I'll be the first
to admit that every 4 years when my Leap Year birthday actually comes
out I play it for all it is worth and for as long as I can. I usually just skip the in-between years but
not mentioning and certainly not celebrating it but this year it has
been going on for about 6 weeks starting with Emily baking a cake for me in
January and now ending in Gino taking me to the Outback Steakhouse for
dinner.

We got to the Steakhouse in a round about
way. Gino asked me where I wanted to go and I suggested the Ale house as
I wanted prime ribs and haven't had them in awhile and I use to eat
them all the time in restaurants. I did call the restaurant but it seems
they only have prime ribs on Monday and Tuesday. I did a little
research on the Internet and found three restaurants that serve prime
ribs: Chuck's (which i wasn't aware also was opened for lunch), J.
Alexander's and the Outback. I must admit I experienced a little sticker
shock seeing prices but then again I remembered I haven't had prime
ribs out in awhile. Long story short, after looking at prices and sizes
even though Gino was paying I didn't want him to take out a second
mortgage on his condo.

I went to the Outback web site--always do
before going to a restaurant because there are many deals on the web
that you won't find anywhere else--and they had a 'club' you could join
and each time you ate there you get points and then can turn in the
points for rewards, so I joined. I remember the last time I had been to
the Outback and was able to get a free 'bloomin' onion' due to having a
triple A card. I had called the restaurant earlier and they said they
still had that promotion.

We were seated in
a timely fashion and the server stopped at our table and said she would
be with us in a minute and
was. Gino handed her his AAA card and we ordered the onion and he wanted
the coconut shrimp appetizer plus we were ready to order our dinner so
we did. I ordered the 8 ounce prime rib--yes, the smallest cut as I can
be considerate when someone else is paying LOL--with the wedge of lettuce with blue cheese and the baked
potato  with 'everything' on
the side. Gino ordered the the tilapia with pure lump crab meat
and served with fresh
seasonal vegetables.

It didn't
take long for the server to tell us we needed a special coupon with the
AAA card for the bloomin onion. I didn't want to give the waitress a
hard time so I told her to send the manager to me. The manager came,
gave me a song and dance but said he would give us the onion and not
charge us for it. (For your own information go to the AAA site for the
coupon.)

The onion was
very oily and I ate very little of it but Gino enjoyed his coconut
shrimp and, of course, after eating all of it he said he shouldn't have!
:O) I was disappointed in the salad as they added balsamic vinegar to
the blue cheese dressing when I prefer just the latter on my salads.

My prime rib was
excellent, rare as I like it, the au jus on the side and except
for the baked potato coated in salt it was baked just right and the sour
cream with bacon bits and
the butter was served on the side. Gino said his tilapia was excellent.

I didn't care for the Outback Steakhouse the
last time I was there but I would go back for prime ribs when I want
them again though I did think of a few other places where I had prime
ribs in the past that were excellent such as The Ark which comes with a
great buffet. :O)

Okay the unbirthday period is over until next year and I start going into training for my 19th Leap Year birthday in 2012!!!