Mimi's Drive In Diner
Went to Mimi's Drive In Diner in Fulton, NY today. Have been there several times in the past, so I know what to expect, not much. Like 99% of these dives, they are all the same, and why are they all the same, because they all buy from the same supplier Sysco. This is what gives them all the sameness, no matter where you go. The same fried chicken, the same meatloaf, the same burgers. Now all I have to ask is how the hell hard is this diner food to do, really. The reason every one of them is the same is because they are lazy, they don't want to source their own suppliers. That would be like work or something. Besides they have half wits for cooks, who would not know a butcher from a buccaneer.
There is something to be said for sameness though. Every one of these dives should have the same stuff on their menus, that part is true. But really how hard is it to make a meatloaf. Let me explain that, you have chopped meat, bread crumbs, and egg. That's about it, well at least as far as the basic meat loaf is concerned, the rest is all fine tuning. Maybe you like ketchup, or maybe you like tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes. Yes you should have some onion, some garlic, some peppers, and I'm not to far out on a limb here to say even some other herbs and spices. Start with the basics, take a little oil put it in a pan and fry up some onions, peppers and garlic, a little salt and pepper here, but keep it light. Now when those are just about ready, toss in the bread crumbs, real bread crumbs, from real bread, hopefully that was made on the premises, not that panco shit, it has its purpose, but not in meatloaf. You see meatloaf is a country meal, born of poverty, and only pretty by design. Done right it can be elevated through good work, done wrong it is horrible, and otherwise it is just meatloaf, leave it alone. So you just toss the bread crumbs, don't cook them, your just tossing them. Once they have been coated, you put that in the meat bowl with the coarsely ground beef, yes I said beef, that's meatloaf, the other shit is not. Whisk an egg, and throw that in to, that just binds the materials, so it just goes in after you whisk it a bit, not frothy, just mixed up so it don't clump. Now knead that together, add in your spices and herbs if you need them, toss in some salt and pepper again, you get a feel for that after a while. Now if you put ketchup in, throw that in now, or not, which is better. Form it into a loaf, put it in a loaf pan, and ensure that it fills the whole pan evenly. It ain't gonna rise, in fact it is going to shrink, so fill that loaf pan right up, and only leave a little room at the top to top it with a little of the bread crumbs, some tomato paste, sun dried tomatoes, or whatever you want to make it fancy. That's it, put it in the oven at 325 and bake it until it is done, not over done, just done, then leave it alone for a while, quite a while, so it can mature and meld. That's it, flip it out of the pan, slice it, serve it with gravy or what ever, that's all there is to it.
So why must these places insist on buying that crap they get from Sysco, serving it with that crap gravy they get from Sysco, and instant potatoes they get from Sysco, because they are lazy, and apparently have more money than sense.
So yea, I got the meatloaf sandwich from Mimi's and it was exactly what I expected, so I guess I have nothing to complain about, but here it is, it wasn't served with toast, but plain white bread, which is like paste, and the vegetable was corn, not a side, but a starch, are you kidding me.
The coffee is lousy, the food is on par with any other second rate diner, the service was alright, not great, but alright, and the price is reasonable in comparison with other diners, but not worth it.
Will I go back there, well yea, most likely, because there are no options, and they have alright burgers (still Sysco crap) and that's what I expect, but they certainly could be more. It would cost them less, and they would be better for it, but unfortunately they are to ignorant to realize that, so that is all there is to say.
Would I recommend them, no, I would suggest you not go there, go to the closest dive, it will be the same level of disappointment and you won't have to travel so far, unless you live near by, then by all means go there, just don't expect anything good, at best it is alright.
There is something to be said for sameness though. Every one of these dives should have the same stuff on their menus, that part is true. But really how hard is it to make a meatloaf. Let me explain that, you have chopped meat, bread crumbs, and egg. That's about it, well at least as far as the basic meat loaf is concerned, the rest is all fine tuning. Maybe you like ketchup, or maybe you like tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes. Yes you should have some onion, some garlic, some peppers, and I'm not to far out on a limb here to say even some other herbs and spices. Start with the basics, take a little oil put it in a pan and fry up some onions, peppers and garlic, a little salt and pepper here, but keep it light. Now when those are just about ready, toss in the bread crumbs, real bread crumbs, from real bread, hopefully that was made on the premises, not that panco shit, it has its purpose, but not in meatloaf. You see meatloaf is a country meal, born of poverty, and only pretty by design. Done right it can be elevated through good work, done wrong it is horrible, and otherwise it is just meatloaf, leave it alone. So you just toss the bread crumbs, don't cook them, your just tossing them. Once they have been coated, you put that in the meat bowl with the coarsely ground beef, yes I said beef, that's meatloaf, the other shit is not. Whisk an egg, and throw that in to, that just binds the materials, so it just goes in after you whisk it a bit, not frothy, just mixed up so it don't clump. Now knead that together, add in your spices and herbs if you need them, toss in some salt and pepper again, you get a feel for that after a while. Now if you put ketchup in, throw that in now, or not, which is better. Form it into a loaf, put it in a loaf pan, and ensure that it fills the whole pan evenly. It ain't gonna rise, in fact it is going to shrink, so fill that loaf pan right up, and only leave a little room at the top to top it with a little of the bread crumbs, some tomato paste, sun dried tomatoes, or whatever you want to make it fancy. That's it, put it in the oven at 325 and bake it until it is done, not over done, just done, then leave it alone for a while, quite a while, so it can mature and meld. That's it, flip it out of the pan, slice it, serve it with gravy or what ever, that's all there is to it.
So why must these places insist on buying that crap they get from Sysco, serving it with that crap gravy they get from Sysco, and instant potatoes they get from Sysco, because they are lazy, and apparently have more money than sense.
So yea, I got the meatloaf sandwich from Mimi's and it was exactly what I expected, so I guess I have nothing to complain about, but here it is, it wasn't served with toast, but plain white bread, which is like paste, and the vegetable was corn, not a side, but a starch, are you kidding me.
The coffee is lousy, the food is on par with any other second rate diner, the service was alright, not great, but alright, and the price is reasonable in comparison with other diners, but not worth it.
Will I go back there, well yea, most likely, because there are no options, and they have alright burgers (still Sysco crap) and that's what I expect, but they certainly could be more. It would cost them less, and they would be better for it, but unfortunately they are to ignorant to realize that, so that is all there is to say.
Would I recommend them, no, I would suggest you not go there, go to the closest dive, it will be the same level of disappointment and you won't have to travel so far, unless you live near by, then by all means go there, just don't expect anything good, at best it is alright.
When were you fired from Sysco?
ReplyDeleteor were you fired from Mimi's and Sysco?? You certainly were never employed at a place which asked for acceptable grammar. Believe it or not there is a difference between to, too and two.
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't get to your comment sooner, as it certainly deserves a response. There most certainly is a difference between to, too, and two, as in; I am going to the movie, would you two like to come too? Where most people make the mistake is with to and too, and actually mostly with only too, which means also, or as well as. It does not mean in addition to, as in included with, which is where most people get confused. To include someone, or to add something to something, it is to not too, but that is just being picky really. In modern use, the two to's are used interchangeably and most people do not notice or even know the difference. On the net there is no grammar so what is the point.
ReplyDeleteOh and just a side note, no I have never worked for Sysco (in that sense) or Mimis for that matter, I have worked for other such dives, they are usually the same to work for as well, but I have worked with Sysco, when I owned a restaurant, and I will never make that mistake again. All the service providers are the same, so it doesn't matter which one, Sysco, Renzi, and so on and so forth, they all provide the same commercial crap, and breed in laziness. There are no good restaurants in this area, just more of the same dives, or chains with their own supply chain which is the same crap the SP's provide, so it is all moot. Keep your expectations low and you will be fine, or seek out the few places that offer local foods in season, purchased from local farms, if you can find them. Have a nice day.