American – Page 16

Tom+Chee | Katy, Texas

January 20, 2018 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

For lunch we went to Tom+Chee. We’ve all been wanting to try this place since it opened up but I’ve always tried to stay away from it due to the price and what they serve.

2018 | 020/365 | Tom+Chee | Katy, Texas | Pesto Turkey Melt + Creamy Basil Tomato Soup

Pesto Turkey Melt [Mozzarella cheese, hand-carved turkey breast, Roma tomatoes, basil sunflower pesto, wheat berry bread] with Creamy Tomato Basil Soup [a hearty blend of tomato, cream, garlic, basil] Combo [with a drink] | $9.99

[2018] 020/365: Simple, Expensive Meal

We were right. Although it was nice, I’d rather spend my ten dollars for a better meal. Other than that everything did taste scrumptious.

Last night we were so busy playing board games, Scruffy and I didn’t get to watch much of Game of Thrones so we’re back at it again since Sissy and BIL left. I did get a quick workout in and that’s all that matters.

Tom+Chee
21788 Katy Fwy, Katy, Texas 77449 | (281) 394-9501 | Website | Yelp

2018 Lake Charles, Louisiana | Day 4

January 7, 2018 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

[2018] 007/365: Rainy Days Seem to Hurt the Most

Scruffy and I cannot wake up today. He kept hitting the snooze button and I continued laying in bed because of it. Once we got our lazy butts up we packed a bit then headed to Taco Mel for what Andrew says is one of the best tacos ever.

Taco Mel Taqueria | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Barbacoa and Carne Asada Tacos

Barbacoa Taco [tender slow cooked beef] | $2.99; Carne Asada Taco [thinly sliced grilled beef] | $2.99

You order your meat and get all you want for toppings and sauces. You can tell I piled that on! I wouldn’t say this is the best tacos ever but maybe it is for Lake Charles.

The drive was pretty painful. It was raining super hard and it was super bright out. The plethora of cars on the road didn’t help matters either. Thankfully, Scruffy wanted to stop at Checkers Drive-In and was nice enough to switch seats with me.

Vanilla and Strawberry Milkshakes, Famous Seasoned Fries, Chicken Bites & Fries Box, Funnel Cake Fries

We went on our merry way and I fed him while he drove. Once we were done, I was sleepy and took a nap. By the time I woke up we were almost home!

He stayed for a quick bit and went home to Luna and his parents. His parents were having people over and we, too, were having people over. Katie, John, Tim, Joanna, and Jas came over for dinner and after dinner we had fun watching Jas make noise and pet Rizzo.

I am pooped. Though we didn’t do much this trip I had fun overall. It was nice of Andrew to let us borrow his place for the weekend.

I finally received my new planner for the year. We’re already a couple weeks ahead but I cannot wait to see how this one will compare to my usual. Stay tuned for that!

Taco Mel
2749 County Club Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605 | (337) 602-6482 | Website | Yelp

Checkers Drive-In
490 N 11th St, Beaumont, Texas 77702 | (409) 833-6365 | Website | Yelp

2018 Lake Charles, Louisiana | Day 3

January 6, 2018 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

2018 | 006/365 | Ball's Fried Chicken #2 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Piece Meals with Onion Rings and Okra

3 Piece Mixed Chicken Dinner [with a side of okra] | $6.49; 2 Piece Dark Chicken Dinner [with a side of onion rings] | $5.49

[2018] 006/365: Best Fried Chicken

We started off the day with some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever had at the second location of Ball’s Fried Chicken. Their chicken is on point. Crispy, a bit of spiciness, and a whole lot of juiciness. The only thing they need to upgrade is their sides. I wasn’t a big fan of them and wished for either mashed potatoes or green beans.

We went home and watched episodes of Black Mirror and took a nap before heading out to L’Auberge Casino. Scruffy and I each gambled a twenty five and twenty bucks respectively and we both lost.

We waited in line for what seemed an hour for Le Beaucoup Buffet. This is inside L’Auberge Casino if any of you are wondering. The service was pretty bad at first but it got better as we started to eat.

Le Beaucoup Buffet | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Snow and Dungeness Crabs

All-You-Can-Eat | $36.99/person

We were mostly here for the snow crabs and dungeness crabs. Let’s just say we both ate more than our fair share to make up for the cost of the entry fee.

Scruffy went to gamble some more and I used the $2.40 I had left on slots. After losing it all, I had thirty six cents left the slot asked if I wanted to use the rest to gamble for free spins. I came out winning fifty free spins. FIFTY! And with that fifty spins I won $46.52. Not too shabby!

We cashed out and went back to the Golden Nugget Casino. Scruffy’s idea. I didn’t mind though since he didn’t suggest Isle of Capri. Yuck. That place … never again.

Scruffy lost some monies and ended up following me to the slot machines. I put in a twenty, played at three different machines and at my last roll before I had no more money left, I hit a jackpot and came out with $100.07. I clicked “cash out” and we went on our merry way.

We won’t be gambling after tonight so at the end of all of this, Scruffy lost $40 and I won $164 on the whole trip. Not too bad I’d say.

Tomorrow we’ll be grabbing lunch and heading back home. It was nice having only me and him time. We wished our pups were with us. One day …

Ball’s Fried Chicken #2
4325 Common St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 | (337) 562-2688 | Yelp

L’Auberge Casino
777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 395-7777 | Website | Yelp

Le Beaucoup Buffet
777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 395-7114 | Website | Yelp

Golden Nugget
2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 508-7777 | Website | Yelp

2018 Lake Charles, Louisiana | Day 2

January 5, 2018 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

[2018] 005/365: Cashing Out

Scruffy started the day working while I slept in a bit more then we both headed to lunch at Steamboat Bill’s Seafood Restaurant.

Steamboat Bill's Seafood Restaurant | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Shrimp & Crawfish Pistolettes, Boudin Ball, & Small Platter

Shrimp Pistolette | $1.99; Crawfish Pistolette | $2.29; Boudin Ball | $1.99; Small Platter [stuffed shrimp, fried fish, stuffed crab, 10-20 medium shrimp, fries, cole slaw, & Louisiana roll] | $19.99

We’ve learned we don’t need to order as much food as we use to so we usually order a plate and something on the side. Since crawfish wasn’t in season we both loved the shrimp pistolette more. Boudin ball wasn’t too bad but wasn’t the best and out of the small platter the best was the fish and shrimp.

We then headed to Golden Nugget Casino. We both won more than we spent so that’s a good feeling.

We cashed out then went to the store to buy some knickknacks. We went back home where I took a short nap and he worked before we headed off to Crying Eagle Brewing Company.

I got the one beer while Scruffy had five. We played Ascension on the IPad while we sipped. Its a free app!! Everyone should try it out!

The brewing company had a gift shop and it was nice walking through it to see things like this cup. Too funny.

We went back home, debated to go to a casino buffet or not and ended up at Calla.

Calla | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Old Fashioned and Bone Marrow

Bone Marrow [with onion jam, herb salad, toast] | $17

Scruffy got the Old Fashioned while I sipped on water – I’m a good DD. We shared the bone marrow and though we weren’t disappointed, we didn’t truly know how delicious it was until the second one. The waiter brought another out for the man who was sitting next to us a minute ago. He had paid and left, forgetting (he was drunk) he ordered bone marrow. The nice bartender offered it to us free of charge! Free food always taste better!

The last casino of the night was at Isle of Capri Casino. I was not a big fan of this place since it reeked of smoke. Everyone could smoke wherever they stood. Ugh! I wished I had known before we walked in. It wasn’t a great start – I left Scruffy when he was down eighty dollars and when I got back, he had a smile and was up forty so we bid farewell to this stinky, smokey place.

We stopped by Dairy Queen. I got a mini M&M ice cream – still too much for me. Scruffy got steak fingers. We headed home and he is waiting patiently for me to type this up so that we could watch Game of Thrones before calling it a night.

We are thinking of eating at a casino buffet tomorrow. Eeep, cannot wait!

Steamboat Bill’s Seafood Restaurant
732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Golden Nugget Casino
2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 508-7777 | Website | Yelp

Crying Eagle Brewing Company
1165 E Mcneese St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Calla
1400 Market St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 419-1980 | Website | Yelp

Isle of Capri Casino
732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Dairy Queen
732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas

December 11, 2017 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Saturday was such a busy day for me and Scruffy. We helped his parents with the baby shower for Rami and Caitlin.

We decorated the house, prepped and cooked foods, and I even created a life-like Jeopardy Game – Baby Edition using PowerPoint.

Scruffy’s work Christmas party was later that night at Theodore Rex. His company rented out the place which made it much cozier.

All you can eat drinks and the big portions felt like it was an all you can eat! I loved that we could watch them work so that I can steal their culinary skills.

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas | Parmesan Gougeres

Parmesan Gougeres [aka cheesy poofs]

Tastes better than the cheesy bread you get at Brazillian Steakhouses!

Smoked Gulf Fish on Toast

This was a bigger hit among the crowd. I would say that I wasn’t a big fan of the crunch of the toast. I could have done with a big jar of that fish though.

Tomato Toast

I’m not a big fan of bread but holy moly. The title of the dish sounds boring but it was the complete opposite. Whatever this concoction is, oh my goodness. I highly recommend this!

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas | Italian Bread Dumplings

Italian Bread Dumplings [with braised mustards, Autumn beans, and whey sauce]

Just when you thought they’d be all carb’d out, they brought out dumplings, Italian style. Scruffy loved the dumplings and hated the beans. I was the complete opposite so it worked well for us.

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas | Gulf Flounder

Gulf Flounder [roasted over coals, with brown butter, radishes, and pomelo sauce]

This was the majority’s least favourite dish. The fish was very bland and we hoped the radish would help bring some of the flavour out but that too was tasteless.

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas | Wagyu Beef

Whole-roasted Strip Loin of Wagyu Beef [with ‘golden frill’ mustard green sauce and raw mustard root]

If anyone would love to take me out for dinner, take me here and order me this. My goodness. Melt in my mouth deliciousness. I highly recommend this as well. I still cannot believe someone sent theirs back so that it could be cooked well. Sigh .. what a waste.

We were offered coffee before dessert and so it was natural to say yes. It wasn’t too bad … after I poured in a bit of brown sugar. It was a letdown that the milk container wasn’t shaped like a t-rex though.

Theodore Rex | Houston, Texas | Paris-Brest

Paris-Brest [filled with Swiss cheese cream and honey caramel]

I could have done with way less Swiss cheese cream. It made the choux pastry a bit soggy so it wasn’t too enjoyable.

What took me by surprise was seeing tampons and pads in the women’s restaurant. This is the first time where I’ve seen something like this and it was very much appreciated that they were so detailed.

Justin Yu | Chef/Owner

It took me a while to realize the owner and chef of the place is my old friend’s brother. Small world!

Overall, it was a great experience and would recommend anyone to go! I’d gladly go with anyone who asks.

Tom+Chee 21788 Katy Fwy, Katy, Texas 77449 | (281) 394-9501 | Website | Yelp

Taco Mel 2749 County Club Road, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70605 | (337) 602-6482 | Website | Yelp

Checkers Drive-In 490 N 11th St, Beaumont, Texas 77702 | (409) 833-6365 | Website | Yelp

Ball’s Fried Chicken #2 4325 Common St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 | (337) 562-2688 | Yelp

L’Auberge Casino 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 395-7777 | Website | Yelp

Le Beaucoup Buffet 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 395-7114 | Website | Yelp

Golden Nugget 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 508-7777 | Website | Yelp

Steamboat Bill’s Seafood Restaurant 732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Golden Nugget Casino 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 508-7777 | Website | Yelp

Crying Eagle Brewing Company 1165 E Mcneese St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607 | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Calla 1400 Market St, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 | (337) 419-1980 | Website | Yelp

Isle of Capri Casino 732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Dairy Queen 732 S Martin Luther King Hwy, Lake Charles, Louisiana | (337) 494-1700 | Website | Yelp

Theodore Rex 1302 Nance St, Houston, TX 77002 | (832) 830-8592 | Website | Yelp