Mrs. RWP and I celebrated our 59th anniversary last week by going to Australia. Well, not really, but what Americams consider, whether rightly or wrongly, a reasonable facsimile. We went out to eat at the local franchise of a nationwide chain of restaurants called Outback Steakhouse.
I know it's not the same thing but we enjoyed pretending. Their menu included an appetizer called Bloomin' Onion but this time we had the Coconut Shrimp instead. There were such entrees as Shrimp on the Barbie and Alice Springs Chicken; we chose Toowoomba Salmon covered with a sauce of mushrooms and seasoned shrimp, served with rice pilaf and a vegetable medley of squash, zucchini, and carrots. We sidestepped the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under dessert, returning to the Norrh American continent for New York cheesecake drizzled with raspberry sauce. Everything was delicious.
The most Australian part of the evening occurred upon visiting "the facilities", where the doors sported signs saying Blokes and Sheilas, which is almost as clever as the facilities at Red Lobster Seafood Restaurant where the doors say Buoys and Gulls.
My question is to kylie in New South Wales and Sue in Melbourne (I think) and Helsie in Brisbane and even Carol in Cairns if she still reads this blog. Do you have Outback Restaurants there? What do you think of the concept? Is the food authentically Australian? Is it just a gimmick to relieve Americans of their money? Any of the rest of you who are not Australian may chime in with your opinions as well.
You have just spent ten minutes of your life reading this post that you will never get back.
Outback are fine. I used them twenty years ago and couldn't think of anything wrong with them. Tasty, cheap. No problem. Portions were a bit large but we used to ask for an extra plate and split the main between us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adrian. Let the record show that the delegate from Scotland has been heard from. I don't know that I would consider Outback 'cheap' since one can obtain two Whopper Jr. meas from Burger King that include French fries or onion rings and two Dr. Peppers for about $15 USD -- less with a coupon -- and Outback set me back about $90 last week. Don't get me wrong; I know that there are far more expensive restaurants.
DeleteWe were commissioning a big workboat somewhere in the Keys, possibly Miami. I think I was the only one that bothered with a Green Card. It was really good money so perhaps price didn't matter.
DeleteAdrian, I can't think of any time in my life when price didn't matter. !
DeleteHi Robert,
ReplyDeleteTo my knowledge we don't have Outback Steakhouse here but I really only know what is in NSW.
The food you describe doesn't sound particularly Australian, except the places the dishes are named after.
The price sounds about what i would expect of a mid range steak restaurant.
I really love that you celebrated by going to Australia and Congratulations to you both!
kylie, so it's a marketing gimmick then. I sort of suspected it. They are really successful with it. Thanks for being a subliminal part of our evening out.
DeleteHappy anniversary. With that many years you deserve a good dinner.
ReplyDeleteRed, it's not a matter of having had to endure but of thankfulness for our longevity.
DeleteA very happy 59th anniversary to you both! That is wonderful! I'm glad you splurged on a good dinner out to celebrate as you both deserve it. We sometimes go to Outback and I usually get the Alice Springs Chicken. Outback is a nice restaurant but I agree it is a little pricey.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, thank you for the good wishes! We used to lget the Bloomin' Onion but nowadays anything deep fried is verboten.
DeleteFirst, Happiest of Anniversaries to you both! Your 'facilities' have somewhat classier names than the restaurant we stopped at on our way to Costco....it is between two VERY small towns named Purdy and Burley. The ladies room says Purdy Women on the door and the men's room, Burley Men.
ReplyDeletePam, thank you for your anniversary wishes! I wondered if you were Pe Elling my leg about Purdy and Burley but I looked them up and there they were! I do think that Purdy Women and Burley Men sounds better than the alternative, Purdy Men and Burley Women.. In 1984 Mrs. RWP and I spent some time in NW Washington and Victoria, BC. I do remember passing through Port Orchard on the way to Port Angeles, where we took the car ferry to Anacortes. I think every state must hve names outsiders have problems pronouncing. In Georgia it's Dahlonega and in Washington I would nominate Puyallup. Always good to hear from you.
DeleteIt occurs to me that the signs used for men and women on toilet/washroom/loo doors are completely outdated. I was somewhere recently and all the women were dressed in jeans or trousers or lycra which was, I'm pretty sure, smaller than most of the skins covered. All the men had shorts and bare legs and those that didn't were in kilts. It's a strange world.
ReplyDeleteGraham, an interesting observation!. Have you seen the half-man, half-women image for unisex loos? What a strange world indeed.
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