Wow, plexiglass. I haven't seen that here at all, but I'm sure there are a few places that have it. I'm glad you got your first indoor dining in!

We had a reminder of how different the rules are from place to place last week, and have a greater appreciation for the adjustment it will take to get back to normal. Although we've been eating indoors off and on for a while now, we were in Wisconsin where masks are encouraged but not mandated. Walked into a place to get a burger for lunch, and no one was wearing masks. Didn't need one to walk in, servers weren't wearing them, and so forth. No different than pre-pandemic. We're mutant half-vax right now. It spooked us a little just because it was so different than what we've been used to for the last year. I'm sure it was completely safe as it wasn't crowded, but it made us aware of what we've begun to see as normal. Of course, there are a couple practices I'd love to continue, like strangers staying 6 feet away from me .

That said, the burgers were very good!

Last night, beef fajitas. Tonight, chicken (probably grilled) and I'm going to attempt to turn some leftover potatoes into a vinaigrette-style potato salad with bacon.

Around here, a few restaurants have plexiglass dividing booths, and many bars have plexiglass dividing seats at the bar.

It's interesting, IL has been one of the strictest states, although it seems like in the last few months we've left that label behind. I believe all of our neighbor states are still less restrictive however. And I'd guess a few places here have plexiglass, I just haven't heard of or seen it. But I do expect "normal" is a long time off around the Chicago area. My wife and I have discussed how we expect to see people wearing masks in stores and restaurants here for years after the pandemic is over.

Kind of back on the dinner topic, even when restaurants are operating under normal conditions again, I'm pretty convinced we won't be going out to eat as much as we used to. It's been about once per week, usually a Saturday night, over the last few months, and not because we have any concerns. We've stocked up on tools like the sous vide and a new grill, and we're enjoying using them.

wild shrimp tonight. Recipe tbd - it�s frozen Costco wild so I�ll factor 30 minutes to thaw before cooking. Maybe a boil with melted butter ala king crab legs.
Raw veggie tray
mixed green salad 🥗

After I get some indoor meals with friends and/or my spouse, I definitely don�t want to eat at restaurants with my own family in San Francisco and it�s only for money reasons. A king crab leg supper with Costco $60 package of king crab legs plus raw veggie platter, mixed green salad, steak fries, and a quesadilla or grilled cheese or beef sausage will still cost less MONEY than a burger meal at barneys burgers factoring tip and extra Sf restaurant taxes. I will of course have 20 minutes of less cleaning housework plus 20 minutes of food prep, yet it�s not like I�m working and generating salary from 5-9p so it�s truly time and not money by dining at home.

I love the addition of corn and beans. I need to make this soon.

No pictures=no food.

Everyone should plate like corky and post the pictures.

Hahaha...I get a little obnoxious about it...don't encourage me.

Agreed. Corky’s dinners are spectacular, restaurant-quality. I joked that I would like to hire her to come and cook for me every day.

I don't take pictures because we have bad lighting in both our kitchen and our dining room. Both on the list of things to fix, but we haven't gotten there yet.

Lol...I don't even think about taking pictures. But my pandemic pounds are proof I do get fed.

Our kitchen has bad lighting too, which I can't figure out since it's a relatively new kitchen (but before we lived here). I have to turn on the hood light as well as all the under-cabinet lights when I cook. Every time you buy a new house, there's something disappointing. For me, this is probably the most annoying thing about ours. I'm not really complaining about it, because if that's the worst thing I can't fix, I'll take it, but I feel your pain.

Add me to the poor kitchen lighting list. A couple of weeks ago, the main overhead light fixture conked out. Haven’t gotten around to replacing it yet. Instead, using auxiliary lights overhead,
Dinner tonight was a celebration. Our kid, who graduated from law school, and is completing an LLM in taxation, now has a job! He will be joining a firm in Washington DC.
I stopped by the butcher, and had him cut 3 thick KC strips. Baked potatoes and string beans with it. Washed down with a fine Italian Amarone, after a proper champagne toast. Coconut cake for dessert.

Camera flash?

Pasta primavera with goat cheese. Now I remember why I rarely make this...impossible to make a small amount plus my kitchen is a huge mess. I need Finkface to help me eat this.

Calibur cheeseburger & milkshake
bagel with cream cheese & lox
organic vegetable tray
mixed green salad
safeway toasted cheddar bagel - half with butter and half as a sandwich with Buseto (Costco) charcuterie & arugula
kettle bbq chips

organic strawberries
blood orange
Girl Scout cookies

What happened to the shrimp?