Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory

As I was travelling through the Twin Cities last Monday, I decided to eat lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  [Full disclosure:  I was once employed by the Cheesecake Factory at their Grand Lux Cafe concept.]  My favorite dish there is the Crispy Spicy Beef.  It is beef strips that are breaded and deep-fried and then tossed in a sweet, citrusy, and slightly spicy sauce with green beans, mushrooms and carrots.  It was served over a sticky, medium-grain rice.  I think it’s great.  The vegetables were perfectly done-still al dente but absolutely tender.  The beef was crispy and paired beautifully with the Asian style sauce.  And the rice was just how I like it-tender and sticky.  Here’s what it looks like:

And there was enough there for two lunches.