Riverbrook
随意漫步，即兴而言
- Journal # 4 of Flat Hannah's Adventure
April 14, 2013
It was Sunday morning. Aunt Rose invited Flat Hannah to visit an Egg Harbor Café and take a brunch there in a nearby city. Aunt Rose said it would be nice for Flat Hannah to see and experience the wonderful and unique restaurant on the last day of her journey in the Midwest before she traveling back to Southern California.
“Egg Harbor Café is a chain breakfast and lunch restaurant", introduced Aunt Rose on their way to the place. “It has delicious food, good services and unique decorations. There are total 15 chain restaurants of Egg Harbor Café in the state of Illinois”, she continued. “The one we are going to is located in the east side of this city and it’s my favorite.”
Thirty minutes later they arrived and parked their car crossed the street from the restaurant. The exterior-looking of the restaurant is very beautiful. It is in a two-store, modern-village-style building. The name of the restaurant “Egg Harbor Café” is neatly printed on the front and the two sides of the green-colored shade, which is covering over the entrance door.
Aunt Rose and Flat Hannah walked and crossed the street toward the entrance. Before entering the door, Flat Hannah noticed a small store-hour board is hung behind the window. It has a gorgeous and handsome roaster standing besides the hours, which indicates that the restaurant opens from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily.
The first impression Flat Hannah received right after she stepped into the restaurant was that there are so many different kind of roasters and hens displayed in this restaurant! They are seen on the decorating shelves, counters, walls, eating tables, stained glasses, and even on café mugs! “WOW, it is very unique!” said Flat Hannah to Aunt Rose, whom was smiling at her.
The restaurant was fully occupied by families, couples and friends. About 20 minutes later, Flat Hannah heard her name was called at the same time the transponder in her palm was vibrating. “Welcome and please follow me”. A receptionist with warm and welcoming smiles led Flat Hannah and Aunt Rose to their table. “Look, Aunt Rose!” Flat Hannah pointed at the rosters and hens displayed in a shelf in front of their table and seats. “Here, too, a tall metal roaster standing on our table and we also have a little glass jar of crayons!”
In a few seconds, a waitress came over. She greeted Aunt Rose and Flat Hannah, handled over a menu and brought a jar of iced lemon water. There were so many good food to be chosen from the menu, which had a fancy county-styled picture with a large roaster drawn on its front page, Flat Hannah and Aunt Rose finally decided to order one Crepes Florentine, one The Harvest Salad and a cup of coffee for Aunt Rose. The waitress returned back with Aunt Rose’s coffee within a minute. And sure enough, the coffee mug had a beautiful roaster on it!
While waiting for the food to be served, Flat Hannah sat at her table but explored the charming and inviting interior environment. She found more roasters and hens around the room. She used the crayons from the little cute glass jar to draw a picture of the roaster on Aunt Rose’s coffee mug, as well as the tall metal one which standing by the end of the table.
About 15 minutes later, the waitress brought the food to them. Both the Crepes Florentine and The Harvest Salad were looked and smelled delicious! Aunt Rose asked Flat Hannah which plate of the food she would like to take and eat. Flat Hannah looked at the two plates for a few seconds and replied politely and suggestively: “I’d like the Crepes Florentine very much but my Mom has said that salads are good for me. Sooooo, if it’s okay with you, Aunt Rose, may we share the food by splitting them to be in half and half?”. "Of cause, I’d like that”, Aunt Rose answered approvingly.
During the time Flat Hannah and Aunt Rose were eating, the waitress come by several times to refill the iced lemon water and coffee, handed over more napkins and asked if any more food or drinks might be needed. She also came and handed Flat Hannah and Aunt Rose one Egg Harbor Café candy to each of them after they finished eating. “This is the melt-in-your-mouth type of candy. It is tasteful”, said Aunt Rose. Instead of taking it as a desert, Flat Hannah saved the candy as her souvenir. She wanted to show it to her parents and for her later enjoyment.When Aunt Rose paying for the meal at the Cashier counter near the entrance while Flat Hannah took a closer look of the Egg Harbor Café mugs next to her, A gentleman walked over, smiled at Aunt Rose, pointed at Flat Hannah and asked Aunt Rose, “Is this for Flat Stanley Project? What is her name?” “Yes, it is”, said Aunt Rose. “Her name is Flat Hannah”. Aunt Rose was glad to see someone was actually recognizing what she and Flat Hannah were doing for at the restaurant. “My name is Jason and I am working here at the Egg Harbor Café.” He introduced himself and continued, “Would you like me to take a picture with Flat Hannah as I and our restaurant are glad she took her adventure at our restaurant today?” “It sounds wonderful”, replied by Aunt Rose. Guess what? It led to a nice photo which included Flat Hannah, Jason, an Egg Harbor Coffee mug which held in Jason’s hand, the cashier, and all of the others in the background.
Like Aunt Rose, Flat Hannah liked the Egg Harbor Café after her exploration and experience at the cafe. She liked the great food, the wonderful services and the unique decorations of the restaurant.Visiting and eating at the Egg Harbor Café gave Flat Hannah a satisfied happy-ending to her adventurous journey in the Midwest. She would like to come back to visit it again in a near future.
Flat Hannah, the salad, menu, mug, crayon jar, and etc. Jason welcomed Flat Hannah’s visit at the restaurant
Hi JiuYue and Meilan,
I love this clip, too. Thanks, JiuYeu, for posting and sharing. It brings me back to those years. I used to "痴迷"于 Jane Eyre back in China and later watched 7 versions of the movies with which I had been able to find after coming to North America. :))
Meilan, Love to go with you. It will be even better if Jiuyue can join us soon. ;-)
Steak for Texas is Stuffed Pizza for Chicago, both taste great!
Yi and I will go down there for some Filet Mignon with cold beer oneday~~~
Jiuyue, welcome to visit us, let's enjoy cheezy pies while listening to blue jazz :)).
----Jane Eyre is also one of my favorite English novels. She is my idol.
Yes,once upon a time,"Jane Eyre" was a book under my pillow every night...the first time I read that book,I think,hmm,I was 14 ...:-)
here,a clip of the lines Jane Eyre with Rochester in the movie, I love these lines the most,warm my heart~~~ do you?~~~
Jane Eyre: I'm a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.
Rochester: Then let your will decide your destiny. I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me?
Jane Eyre: Are you mocking me?Jane Eyre Movie Quotes
Rochester: Do you doubt me?
Jane Eyre: Entirely! Your bride is Miss Ingram.
Rochester: Miss Ingram! She is the machine without feelings. It's you, you rare unearthly thing. Poor and obscure as you are. Please accept me as your husband. I must have you for my own.
Jane Eyre: You wish me to be your wife?
Rochester: I swear it.
Jane Eyre: You love me?
Rochester: I do.
Jane Eyre: Then, sir, I will marry you.
Morning to you, 九月!
Wonderful! I'll definitely have it in my mind and go to visit you when I travel to Huston.
Enjoy your tea and the day!
Morning, Yi!~~ having my hot tea while reading your comments in this beautiful Sunday morning, life is just beautiful!~~
You're so sweet! Okay, a deal is a deal!~~ Meanwhile, if in the future you and Doc Meilan have a chance coming to Houston, please do let me know, I'll treat you gals the best Chinese food in the states :-) ^&*
Happy Sunday!~~~
好，我们就这么定了！
BTW, I am going to get your books and would like to ask for your autographs. So,now you just got another reason (besides meeting friends and visiting Egg Harbor Cafe) to plan a trip to the Midwest someday in a near future. :))
Right, my Doc Friend Meilan? ^_^
Yi, you're absolutely right,I'm an "eater"!~~~You know what,cuz I was a swimmer since 7 to 15-year-old,I can really consume lots more food that most Chinese girls,I bet you can't compete with me on "eating",ahahaha~~~
I'll take a rain check on your proposal some day, for sure!~~~ Nite~~~
Haha, I guess you are an "eater" as I am. Hihi.
My litter research tells that Egg Harbor Cafes only exist in IL(15 of them), WI (1), and GA(2). None of them in TX. If you ever visit Doc Meilan and me here, we'll make sure to "bring" you there for a great breakfast or brunch! Would this sound good to you? ^_^ (Yi)
--- 怡
Just finished dinner, Yi, you are making me thinking about tomorrow's breakfast now ... :-) :-)
We don't have Egg Harbor Cafe in Houston, are the cafes only in West and East coast?
===========================================================
haha, Egg Harbor Cafe is one of my favorite place for brunch, too! What keen observation Flat Hannah made~~~
Jiyi, hope we will go there for delicious coffee and pancakes oneday :)))