T Stands For Siena, a Tuscan experience

Please note:  I am offline for at least a day.  I now have NO phone or internet, so I couldn't call Sharon (Foxy Stamping) so she could let everyone know what was going on.  I had to come to my foodie friend Sally's (she lives four doors south of me) to call AT&T, who provides both my phone and internet.  A repairman came out this afternoon and discovered my line that goes from the phone pole to the house was down.  It will be at least tomorrow before they can replace it.  He (the repairman) told me it looked like a squirrel had chewed through the line.  I had only been back online for about a half hour when I lost everything this time.  It was NOT my modem, or the new router that was the problem, but apparently a pesky squirrel gnawing on the line that had caused the problem.  As Sandra would say, keep the lights on for me so I can find my way back very soon.  Now let's join the regularly scheduled post.


Back in July, my friend Scott and I were downtown for another reason, when I suggested we go to Siena Tuscan Steakhouse.

I had looked them up on the internet and thought it looked like a nice place to eat.  If you live in or around Wichita, KS, it is located in the Ambassador Hotel.

It was far too hot to eat outside, even if it was a shady spot.

We walked into the hotel lobby with its purple velvet seating.

Then we walked into Siena Tuscan Steakhouse

where we saw this incredible painting.  The entire time I was there, I was blown away by the art.

Here's their online lunch menu.  Looks like they've raised their prices since Scott and I were there in July.  I had planned to get the Salmon Spinach Salad, but Scott argued I had salmon in my freezer, I have my own sun dried tomatoes, and I could make a salad any day.  He suggested I live a little wild and get the Tuscan Burger, which he planned to get.

I tried to occupy my time while waiting for Scott

to look up cambozola, one of the ingredients used in the burger, since neither of us had heard of it before.  Turns out, it's a brie-style blue cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk.

Nearly the same photo, but I didn't color correct it like I did the previous photo.  Note the champagne buckets with the lamps on an attached tall pole.

Did I not mention the incredible art?  It was everywhere, but I didn't want to call too much attention to myself by taking so many photos with so many people around.  Usually, when Sally and I go somewhere, the restaurant is nearly empty.  For mid afternoon, this place was still busy with patrons.

Our burgers arrived quickly, with tomato jam on the side and barbecue sauce for dipping our fries: mine sweet potato fries 

and Scott's regular fries (crisps).  You can see the cambozola sitting atop the pancetta and caramelized onions covering the burger.  I ate all my fries, but left most of my burger. I did eat the cambozola and onions, though.

Next, I had to check out the restroom.  Imagine my surprise that instead of paper towels, we had hand towels on which to wipe our hands.  That's me standing in the toilet.  Note the art

which might have been at home in a museum, not a restroom.

When I returned, I peeked in to see the bar area.  To me, it was just as I would envision a bar.

However, one thing intrigued me: this painting.

And of course, the faux fireplace that looked out of place lit in July.

Outside, I had to take a photo of the sign indicating this was part of the Chisholm Trail, the post civil war trail where cattle were driven from Texas to Kansas.  Texas cattle were numerous and sold for next to nothing.  However, if they could somehow be moved north to Kansas, they would sell for ten times that.

Along came Jesse Chisholm, an Indian trader (and half Cherokee Indian) who started a trail in 1864 to sell cattle that he raised in Oklahoma to a site at the confluence of the Little and Big Arkansas Rivers (this is where our huge metal Native American Indian is located today and less than two miles from where I live).  Eventually, the trail extended to Abilene, KS, which if you have been here every Friday for Friday Smiles know is where President Eisenhower was born.  Finally, the trail spread from southern Texas to Kansas City, Kansas.

Although I couldn't get it to lighten, I took a photo of the bronze statue that sits on the corner of Douglas.  The city commissioned a TON of these statues and one day I will walk the area and photograph them.  But of course, it was too hot that day.

As we walked further, I saw this statue.

It was the perfect end to a memorable lunch.

It's now time for you to share your own drink related post.  It can be gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I, along with the rest of the T gang will be by to visit.   Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.