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The Round-up:

• Food - 3 out of 5
• Service - 3 out of 5
• Decor - 3.5 out of 5
• Total - 9.5 out of 15

4180 Albert Street, Regina, SK.
306-757-BREW (2739)

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You know you're always and forever a Prairie Boy when the thought of digging into a bowl of crispy coleslaw makes your mouth water.

The other night me and The Mom decided to go out for a weeknight supper -- we just didn't know where. As we drove south down Albert Street we stumbled upon Brewsters Brewpub and Restaurant. "Hey, I haven't been to Brewsters in ages," I said. Neither had The Mom.

So Brewsters it was.

Started in 1989 by Regina's Lanigan family, Brewsters has blossomed into a chain of thirteen restaurants in Regina, Edmonton, and Calgary -- with a fourteenth coming soon.

Now, the purpose of this blog is not normally to explore chain restaurants far and wide. That being said, I don't know of any other Regina-based restaurant that has done as good of a job at expanding its presence as Brewsters has. So, a little credit is due.

One of the interesting things about the chain is that each of the Regina locations is slightly different. The north-end location, next to the Galaxy movie theatre, is mainly a big pub with a compact dining room. Down in the south end, Brewsters truly feels like a dining room with dim lighting, plenty of seating, and several cozy sections. Then the east-end location feels like a slightly rundown blast from the past, although I haven't been in awhile and that might have changed.

Brewsters also has nightly food and drink specials. Some of them, like Thursday night's Riblicious special, are just too good to pass up.

Riblicious comes with a sizeable plate of ribs prepared three different ways and a side bowl of coleslaw. Ahh, coleslaw, you had me the moment I read your sweet name on the menu.

Now brace yourself, the best part is yet to come. The afore-mentioned Riblicious special comes to a grand tally of... just... $11. Sweet jeebus, why haven't I been dining at Brewsters more often?

I can't sign off without mentioning Brewsters extensive list of handcrafted ales and lagers. From the medium-bodied light golden Original Lager to the more adventurous Farmer's Tan White Ale, there's plenty to choose from. And it seems to me that the list has grown a lot in the last couple of years. Next time I visit I'm going to take a stab at a glass of Blue Monk Barley Wine. At 9.9 per cent alcohol, this heavy hitter might just serve as a meal.

My only suggestion to Brewsters on the beer front is to come up with one that truly honours its hometown. How about some Pile O' Bones Pilsner? Or maybe a cold frothy mug of Queen City Wheat Ale? Such a tribute would only be fitting, after all.

www.brewsters.ca

The Round-up:

• Food - 4.5 out of 5
• Service - 3.5 out of 5
• Decor - 4 out of 5
• Total - 12 out of 15

2228 Albert St., Regina, SK.
Phone: 306-546-3660 _______________
There are plenty of reasons why La Bodega is one of Regina's best restaurants.

OK, I guess you want me to name them. So here goes:

1.) La Bodega took an old, forgotten, decrepit house in the Cathedral neighbourhood and turned it into a hip, vibrant, intimate restaurant. That's not just luck, it's good planning. Previous owners of the building launched a bakery in the same spot and it was a massive flop within a year.

2.) So why has La Bodega succeeded? I think there are three key ingredients: a smart menu, a great location, and a design that allows La Bodega to be a restaurant, lounge, and/or concert venue depending on the time of day and the day of the week. They say you can't be all things to all people, but somehow La Bodega has always managed to attract the cool kids and the business lunch crowd and middle-aged couples just looking for a nice meal. That's no easy feat.

3.) Food -- of course, La Bodega would be nothing without the food. When La Bodega opened almost 10 years ago, no one in Regina had ever heard of tapas. Executive chef and owner Adam Sperling brought a creative, exciting menu to the Queen City and presented it in a way that was fresh and interesting to diners. Most people fell in love with the place after just one visit. And even now, the chefs continue to change and improve upon their menu, revealing new versions of it several times per year, keeping old favourites and introducing new ventures. And if a menu item doesn't work, La Bodega gets rid of it.
4.) Unless you're at Smitty's or an unapologetic hole-in-the-wall, a restaurant's decor is almost as important as what's on the plate (I said almost). La Bodega has always got the decor part right by using a mix of sophisticated yet rustic furnishings. The plain and sometimes mismatched wooden tables and chairs are jazzed up by much-more daring artwork and colours on the walls. The music -- never radio and certainly not Top 40 -- captures the worldly nature of the place without coming off as fake or, worse, New-Agey. In short, La Bodega's gypsy chic style is the Cathedral neighbourhood in a nutshell. It fits into its surroundings naturally. What more could you ask for?
5.) OK, this last reason is half-serious and half a joke. But when La Bodega first opened, they sold alcohol at ridiculously cheap prices. The food was never undervalued, but the drinks sure were. And people loved it. So they stayed for another. And another. And hey, can we see that menu again? We're hungry now. Over the years, it seems the prices of booze have crept upward, but you can still get a decent glass of wine for $5-6 per glass.
So, what's the downside? La Bodega's biggest weakness is its weekend brunch. The menu is nowhere near as tasty as what's on offer for weekday lunch or suppertime. And the prices for an Eggs Benny border on the obscene. To me, the best breakfasts in the world are cheap and dirty. Get in, drink your weight in coffee, and get out $8 later.
Otherwise La Bodega, you rock.
http://www.labodegaregina.ca/

It's only natural for a parent to want to protect their children from harmful influences. We make sure our toddlers don't go for walks in the evening down the street by themselves.We keep poorly rated movies out of our house. We don't let them play with fire or knives, or experiment with drugs and alcohol. All of these things are well and good, but I wonder, how much thought do we give towards one of the most effective forces in a child's life - his friends?

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To a large degree, we become like the people we hang around with. We tend to choose our friends based on how much we have in common with them. We feel comfortable confiding in people who share the same taste in music, clothing, lifestyle, and worldview. We share our experiences and rub off on each other. The natural leader of a pair will encourage the other to go one step further, for better or for worse.

In the life of a young child who is still in the process of forming their worldview, there are few things as persuasive as the opinion of someone their own age with whom they feel a deep connection. This is why it is utterly important to teach our children what the Bible says about the kind of friends we should have, and perhaps more importantly, the kind of one we should be. The best time to instill these qualities into their impressionable little hearts is as soon as we can, before their allegiances are already concrete.

5 traits of a good friend 1. They speak the truth in love. A good friend will caution a child against something they know he/she shouldn't be doing rather than joining in on the "fun." Proverbs 27:6 2. They help in times of trouble. A good friend will not cut off ties with a child because of a crisis that leaves him disfigured, scarred, or financially incapable of the lifestyle he enjoyed before. Instead, a good friend comes alongside a fallen comrade and helps him get back on his feet. Ecclesiastes 4: 9, 10
3. They give good advice. A good friend makes himself familiar with God's Word and is able to offer a righteous recommendation or instruction when called upon for their opinion.Proverbs 27:9
4. They stand by you. A good friend is in the relationship for the long haul. They don't move on after an argument or squabble. Instead, they continue to show themselves friendly, refrain from gossiping or speaking evil about the offender, offer or receive forgiveness, and get on with the friendship - barring all grudges. Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 17:17
5. They refine you. A good friend is concerned about spiritual growth. They are not comfortable with an easy, stagnant life, but engage in discussions about things that are relevant to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom work in your life and the world. Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 27:17

God also warns us about the kind of people we are to avoid:

4 traits of a poor friend
1. They are immoral and have no regard for other. People who are living in open sin and rebellion are those that need to be ministered to, not made friends with. I Corinthians 5:11
2. They change like the wind. Be wary of those who are quick to change their minds - especially in regards to issues that serious consequences. Proverbs 24:21, 22
3. They are angry, often. Don't make friends with those who have no control over their temper or are prone to violent assaults. Proverbs 22: 24;25

4. They are irreverent toward God and His Word. A person who has no place for the Lord in his heart should not hold any sway over ours. Psalm 119: 63; 2 Corinthians 6: 14-15
What traits do you encourage your children to look for in a friend? How much involvement do you have as a parent in choosing who they hang around with? How much is too much? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic!

I'm joining my friend Marty at A Stroll Through Life again for Table Top Tuesday yay!!
Let me start by saying I collect incense burners... Not just any incense burners but VANTINES french incense burners from about the 20's. I have a borderline disorder for a certain shape in these cute little babies. I am obsessed... I'm over the edge I know... I can't seem to stop myself from coming back for more. I suppose it beats feeling that way about alcohol or drugs... you'll see what I mean...

Come a little closer...

Closer...

Are you seeing my madness yet?

I am OBSESSED by this shape! Soooo frenchy! Sooo fabulous!... Soooo needing therapy right now! *winks* Please tell me that some of you become OCD about certain shapes-n-stuff?

This one's a little different... right?

This one too.

This one could be viewed as completely different... I'm pretty sure...

Oh what the heck! Who am I kidding? Certainly not YOU! They're pretty much all the same aren't they *sighs* What can I do?

Just in case I haven't already burned your retinas with all the frenchy metal madness, I'm throwing in this french bronze of fighting birds by the famous animalier sculptor Jules Moigniez... Hey it was on top of the table too! Just sayin... Thanks for stopping by! Didn't I make you feel so much better about yourself? *winks* Donations for therapy will be welcomed! Please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you... even if it is to tell me I'm nuttso compulsive. Vanna

Please stop by Marty's place and check out the other wonderful table tops!