Nostalgic and Friendly

If you come out west of Chicago to Dekalb County make a stop in downtown Sycamore at Riccardi's Redhots and Ice Cream. It's a fun friendly place with imagination. I first wandered in there just to check it out. I was immediately greeted by the owner, Frank Riccardi. He looked familiar and thought i did too. Turns out we used to work together some years back. We were never close back then but the way they treat people at their restaurant, within no time I felt like family. That's the kind of place Riccardi's is, you come in as a customer and leave as a friend. The menu is mostly burgers and dogs, both are excellent and they go out of their way to make sure you get it just the way you like it. They have many specialty items from a huge burger they call The Flatliner to Their Elvis Sandwich (peanut butter and banana) It's a great place to visit. You walk in and feel appreciated and if you come on a Friday Night you just might catch some musicians out front having a sidewalk jam.

Bento Boxes in Orlando

So since I don't cook like everyone else here, Art wanted me to give input on food, what I like, where I've been and stuff like that.

I'm still thinking about my recent trip to Orlando for a trade show. We went to a Japanese restaurant called Rangetsu. I would love to find the same type of place in Chicago area or St. Louis where I live now.

The first thing about this restaurant that I really enjoyed was the ambiance and atmosphere. The hostesses were dressed as Geisha's, and there was a perfect view outside where there was a scenic wood bridge and Koi fish swimming in the pond below the bridge. I felt so relaxed and tranquil awaiting my dinner.

Next was how they served you. I had to have silverware (although my party used chopsticks) and they placed a designed paper down before placing the silverware, also for the drinks, and each plate had a flower resting in the corner.

What I want again that I ordered was a BENTO Box. You had a list of items you could choose, it came in a wood box with 4 square dishes. Tiny tastes of many foods. I had the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura (oh so nicely, lightly battered), Gyoza dumplings, and Kobe Beef. The beef came with asparagus and with the tempura there was one vegetable I think was sweet potato or some sweet, orange squash - it was soooo good.

A desert was ordered with 4 bites of cake and this green (ugly looking but tasted great) creme' buliee' (sorry if I spelled it wrong) .

So anyone with ideas for these two areas would be great. Eating is one thing but combined with great atmosphere and service, is like heaven!!!