, in which he advocates seeking out the authentic cooking of the place you are visiting.
Today, I went on Yelp after searching for the best Sonoran Hot Dogs in Tucson and came up with El Sinaloense, a hot dog cart that is permanently parked on North Alvernon.
It was raining, unusual in Tucson, but we parked behind the cart and the tent that covered it and ordered our hot dogs with everything. It was one of the best hot dogs that I have ever eaten; even better than those at The Dog House in Albuquerque, of Breaking Bad fame.
Two hot dogs, two drinks came to $6. We ate in at picnic tables. There was one cook who turned out hot dogs in minutes, complete with hot peppers.
The hot dog wrapped in bacon and in a special bun has onions, tomatoes, salsa, mayo, mustard and cheese. The Sonoran Hot Dog is unique to Tucson with over 200 places serving them; mostly from carts or food trucks parked in vacant lots. I have discovered a few in Albuquerque, but have not tried them yet.
Well worth the trip. Now, every time we come to Tucson, a Sonoran Hot Dog will be on the menu.
To find a Sonoran Hot Dog near you: Google “Sonoran Hot Dog”+ name of your town. or, if you live out of the Southwest, Google “Sonoran Hot Dog”+recipe, and make your own.
And, of course, mine turned out:
THINK OLD!
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO – the journey, not the goal, is the goal!
Posted: December 22, 2017 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerQuests, geezerTrips, My Backyard, New Mexico Leave a comment »Several times a year we drive the 450 miles from Albuquerque, NM to Tucson, AZ to see our grandchildren. The trip takes about 7 1/2 hours, but since we are retired and have extra time, we explore along the way. In old age, you come to realize that the trip may be as important as the goal.
Between Albuquerque and Tucson, you can find a number of interesting things all in New Mexico and all just off I-25: the Very Large Array Telescopes near Socorro, NM, the Hatch Chile Festival and Sparky’s, SpacePort America, Elephant Butte Lake, and, usually an overnight stop at the Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa, owned by Ted Turner which in addition to providing an interesting Lodge, also provides tours of Ted Turner’s nearby ranches.
Since I originally wrote this, Spaceport America has restarted tours.
The lobby at Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Fire truck at Spaceport America.
In our 70’s the Sierra Grande Lodge gets us out of our comfort zone, which is good, if at times unnerving. I haven’t had bison in 63 years, when I had it at Philmont Scout Ranch, at the end of a 37 day trek at age 14. The restaurant serves bison burgers, bison rib-eye, and if you just want to test the water, 4 ounces of bison steak in a great pasta dish. You can eat indoors or out; the patio is great:
Animas Creek Pasta With Bison
Outdoor Patio – Restaurant at Sierra Grande Lodge.
The Lodge, like many other places in T or C has it’s own hot springs. There are indoor spas and an outdoor one. The naturally hot water has made T or C a destination for a thousand years. It used to be called Hot Springs, NM until it won a 1950 radio show contest hosted by Ralph Edwards, and changed its name.
We like the outdoor spa; private but open to the stars. In our 70’s we are out of our comfort zone for nude bathing; and it may even be pornographic, but a half-hour soak removes a lot of age-related soreness and is included in the price of your room.
Outdoor Hot Springs Spa at Sierra Grande Lodge, Truth or Consequences, NM
Outdoor hot springs spa as Sierra Grande Lodge.
Next time you travel to see your grandkids, look around you, take your time, and try to get out of your “old” comfort zone. You may learn something new.
The point is; especially at your age, you should be interested in the journey, not the END of the journey.
THINK OLD!
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GROWERS’ MARKETS – A source for traveling seniors!
Posted: July 8, 2017 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerTrips, My Backyard, New Mexico, Uncategorized | Tags: Abluquerque, burrito, crafts, creativity, farmers, growers, market Leave a comment »If you are traveling to Albuquerque you should visit the Los Ranchos Growers’ Market on Saturday morning.
The growers’ market is a weekly event, though many towns have different markets on different days.
In Albuquerque, there are several, but my favorite is the Los Ranchos Growers’ Market on North Rio Grande. There are farmers (maybe urban) selling peaches, onions, beets, berries, etc. There are also a number of bakers and several vendors of meats. The mix changes weekly and what is offered changes as crops are picked. Always fresh, never shipped in.
There are also dozens of local crafts people selling jewelry, hats, canes, clothing, etc. Almost anything someone could make at home; especially if they are old and retired. A number of our friends have set up sales tents to sell things they have made. You might even want to consider a new career. Want to sell hats?
Take a look at Hat Academy to learn how. You don’t just have to be a buyer; you can also be a seller. The same goes for any other craft. If nothing else, these markets are a source of creative ideas.
Some of the stands at the Los Ranchos Growers’ Market.
The best part for me is the food. I always stop for a breakfast burrito. For $4.00 I get the # 1 which is a large tortilla filled with eggs, potatoes, crisp bacon and Hatch green chile. Another dollar gets me a cup of coffee and there is a table and a few chairs where I can sit and watch the people go by.
I know that it sounds strange to go to a growers’ market when you are travelling, but it is an interesting bit of local lore and even when you are on the road you need to eat and you may want some fruit to tide you over. I have been to such markets in Taos, Tucson, Waynesville, NC, Washington, DC; not to mention Bulgaria, Armenia and Belgrade. Each has been an interesting experience.
How to find a growers’ market near you; wherever you may be:
“growers’ market”+City
THINK OLD!
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HUNGRY HARVEST – an opportunity for old people??
Posted: June 4, 2017 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerHealth, Uncategorized Leave a comment »On Sunday, my son walked a few blocks in Washington, DC to pick up his box of vegetables and fruit from Hungry Harvest, a non-profit that collects excess food from grocery stores and distributes it to people who pay $15 per box.
Each box contains surplus, not spoiled, food; and, for each box sold, an identical box is donated to a food-bank to be distributed to people who can’t afford fresh vegetables and fruit.
Today’s box contained 4 oranges, 2 large carrots, head of cauliflower, 3 avocados, asparagus, onions, 3 pears, kale, and 2 ears of corn. Enough to feed two people for 5 meals or so
My thought is that it could be a good system for old people. Either for $15 or for free through a food bank. Either way, seniors get needed fruits and vegetables close to where they live.
Maybe other parts of the country should try it.
Sample Food Selections
THINK OLD!
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BLUE APRON – ALTERNATIVE MEALS FOR SENIORS, and anyone else!
Posted: May 19, 2017 Filed under: geezerEats, Uncategorized | Tags: Blue Apron, eating, meal service Leave a comment »Eating can be a problem for seniors. You have to shop. You have to prepare. You have to have the right spices and you end up with too much of unusual spices. The result is the same old same old. You are also afraid to try anything new. And, if you qualify for meals-on-wheels, it is usually bland and if you have ever looked in an old person’s freezer you find it crammed with old meals-on-wheels.
We have been trying Blue Apron. We can order it on a weekly basis and get three meals for two people. The box of ingredients arrives by FedEx on Thursday with freezer packs that have always been frozen solid. The box contain everything that you need and in the exact amounts that you need. If it is spicy, you are cautioned to add less of the spice. You also get pictures and instructions on how to prepare the meal in about 30 minutes. The net result is dinner for two, or even three, as the portions are large. It is quick and easy, but does require some concentration; which is not all bad.
Blue Apron Crispy Cod & Zuzu-Shoyu Soba Meal ready for the geezer to cook.
The ingredients above, which cost $20 and was delivered on a Thursday, became the following meal on a Friday.
Blue Apron Crispy Cod & Zuzu-Shoyu Soba Meal ready for the geezer to eat. Recipe photo behind wine.
The cost is $60 for three meals for two person each; or ten bucks a meal per person. This includes shipping. The food has always arrived a day early, Thursday instead of Friday, and has always been frozen solid, or cool, depending on the food. Each box has two freezer packs which can be reused, recycled, or given to a friend.
We have tried about 40 meals. Each week you get a selection of three meals which you can choose from six selections; although you are somewhat limited in that you can’t just pick the expensive stuff. Looking ahead a few weeks, the three meals are: Seared Steak and Fingerling Potatoes; Cajun-spiced Chicken; and, Spicy pork and Rice Bowls.
The wine was not included, but Blue Apron has a wine service.
You can also order two meals a week for four people each and have neighbors in.
There are several other services, but we have not tried them.
Best of all, Blue Apron relies on sustainable farming, no food waste and fresh ingredients without additives. They will even help you recycle the boxes and the freezer packs, but I have found that friends who go camping love them.
THINK OLD!
MURPHY’S MULE BARN – An Albuquerque reminder of the Midwest 60 years ago.
Posted: April 28, 2017 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerTrips | Tags: chicken fried steak, Mid-west Leave a comment »
Chicken Fried Steak – a reminder of the Midwest in the 60’s.
If you were raised in the Midwest, like me, you recall the simple meal of chicken fried steak, vegetables, salad and potatoes. Ok, so I opted for french fries instead of the mashed potatoes.
This has been an Albuquerque treat since the early 60’s, and is still going strong today. Where else can you get chicken-fried steak for $10.85 or liver and onions for $9.50. In fact in this day of rampant cardiologists, where can you find these Midwestern favorites at all.
Located in Albuquerque at 2nd street and Alameda (9200 2nd NW), it is open from 6;00 AM to 8:00 PM, no liquor, large helpings and a friendly staff that reminds you of home if you come from the Midwest.
When I travel, I like to visit places that remind me of my youth, which I imagine to be a simpler, friendlier time. Perhaps it is not true, but still…. It is what makes genealogy interesting and Murphy’s beats fast food places.
The wall in Murphy’s Mule Barn.
The exterior hasn’t changed in 60 years.
Murphy’s doesn’t have a web site, but you can check out its menu at Zomato.
Wherever you go, look for your roots. Relive the past, if only for a chicken fried steak in a funky cafe.
Now that I am reminiscing, I need to look for something even better with its roots in the Midwest – a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich which will take me back to late nights in college in Iowa. Stay tuned.
You might want to search out favorite foods of your youth.
SEARCH IDEAS:
GOOGLE: Town you are going to +name of food
For example: breaded pork tenderloin +Albuquerque
The menu at Murphy’s doesn’t show a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.
The search yields M’tuccis restaurant and a” Crispy Green Chile Roasted Pork Tenderloin Sandwich” for lunch at $12; the best of Iowa and New Mexico.
THINK OLD!
WHY AM I HERE? – geezer and McDONALD’S!!
Posted: February 9, 2016 Filed under: geezerEats, geezerFriendly, geezerTips, geezerTrips, Life Style, Why Am I Here? | Tags: age, aging, elder, elderly, geriatric, lifespan, old age, old people, retirement, senior, senior citizen Leave a comment »Approximately 60 years ago, I worked at a McDonald’s in Wichita, Kansas. I worked the evening shift after a day of spot-welding, making french-fries to pay for college. It was a summer job and taught me a lot.
At 75, I find McDonalds useful to me again. In the morning, both in Albuquerque, NM and on the road when I travel, it provides me with a “Senior Coffee” for 47 cents and an Egg McMuffin; frequently two for the price of one, if you participate in their survey, and get a validation Code. Thus breakfast for two this morning, with good coffee and fresh-fried eggs, came to $4.17 plus .29 tax for a total of $4.46; and, no tip.
Getting the validation code only takes a few minutes on your computer and at my age the hand-eye coordination is useful. The survey site marks a sample Promo receipt so it is easy to know how to fill in the survey.
I like the clean restrooms, the free Wi-Fi, and the staff; a bit older than when I was running the french fry machine in the late fifty’s. It makes a clean, safe, stop where I can check my e-mail, have a coffee and use the restrooms.
Groups of seniors seem to gather in the early morning at many local McDonald’s; and, on the road at the highway McDonalds. Most are great, one or two, I wouldn’t go back to, but for us McDonald’s has become a senior ritual not to mention a social gathering place.
THINK OLD!