Happy National Taco Day!

National Taco Day 2015: Deals, Freebies

Guess What Today Is

Oh, yes it is:

National Donut Day 2015

So here, here's some help:

Where to get free donuts on National Doughnut Day

And while you're munching:

Happy National Doughnut Day! Check out these 

cool stats

You're welcome.

Enjoy your Friday and weekend.

Kansas City Hits the Big Time Media!

Yes sir, Kansas City hits the big time media and in a big way--in the very first paragraph. Just not in a good way:

The 10 Grossest Foods You Can Buy at the Ballpark

When they want "gross food", they come to us first, it seems. From "Mother Jones" today:

Five months ago, Jon Costa, a food safety manager for Aramark, told ESPN and local media outlets about the dire conditions in the kitchens at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium (home to baseball's Royals) and Arrowhead Stadium (home to football's Chiefs). He discovered roaches in the vending area, mouse feces near pizza dough, mold growth in ice machines, and employees eating where food was supposed to be prepared.

KSHB reported that the Kansas City Health Department found critical violations at 20 of Kauffman's concession stands last November, after Costa came forward following the Royals' World Series loss. In a letter to ESPN that month, an Aramark official refuted Costa's allegations, which included expired pizza dough being served during Game 7 of the World Series, as "unsubstantiated claims raised by a disgruntled employee." Still, Aramark enlisted an external inspector to conduct additional sweeps of concessions and increased training for its staff. (Costa, meanwhile, was fired in March.)

That hurts.

Not only that, though, our beer costs too much:

Beer Prices At Every Major League Baseball Game

Seniors?

Found on Facebook today from someone named Steve Herman:

As I was waiting in line behind an older gentleman at Wendy's recently,I heard him ask for his senior discount. The girl at the register apologized and charged him less. When I asked the man what the discount was, he told me that seniors over age 55 ...get 10% off everything on the menu, every day. (But you need to ASK for your discount.)

Being of 'that' age myself, I figured I might as well ask for the discount too. 

This incident prompted me to do some research and I came across a list of restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, travel deals and other types of offers giving various discounts with different age requirements. I was actually surprised to see how many there are and howsome of them start at the young age of 50. This list may not only be useful for you, but for your friends and family too.

Dunkin Donuts gives free coffee to people over 55. If you're paying for a cup every day, you might want to start getting it for FREE.

YOU must ASK for your discount!

RESTAURANTS:
Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan's: discount varies by location (60+)
Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee ( 55+)
Chili's: 10% off ( 55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members ( 55 +)
Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee ( 55+)
Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter ( 55+)
Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off ( 55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off ( 55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal ( 55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off ( 50+)
Long John Silver's: various discounts at locations ( 55+)
McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday ( 55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney's: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday ( 50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off ( 55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off ( 50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy's: 10% off ( 55 +)
Whataburger: 10% off (62+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+) 

RETAIL & APPAREL :
Banana Republic: 30% off ( 50 +)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month ( 50 +)
Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month ( 55 +)
Big Lots: 30% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days ( 55 +)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (50+)
Clarks : 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 20% off ( 55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 40% off (Wednesdays only) ( 50+)
Kohl's: 15% off (60+)Modell's Sporting Goods: 30% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday ( 55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off ( 55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month ( 55 +)

GROCERY :
Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month ( 55 +)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday ( 50 +)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 60% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday ( 55 +)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday ( 50 +)
Publix: 15% off every Wednesday ( 55 +)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 15% off (62+)

TRAVEL :
Airlines:
Alaska Airlines: 50% off (65+)
American Airlines: various discounts for 50% off non-peak periods (Tuesdays - Thursdays) (62+)and up (call before booking for discount)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Rail:
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Bus:
Greyhound: 15% off (62+)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+

Car Rental:
Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Budget Rental Cars: 40% off; up to 50% off for AARP members ( 50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off ( 50+) Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members

Overnight Accommodations:
Holiday Inn: 20-40% off depending on location (62+)
Best Western: 40% off (55+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Waldorf Astoria - NYC $5,000 off nightly rate for Presidential Suite (55 +)
Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Econo Lodge: 40% off (60+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 40% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 25% off (62+)
Motel 6: Stay Free Sunday nights (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 30% off ( 55 +)
Quality Inn: 40%-50% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 40% off (60+)

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT ;:
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off ( 55 +)
Bally Total Fitness: $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $13 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
Massage Envy - NYC 20% off all "Happy Endings" (62 +)
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 50% off Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket ( 55 +)
SeaWorld, Orlando , FL : $3 off one-day tickets ( 50 +)

CELL PHONE DISCOUNTS :

AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $19.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service ( 50 +)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).

MISCELLANEOUS:
Great Clips: $8 off hair cuts (60+)
Supercuts: $8 off haircuts (60+)

Now, go out there and claim your discounts - - and remember -- YOU must ASK for discount ---- no ask, no discount.

Everyone knows someone over 50 please pass this on

What we've done to food

And what we've done to ourselves

Happy National Ravioli Day!

You heard it here first.  Go, enjoy!

Sure, you know WHERE your food comes from...

You just don't know HOW.



Is that not revolting?

Kansas City on "Best BBQ" list

As we should be, Kansas City is all over a list out last evening on Yahoo! News about the nation's "Best and Worst Barbecue":

Ultimate BBQ Sauce Taste Test | The Daily Meal

First up is

I'd never heard of it.

What they had to say about it:

"Tangy and sweet, well balanced, and lots of flavor," said one taster, and just about everyone else agreed.

Cattlemen’s had a nice blend of spice and a hint of brown sugar, but one taster found it "mono-dimensional."

Next up was

And they said:

The original Kansas City barbecue sauce, this one still stands tall among the pack. Heavy on the smoke and not too sweet, spicy, or acidic, the only negative was that the smokiness was a bit too overpowering for some.

Now, to be clear, these are the ones the rated:

KC Masterpiece, Stubb’s, Hunt’s, Bull’s-Eye, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Cattlemen’s Reserve, Kraft, Open Pit, Jack Daniel's, or pitmaster Brad Orrison’s new line called The Shed.

And that, right there, to me, makes the whole thing suspect. Very suspect, at that.

You rated corporate barbecue like Kraft and Hunt's?

Are you kidding me? 

And you want or expect to be taken seriously?

Where's all the Texas and North Carolina and Memphis brands and styles, let alone Bryant's and all the others that SHOULD be on this list?

Seriously people?

And then, too, they only rated 8 sauces.

Eight.

And again, they expect to be taken seriously.

The good news is Kansas City is on the list.

The bad news is that the list sucks and really can't be given any validity.

Links:

Click to see More of the Best and Worst Barbecue Sauces

Click Here for the Ultimate Barbecue Sauce Taste Test Slideshow

Really, does this make sense?

I've wondered this myself many times.

Why does a salad, for pity's sake--a small salad--cost more than a hamburger?

Of course, we know the answer.

The answer is that this is "free-market Capitalism" so companies charge whatever they wish on whatever they choose.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating or suggesting we should have laws making this illegal, far from it.

What I'm saying is that businesses and business people should have morals and practice them in their businesses.

It's not going to happen, not in America but there you are.

Way to go, McDonald's.

Just know, we're not "Lovin' it."

Link: Americans unaware of most obesity risks

Stupid for 30 years is still stupid

I ate lunch this afternoon with friends at the Westport Flea Market.

Wow.

We all decided it was a mistake and that we won't repeat that a second time and for a few reasons, too.

First, we ordered. That shouldn't be tough, right?

Except you order your food at the walk-up counter, just as I'd remembered from years past. That was okay. Lots of restaurants have you do that.

But your drink?

If you want a drink with your meal--and most of us do--you go to your table and order that from your waitperson. (I'm being PC here).

Yes, you got that right. You order your food at the counter, pay for that and then go to your table, only to order your drink AND THEN PAY AGAIN.

I asked the young lady at the register if I had that right and she confirmed.

I told her how absolutely silly it was and asked if there were some parallel universe or planet on which that made any sense.

The "boss lady" said "That's the way we've done it for 30 years", thus making for today's headline.

The effect this 2nd-order-for-your-drink policy had was to insure that no one at our table ordered any additional drink. All they did was assure they made less money. Brilliant.

Then, be forewarned, ladies and gentlemen. If you order one of their burgers--most all in the $7.50 to $8.50 range--you are asked if you want anything additional on it.

CHECK THE MENU.

"Garnishes" are extra.

If you say, like in most burger joints, that you want "everything on it", you will be summarily charged for the onions, mushrooms, cheese, anything and everything, you will be additionally billed for it all.

What effect does that have, you might ask? What's the big deal?

Well, it turns that big $8.49 burger into a ticket that ends up costing you more than $14.00 AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED A DRINK YET.

Care for a screwing? Here's your place.

One final word of caution.

If one in your party orders, as I did, the Cajun chicken sandwich--and enjoyed, I will give them that, lest you think all I want to do is complain--while the rest of your group orders burgers, prepare to sit through at least half your friend's lunches WHILE YOU WAIT.

Apparently, after all these years of cooking and serving food, they haven't figured out how to get everyone's meal in one group out at remotely a similar time frame.

Maybe that will happen sometime in the next 30 years.

Links: http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westport-Flea-Market-Bar-Grill/95092657967?fref=ts

Did you know October is National Pizza Month?

As though we needed an excuse, right?

Things virtually always great to add to a meal entree'

--Fresh ground pepper or red pepper flakes

--Fresh, ground black pepper

--Lemon, lime or orange--your favorite citrus juice--straight from the source

--Your favorite dry seasoning

--Olive oil

--Garlic

--Fresh grated parmesan (or other dry, white) cheese (definitely, absolutely not that nasty, nearly-powdered Kraft parmesan crap. Well, unless you especially like it)

--Nearly any fresh herbs or spices (dill, thyme, mint, marjoram, etc.)

--Your favorite wine--red, white, dry, sweet, whatever (I'd go with the dry, personally, but that's me and yes, I would stick more with red for red meats and white for pork, chicken and fish. But again, that's me)

--Fresh, grilled vegetables, especially if they are done with a bit of olive oil and, again, your favorite dry seasoning and/or spice

--Fresh tomatoes

--Fresh onions

--Bacon (lightly, usually), especially pepper bacon. Yow

--Salt, of course, but the better types really are better and absolutely worth a little higher price

Whatever you do, keep it simple. Keep it simple, put in your favorites, experiment, do what you like and you'll virtually never be disappointed. You'll find that, besides loving your food, you--and your guests--will have had fun and thoroughly enjoyed the food, too.

Link: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/member-recipes/A%20List%20of%20Herbs%20and%20Spices/123

Water, oil, food--will humankind cooperate together or fight to the death?

I saw this headline last evening and it rather concerns me:

Global Fight for Natural Resources 'Has Only Just Begun,' say Experts

From the article:

"Better economic incentives, rather than ethical considerations and appeals to human morality, are needed to encourage investment in a more sustainable economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen.

Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen told the conference that governments would need to step in, to ensure resources were best distributed.

Speaking at the Re|source 2012 Conference in Oxford, Sen said that so-called 'free markets' could not be counted on to meet all fundamental human needs nor could the private sector be trusted to efficiently allocate the world's natural resources.

“The way to make the financial sector respond is not through moral exhortation, but by increasing incentives,” said Sen. 'The market will respond to price increases,' but world governments are required to intervene and address 'inequality and iniquity' that the market inherently generates."

The way our Capitalism is set up and the way the Republican Party, the Libertarians and far too many Right Wingers and Americans in general see the world and the world economy at present, they wouldn't get this.

Far too many of us wouldn't understand, at least at present, that whether you're talking about water or oil or corn or virtually any other commodity, once there are shortages, the item in concern can't be left to "free markets" alone unless we are willing to literally let people go without and that can, in fact, mean going without food.

Morally, we just can't let it end up being "every man--person--for themselves." We can't.

Besides being immoral, it would inevitably mean the deaths of at least thousands of us, if not millions, nation- and world-wide.

Surely we owe our fellow human beings more than that.

Rather naturally, it reminded me of this quote from the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr:

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

And the thing is, we'll have to agree to that cooperation across all nations, worldwide.

This will not be easy, ladies and gentlemen.

Link to original article: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/07/12-5

What the heck did we ever do to food?

I ask again, what the heck did we ever do to food?

And then, why?

First, we added pesticides and chemicals and have made it cancerous and who knows what.

Then we created "supplements." How the heck are supplements supposed to be an improvement on grown food?

For starters, they're not a meal. Some of them have flavors, like if they're in a smoothie or shake, heaven forbid. Then there are the vitamins and pills.

Instead of food?

Does this makes sense?

Is that somehow an improvement on having 3 balanced, intelligent, delicious meals a day?

Put me in the corner of saying heck no, absolutely not.

I'll stick with my broccoli and vegetables, thank you.

Missouri Senators: shills for corporations

Once again, our government voted against you and me--against the people--and voted, instead, to protect the corporations in the country.

The Senate just voted last week to keep you and I from knowing what's in our food.

Again.

Companies don't have to label genetically-modified foods (GMO's) to show that they're in what we eat. Basically, they're protecting the corporations--St. Louis' own Monsanto, among others, I'm sure--instead of protecting the people.

Forget that we otherwise are supposed to know what's in our foods.

Forget that all over Europe they don't even let GMO's into their food chain, let alone not label them.

This provision, added to the farm bill, "would permit states to 'require that any food, beverage, or other edible product offered for sale have a label on indicating that the food, beverage, or other edible product contains a genetically engineered ingredient.'"

What's particularly and especially galling about this is that our own Senators Roy Blunt (Republican) and Senator Clair McCaskill (Democrat) both voted to protect the corporations--Monsanto--instead of us.

It's not surprising--not surprising at all--since Senator Blunt regularly, typically and repeatedly votes to protect corporations and "Big Oil" and Monsanto instead of voting with and for the people--you and me.

As for Senator McCaskill, it's an election year and she no doubt needs and wants the Right Wing and corporate support and money.

It's disgusting.

It's this same Senator Roy Blunt who is, right now, also trying to get the Canadian company's Transcanada Keystone XL pipeline to cut through the good old US of A, from the Northern border all the way to Texas, just short of the Southern border, all so a Canadian company--Transcanada--can get their oil to world markets and make yet more money for themselves.

Forget that oil spills inevitably happen with these things. Forget that we'd have to then clean it up. Forget the environmental damage it would, without question, inflict, permanently.

Senator Blunt HAS to stand up for his corporations and get all that money in his pockets.

And Senator McCaskill has to fight to be re-elected.

Truly disgusting.

Links: http://www.americablog.com/2012/06/senate-votes-7326-to-deny-states-right.html

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2012/06/genetically-modified-america.html

Annual OP Greek Festival starts today at 5 pm!

Friday, June 8th - 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday, June 9th - 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sunday, June 10th - 11:00am to 8:00pm

DANCE PERFORMANCES:
Friday 6:00pm, 8:00pm
Saturday 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:00pm
Sunday 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm

For more information, check out their festival website at http://www.stdionysios.org/festival/index.php

Opa!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Crazy priorities

We need to cut defense spending in half, at least.

Then we need to spend at least some of that on people and food and clothing and shelter and medical help.

THOSE are wise priorities.

KC in the news two big ways right now

Kansas City seems to be getting more great national and even international attention. First, The Atlantic Monthly magazine has an article on us (thanks again to the Kauffmans): Kansas City Bets on Culture If you build a shiny new performing-arts center, will the creative class come?

Besides the great press and the terrific article on us, the additional great kicker is that the photo they used, above, is our own Eric Bowers so more kudos to him, for sure. Here's the second great write up we got:

It seems famous and popular international chef Anthony Bourdain came to town and has good things to say about us, too: Celebrity chef Bourdain’s tour of KC flavors airs Monday So we'll be on television to the world this Monday evening. Yahoo. Is there better food in the world? Sure, there's no denying that. Does Kansas City have some good to great chefs and so, food? You bet. And Anthony Bourdain concurs. Kudos Kansas City. Enjoy. And have a great weekend. Links: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/kansas-city-bets-on-culture/8661/; http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/13/3553067/celebrity-chef-bourdains-tour.html

Upcoming documentary

Remember, 3/4 of the grocery store is utterly unnecessary. Vegetables, some meat and/or fish--if you eat it--some pasta(s) and the freshest breads you can get, either at home or the store. After that, a few condiments--maybe--some seasoning(s) and everything with as little sugar, if any at all, and as few ingredients as possible. Nothing processed. It's easy. Easier than it sounds, too. It's great for your health, great for your wasteline, far less expensive, potentially, simple and you'll feel terrific. Take back your food. Take back your body. Take back your life.

Kansas City rankings (from Facebook just now)

Click on picture for bigger, better viewing, as always.

I really enjoy living here and there's a lot to be here for but "Top Culinary Destination for 2012"? Seriously?