I very first got to Chicago a few weeks ago with my mom and sister Steph. Hillary came over to help with the unpacking after the movers left and much to her surprise we were planning a quick trip to the closest Cheesecake Factory. It’s a Tyler family staple, but Hil is (WAS!) a hater. We chatted about it today…

Hillary: so, yeah…i mean, i came over to hang out with you while you guys were unpacking…but then all the sudden we were going to the mall and cheesecake factory. so funny i’ve never been to that mall, OR to a cheesecake factory.
me: you know the fam LOVES themselves some cheesecake factory. it ain’t classy- but it’s good!
Hillary: i didn’t know what to expect at all…but it’s got asian food, mexican, italian, burgers…
me: my first meal as a Chicagoan: it’s gotta be Cheesecake Factory!
Hillary: i’m embarrassed. :)
the best part is that your family orders appetizers.
not as appetizers but as meals.
me: My mom ALWAYS gets avacado eggrolls- if she didn’t get them I wouldn’t even know her.
Hillary: haha
me: And I have literally never ordered a drink there. Maybe a glass of wine once.
Hillary: i think my favorite part was the discussion about how in NY and CA they are required to post the calorie count on the menu items - and how you guys hate that.
me: yeah, yeah. But we made good on our bizarre little trip didn’t we??:)
Hillary: true.
aside from the fact that my sandwich was pretty good (okay, i admit it!), we got to order bloody marys!
me: we did! (and I knew the CF would getcha!)
Hillary: oh, remember how funny the waiter was about it? he was all “i like me some bloody marys” (or something…i’m paraphrasing here)
me: he was like  “man- after my shift I’m having one of THOSE!!”
Hillary: haha he was funny…seemed like someone who would do ren-faires or something.i felt bad that that lady at the next table was such a pill.
me: she was so mean to him. maybe he did need a bloody mary
Hillary: definitely
me: back to the bloodies.
first of all they were huge!
Hillary: they were tall not necessarily HUGE.
me: pints I think. no?
Hillary: it might have been a pint’s worth, but weren’t they in tall thin glasses? did you take pictures?
me: ha! yeah- i forgot. hang on…

me: 

Hillary: right.
me: anyhoo! i wasn’t expecting much from the Cheesecake Factory in terms of Bloody Marys. I mean- you can’t do EVERYTHING right.
Hillary: right…burritos, egg rolls, chicken parm and cheesecake, of course…but they were surprisingly good.
me: they were super drinkable! they were just the right consistency- not too thick and not too thin.
Hillary: i thought they were a little thin, but not watery at all
me: nope. and the flavor and spice level was decent- I thought it could use a bit more- but not too bad.
Hillary: i mean, it was unexciting.
me: boring, perhaps. but respectable!
Hillary: yes, good…they were very peppery. you don’t see that a ton, but i liked it. 
me: so I’d give it a solid 3. whaddya think?
Hillary:  honestly, it went pretty well with the cubano sandwich.
  i’d completely order one again.
uh, i mean, if i was ever at cheesecake factory again.
me:and you will be, my friend. you will be.
Hillary: you’re a nerd.