etee's Blog

One of the things I like about working downtown is that there are lots and lots of places to eat, many of them within walking distance. Alas, my fairly tight schedule during the workday means that oftentimes I don't have the opportunity to take advantage of this bounty, given that I have to squeeze in getting something to eat between meetings (most of which are scheduled by folks in another time zone, which means it isn't their lunch hour they are filling with meetings.)

Fortunately for me, there is this nice little hole-in-the-wall type eatery in the "tunnel" just outside the building where I work (I say "tunnel" because, though it is part of the Downtown Tunnel System, it is also at ground level.) The place is known as Mimi's Kitchen, and it is open for breakfast and lunch. It has standard breakfast fare (eggs, bacon, quesadillas, tacos, waffles, biscuits, Onion Roti Parantha...) Lunch is also somewhat of an eclectic mix, offering such staples as cheeseburgers, sandwiches, chili, soups, and salads, along with taco salads, BBQ baked potatoes, spaghetti, fried rice, and Vietnamese spring rolls.

Recently, the nice lady who runs the place started offering an "off-menu" special on Friday, where she will cook up a special dish (normally Oriental) that isn't available the rest of the week. This gives her a chance to experiment with new items, and gives us a chance to get something different (and, for me, much spicier.) Last Friday, when I arrived I found this waiting for me:

E D Truitt

TGIF: Beef Lo Mein, Mimi's Kitchen

OK, I'll admit this isn't haute cuisine - however, the noodles had the right texture, the veggies had a bit of snap to them, and the sauce didn't overpower the taste buds (which is an all-too-common thing in many Oriental dishes.) It is different from the mass-produced fast food that is so commonly consumed during hectic lunch "hours", and is a totally agreeable substitute for home-made (especially since I don't have the time in the AM to prepare this type of food for lunch!)

So, if some Friday (or any other day for that matter) you find yourself in the southern end of the Business District around 1600 Smith, you might want to drop in and give Mimi's a try.

Photograph copyright © 2010 E D Truitt.