New Year's Day and Carrabba's

In spite of the title, let's start with yesterday, last night's supper at Carrabba's to be precise.

Joan and I encountered this food chain back in Texas a couple of years ago. Then, as now, line-ups out the door were standard. Yesterday, we dropped-in during the afternoon and made a 'non' reservation: they don't reserve a specific table, we just jump the queue if we arrive on time. Sounded pretty good at the time so we showed up at 6 sharp. We jumped the queue, but would still have to wait about 30 to 40 minutes. Not so good. We repeated what we did the first time: we opted for sitting at the counter, and just had to wait a minute while they added another stool. Worked very well for us again!

The kitchen is just the other side of the counter and you get very intimately involved with all the frenzy of an extremely busy kitchen. Nine chefs plus about 5 runners who bring clean dishes, food supplies, and whatever else the chefs might need. Poetry in motion at a hectic pace. Very entertaining!

This first shot is of the main chef, posting new orders just taken from the printer near his right hand. He's holding a bunch of orders in his right hand that he will read, holler orders to the other chefs, and then post the order on the rack where he's looking. [you can increase the size of the photo by clicking on it, then use your browser's back button to return here]

You can pretty well see most of the chefs in this next shot, and a runner or two. It's a busy place that works like a well oiled clock, but at a 'zoom-zoom' pace.

Dishes are prepared very quickly and expertly [some even customized: no tomatoes, more peas, etc.] and are almost flung at the pick-up area, right beside where I was sitting. Then a person on 'our' side of the counter groups orders by table and places the dishes onto serving platters. This guy never stopped either!

When we left a few hours later, there were still as many people waiting outside as when we arrived! Those poor chefs would not have a break until well after midnight. No wonder they were all pretty thin!

The food? Well, it was great! At first we made the decision to eat there weekly so we could try other things on the menu, now, we're considering going more often. ... and you can bet we'll be sitting at the counter!

Here are a few shots of our accommodations for the next two months. We have two front doors [A & B], one side patio door [B], and one screen door from the lanai at the back. It's a long complicated description, and I'd probably get it wrong anyway so we'll save that for another series of pictures, maybe...

This is view of the from of the condo, notice our car is now cleaner than it was...

Next is the view from the screen door of the lanai.

This is the lanai, where we'll likely spend a lot of time! I'm sitting in here now.

Joan and Craigen seemed to find a comfy spot on the couch... Yes, Kathleen, Joan still has a few real books to finish before she uses the new Kindle exclusively [and willingly I might add].

And here's our first photogenic animal of the reptilian persuasion: probably an anole [or gecko]

He's on the outside of the screen, safe from Craigen, and seems to hang around here. Hope you enjoy it Eric. Sure is fun to watch.

To be continued...