A first... Chino Bandido Takee Outee

If you are obsessed with the Food Network like I sometimes am and like a sense of adventure, you'll love this:) In the show Diners Drive Ins and Dives, Chino Bandido of our very own Phoenix, was featured. So, of course, it has been on our list of places to check out:) Well, far be it from us to procrastinate anything to do with eating... especially when it comes to Mexican and Chinese fusion. It's like our marriage put to food. Ben LOVES Mexican, I LOVE Chinese. I thought, if this restaurant is successful, our marriage will be too, right? I was also pretty sure this sounded like a, albiet bizarre, WINNER.

     So, off we went into a "Mexi Ghetto" in Phoenix. It took us about 30 minutes or so to drive there, but it is still on our "side" of the valley. The parking lot was totally full, so that's a good sign... As we get our kiddos out of the car, I realized Ike is not wearing shoes. Wow. We are THOSE people! For the record, I had asked him to put on his shoes, he didn't, then Ben whisked him off to the car while I was on the phone with my dad (KU had just won the Big 12 Championship- it was a Big day)!

      Anyway, so since this place literally is a DIVE, we had to carry Ike and Zach through the whole place... ughh. I won't go into that. The restaurant used to be just take out, thus Takee Outee, so you just order at the counter and they bring you your food several hours, I mean, half hours later... The interesting thing is this.. Mexican and Chinese foods are listed on the menu. You have "Jade Red Chicken"- sorta like Orange Chicken at Panda. Anyway, it can be served with fried rice, steamed rice, in a burrito or in a quesadilla. Strange. BUT, interestingly good. Ike happened to LOVE it in a quesadilla! I also ordered "Emerald Chicken" with fried rice, staying true to my chinese love. It was just eh. Ben ordered the largest Chile Relleno I have ever seen (at least 4 inches long)! with fried rice, refried beans and Jade Red Chicken. All the food was good... not great though. I guess the best part for us were the snickerdoodles that come complimentary with every meal. They were worth the wait! Yumm! Anyway, a very bizarre option if you are ever in Phoenix. We'd probably even take you there ourselves, even if it was just for the snickerdoodles! Have you ever come across bizarre restaurants like this in your neck of the woods? I'd love to hear about it!

Eating Out

Being students this year and living with student loans is really a drag... Ok, it's not THAT bad, but it has put a damper on our ability to eat out:) Here's the thing... everything tastes better if I don't make it. That's not a slam to my abilities, I can make some mean asian cuisine, among other things... However, the fact that I didn't have to "slave over the hot stove" makes it taste better:) Don't you think?
     Well, lucky me (and Ben); We were able to go on a lunch date to Elephant Bar, which happens to be about a mile from our house and the result is.... (drumroll please... ) I'm in L-O-V-E! Ok, first off, the place was carpeted in leopard print- who doesn't love that? It reminded me of a chic restaurant in Vegas, not trashy, chic! Beyond the ambiance, the menu had over 10 ITEMS that I would order! That's amazing! I'm not picky, but I am a bit of a foodie, and a health foodie too. I love that this menu offers everything that comes with rice to come with brown rice as an alternative. ALSO- my dish- Cashew Shrimp something... had only about 1/2 cup of brown rice, so it wasn't super carb-y. It had almost a POUND of shrimp, though. AND we're not just talking shrimp, but fresh, tender NON CHEWY shrimp. I'm in LOVE with Ben, but may have to make room in my heart for that SHRIMP!
     Anyway, if you see an Elephant Bar, I've heard some in Colorado aren't that good, but the one in Peoria ROCKS! Let me know what you think...

Oh, Ben's meal was good too, but my was clearly the WINNER!