Big Is The New Small

This post is very random; however if you been around BigIsTheNewSmall.com for awhile you shouldn’t be surprised.

Every time I go to a restaurant, I order H20 for my drink.  If it’s a dine-in restaurant it’s water with lemon, if it’s a fast food restaurant, I’ll just grab a regular cup of water and same thing for the dine-in/fast food combo type of restaurants.  There is one thing that irritates me about some or maybe even most of these restaurants… I’m Tired Of Your Baby Water Cups! Can I get an Amen from my water drinkers.

Dear Mr. Panera Bread: Just because I decide to order a cup of water for my drink doesn’t mean I want your little clear dixie cup that a lid doesn’t even fit on.  I don’t mean to pick on Panera, I could have you pick a restaurant and they would probably fit in this same category.  I know some of you are probably saying, “just ask for a bigger cup” and often times that’s what I do.  I’m even willing to pay; however It’s the Principle of The Matter!

I want to thank one of my favorite local Sandwich Shops in Oklahoma City (Saturn Grill) for appreciating their water drinking customers enough to provide a 2 cent cup.  @SaturnGrill  actually gives you the nice plastic cups that you can take home with you.

Did I mention that these water cups are so small that you will have a foot of straw sticking out of the top of the cup?  Did I mention the fact that a child’s sippie cup will hold more fluid ounces?

I feel better now!

Is it just me or do you feel the same way?  Which restaurants frustrate you the most and what restaurants appreciate you with the BIG Water cup like @SaturnGrill.  Chime In, Sound Off!

Memorial Day is one of the official grillin’ holidays.  It’s one of those great Mondays that we not only get to reflect and pay respect to those who have served and are currently serving to protect our freedom… but we get to fire up the grill and have left-overs for days. 

Everyone has their own philosophy when it comes to grillin’ or smokin’ meats, what to cook, how to season the meat, the type of grill etc… so I figured we would talk grillin’ this Memorial Day Monday.  Here are 10  Either/or  Grillin’ Questions:  Share your thoughts on any of the questions below or add additional answers, if your personal choice is not provided.

1. Beef Hotdogs / All-Meat Hotdogs / No Hotdogs at all  (Me: Beef Hotdogs)
2. Steaks / Brisket / Pork Ribs / Beef Ribs / Pork Chops / Other (Me: I don’t eat pork, I’m down w/ Steaks, Brisket & beef Ribs)
3. Bratwurst / Polish Sausage / Hotlinks / Other (Me: Hotlinks)
4. Kabobs / Fresh Corn / Other (Me: Fresh Corn)
5. Turkey / Chicken / Deer / Hamburgers / Buffalo Burgers / Other (Me: Hamburgers)
6. Gas Grill / Smoker / Charcoal / Charcoal & Woodchips / Other (Me: Charcoal & hardwood coals added)
7. Deviled Eggs / Potato Salad / Cole Slaw / Green Beans / Other (Me: Deviled Eggs & Potatoe Salad)
8. Baked Beans with Brisket / Baked Beans with Ground Beef / Baked Beans Plain (Me: Baked Beans w/ Brisket or Ground Beef)
9. Marinade / Rub / Just Sprinkle (Me: Marinade and Sprinkle)
10. Well-Done / Medium-Well / Medium / Rare… I mean bloody (Me: Well-Done I Don’t Mess Around)
11. Bonus: Go to Someones House / Do It Yourself (Me: Do it myself & I eat mayo. on everything: burgers, dogs, links…)

Share your thoughts on any of these grillin’ questions.  Share any recipes, secrets, thoughts or grillin’ philosophies. 

Happy Memorial Day!

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase Hole In The Wall…  I’m sure that we all have a relatively similar thoughts; however Hole In The Wall is defined as: A small, very modest, often out-of-the-way place.

In this post, I’m referring to Hole In The Wall Restaurants.  Yesterday, myself and a fairly large group of people had the opportunity to hit several Hole In The Wall restaurants for lunch.  First of all we hit Tim’s Indian Tacos and then our next stop was a little spot called Fried Pies… by the name I’m sure that you can imagine what the sell.

Maybe it’s just me, but I love finding these little hidden jewels we have come to know as Hole In The Wall’s; let me tell you, they have some of the best food.  When I travel I always try to find those Hole In The Wall’s that could literally be the billboard for Campbell’s Soup, if you know what I mean…  “M’m! M’m! Good!  Especially the little soul food restaurants like Florence’s on N.E. 23rd street in Oklahoma City, OK; or burger spots like Dairy Mart in Union City, OK…  I could go on and on with my list both locally and around the country, but that’s the purpose of this post; the purpose is for you to go on and on about your favorite Hole In The Wall’s. 

Do you like Hole In The Wall Restaurants?  If so, what are some of your favorites (Name, City, Type, Favorite Item…)?

BTW- I will be in Dallas for a couple of days next week for the Innovation 3 Conference; please share your favorite spots in Dallas.

I need to set the record straight; I am totally convinced without question that Panera has the best sandwiches, bagels, breads, soups…  I don’t know why I decided to share this, I just did.  You can’t find a better place to have a light breakfast, a good lunch meeting or a place that allows you to get out of the office, use their free wifi and flat out get some work done.  Each time me and this guy meet, it’s at Panera and about 6 years ago my very first lunch meeting with my Senior Pastor Craig was at Panera.

Here is my order: Pick Two- Frontega Chicken Sandwich  minus the onions and Broccoli and Cheddar Soup; Water w/ Lemon ask for the big clear cup, because that baby one they give you doesn’t do anything for me.

What’s your favorite sandwich/eating spot to meet or your favorite place to get out of the office and get some work done?  What do you order?