Corned Beef & Cabbage
The gal who owns and waits tables at OHR (Cathy, or Kathy - I'm not certain how she spells her name) often talks about her corned beef. Maybe once each month she features
corned beef and cabbage, and her home-cooked corned beef is used when making the restaurant's sandwiches (while it lasts). I'm beyond picky when it comes to brisket or corned beef and, therefore, reluctant to order it. I've been this way my entire life, as far back as I can remember. The meat isn't supplied by a commercial packing house but, rather, it comes from her local butcher in the S or SW suburbs where she lives. She's too small of an operation to buy in bulk from the provision houses - a challenge she faces when buying most of her supplies.
When I was in the restaurant for lunch Monday, enjoying a tuna melt sandwich, she mentioned today's special was going to be corned beef and cabbage - a switch from her typical every other Wednesday offering of either baked breaded pork chops and roast short ribs. Her comments constituted a dare - a dare for me to try what I've yet to sample from the OHR menu. So I took her up on the dare.
Such meals at OHR are reminiscent of going to Sunday dinner at your elderly Aunt or Grandmother's home. That's one of the principal attractions of the restaurant for me. Lots of comfort food served-up by a woman full of love for her customers, and employees (four of whom she has sponsored for U.S. citizenship).
The meat was a little dry, but I enjoyed the texture and flavor. Not too fatty, but the lattice-work of fat was ever-present (but not overwhelming like some corned beef can be). The cabbage was overcooked - a problem with some of the "special" fresh vegetables at the restaurant. In this environment, give me the canned vegetables (such as my "double order" of vegetables today - the corn). The carrots were on the verge of "mashed," as well - but sturdier than the cabbage. And I've had better-tasting horseradish. My Grandmother would often tell me - in similar situations - that I shouldn't worry, because "it all gets mixed-up in the stomach" anyway.
Today's soup of the day was chicken rosmarina, full of rich broth, some vegetables and a good portion of pulled (or shreaded) chicken breast. This is one of the better soups on OHRs rotation.
The price of the Lunch, including entrée, beverage, tax and tip: $10. I did my "good deed" for the day - and enjoyed it.