Derby Dip and Dum-Dum

We are now heading into the fourth week of my "restaurant" being open.  We are open from breakfast through dinner and we also offer a late-night menu on some evenings.  It also goes without saying, that we offer wine happy hour 7 nights a week.

I never thought I would ever, ever say this...I am so sick of cooking right now.  I am exhausted with meal planning 3 x day / 7 x week.  Even with my daughter-sous chef by my side, we are wiped out (creatively, physically, and emotionally) right now.

I received a notice that my favorite Fish'n Chips food truck was arriving to our town and I was ecstatic!  For three days I was dreaming of not having to cook dinner, even just for one night. I drove over to their location to pick up our dinners.  I was five feet away from their order window and the chef stopped me in my tracks and said, "sorry we just ran out".  His words just echoed in my brain and I almost broke down in tears right there in the parking lot, in front of everyone, and I didn't care at all!

I have some very good friends that say when plan "A" fails, there are 25 other options in the alphabet!  So, for that night, we went to another plan.

I high-tailed it to our local extortion market  grocery store to purchase quick, last minute items before their early curfew closure, to make Derby Dips for dinner.

We have a local eatery/bar that is famous for their Derby Dip.  It's really more of a french dip sandwich taken to a whole different level...and so good!

This week we also opened up our exterior employee break area/ lunch lounge (aka) The Zen Corner...which also features happy hours, weather permitting.

My favorite piece in the Zen garden is our tiki man, affectionately known as "Dum-Dum", from Night at the Museum movie.

I watched this movie the other night and after two hours of incredibly, fun laughs, was so saddened, by really missing Robin Williams right now.  I wish he was still here as I know he would have made an incredible comedy video to give everyone some levity and get us through all this craziness right now.

Derby Dip

Inspired by Derby Grille

Deli Roast Beef Slices

Pepper Jack Cheese Slices

Cooked Bacon Slices

Sauteed Mushrooms

Caramelized Onions

Toasted Hoagie

Au Jus Sauce

One Year Ago: Smoked Pimiento Cheese Crostini and The Masters

Two Years Ago: White Trash Cookies

Three Years Ago: Queen Elizabeth's Drop Scones, Prom and Puppies

Four Years Ago: Mike's Marinating Mess

Five Years Ago: Chicken with Gorgonzola Sauce and Augusta Golf Club

Six Years Ago: The Champions Dinner at The Masters