We took a bit of a time travel this afternoon – back to the 1990s to a theater waaaaay out in Matthews.
Why did we travel so far? To see the Time Travelers Wife of course!! This was the last theater in Charlotte playing the movie and I now know why. It shows movies that have been out a while – for only $2!!!!!!!!!!!
And on Tuesdays, the movies are only $1!
We will definitely be back. It was so worth the drive.
The theater was obviously very cool back in 1990
I LOVED the movie. Thought it was better than the book!! Mostly because it left out the boring parts from the book and only included the special plot-enhancing scenes. And I love Rachel McAdams 🙂 I cried multiple times. And Matt liked it a lot too!
After the movie ended (and I had no desire for any food of any kind all afternoon after my lunch – which must have been higher in fat or something then it felt like to get such an unexpected result!) we headed to dinner.
To this restaurant, where we had a Restaurant.com coupon where if you spend $35 you get $25 off – dinner for ten bones!
So of course we ordered a ton of food to fill up our $35 (alcohol not included 😥 )
We actually thought we were going to a hibachi grill place and were all excited to order the expensive dinner and see the show, but sadly the hibachi here is done behind the scenes.
A New Orleans sushi roll to start! I had 3 of the rolls and all of the ginger!
For a second appetizer, we ordered this deep fried tofu in a mushroom sauce. Best bite of the dinner!! The tofu was sooo succulent inside and the tempura fry was so tasty, as was the mushroom broth!
We split a bento box for our entree, which came with soup and salad. I had a few bites of the salad. LOVE this dressing while I’m eating it but afterwards it’s all garlic breath for 24 hours 👿 My mouth is not happy at the moment and I am chewing gum to distract my tongue.
The miso soup was incredible. I have to figure out how to make this at home! Will any miso paste make it taste this good? I had half the bowl.
Of course Matt got a brew, and I had some of that too.
And finally our bento. It was perfect because we got to taste all kinds of flavors!
We had:
Seaweed salad (loveeeee it and had half)
Tempura veggies + shrimp (had 3 veggies and a shrimp)
Shrimp gyozas (had one)
Hibachi Scottish salmon over veggies (salmon was awesome but very oily! Had 2 bites plus veggies)
Last but not least! Two bites of everything!
I had plans for green tea ice cream, but we went over our “budget” in both dollars and fullness. Ooof!
As for the rest of the evening, we debated going out for everything you can imagine – wine, dessert, drinks – but we talked ourselves out of it all being Thanksgiving week and all. I think we’re going to chill on the couch and watch The Office. A sip or two of honey mead might be involved. Or a piece of chocolate to hopefully cure this garlic breath!
And now the moment you have all been waiting for: the Open Sky winners.
Well I have good great news! The guys at Open Sky were so excited to read your comments that they have extended the gift certificates from 5 to 26!!!!! That’s twenty-six winners!! These 26 get $25 off a $50 purchase:
[Thank you Windows 7 clipper tool for making my life so easy!]
And here are the random integers. I’m going to leave it up to you guys to go check your number and see if you won (there’s a little one on the right hand side of the comments) so I don’t have to copy and paste 26 times. Please email me with “Open Sky Winner” as the subject to KathEats @ Gmail.com to claim your prize!
But there’s MORE good news!!!
ALL of you get $10 off a purchase of $50 or more!! (I don’t make the coupons – so I hope that is still exciting!)
Enter kath10off at checkout.
Lastly, if there’s anything you would like available in the store (I’m working hard to get some of those elusive food products in…trust me. Really hard) please let me know!
Goodnight Moon!
lainb says
Ah memories. I saw Moulin Rouge in that theater. Gotta love $2 (what used to be $1) theaters!
happyshoes says
Awesome! Kath, I would love to see that black lunch tote you use in there. It is adorable.
Brie (The Fit Bride) says
Haha, that theater is hilarious. Love it!
Anne says
I looove discount movie theaters! That place looks so awesome. I’m glad you had a great time, and dinner looks delicious as well 🙂
Mahealani says
Mmmm, miso soup! The real flavor power of the soup comes from the stock itself. You have to use fresh Bonito (fish) shavings and simmer them to create suble but flavorful base before you even add miso. A piece of konbu (seaweed) adds a delightful ocean-y touch.
A great quality miso helps a lot though, and remember the lighter miso the more sweet the flavor. I love a good body so i usually go for red, but white is wonderful in making light aromatic sauces and dressings.
You can also get bonito base already mixed in your miso paste. The flavor isn’t as rich, but it’s a great “take-out at home” dish, and certainly a soothing on nights when chills and coughs come up unexpectedly.
Bonito and konbu can be found in most asian markets, definitely in japanese ones, or over the internet. Keep it away from light and moisture and use it soon, it does go stale easily and loses flavor as soon as it’s opened.
I usually make a large batch of stock base and freeze it in ice cube trays for use later. Tossing some cubes in regular soups and sauces really amps up the flavor, and i use a cube sometimes to saute veggies in if i’m not wanting oil. YUM!
Kath says
thanks for the info!!
haya says
$10 off is pretty good, even if i didn’t win! thanks.
do you know how long the code is valid for?
you can’t beat a $1 movie! it is almost $14 here 🙁
Kath says
It’s good through Christmas Day!
Kath
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What perfect way to spend the evening. That theater looks incredible, and what a great dinner. I just love Japanese restaurants… such unique cuisine!
Tanya says
We have a $2.00 theater about 15 minutes away – and I gotta agree – pretty cool! And I had one when I was going to Clemson – in a college town you know it was always packed! I loved Time Traveller’s Wife (the book) and I’m too afraid to tear up in the movie, so I haven’t gone to see it yet.
Sara says
That is insane. Movie tickets are at least $11 here in New York.
Light Delight with TouTou says
That place looks very interesting 🙂 I like that kind of old school flavor:)
Marianne says
Ha, my parents live in Matthews and my dad is always talking about the $1 movies they go to (although he must mean $2)….must be the same one!! Maybe I will check it out at Christmas.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
That movie theater looks so cute!
Erin says
I love random theatres like that — sometimes it’s worth waiting to catch a movie on the cheap. 🙂
Abby (Abby's VeGaN Eats) says
Awesome night.. what a great theater. I find the ones that don’t always show the brand new blockbusters are more fun!
candice says
Ahh, I love seaweed salad and deep fried tofu. 🙂 Have you ever tried sesame ice cream? A Japanese restaurant near where I live has homemade sesame ice cream… a billion times better than green tea, IMO.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
I love Rachel McAdams…I feel like she’s one of the few actresses out there that just seems…classy. I was really sad when she and Ryan Gosling broke up– I was super excited that they were having a real-life Notebook romance!
PS- That movie theater totally reminds me of going on middle school group dates– that WAS our theater, down to the purple and green walls and black and white tile floors. Funny stuff 🙂
Sarah says
Hey Kath, love your blog! I’ve been reading for a while, and always get great inspiration from your meals! That theatre looks so much like one I remember from my teen years, it’s kinda nice to know that places like that still exist. It also makes me think about going to drive-in movies!!
Julie says
I like the restaurant – that’s my daughter’s name :o)
I’ve been debating seeing the movie or reading the book first…I think I’ll see the movie – thanks!
Jessie says
I love the Cinemark in Matthews. It is so nice to able to catch some of the movies that have been out for a while on the big screen! My husband and I went on our first date there to see We are Marshall.
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
I love the ginger dressing at Japanese restaurants – I wish I knew how to make it at home! Glad you enjoyed the movie – the Time Traveler’s Wife is one of my favorite books 🙂
Jessica says
we have a theater like that too – only ours is $1.75 each on tuesdays. We saw Julie & Julia about a month ago. 🙂
One question for you – do you feel awkward when you take photos in public? I’m always embarrassed or just feel weird taking my camera out to take photos. How do you get over that feeling?
Lauren @ eater not a runner says
Love that theater! It is so 90’s its amazing 🙂
Elina says
I love dinner + movie dates like this! My husband and I were going to do it this past Tuesday but couldn’t find any movies that we really wanted to see. That coupon deal you got is awesome! 😀
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I think the ginger dressing in Japanese restaurants is amazing, and cheap movie theaters are the best 🙂
Jordan O'Malley says
I love dressing like that, but I wish they would put it on something better than bagged iceberg lettuce. Blech.
Tania (Moment Anew) says
Mmmmm…those sushi rolls look divine. I haven’t had sushi in a while….maybe this weekend! 🙂
Jenna says
wow kath! i would love to go to that movie theater asap, sounds wicked cool.
your dinner looks great btw!
jenna
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? says
Your japanese dinner looks awesome! Love japanese 🙂
Katerina says
Although I am sure you can make it in big batches and freeze it I find dashi really easy to make, think 15 minutes. I did a post on miso soup (and dashi) way back when with all the details. You need the miso, bonito flakes and kombu. And I think green onions make it! I don’t know how long bonito and kombu are supposed to last for but I certainly have had mine in the cupboard for a long time!
Amanda@thegrainsofparadise says
Movies for $2! That’s unreal!!
mmmmm….I crave Japanese food! Looks wonderful! Aloha, Amanda
deisegirl says
Godamn garlic! I love it but I hate the stink. Oh and also it gives me wicked cramps and bloating so I think the foul breath should really be the least of my concern and I’m trying to avoid it as much as possible these days. 🙁
sarah (ghost world) says
1. i think zack attack should do a reunion show at that theater!
2. i want to see that movie so badly!
3. i am bowled over by your sushi restraint. you should see the number of pieces josh and i tear through!
Kate in Japan says
Hi, Kath. Long time lurker here, but seeing American Japanese food is a good excuse as any to say hello. You’re lucky that you got a real salad – in many restaurants over here, they just give you a huge pile of shredded cabbage! Generally with just a lemon to squeeze on top, so none of that nice dressing, either. (After five years of that, I’m very envious of the gorgeous salads you eat on a regular basis.) Miso soup is incredibly common here. They have instant packets of various flavors and fillings. They’re nice, but I don’t have it much. No doubt I’ll be craving it like mad when I move back home, though!
Your gyoza look more like shumai to me. I’m not sure what the menu says, but in Japan they would be considered the latter. Especially here in Yokohama, where shumai is a local specialty. (Everywhere in Japan is famous for some food. It makes traveling really fun, and having colleagues bring back the obligatory food gifts is cool, too. My favorite is Hokkaido – cheap crab and divine asparagus!) Shumai are like you had, that squat round shape, and often made with shrimp. Gyoza are more of a half-moon shape, and often filled with ground pork.
Simply Life says
I read the book and now I definitely want to see the movie!
Annalisa says
We have a Movies 10 here which looks exactly the same! Actually, that is their business model – $2 movies, inexpensive food items paired with “older” films. They usually operate where the real estate values are lower. They’ve been operating like that for years — I love their bright colors whenever we catch a flick!
Kristie Lynn says
I could eat seaweed salad every day for the rest of my life and be happy. Although then I probably wouldn’t be able to pay rent… oh life dilemmas. 😉
katherine (blissful-body) says
restaurant.com is the best! sometimes they have 70-90% off the price of the coupons! so you end up getting a $25 coupon for a few dollars. i think you have to be on their email list to get notified when that happens, but the hubby and i love it and get to eat out more than we normally would otherwise! that food looks amazing and i’m glad you liked the movie! i’ve been afraid to see it because i liked the book so much. i also was in a modern dance loosely based on the themes in the book, so it’s super close to me in so many ways. i’m going to have to check it out now!
Paige (RAN) says
What a cool restaurant! I just cannot eat plain ginger like that. I have a friend who loves it too, but I just can’t do it!
The mushroom dish really does look yummy!
Maria Ann says
hmmm maybe I am doing something wrong, but the “katheats10off” coupon code is said not to be valid at opensky (I have more than $50 of merchandise from your store in my checkout)
Kath says
Jessica,
I’ve never been embarrassed using my tiny Powershot. I do feel a little funny when I have my Rebel and have to stand waaaay back to get a good shot, but I just look professional 🙂 Just smile and say “I’m a blogger!” People are usually impressed.
Kate in Japan,
Thanks for all the info! The menu said gyoza, but perhaps they swapped something else out. They were def. not half moon shaped.
Maria Ann,
Should be kath10off now – hope that works! Thanks for your support!
Kath
Lee says
We used a restaurant.com gift certificate last night too. I love that website. I’ve been to so many restaurants that I wouldn’t normally try because of it.
Jamie says
I will definitely be checking out the store today– holiday shopping here we come!! 🙂
Sam (The Second Lunch) says
Kath!
Miso soup is easy peasy. Dashi – a basic broth, and miso paste (usually white miso – shiro miso)
Maki has a great post about miso soup on her site Just Hungry:
http://www.justhungry.com/japanese-basics-miso-and-miso-soup
And I just wrote about making dashi here from my new momofuku cookbook, with an ingredient a little more easily findable than bonito – bacon!
http://www.thesecondlunch.com/2009/11/momofuku-bacon-dashi-a-myriad-of-possibilities/
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty says
I don’t know if anyone answered but if you buy a miso paste… you just add it to water + dashi- or any other stock. Then water else you want. Just make sure the water isn’t boiling when you add the miso paste as it will loose all of it’s nutritional value!!
Good luck!
Alison says
thanks so much for the coupon!!!
i was really hoping to win,
but this is awesome too.
STORE SUGGESTION:
PB2 – can’t get it in Cananda 🙁
Peanut Butter stirrer
more cute bowls
thanks again for considering reader input. 🙂
Jac says
heart the sushi! i love the conveyor belts cos its so fast and easy!
Hillary - Nutrition Nut on the Run says
What pretty brussel sprouts! I have never seen them still on their vine.
Life's Too Short to Eat Fat Free Cheese says
I just have to say, that theatre is EXACTLY like the one near me that I worked at in high school. It hasn’t changed since it opened in the mid ’90s. I used to have to wear a neon polka dot pvc-covered cotton bow tie with my uniform and had to the vaccum those purple carpeted walls.
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Oooo japanese and cheap movies. Perfect date night. I love those old theatres. Especially when they show a movie I don’t want to pay full price for or I missed out on.