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Lent Special!
By Mark D. Roberts | Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Yesterday I went to one of my favorite restaurants in Boerne, Texas. It’s called the Hungry Horse, and it specializes in Texas-style food: chicken fried steak, burgers, steamed veggies, appetizers, giant salads, etc. etc. As I was standing in line to order (it’s an order at the counter establishment), I noted the sign to the right. That’s right. The Hungry Horse as a Lent Special. [Oops. Typo! As Paul points out below, I could get in trouble with the animal rights people. It should read: The Hungry Horse has a Lent Special.] It’s fish, as you might guess. And it must be good, because the bottom of the sign reads: “Mmmmmmmmm. . . . .”
I think a Lent Special chicken burger is fine, though I’m not sure “spicy tartar on the side” is really a Lenten option. And, given the oleaginous wonder of Hungry Horse Onion Rings, I’m not sure these would fit in Lent. In fact, they’d be something you should give up for Lent!
No, I didn’t order the Lent Special. I’m a big fan of the Hungry Horse Chicken Salad. And I didn’t give up chicken for Lent, so no worries!
Anybody else see any Lent Specials out there?
Topics: Holidays |
6 Responses to “Lent Special!”
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March 3rd, 2009 at 5:57 am
Way to go, Mark. You just caused me some internal conflict. You see, I gave up hamburgers for Lent. Now I have to make a judgement call. Are salmon burgers really hamburgers? Probably not, but do they offer me a convenient way to cheat on my Lenten commitment? If I happen to run across one of these salmon burgers on a lunch menu someplace what should I do? By Easter I’ll be ready to eat a cardboard poster hanging in the window at Wendy’s, so you can just imagine the temptation brought on by a genuine, piping hot salmon burger (whatever in the heck that is). I’m staying away from the Hungry Horse, that’s for sure.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:16 am
“The Hungry Horse as a Lent Special.”
Probably a typo, but don’t let the animal rights activists catch this!
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
Paul: Oh, that’s priceless! Good catch!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 am
Vitually every fast food restaurant is “featuring” their super dooper, must-not-miss-it, limited time only “filet ‘o fish” sandwich, and even the fried chicken joints are advertising fried shrimp. The grocery stores also seem chock to the gills (sorry) with fish specials…buy 6 pounds of catfish or talapia filets and get red sauce…FREE!
In the matter of the Hungry Horse special, I must admit that what I am more intrigued by is not the menu item, but its advertising. The combined use of upper and lower case, along with block and cursive lettering (even in the same word)have captivated me. But what has probably been most arresting is the use of red to color in the “loop” of the lower case “e” in Lent, but that style not being repeated in the same letter in the word “Special.” Also interesting is the trailing dollar sign ($) in the price rather than the normal convention of it preceding the numbers. What does it all mean???
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
An “old” resource for Lent–and an amazing challenge!
Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let your mouth only fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast by being free of greed. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by discipling them to not glare at that which is sinful. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fish, but bite and devour our brothers? May HE who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility and have mercy on us and save us!
St. John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
March 4th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
If you go to the seafood restaurant for lobster, is that really fasting???
Just sayin’