Annie's Nachos

I have a daughter who is very creative and always seems to be working on a new project. These projects can last anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple days, but once she starts something she is usually "unavailable" until she finishes. Oh she'll come out to eat and visit the little girl's room or ask for more scotch tape, but really, other than that, she is just occupied with nothing else other than completing her current creation.

She also likes to play pretend, and is often taping together makeshift costumes and masks, for herself and her little brother, a willing body who follows her every direction and cue. Honestly, I have to be a little sneaky when throwing something away because she will inevitably cry out "Mommy I need that!" And sure enough a couple days later I will discover a spaceship on the stairs, created from paper plates we'd used for lunch. 

A couple weeks ago she decided she wanted to pretend she had her own restaurant.

"But mommy you have to pay real money."

"Is it real food?"

"No."

"Then there won't be any real money."

This little exchange, of course, prodded the little wheels inside her head to start turning and brought her to the conclusion that if she was ever going to save enough money for a hamster she was going to have to get serious about this money making business.  

So she looked through the pantry and made a (very) short list of what she could prepare and offer in her restaurant. She wrote out a menu -- with prices. She hired a busboy (you guessed it). She called her restaurant Annie's Nachos and opened her doors that evening.  

Wade & I were seated at a table by the window and found the atmosphere warm and inviting.  

She took our drink order first, and Wade was in the mood for a red wine.  

We perused the menu, and decided the nachos must be *especially* good so we ordered that as an appetizer. For the main dish we thought the sub sandwich would be a compatible followup. And finally we couldn't resist trying the banana split to close out the experience.

I must say the service was quick, the portions were large (we ended up leaving with a doggie bag) and everything was delicious.  

Do you ever feel a little rushed by the waiter when you're done because you're just taking up space in his station? Well, we certainly didn't feel like that. In fact, we were told we could stay and enjoy ourselves for as long as we wanted. And we did.

She brought us the tab and I paid with a check. Wade left a cash tip.

We plan on going back once a month.

It's for a good cause.