Dim Sum in the Danger Zone

Dim sum refers to a style of Chinese food prepared as small bite-sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim sum is also well known for the unique way it is served in some restaurants, wherein fully cooked and ready-to-serve dim sum dishes are carted around the restaurant for customers to choose their orders while seated at their tables.

Top Gun Restaurant in Factoria, WA is  a Chinese restaurant that has an extensive dinner  menu and specializes in Dim Sum lunches.

Since I had a medical appointment in the area, my wife and I decided to try lunch there. From the outside, the place does not inspire confidence. There are auto body shops and boarded up businesses in the neighborhood and the restaurant is a dingy yellow.

Inside is fairly nice, however., with large tanks of fish and lobster staring at you as if pleading not to be your entree.

Handicapped accessibility was fair. The parking was not well marked but getting in and out wasn't too difficult.

Service was prompt and attentive. Despite being busy, we were seated quickly and in a location convenient for my wheelchair.

The food was not great, but good. Most of the dishes served were shrimp-based. Everything was hot and well-seasoned. my biggest complaint is not knowing how much you're spending. Color-coded pricing would be welcome. We ended up spending a bit more than we wanted, and likely wouldn't repeat the experience.

   

Shouldn't have turned the crank

The wife and I were heading back from a doctor appointment and we were hungry and lacking a lot of disposable income. The line at Starbucks was too long and I didn't want to risk McDonalds. So we decided to go in and sit down to eat a quick brunch. 

Regular readers may be suprised by my choice in  eating establishments. However, it was lte morning, we were in a bit of a hurry and Jack was close and serving breakfast.

I ordered a jumbo breakfast platter with sausage. Instead of xoffee, I aked for a snall diet DR Pepper. That confused the order-taker. Since my wife wanted hot tea, I sa22 it on the menu and aswked forthat.

:No hot tea, only iced" So I asked for decaf coffee. "No, don't know how."

Eventually she got her burger and a water. I got my platter with limp, cold bacon drapped over everythinge

Normally I don't send food back. I made an exception twice this time. I watched as the cook picked the bacon up with her fingers, touching all my food. I told her that I wanted a fresh platter and for her to wash her hands / wear glove between handling cash and food.

Finally getting my food, I wheeled over to my boot. Imagine my surprise when I found it was a handicapped accessible table - installed BACKWARDS to make it inaccessible.

Finally the food:  The eggs were overcooked, the pancakes cold and the sausage undercooked. But the hash browns were nice and crisp

It's not the worst fast food out there, but it isn't the best, either

Pretentious and Pricey Deli

Gilberts on Main in Old Bellevue, WA is a somewhat quirky deli. After a lengthy bout of illness from a stomach virus, I'd had a serious craving for a bowl of Matzoh Ball Soup. After church today, I asked Skyvi (Android equivalent of Siri) where the best matzoh ball soup was in Bellevue. It suggested Gilberts on Main.

One of the first things I look at is accessibility, especially in regards to parking and getting to the restaurant. Being in a wheelchair presents unique problems in navigating curbs and doorways. Many times these factors are beyond the control of the restaurant owners, but they do contribute to my enjoyment of the experience. In this case there was no handicapped parking nearby and the doorway was hard to negotiate in a wheelchair.

The interior was cramped and getting to a table would have been impossible if it hadn't been for the helpful staff.

The menu would best be described as pretentious deli. There were the items you would expect to find - hot pastrami sandwich, etc - along with fancier fare.

I looked over the menu briefly and ordered a deluxe bagel and lox platter and a cup of matzoh soup with a can of soda. $28.44! The platter consisted of two halves of a bagel, cream cheese a decent amount of good quality lox, onions, capers, tomatoes, cucumber slices and pickles. It was good, but the bagel tasted more like regular bread than a bagel. Certainly not $15 worth.

The soup was very good but also very overpriced at almost $10.00 a cup.

While I'd like to try other items on the menu, the price and accessibility will keep that from happening

The Y's an open door...

The Y’s an open door
Since 1844
With guidance over youth
For character and truth

 If you've ever heard or chanted that chant, odds are you've been to a YMCA camp or maybe a YMCA.

 The Coal Creek YMCA is MY YMCA. I don't go there as often as I should, but I always feel better when I do.

I used to go there to walk in the warm pool. Depending on the time of day, this could involve dodging dozens of children or having the pool to yourself. Alas, since going on Peritoneal Dialysis, the risk of infection from my catheter exit site is too great.

My workout now consists of a wonderful Precor weight machine. I don't know what it's called but it has cable pulleys with adjustable heights and switchable handles. Sitting 9n my chair, I can do over a dozen distinct exercises. And, thanks to the wonderful staff, I learn new exercises every time!

I certainly appreciate the family dressing rooms with the handicapped accessible showers. I'm sure my friends and family appreciate my more frequent showers