A Roller Coaster of a Day...

Karen and I had an impromptu visit to Six Flags Great America yesterday.  She had been there in who knows how long but I think mostly because of a great deal they were having on their season passes for next year. Basically it was $63/person and included free parking for all next year but then you could also use it for the remaining part of this year. Pretending to be a math person it actually is made up in one visit as a regular ticket is supposedly $71.99 but usually on sale for $46.99. Looking at parking they charge $25. So $63 for whatever number of visits vs. $72 for just one seemed like a good deal. Of course you could do neither and save all that money but where's the fun in that?  #YOLO

I will say food wise much like movie theaters or concert venues that Great America is a rip off money wise. Bottle of water? Sure $4.75...No thank you. Besides water fountains you can actually just ask whatever "restaurant" there for a cup of water with ice for free.  I suppose food wise we could have gone old school and brought a cooler with or left the park to go to a nearby restaurant. But alas I was just like screw it let's just eat something here. We ended up hitting up a Johnny Rockets (not a euphemism). I've never been to one outside of the theme park but have heard of it. I would gather they have a larger selection else where but this one was limited to burgers, chicken fingers, onion rings, and fries.

Karen ordered a single burger with came with a side of onion rings and fries. No worries that's not like a super huge order worth the price. Pretty much was a standard burger which was good but nothing special. In fairness I'm not really a big burger fanatic in the first place. Not to say I wouldn't eat a burger if prompted to at a good joint, but I just usually order a chicken sandwich about 90% of the time. So un-American I know but honestly for whatever reason I just like burgers on the grill at home/friend's BBQs. 

I went the obvious route and got their chicken fingers meal that came with onion rings and fries.  Pretty much how you imagine they would be flavor wise. Just standard stuff all around. I will say though that the best thing they had was either the onion rings or their packet of ketchup. I don't typically buy/use Rold's Gold ketchup but the consistency and flavor was on point. Which is funny cause 99% of ketchup tastes the same. But seriously the star of the meal was the onion rings. They were crispy and tasted good. Everything else was basic.

Johnny Rocket's Chicken Fingers, Burger, onion rings, and fries

Even before we got there Karen had one thing that she had to get food wise: Funnel Cake. Its one of those traditional things that she always gets one when we go to Great America and/or a carnival (if available). Not sure if its nostalgia or she's addicted to them. I'm going to go with nostalgia however its funnel cake so can't really blame her. We saved that for the end of our trip cause I mean dessert is always at the end. 

Digression time: I will say that right before was a hilarious moment- or disgusting depending on your view. We were in line to another nostalgia/tradition thing for Karen- The Whizzer. Pretty standard old school roller coaster which I would classify as the gateway ride for seeing if your little kid is going to love bigger better rides. I don't think parents take into consideration food + excitement + crazy rides. Much like swimming and other things- if your kid eats, you should probably chill out for a while. One parent did not heed that advice and their kid puked all in line- on the hand rails and everywhere. People were freaking out and then freaking out again as they or their inattentive kids would touch the railing. I have a fairly strong stomach so that stuff doesn't bother me. The employee there came by like 3x and basically just looked nodded his head and walked away. I mean I don't blame him as they most likely don't pay him enough to deal with that. 

So after the ride, the funnel cake place was right there so we made a bee line for it. Shockingly enough there was a wait. Always surprises me that folks are indecisive/picky about things that don't have many options. Its a damn funnel cake- how many questions can you have? The popular question which I heard asked a couple times: "Do you have ice cream?" IT'S ON THE SIGN! Also maybe if you paid attention you could have heard the two other folks asking and being told yes like I did. And I have horrible hearing so if I heard it then  you should have too.  The next question that was popular: "Do you have utensils?" as the person is being handed their plate. SMH. Price wise not very good as it was $13 but time and quality wise was worth it.

Karen ordered a sundae funnel cake and it came with powdered sugar, whip cream, ice cream, and strawberry syrup. I don't know if all that is standard or not as I don't have the experience that Karen does with them. Actually the only time I've ever had funnel cake was the times she's ordered them and honestly don't remember anything outside of the powdered sugar. Also I confuse them with Elephant Ears which I'm pretty sure Karen always corrects me. So for future reference go to Karen and ask about funnel cake not me.  This thing was probably the best food item that Six Flags has to offer as a whole. It was GLORIOUS.

Great America Funnel Cake Sundae

We left Great America fairly early cause I'm an old man and get tired easily. On the long drive back we were debating what to do for dinner. Decided to go for another place we hadn't been to in a while Yum Yum Thai. I would have to say that Thai food is one of our favorites. For you Thai enthusiast folks out there I will warn you that it is more an American style rather than traditional style. To me it doesn't matter cause good food is good food but just a fair warning for the snob minded Thai food lovers out there.  This place is actually one of the few places that I have "boss" status in. Basically go in and sit down and the owner already knows what we want/we don't have to order. 

Appetizers we always get Crab Rangoon- pretty much a Karen staple in Chinese and Thai restaurants. They are pretty damn addictive so I can't blame her for that. 

Yum Yum Thai: Crab Rangoon w/ sweet sauce- minus the two we ate before I took a picture

Karen got her staple dish: Chicken Pad Thai.  I don't think I've ever in the whole time I've known Karen ever seen her order anything else from a Thai place. If it happens in the future I'd be shocked. Most likely it will not. As the saying goes if its not broke don't fix it. Definitely can't go wrong with Chicken Pad Thai unless you're ordering it for my sister-in-law Leslie. In that instance as DJ Khalid would say: "Congratulations you played yourself". 

Yum Yum Thai: Chicken Pad Thai

This might be one of the few places where I am like Karen and have a staple in what I'm going to order. I got the Chicken Pad Thai with red sauce. For the record I have tried a big portion of the menu there but this is my favorite. Coincidentally this actually isn't listed on the menu at all. It was a special item years ago that I happened to try and really love. Just kept ordering and they make it for me anyway. #LegitBoss. Basically its a more sweet sauce they put on the Pad Thai but you can add a level of spiciness to it. Typically the waitress will ask how spicy and you can go from there. I've gone all over the place with the level. Still one of my favorite things to eat.

Yum Yum Thai: Chicken Pad Thai w/ Red Sauce

Overall food wise Yum Yum Thai save the day outside of the funnel cake. Now that I got a season pass I suppose I should figure out good places to eat near Gurnee for future visit and/or plan for items to put in a cooler.

#FunTimes,

Reef