As I found myself being temporarily displaced at work, I began looking back through the posts. I was amazed (happily) to see that we have hit our First Year Anniversary of this blogging adventure!! I also noted, that we are nearly at the two-year anniversary of Chey's diagnosis. WOW, 23 posts! I keep pinching myself because I never knew if I could really do this. So, THANK YOU, Shelby and the Good Lord.
Well, for those constant readers that have stuck by me through my huge learning curve, I've been teasing you a little with Brazil or Bust a Gut. Today, I will tell you my recollection. For those new readers, I have been sharing our journey after our teenage daughter was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer that was discovered accidentally on a CT scan of her neck following a softball injury. At this point in the story, Cheyenne had just had her thyroid and one lymph node removed and we are at Texas Children's Hospital waiting for discharge--so, the story continues.
After Cheyenne had recovered from the bath ordeal (LOL), she was still a bit grumpy, but she was much better than she had been as she asked, "Mom, how much longer 'till we can go?"
"I'm not sure. We have to wait until the doctor comes in and discharges you." I had answered.
"I'm ready to get out of here and get some real sleep!" She touted.
"I know, I am too." I said in complete agreement.
My sister, Terri, had completely surprised us by coming down from Kansas City the morning of Chey's surgery. Ed (my spousal unit), myself and Chey spent this waiting time chit chatting. Terri, on the other hand, was itching to take us out. She had been on her phone searching here and there for something special. "Hey, have you guys ever eaten at a Brazilian Steakhouse?" She asked.
We answered, "No."
"Oh my gosh, we have got to find one. You guys will love it!"
I could tell Cheyenne wasn't too keen on the idea, she just wanted some uninterrupted sleep time. I tried to casually dissuade Terri, but she really wanted to take us out. The discharge orders were given and we finally released. By that time, we adults were pretty hungry! Chey still seemed like she would rather go on back to the Ronald McDonald House but she never said a word.
Terri had found the place she was looking for, Figo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse. She explained that it was an upscale Brazilian chain with an all you can eat, meat-carved at your table, experience.
"I hope this is like the one we have at home. They have an amazing salad bar with every side you could imagine." She was just gushing. "They will give you a little card that's red on one side, and green on the other. When you want meat, turn up the green side and they will bring the meat to the table and cut the serving for you. When you don't, just turn the red side up!"
I asked her, "What kinds of meats do they serve?"
She explained that there were usually several cuts of beef, pork, chicken and lamb, "But not sure of this chain."
Now I perked up at the mention of lamb. We had grown up in Iowa and we had lamb chops fairly often and I LOVE IT! Lamb is one of those meats you either love or hate, I've never really seen anyone in the middle. Doesn't bother me though, if you don't like it, that leaves more for me! The bad thing is, Cheyenne happens to love lamb also. Good thing she said all you can eat.
Ed followed Terri's directions and we arrived at the restaurant. I was a little worried that we were underdressed, it was very upscale! We hadn't planned on anything extravagant, all we had thought about was getting that cancer out of our daughter. Terri insisted that there would be people dressed as laid back as we were, she was right.
We went in and the décor was almost more Mediterranean to me. (Lol, not sure what Brazilian should look like.) There were loads of exposed, wooden beams and wines stored in mass. The tables were covered in pristine-white tablecloths and the waitstaff was dressed formally in black slacks with white dress shirts. Terri had stopped and spoken with the hostess as we were being seated.
Wow, Terri had not exaggerated at all! The salad bar was absolutely phenomenal! There was every side you could imagine. There was artichoke, asparagus, couscous, cream cheese grapes (Chey's fav), and olives of every kind. Add, mushrooms, cheeses, salads, prosciutto wraps, shrimp and items we had never seen before. (Personally, I would have been satisfied just with the salad bar.) After filling our plates, we ambled back to our table. The waiter came over and brought plantains and mashed potatoes served family style, in multi-serving bowls. Cheyenne had perked up, by this time, and I think the smells were winning over the fatigue battle and she seemed to be liking the experience.
Right behind this, the carvers came with huge skewers of meat! I really wasn't ready for meat yet, but "What the heck." I turned my card up, as did Ed and Terri, and the gut bust began. My goodness, they brought prime rib, steak, chicken, shrimp, pork and the most scrumptious lamb chops-one after another! Chey eventually turned her card up, as well. We tried a little bit of each meat produced. I was happily surprised, Cheyenne inhaled the lamb and a bit of the others. I had been worried she would not be able to eat. She and I both had multiple servings of the lamb, but Ed and Terri seemed to like the beef the best.
Finally, we were stuffed like ticks, and we turned those cards over and then they had the gall to ask about dessert! There was no way I could eat one more morsel, let alone a dessert, but Chey was game. She settled on some kind of chocolate fudge-filled molten brownie cake with ice cream on the side. When they brought it to the table, we discovered why Terri had spoken to the hostess. In bold red strawberry sauce, they had written "congratulations" along the perimeter of the plate. Terri had told them about Cheyenne's surgery and that we were celebrating her hospital release! It was really a sweet, sweet gesture.
We all sat there, a little shocked, as Cheyenne demolished that dessert. We finished up and slowly made it to the door. There is no way any of us could have moved quickly!
Next time, On To the Galleria,
XXOO Make Everyday Count
Bonnie
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