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Fallbrook VFW Post 1924 invites all to dinner

Imagine getting a delicious steak dinner, complete with salad, baked potato, vegetables and dessert, for only $15. Residents don't have to imagine it – they can get it at the Fallbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924.

VFW Post 1924 welcomes the public to dinner every Friday night, when entrees vary, as well as every Monday night, which is "Burger Night."

VFW Post 1924 also invites all to a buffet breakfast every third Sunday of the month, and in the months where there is a fifth Sunday, to a Champagne brunch.

"They're all home-cooked meals, and they're open to the public," said Chris Ingraham, who in June took over as commander of VFW Post 1924. "Considering what our meals are – what you get – I like to say we're price competitive. Where can you get a ribeye steak dinner for $15?"

Steak dinners are offered the third Friday of each month and those that attended the Sept. 21 dinner were treated to a tasty porterhouse steak, which was cooked to order by VFW Life Member Ed Pedersen.

"When I went to buy the steaks, porterhouse steaks were on sale," said Pederson, who purchased 60 steaks and applied his magic. "I marinate them for three days and season them with a Montreal American spice blend."

This writer asked for his steak to be cooked medium-rare, and Pederson nailed it, delivering a tender, juicy and flavorful piece of meat. Guests are given a slip to mark how they want their steak cooked and Pedersen obliges.

While waiting for their steak to be cooked, guests helped themselves to a healthy salad that featured spinach, apple, mandarin orange, cran-raisins, almonds and feta cheese.

When the steak arrived, it was accompanied by a nice-sized baked potato and a vegetable blend of carrots and green beans. Dinner rolls and butter were also offered, as was sour cream for the baked potato.

Those with a sweet tooth completed their meal by enjoying cookies and ice cream for dessert.

Earlier in the month, VFW Post 1924 presented a pasta dinner, $10 donation, and a beef stroganoff dinner, $10. A taco salad dinner, $10 – either chicken or beef – will be served Sept. 28.

The Friday night dinner schedule for October is as follows: pasta, $12, Oct. 5; chicken and cheese enchiladas, $10, Oct. 12; steak, $15, Oct. 19, and St. Louis-style rib dinner, $14, Oct. 26.

"The meals are cooked by members of our post or auxiliary," Ingraham said, adding that the post has a rotation of chefs and each chef gets to choose what dish they want to serve. To see what VFW Post 1924 is serving up throughout the month, visit https://fallbrookvfw.org/post-calendar.

Ingraham, responding to requests of diners, said VFW Post 1924 is currently working on a "kid-friendly" menu that will either feature special items for children or a plate featuring "kid-sized portions" of the meal being served.

"We want people to know that these dinners are open to everyone," said Ingrahamd, who added that children age six and under eat for free.

Proceeds from the public meals go toward helping VFW Post 1924 help veterans and other members of the community. VFW Post 1924 helps sponsor Homes for Our Heroes and also offers scholarships for high school students.

VFW Post 1924 also puts on Fallbrook's Veterans Day Parade, which is one of only two Veterans Day parades held in San Diego County. The city of San Diego also has one.

This year's Veterans Day parade is Sunday, Nov. 11. It begins at 10 a.m. and runs along Main Avenue from Fallbrook Street to Alvarado Street.

"That's solely on us," said Ingraham of putting on the Veterans Day parade. "That's on our dime. All the festivities, that's out of our pocket."

VFW Post 1924 offers the community four complimentary meals during the year as it serves free dinners on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and free lunches on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

"A lot of it is for the less-fortunate or low-income families in town," Ingraham said. "(The holidays) can be a very expensive time of year and we tell them, 'don't worry about having a big dinner for your family, bring them here to the post.'"

Everyone can help Fallbrook VFW Post 1924 help others by simply enjoying a meal at the post, which is located at 1175 Old Stage Road. It's a delicious win-win for all.

 

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