This quick sketch of lamb chili surprised me by all the attention it got on Facebook.
*Updated 2-3-21
Drawing From Everyday Life
This drawing is of dinner keeping warm on the radiator. It was inspired by the book The Creative License by Danny Gregory. I discovered his inspirational messages and it helped me to move past an unproductive period. Wonderful book. I think I gave my copy away after reading it many times. His drawings are equally wonderful.
After reading his book, my drawings were better. This makes me want to read it again. It was FOURTEEN years ago that I read it last, but I remember it being a focus on drawing from observation. About how to have the courage to start your drawing in ink and live with however it turns out.
Lamb Chili is an Old Favorite and Brings Back Memories
A decade ago, when lamb chili from Lashish was outstanding, I made this drawing. When the new Lashish opened, the wonderful lamb chili recipe that once was, seemed lost. The up side is that it doesn’t matter which state I am in, the awesome lamb chili is gone. Maybe I could learn how to make it myself. If I could get the recipe even close, that would be a wonderful thing. Going to restaurants and making drawings and reviews about the food and the service is something else I had a mind to do.
That reminds me of my favorite thing about Atlanta; there was good food and good service everywhere! I think they were so dependent on positive reviews in Atlanta because tourists would rely on the reviews to decide where to eat. Bad reviews could probably make a real financial difference. Either that or there is something real about southern hospitality.
In honor of this drawing, I am going to continue to try out different lamb chilis in search of that one that had me ordering for pick up at least once a week. So far none compare. It is a blessing to have so many opportunities to try a different lamb chili.
Also I am tempted to go back to Lashish and give the lamb chili another chance. It has been 5 years since I wrote this post, and another year or so prior to that when I discovered the new Lashish version was inferior. It could be that the person with the recipe for the exceptional lamb chili has returned.
Covid-19 Has Changed All Our Plans
Now that I am back in Michigan, I still would like to make a drawing of the salt and pepper shakers at every restaurant I visit to include a short review. But I am not visiting any restaurants at all. Very few of us are. Delivery and drive-through is the new normal. Restaurants do not want me to eat in and touch the salt and pepper shakers, and the plates and forks and glasses.
Instead I could draw my own salt and pepper shakers 100 times and still write a review of the food. Or I could go to the restaurant and draw the salt and pepper shakers and still take my food to go. Or I could draw the storefronts.
Favorite Spots for Pick Up or Delivery During the Pandemic:
These are our top choices south of Detroit near Ecorse. Generally the order is wrong in some way. I have gotten used to this. Mostly the bags come stapled or stickered shut, but there are still missing items. Request extra cheese, receive NO cheese. Request no tomatoes, receive tomatoes. I prefer Doordash for delivery even though they are more expensive, because they have provisions for how to compensate you for errors. Grubhub not so much.
- Bucharest – chicken shawarmas; they are healthy, large and cheap and the fries are excellent
- Shish Palace – chicken shawarmas, tabbouli salad, or chicken kafta wraps and the fries are excellent
- Detroit 75 – chicken shawarmas, fried catfish sandwich, how about I ate the fries cold and they were still delicious!
- Mooresoul – oxtails, shortribs, ribs, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, yams, collard greens and cabbage
- Zukin’s – ribs, onion rings
- Hunan Chinese Restaurant – egg foo young, shrimp fried rice,
- Mr Fish and Chicken – whole fried wings, catfish, walleye, and shrimp
- The New Fish Station – whole fried wings, catfish, crab cakes, frog legs, fried oysters, and shrimp
What is your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
This drawing is so nostalgic for me. Who hasn’t kept a favorite food warm on the radiator?
One of my favorite restaurants and dishes was the Lobster Bisque at Windows on the World. It also no longer exists, having sat at the top of one of the Twin Towers.
Lobster bisque is devine. If they have a Zoup near you, try theirs and let me know how it compares.