Rah Rah for the Ri Ra Pub!

Why is the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City such a maze?  My brother says casinos are deliberately designed that way so that you're enticed to gamble at every turn.  We all surely got our exercise over the few days we were there.  After winding our way past the fountain and the ceiling palm fans, we found the Ri Ra (sorry, can't seem to add accents to this font) to get something more substantial than Boardwalk food.

There was a soccer game in progress on several big-TV screens in this Irish pub, the fans openly expressing their enthusiasm with cheers and moans when one of the players got kicked in the nose.  My brother used to play soccer, so was into it.  Despite some annoying distractions, I relished my lunch.

Everyone was pleased with their food here, from kids to parents to grandmother.  I ordered a Reuben (yes, I know, I had one in an earlier blog, but I love them) and it was, I think, the best one I've ever had, due in large part to the delicious thick bread that was used to enclose lots of lean corned beef and the Ri Ra special sauce.  I didn't feel guilty, as I knew I'd make up for the ingestion of so many calories with plenty of walking later.  Plus, aren't vacations made for guilt-free indulging?

A friend had recommended the Fiesta buffet, which we tried on a later night (I would have foregone the mediocre seafood there for the melt-in-your-mouth pot roast once I discovered it on second go-round). I think it was unanimous that we enjoyed the Ri Ra more; in fact, most of us returned there before we left for home and had another delicious lunch.

So if you're in Atlantic City and near the Tropicana, try the Ri Ra.  It's on the second floor in the Havana Tower.  I had hoped to try the Cuban restaurant also, but couldn't get anyone else to accompany me.

Now I'm home again, with food in the house, and tried a new curried chicken recipe last night that turned out great, from the Penzey's Spices catalogue.  This week:  a BBQ'd brisket, which makes lots of leftovers.  It always feels good to be cooking again after vacation food.  Since I ignored the temptations to gambleat every turn of the maze, I came home able to afford food despite the continuing unemployment situation.  I must eat, musn't  I?  So must we all, and enjoy it as much as we can.