Long time no chat.  Business has been a bit slow in the diner.  Just had the strangest chap come in, from the deep south.  He kept going on about his Mama’s Possum Strew so I asked him for the recipe for my Recipes page.

He said he had just come into some money too so was jabbering away like a woodchuck.  I asked him where he got it but all he could say was he had hit the Jackpot!

Anyhoo, got a pie in the oven thats about done.

Chat soon

Floe.

There are so many different types of shows to choose from that you will want to make up your mind before leaving your home. With everything from headliner shows to magical shows available, you really need to know what direction you’re going to lean in. Of course, the longer your stay, the more shows you can take in while your there.

Some of the biggest headliners include Cher, Wayne Newton, Wayne Brady and many other talented singers. If you want to enjoy a night of magic, try David Copperfield or Criss Angel.  There are some very impressive productions such as the Blue Man Group, Phantom of the Opera, Cirque de Soleil, and others. If comedy is your thing, you will not be disappointed in the comedic offerings of Vegas. There is even a Haunted Vegas bus tour for the ghost hunter in you.

Many of the deals you can find are for both dinner and the show. If you can get in on one of those, you will definitely get your money’s worth. While you’re mostly paying for the show you will be enjoying the dinner is typically quite delicious and well worth the price of both.

With so many offerings available to you it may be wise to consult a travel agent before making a final decision as to what you really want to see while in Vegas. If you have the guidance of a professional you won’t miss anything that you may really want to see during your stay.

Firstly, it’s not uncommon for non American citizens to assume that diners are primarily promoters of burgers and fries washed down with gallons of coca cola. Mostly, we have Hollywood to thank for having entrenched this falsehood in the minds of its international audience.

The assumption is of course erroneous. In the urban centres of America, diners have been reinvented. The dusty counter diners that inspired a generation of spaghetti western movies are indeed a rare sight in bigger cities around the country. Diners have long graduated to hybrids of transcontinental fare and modern day fashion statements. Yesterday’s burger and fries is today’s chicken tortilla, and so on. The commercialization of fusion food is certainly capitalism’s latest great discovery.

By far my most fascinating discovery in diner cuisine in America was at the Pei Wei Asian Diner, Philadelphia – an experience I particularly looked forward to as I really love Asian food. Notably, Pei Wei could very easily earn my Noddy badge for speedy service; these people literally put the ‘fast’ back into fast food. Another huge plus: their welcoming interiors, attractive and clean cutlery and dim lighting. I felt drawn to the rich and warm decor and encouraged by the wide variety of dishes offered on the menu.

So before I get to the cuisine itself, I must confess to being a secret food snob. I think many South Africans are, and the way I saw it, what could one really expect from an Americanized-Asian fast-food diner? Of course, I did not share with my dining companion that I secretly expected the food to disappoint. Imagine my surprise when I not only thoroughly enjoyed the food served, I proceeded to go back at least another two times during the remaining eight days of my stay in the city.  

While I would recommend that those of you seeking an authentic Chinese Fusion food experience not look to Pei Wei to provide it, what counts in their favour is the simple yet tasty and healthier-than-most  diner experience they provide. The chicken teriyaki is endlessly friendlier to the waistline than a Chicken Mac, for instance. And for the Thai coconut curry – you’d be hard-pressed to find a tastier version in this price range.

All in all – Pei Wei has changed my views on the American diner experience, for the better too. The restaurant chain has 136 outlets across the US. As a healthier cheap option, I’d recommend them any day.