Monthly Archives: February 2010
The Memory Makers
July 1981
Father and daughter rode their bikes down to the Memorial Union on a warm summer day. This wasn’t a new or special event as it was something they did on a fairly regular basis.
They parked their bikes and went inside to get ice cream. Again, nothing new. Taking their ice cream over to the pier and dangling their feet as they ate. They talked about the boats, about the clouds while they licked and licked. The girl knew that the best part of the ice cream was always the end. That very last bite.
When the girl finished her cone she looked up at her father and asked a question she was sure she knew the answer to, “Can I have another one?” Of course her father would say “no.” It was a shot in the dark. A totally absurd request. She knew all this but something in her nine year old body had to ask.
To her utter surprise her father looked down at his daughter, with a mischievous look in his eye and said, “Sure!” as he got up from the dock and started back towards the ice cream stand with his absolutely gobsmacked kid running behind.
January 2010
“Any requests from the store?” she asked her son. The only thing on his list? Ice cream. Cookies and cream ice cream to be exact.
She came home with apples, bananas, string cheese but no ice cream. “That’s the only thing I wanted,” he said in his best Don’t-Whine-You’re-Big-Now voice. “Oh shoot, Buddy. I’m sorry.” She replied knowing that she knew she forgot something. “After dinner tonight we’ll go to the store and get some. Promise.”
As they were leaving the restaurant she was deep in thought about the week ahead, the friends they just left, and life in general, when a little voice from the backseat said, “Don’t forget about the ice cream, Mom.” Of course she had forgotten but she promised and he was so good through dinner, she made a bee-line for the store.
Inside they looked and looked for Cookies and Cream only to come up with a poor second choice. While in the check out line, he looked up at his mother and asked a question he was sure he knew the answer to, “Can I get a candy bar?” Of course his mother would say “no.” It was a shot in the dark. A totally absurd request. He knew all this but something in his nine year old body had to ask. To his utter surprise, his mother, remembering a very similar time 30 years prior, looked down at her son with a mischievous look in her eye and said, “Sure! In fact, let’s get two.”
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As my father doesn’t remember the double ice cream day, I too shall forget that night in the grocery store. But I have a feeling Ben never will. The look on his face, his under-the-breath-mutter of “this is the best day ever!” and his physical skip to the car tells me he’ll not only never forget but he’ll make a memory like this for my grandchild some day.
Chili’s Repsonse
Since I did everything aside from marching right into Chili’s headquarters and bonking them on the head with their new menu, lo and behold they got back to me! Not only that but now they have added their vegetarian menu download right on the menu page.
The truth is the woman I have been communicating with from Chili’s corporate is really quite lovely. She has been very funny and responsive. (Notice how “funny” gets the headliner over “responsive”? We know what’s important in my book) This little experience made me realize that we are all just trying to do our best, right? Although I don’t regret getting on my vegetarian soapbox and calling Chili’s out on their lack of meat-free choices, I also realized, as with everything in life, if I don’t like it I can just think my thoughts and move along.
Before I hitch my wagons get along little doggy, I wanted to give Chili’s their time in the Princess Mikkimoto sun. So without further ago (or more terrible cliches)
From K @ Chili’s…
I did want you to know that we do hear you and understand your frustrations with the limited vegetarian menu at Chili’s. We do try our best to create choices for everyone – but it is hard to please all diets, lifestyles, etc… We do actually have vegetarian choices on the menu (Black Bean Burger is the most popular) and it isn’t putting any server or cook out to ask for other options. In fact, we hope you ask! We want people to get what they want. We encourage you to ask, modify or do whatever you want to get what you want. And we do even have a “meat-free” soup, but depending on the restaurant/location, some soups are not actually on the menu – they are considered soup of the day. Those are either noted at the front or your server can tell you the options. The reason – simply to regionalize the offerings. Each restaurant may have soups that do better than in other areas. So we let them make the call. The downside, its not always listed.
We did change up our menu recently where our Guiltless items are spread throughout the menu and that includes some of our vegetarian options. Sorry if those weren’t clear. We are taking the feedback in and seeing if there are some places for improvement. But that is what happens when we change stuff up.
And we do have all of our vegetarian, allergen and nutritional info on our website if you ever need anything. Most restaurants have this info in-store as well, but sometimes you do have to ask for it. I know that is not as visibly accessible, but we try to make it available in places where people are researching their options.
Usually, once your inside, it’s better to ask your server. They should know what they have available at that location and what alternatives they can get you. Like I said, some locations have regional menus and some are even franchised and have more variations.
I hope this gives you a little understanding and tips when dining out. If you have any questions, please let me know… Thank you!
So there you have it. Like I said I appreciate the concerted effort on Chili’s part and who knows what the future will bring. Perhaps one day I will walk through those red pepper doors and enjoy a black bean burger, Chili’s style.
Old Chicago
