Well, that shoots that down....

[vanillafluffy]

Yesterday, Red and I made plans for September 2nd, a pre-birthday event, where she was going to meet me in Melbourne before work (she's off) and we were going to lunch at my favorite restaurant, Bennigan's. I adore Bennigan's. I realize there are other restaurants that do the shabby-chich-antiques-on-the-wall thing, but they were the first I encountered---back in 1983---and the food was always good.

Imagine my dismay to learn from a co-worker that Bennigan's (which was conveniently located right behind where I work) has closed down. I verified it online---apparently they ceased operating nationwide at the end of June.

I'm bummed! They've been my all-time favorite restaurant for more than 20 years, and now I'll never again enjoy one of their pretzel sandwiches...or their baked potato soup...southwest eggrolls with pineapple dip...or the Holy Grail---The Monte Christo.

Great. Now I'm bummed AND hungry!

Comments

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

This is why you need to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. They covered it extensively as the important news story it was. (Jon once worked as a manager at Bennigans and they have been a consistent target of his.)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Cultural deprivation strikes again.

I've always thought that my "perfect" job would be traveling around to accumulate antiques and memorabilia for places like Bennigan's, Applebees and Cracker Barrel....

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, you can have a Monte Cristo again:

http://www.copykat.com/component/rapidrecipe/?page=viewrecipe&recipe_id=270

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thanks, that's some consolation!

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I know you're not a heavy duty bread-baking person, but I also found the recipe for the pretzel sandwich:

http://mikey5.blogspot.com/2008/07/end-of-turkey-otoole-recipe.html

If you had a source for soft pretzels, it looks pretty easy to recreate from that point.

ETA: My Google-fu is really working today! Here's the baked potato soup recipe, and it's both easy and not expensive. This would be a great thing to serve at a potluck:

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/eatingout/eating_b/baked-potato-soup.htm

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

You are amazing, and I really wish I *could* give you a cooking show of your own!

[socialhermit.livejournal.com]

I, too, adored Bennigans. They had awesome Caesar Salads (with Steak or Chicken), fantastic 1/2-pound burgers, and I - literally - salivated over their Bleu Cheese Chips. *drools*

[sbjb.livejournal.com]

They had this burger that a friend and I referred to as "Death by Cheese". It was their normal huge burger, topped with marinara instead of ketchup'n'stuff, and a 1/2" THICK DISC OF FRIED CHEESE!!! Mmmmm, heaven.