Post 200; Mongolian Barbeque and other food for the weekend; Clowny WILL be a real word!

Well, first, this is the 200th (published) post!* Considering I have been doing this blog for a number of years, 200 doesn’t seem that much. But it is some sort of milestone, I guess.

My 2nd week back at work and, the weekend just gone was also back to normal, if not busier.

Friday we were supposed to go and see FfI, who had the really bad accident at the end of July. However, she was on new drugs and very groggy so it was rearranged for Saturday. Then, on Saturday morning, A texted to suggest the Mongolian Barbeque restaurant. We agreed. So it was, kind of, apero at FfI’s about 5, then 9.30 we were at the Mongolian Barbeque. What a great place.

We had starters, which were “pick your own”. I chose a few small meatballs with a gravy with some roast potatoes and, incredibly, they tasted just like faggots. Now I really love faggots – you know, Brains – and we can’t get them here, so I was delighted to taste these.

Then we went up, selected our raw meat and then gave it to the cooks to griddle. And it all tasted superb. All this for a fixed price of €18. Great value for money. Even better for Sunday Lunch where the fixed price is €12. It doesn’t include drink but it’s still not bad.

The only thing to remember is that, should you not eat everything on your plate that you have chosen, they make a surcharge of between €5-10! Can’t say I blame them really as it ensures that people don’t just pile their plate and leave a load of stuff to be thrown away. However, this is a bit of a struggle for V who, as normal with free food, takes much more than he needs – and then can’t eat it! So he spent a while trying to convince everyone else to take some. Luckily, there was A – who is more like a human dustbin!!

Anyway, the food was very, very good and the experience of queuing up and watching your food being cooked, is also good. Worth checking out. It’s on Via Monte Nero in Milan, should you choose to go. Do book as it’s very popular.

Sunday was a really nice brunch with N followed by a surprise visit by friends from the UK who were catching flights back today. For the price of a nice Indian meal they stayed with us. And it was great to see them.

V was explaining about Dino to them, with the usual, ‘I never wanted another dog’ and he actually said ‘he does many clowny things!’. Now, I’m not sure why he said it. Nobody picked up on it and I said nothing. Maybe he remembered the word when we played scrabble that time with S & P. The story is that, in order to get a decent score, I made up the word and, although P, in particular, was sure it was a made-up word, no-one challenged me officially for fear of losing a go.

I made a very good explanation of why it was a real word, even though I knew that it probably wasn’t.

Anyway, now that V has said it to others, I’m sure that, in a few years, it will enter the dictionary and become a real word. And, when it does, you will know that I invented it!

It seems a perfect end to my 200th post, don’t you think?

* Unfortunately, not any more. I have deleted some posts since the move here. This is probably somewhere around the 195th post now.

6 thoughts on “Post 200; Mongolian Barbeque and other food for the weekend; Clowny WILL be a real word!

  1. Hi Andy,
    Your weekend sounds scrumptious. That Mongolian barbecue is fascinating. I never heard of charging patrons who don’t clean their plates. I like that idea, a lot!.

    CONGRATULATIONS on your 200th posting. :-)

    Word check? I never saw that word ‘apro’. Can you share it’s origin and meaning? Thanks Andy.

    Today is our birthday dinner and celebration with Fallen Angel. The festivities begin around noon – starting with lobster rolls. Later a neighbor is coming by as well and bringing his harmonica and banjo and we are going to have a bit of a music fest!
    Then our own Mongolian barbecue, of sorts. :-)
    Write when you can Andy. I await your words.
    Love,
    Gail from across the pond.

  2. Hi Gail,
    Yes, it was. I think it’s very sensible to charge for not emptying your plate, especially with V and Alberto around who would just waste so much!
    Apro is a short slang here for aperitivo – which is a BIG thing here in Milan. Most bars serve cocktails from about 5.30 and also provide free food. In some bars this is quit exceptional. The drinks are expensive but it is possible to make a whole meal from apro food and have only one drink, all for about €6-8 – students love it.
    Have fun with the birthday/anniversary dinner – it sounds a hoot.
    A dopo.
    Andy

  3. Hey Andy –
    So the Apro is like the American concept of “Happy Hour” where thee is free food. And often, the selection is more than enough to suffice as a meal.
    Our celebration last evening was wonderful.

    And I looked up the translation of A dopo, and it came back as –
    A after. Is that what you meant in your salutation?

    Any emails coming?

    Love,
    Gail

  4. Hi Gail,

    Yes, I guess so. Sometimes the selection is exceptionally good – if you know the right bars to go to.
    Good, I’m glad it went well. I had no doubts it would.
    A dopo is really the same as ‘later’ as in ‘See you later’ or ‘Talk later’.
    Not able to check emails so often and about to leave for Mantova (see latest post). So will check Monday at the latest.
    Baci
    Andy

  5. Hi Andy,
    I am bushing – I looked up Baci to translate – and it said it meant to “smother with kisses.” I love that.

    And yes, I read of your upcoming trip to Mantova – sounds wonderful. You are quite the traveler, ey?

    Also, here in Connecticut there are some bars that put out amazing buffets with an assortment of foods. We used to go to them a lot more than we do now. We really prefer to be at home on our deck drinking and munching on whatever.

    Enjoy your travels.

    Baci
    Gail

    p.s. is that the same pre-word to “baci-ball”? :-)

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