Best of '09 Blog Challenge: Restaurants

(Catch up post)

I'm 2 (or 3) days late on The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge (which I found through Ali, an old UCI Literary Journalism buddy), but I thought it sounded interesting and might add something fresh to this ol' blog here, rather than my monotone topics. I considered just entering in from Day 3, but I realized it was just because I didn't necessarily want to do the first two. I have rationalized that if I'm going to do this, I may as well do it all! So, in an attempt to catch up:

Day 2 - Restaurant moment!

I have to be honest and say that I just don't go out to eat much. I mean, I do, but I keep it to quick trips to the fast food joint or a standard dinner with a few friends. If you know how picky I am with food, you understand why I don't add much variety. I wish I could be much more original or hit you with some local, unknown piece of culinary gold...but I can't. Because of this, I decided to change the prompt of "restaurant moment" to "restaurant" because I just don't have many moments in restaurants.

So! Best one for me: Lucille's Barbecue!(hey, this is the actual one I go to! Click picture for credit.)

Yeah, I know, chain restaurant, BBQ, unoriginal. But seriously, some of the best memories are here. The food is actually damn good, and it's one of the few places I will choke down a vegetable. I highly recommend the grilled chicken BBQ sandwich and the pulled pork--though really, I've never heard anyone be unhappy with their meal from there. Even all 3 of their standard BBQ sauces are top notch, and I don't like to add extra sauces and dips to my meals.

What seriously clinches it though, aside from the stellar BBQ, honourable food, swell atmosphere, nice employees, and talented entertainment in the corner of the bar room on certain days, is the apple butter.

(If I were to say I'm drooling right now, would you think I'm lying? Click for credit.)

I can't even describe how effing good this apple butter is. It's not an overpowering flavor, it's not a heavy, disgusting butter texture. It's just good. I don't like biscuits, but I damn well eat them at Lucille's because that means I get to eat the apple butter, too.

And if that doesn't convince you, here are 2 other reasons it's pretty good:
1) Kobe Bryant eats there. No, really, he was there when I was there. I was in the waiting area with him and his family and friends, and then we ate at the table right next to the roped off room they gave him. I don't actually care about him, but I'm told others do.
2) There are Tootsie Pops for the taking upon your exit. Who doesn't want a free lolly?