My wife and I recently investigated some local "old school" diners in the Valley. Together we tested the popular Third Street Diner in Menasha, George Webb in Appleton, and I also went to the Route 41 Diner (formerly called Bradke's) in Neenah (Green Bay Road and Main Street, with the big sign on the roof that just says "Eat" - a true old-school diner). These all offer low-cost home cooking in an old-fashioned setting. Comfortable, fairly tasty, and relaxed. Down-to-earth folks looking to get value for their money will do well going to any of these places.

For the best experience, I might have to pick George Webb where we had fantastic service and where I really enjoyed their unusual 3-patty hamburger spread across a hoagie bun with terrific grilled onion. The Bomber, I think was the name? But Third Street Diner was charming also and we had exceptionally kind service. We weren't feeling too hungry, so my wife and I were going to share a "smothered chicken" plate. They kindly split it onto two plates without being asked, and gave extra side dishes at no cost. Hey, that was very nice. Thumbs up!

Route 41 is a fun place, especially for breakfast, but the Philly cheesesteak sandwich I tried there lacked flavor in the meat and was thus a little disappointing. But I know there are plenty of other good choices on the menu for next time.

At each place, I tried the chili. I think the Third Street Diner had the best, but they were all pretty good. George Webb had good flavor but the very thin spaghetti noodles were somehow less appealing than no pasta or large noodles for those preferring Wisconsin-style chili. Third Street and Route 41 were pasta-free. Route 41 may have had the best texture but was too mild for my taste.

The best chili of the week doesn't go to any of these diners, but to the fabulous chili we had tonight at the VFW Lounge. It was not made by the VFW folks, but by Boy Scout Troop 67 doing a fundraising event aimed especially at those about to go deer hunting. We bought two hot quart bottles of their chili for $5 each and took it home for dinner (or we could have eaten there). The chili was perfect: beans and meat in a tomato-based sauced with elbow macaroni for Wisconsin-style chili that was tasty and hearty. The touch of thoroughly cooked celery in the chili was just right. Good texture, nicely spiced, and made all of us feel a lot better and warmer on a wet and cool evening. Thank you, VFW, for your support of Scouting and for giving us a chance to have some terrific chili--the best in town, at least for this week.

In spite of the recession we are in and some of the layoffs that have occurred in the Fox Valley, there are still people moving to Appleton and still some great homes being built. One of our local builders that I know, Bradd Syring, just launched a website: SyringHomes.com to show some of his work. Take a look. If you're aware of other interesting web pages from local builders, please let me know. I'd like to link to them.

One of the things you'll notice about many homes in Appleton is the high-quality construction. It's a tradition motivated in part by the demands of weather here. Folks coming from the south are often especially impressed at how solid and well built homes are in this area. Still, quality varies, so know what to look for and what kind of questions to ask. Read my web page, "The Top Ten Things to Know When Buying a Home in the Appleton, Wisconsin Area." This includes some valuable information that Bradd Syring kindly shared with me in the past.

Recently I wanted to plan a special luncheon for a Chinese diplomat and new friend of mine coming to Appleton from the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. I contacted a Chinese friend in the Fox Valley and got his recommendation: Confucius Chinese Restaurant. I've been there before and enjoyed it, but learned that their capabilities go far beyond what greets the Western eye looking at the menu.

I went there a couple days before the luncheon to see if they could do an authentic ("di dao") Chinese style lunch for us. In fact, they far exceeded my expectations (I think one of my Chinese friends may have called to help plan the food--I'm not sure). They delivered an impressive authentic Chinese meal with many appetizers, amazing seafood soup, and a many main courses that truly wowed my guest and my friends. The diplomat said he cannot find food that good in Chinatown in Washington, D.C. Another friend who lives in China and was in town said he has not found food that good in the city of Suzhou where he works. These were not empty compliments. The quality of the food was striking. Beautifully, skillfully, and deliciously prepared. It was a large, joyous feast. For ten people enjoying this spectacular meal, I was pleased that it only cost about $220 plus tip. I would expect dinner to cost more.

Of course, for more normal dining, ordering off the menu will work great and provide you with an affordable and delicious experience.

Hearty congratulations to the gracious owners and chef of Confucius for providing such masterful Chinese food right here in Appleton! If you need something really special, this is the place to go. Discuss options with the owners ahead of time. You'll be pleased!

Confucius is at 2230 East Northland Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911. Phone (920) 968-1688.

If you think somewhere else can contend for the best Chinese or Asian food in the Valley, let me know. If you're the owner, prepare your best dish and give me a call! I am always willing to consider more data in my quest for the best.

Received a request to publish this press release. Like the story, so here goes:

Appleton, WI With the holiday season around the corner, Jen Heran—owner of No Worries Home Boutique and mother of three—knows first-hand the anticipation and excitement the holiday season brings to children. But, without the help of Heran and dozens of business owners in the Fox Valley, the Fox Valley Toys for Tots estimates that over 3,000 kids could go without shiny wrapped packages under the tree this year. To combat this growing need, Heran gathered together friends, family, and customers to create a hardcover, professionally printed charity cookbook that includes 750 favorite recipes. No Worries Home Boutique has pledged to give 100% of proceeds from the cookbook to the local Toys for Tots.

A true philanthropist at heart, Heran could not ignore the nagging image of a child left empty-handed this year. She made the decision to help tackle the problem by leveraging her business savvy for more than just selling unique household décor and gifts this year. The first annual charity cookbook is not only a great gift for friends and family, but more importantly, will transform a child’s Christmas or Hanukah celebration. Heran knows that “a lot of families in our area are going through a very rough time, and this book is our way to help.” Toys for Tots anticipates the number of requests for donations to increase again this year.

Heran is an advocate of the “pay it forward” philosophy and believes that “being able to remove the stress of paying for a child’s holiday gift is our way to give back to the community and make a difference in someone's life.” The mother of three small children, Heran knows how exciting Christmas morning is to a child, and how important it is for a parent to make that day special.

The charity cook book features a wide array of recipes, from Pomegranate Lemonade Spritzers to easy-to-cook entrees like Jambalaya, Santa Fe Chicken and Tabasco Burgers. The cookbook may be purchased in store or online at NoWorriesHomeBoutique.com for $18.95. Heran is already accepting recipes for next year’s book. They can be submitted at her store, via email, or through the store’s website.

No Worries Home Boutique is also a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots program and is located in the Trasino Park development on North Casaloma Drive in Appleton. The boutique offers unique items for the home, table, and baby. They have a wide variety of serving pieces, accent pieces, and barware, which reflect the motto, “We celebrate you, your home, and your family and think you should surround yourself with things as unique as you.”

For more information on No Worries Home Boutique, please visit NoWorriesHomeBoutique.com or to schedule an interview with Jen Heran, please contact Kristen Schremp at Kristen@kaspublicity.com or 703.928.5527