Mac n Cheese Six

The March edition of SupperClubSix prompted a new moniker for the group or at least a nickname.  Holly had us all guessing about her selection.  Typically, one or two of us guess the location when given enough hints.  (I frankly never get it.)  She peppered us with hints:  casual, Crossroads district, new establishment and finally the name included the term some gay men use to refer to each other.  Still nothing.  However, we had some creative guesses.   Have you guessed it?


Hamburger Mary's!  Eat, drink and be . . . MARY!  Holly definitely stumped us.  Hamburger Mary's is a chain hamburger joint that is decidedly gay and flamboyant including the toxic purple colored building on Southwest Boulevard.  Although, the chain is definitely geared towards a GLBT crowd, it's straight friendly as well with an assorted mix of patrons.  The decor is tongue and cheek over the top funky filled with every gay cliche from Cher on the video TV monitors to flamboyantly dressed wait staff.  Fun and playful. 

(However, for six straight teetering on the cusp of "extremely  pre middle age/ post hipster age" the music was a bit loud because we couldn't hear each other speak.)

We first scoured the menu for our signature appetizer--Mac n Cheese.  To our delight we found, Deep Fat Fried Mac n Cheese.  It sounded like such a good idea when we ordered it.  Unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations.  The fried batter was essentially the only flavor you taste which is fine when you are frying cauliflower but we wanted to taste some Mac n Cheese.    Now that we are such Mac n Cheese connoisseurs with discriminating taste,  we've dubbed ourselves Mac n Cheese Six.  

The burgers were juicy bits of heaven.  Several different types to order with names like Big Johnson, Rock Star (gouda cheese, roasted garlic, caramelized onions), Proud Mary, Queen Mary and a Peppermint Patty Melt.  Succulent.  Don't come here for the vegetarian fare.  However, it was Lent and our lone (practicing) Catholic did enjoy a black bean burger.  

Have I mentioned "The Dirty Mary"?  Oh, yeah.  I had one.  Maggie had two.  Sorry, had to "out" you, Mags!   The Dirty Mary is "Skyy Vodka and olive juice, shaken like a bad girl".  The rest of the table ordered a Carrie Bradshaw ("Aka:  Sex and the Tini" which includes Clementine vodka, peach schnapps, raspberry liqueur, pineapple and cranberry) and a Bucklers.  How was that Bucklers, Kim?

We had high hopes for dessert.  Fried Twinkies and Snickers but it soon became evidently clear we would have several medical emergencies if we consumed any more food.  One of us may have unbuttoned her jeans at the table.  The rest of us made it to the car.  Seriously, we went from starving to engorged in 15 minutes. 

Our service was okay, the atmosphere is fun and there is an upper deck that we all hope to enjoy this summer.   We will return with stretchy pants.  

Our bill arrived in a gold lame 6 inch heel.  We happily paid our bill and waddled out to our cars leaving the Marys to whoop it up late into the evening while we all made it home in time for 10 o'clock news.

Mother Nature Isn't Welcome

For the second time in our short history, our plans were waylaid by Mother Nature.  I love Winter as much as the next Nebraska native but this winter has pretty much made me wax nostalgic about those long hot muggy torturous days in the dead of August when you sweat in places you shouldn't mention in a PG blog just walking from your office to your car.  Icy rain/snow/sludge mixture convinced us not to head north for our late January convention of The SupperClubSix KC so as the host I had to choose Plan B.  I   played it safe with Carmen's Cafe located only a few blocks from my house in Brookside.  We met at my house for pre dinner wine and commiserated about the lousy weather.  One member shared some jaw dropping happy news causing us to refill our glasses while we pummeled her with questions:  how?  where?  when?  really?  seriously?  (More on this development on a later blog but we may become Supper Club Six Plus One.)


By the time we left for Carmen's, Mother Nature let loose with a flurry of white flakes making the walk from our cars less than ideal.  Luckily, we were seated immediately.  Carmen's bar area is usually quite cramped.  We were seated at the first table in the dining room and it was dark.  By dark I mean, we couldn't read our menus.  I don't remember it being this dark and I've dined at Carmen's (or catered Carmen's for bookclub in an attempt to pass it off as my own) numerous times.  Luckily, I always travel with a book light in my purse.  People may mock me (okay they do mock me and did mock me at dinner) but it has saved me on numerous occasions.  There weren't enough candles to go around the table and I feared lighting the tablecloth on fire so we shared my book light.   We also had a pen light our waitress gave us after we pointed out that we still weren't ready to order because we couldn't read.

We have yet to order six different entrees.  We cluster order.   A couple of us had the Chicken Spidini Jacqueline--chunks of chicken breast marinated, breaded, charbroiled and served over angle hair pasta with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and fresh basil.  One member ordered the Tortellini Andres -- donut shaped pasta, stuffed with prosciutto ham and chicken served in Alfredo sauce with mushrooms and peas.  A few opted for Judy's Rigatoni which is pasta served in a Vodka tomato cream sauce with mushrooms, peas and prosciutto ham.   All in all the food was delicious.  I've always experienced consistently excellent food at Carmen's.  Our service left a bit to be desired.  There didn't seem to be much concern about the lighting and she was pushing the wine.  For once, we were resisting.