Taking Dale and Mom to Creekside

Mom, Dale and I went out recently to celebrate our birthdays at Creekside Lounge and Supper Club. We were again fortunate to have Rebecca as our server (twice in a row!). We dug right in to the relish tray. Mom mentioned that Baba used to can pickled beets. Dale said they're packed with vitamins and that the pickling process somehow makes them even more nutritious. Being it was Dale's birthday Rebecca (I mentioned it to her while Dale was parking the car) brought each of us some champagne and launched into singing a portion I Get a Kick Out of You by Cole Porter starting with the line, "I get no kick from champagne." The three of us toasted to Dale's birthday but also to mine and Mom's recent birthday's.

I started with an Old Fashioned and Mom and Dale both had some nice red wine.  Rebecca brought us some popovers which were delicious. She told Dale she was taking a survey and asked him, "chocolate or strawberries?" Dale answered, strawberries. 

Mom had a little salad but Dale and I got the soup of the day which was a potato and cauliflower puree with fennel. So delicious. 

For dinner I ordered the spare ribs which came with carrots and loaded (with onions and white cheddar cheese) hash browns. Dale ordered the risotto with chicken. Mom wanted the capellini with shrimp but Dale mentioned that he had it last time and that it might be a little spicy for her taste. Mom asked about it when she ordered and Rebecca said she'd check with Chef Marcus to see if he could accomodate her. He could! He ended up putting on a substitute sauce which was garlicy but otherwise not spicy hot. 

After we were finished with our entrees Rebecca placed a white cake with strawberries in front of Dale. I said, "I guess the survey results are in!" It was so delicious. 

Despite having cake for dessert I still ordered a Pink Squirrel. When I asked Rebecca if there was a song for that she just smiled and said, "you go, squirrel!" However when she brought it she launched a version of the Temptations My Girl but changed it to My Squirrel. Mom, Dale and I talked about the recent visit of Sam and Pete and their families and also quite a bit about Dad. 

So nice to have dinner with two of my most favorite people. Rebecca helped make the evening extra special. 

Brunch at Creekside

Sunday, September 16, 2023

Brunch at Creekside after church this morning.  It was a lovely morning and this is the first time we've sat outside. 

We were fortunate to have Rebecca as our server. She's always a delight. I ordered the prime rib scramble and when she brought me my knife she told me I'd be needing it because there's a lot at steak (get it?). She mentioned that her jokes are like UFOs. They're far out there and they never really land. 

While being seated Dale decided to run off to the restroom and the host told him to enjoy the Patrick Swayze shrine. I told him we were well aware of said shrine and mentioned that one of the last times we were here we sent a spy (we'll call her Jenny) into the ladies room to see if there was anything comparable but that the only thing of note was a chair. The host said he's been pushing for a Molly Ringwald theme. 

Dinner with Sam and His Family

Wednesday, Augsut 16, 2023

Mom, Dale, Sam & Becky & their boys, and Pete  & his kids, along with Becky's cousin Cass, Cass's mother in law, and Cass's daughter Abby, all went out for dinner at Creekside to celebrate their last night in town. Pete's family was with us earlier in the week but they went home Tuesday evening. It's the first time we'dall been together since Dale and I got married in 2014. Wow, nine years. 

I'm having suregery on my foot tomorrow to have my broken fibia fixed. I know that's one of the leg bones but it broke just above the ankle. I'll be getting general anesthesia for the survey but the doctor said I could have one mixed drink the night before. I, not surprisingly, went with the Wisconsin style Old Fashioned.

As we left I noticed a VCR tape of The Three Stooges was playing on the grandma style floor console television set. What a hoot. Outside on Chicago Avenue we all said our goodbyes. It was bittersweet as I think it'll be a long time before all our families reunite again. 

Brunch at Creekside

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Creekside is now offering brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

We were pleased to find this out. 

I started with a Bloody Mary with a beer chaser. They make a good one. Dale had coffee.

We ordered some coffee cake. Quite good. 

I got the prime rib scramble and Dale got the salmon scramble. Also good!

Glad they're offering brunch now. 

Brunch at Jax

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Decided to head up to Jax for brunch on this nice spring day. 

I started with a Bloody Mary. I think they use a Polish vodka. 

We sat by the window overlooking the patio. Dale ordered and omelette and I had the prime rib hash. 

When finished we stepped out on to the patio check things out.

We checked out the trout stream for Captain Jack but didn't see him because he is very elusive. 

The daffodils on the patio looked great.

And so did the tulips in the parking lot.  So glad to see signs of spring. 

Fun to be back at Jax. It's been a while. 

Creekside - Always a Good Time

Saturday, April 27, 2023

Dale and I met Peter and Jenny at Creekside Supper Club tonight. When we checked in the hostess, dressed in a 50s era June Cleaver dress, was somehow able to tell from our online reservation that Dale and I have been to the restaurant more than just a few times. She told us she'd mark our status as regulars. We're so special. 

We all had a great time. Peter and Jenny had never been before and they loved it. Since there were four of us we ordered the humongous relish tray which was of course awesome. Dale and I haven't ordered it lately since it's a bit much for just the two of us to handle. 

The console TV in the waiting room now has a VCR hooked up to it. They were playing Footloose and it was a hoot. We saw the part where Ren is working in the warehouse and also the part where they play a game of chicken with the tractors. I saw the movie back in high school with my old buddy Josh Siegel and I don't think I've seen it since.  

The men's restroom is something of a shrine to Patrick Swayze. We gave Jenny the assignment of checking out the lady's room to see if there was something commensurate. She said there were a couple chairs but otherwise nothing of note. 

As I said, we all had a great time. Can't wait to go again.

Creekside Supper Club

About a week and a half ago Dale and I checked out Creekside Supper Club & Lounge. Following is what I wrote about it in my journal. 

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

This afternoon Dale and I decided to try Creekside Supper Club which in the old Pepitos space. As it turns out this was their opening night. 

They started us out with a little baby relish tray. It had celery and also some pickled carrots and beets. The beets were particularly good. We went ahead and ordered the regular relish tray and it was fantastic: pickled asparagus and carrots, wild game sausage, cheese curds, and walleye spread. It was simply fantastic and probably could've passed for a meal by itself. I had a cup of the corn chowder and it was perfect. Dale had a salad. 

For dinner I ordered the sirloin. I got it with a side of hash browns and it came with a huge piece of Texas toast. Dale got the salmon with a side of rice pilaf and he said it was divine. 

Oh, and I didn't mention that I ordered a Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned. It was so well made I had another. 

Now, the decor threw me off because I couldn't be completely sure they weren't going for irony. It was that spot on. 

For dessert I had a Brandy Alexander. It was so good it was like I got an old school malted milk from Bridgeman's only with Brandy. 

By the way, the staff was very friendly. All in all it was a great time and I can't wait to go back. 

Brunch at Red Stag Supperclub

Sunday, May 16, 2021

We couldn't help ourselves. Back to Red Stag for brunch. 

Dale had the vegetable hash and I had the fried chicken on a waffle. 

Mother's Day 2021

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Dale and I took Mom to Red Stag for dinner tonight. She was excited to go to a restaurant for dinner. When she goes out with friends it tends to be for lunch. 

I, of course, started with a brandy Old-Fashioned while Dale and Mom both had merlot. 

We started with a relish tray which featured their pickled vegetables. I was leaning toward ordering the fried chicken for dinner which is their Sunday night special however I went with the prosciutto carbonara linguine which was simply divine. Dale ordered the chicken breast and Mom got salmon. They both said their entrees were excellent. 

Dale and Mom shared some carrot cake for dessert. Red Stag has the BEST carrot cake. It's dense yet very smooth tasting. I got a Pink Squirrel. This is the first time I've gotten one there that wasn't very good. It wasn't blended well (lots of big ice chunks) and not very flavorful.

Weather-wise I don't think we could have gotten a much better day for this time of year. It's always nice to see the sun and I think it made it to the lower-60s today. Mom said Sam and Pete both called her this year so all-in-all I think she had a pretty lovely Mother's Day. 

Dale did too!