Daily Dirt: Come along with Steve, Bruce, Peyton, Eli and others … it’s lunch time again!

For those who know me, it is no secret that my favorite time of the day is anytime involving a meal. That’s why our monthly “Lunch with Steve” episodes of the Daily Dirt are always my favorites to produce. These virtual lunches always inspire me — to get up from chair in the mancave and get a snack. Hopefully, they have the same effect on you. Welcome to Vol. 114 of the Daily Dirt.

Today we’re lunching with the following people, who are some of my favorites, both locally and nationally:

Bruce Guthrie: Bruce, the new president and CEO of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, ranks high on two personal lists of mine. First of all, he is one of the absolute nicest and most cordial individuals I have ever dealt with in this profession. Secondly, he’s also among the most versatile people I know. Remember, he once worked in the front office of the NBA San Antonio Spurs and returned to Quincy to be director of The District prior to accepting his current position. Lunch at: Riverside Smoke House and Grill. It’s close to where Bruce works and we both enjoy a good plate of ribs.

Peyton and Eli Manning: I know it’s two people, but this only counts as one choice. Have you watched/listened to them on the ManningCast of ESPN’s Monday night NFL game? They’re both hilarious and articulate, and much, much more entertaining than the actual game announcers. Lunch at: The Tangerine Bowl. There’s more than bowling there, there’s also some great food. And what says sports and lunch better than a burger and tenpins?

Jimmy Lieurance: The new operator of Quincy Raceways has a major challenge ahead of him, one that I’m confident he’ll be a major success at. We can break bread while we’re breaking down the 2022 dirt-track season. Lunch at: Buffalo Wild Wings, which is close to the track. There are no long lunch breaks for the new boss. Right now, it’s a dawn-to-dusk operation at 8000 Broadway.

Billie Eilish: I know she’s a singer, but I’ve never heard her music, nor do I plan to any time soon … but I really need to know the backstory of the green hair and fingernails. Lunch at: Native Grill and Wings. We can go up to the second floor for some privacy. Besides, that bright green hair might blind some of the noon traffic on the first floor. I’ll suggest to Billie that we split a large order of wings. Light sauce, please.

Stacey O’Brien: S.O.B., as we affectionately refer to her as, shares some hilarious thoughts with the rest of the world on Facebook. Her recent “overheard conversations” were pure gold. Lunch at: Anywhere that serves chicken, because S.O.B. loves her poultry. So … off to KFC it is, wings for Ms. O’Brien and more wings for me.

Cole Hauser: I’ve already documented the Nov. 7 return of “Yellowstone”, but before the debut of the fourth season I would like a little one-to-one time with Rip Wheeler (that’s Hauser’s character on the show). I need to know who the first person will be to get their face smashed in on opening night. When we last left the program, Rip was mighty upset at what had happened to his friends. Lunch at: On the Rail, where just in case someone gives Rip some grief there’s a nice big window he can throw them through.

Tommy Hess: My first grandkid with a driver’s license, so he’s definitely driving gramps to our destination: Lunch at: Panda Express, because Tommy is a big fan of rice, especially for his in-season training regimen as a member of the successful Quincy High cross country and track teams.

Blake Shelton: I have never cared for “The Voice” (a poor man’s version of the old “American Idol”), but I have always enjoyed Blake Shelton. He seems like the kind of guy who would love to spend a Saturday afternoon watching the Ohio State Buckeyes. I’d love to talk to him about his career, life and anything else that might come up. 

Lunch at: O’Shea’s, because I just know he’d enjoy one of the scrumptious burgers and equally scrumptious orders of mushrooms. In fact, so would I.

Steve Fact O’ The Day Steve once found himself locked inside Alton High School after covering a sporting event. He remained there until after midnight when he was finally able to get ahold of the school’s athletic director. Such is the life of a scribe.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He will be lunching today at Mr. Bill’s.