Cooking on a diet

There are people who eat healthy by choice and those who do so by necessity because of medical reasons.

Whether a person wants to follow a vegetarian diet or - by doctor's orders - needs to eat low-calorie or gluten-free meals, a Sebring chef can do the cooking.

Chef Drew Khani of Roadhouse Grill has set up a customized meal program that caters to most dietary needs.

"We have some real, I wouldn't call them picky (eaters), but they have specific things they have to adhere to," Khani said. "It's hard to do that at home."

"There is a great market for it," he said. "We use fresh items. Our claim to fame here with this is that our food doesn't taste like it is out of a box."

The program began three months ago. Khani said he works with people from Fitness Together and the YMCA. He noted that personal trainer Matt Collar has recommended the program to several people.

"I don't know if there are a lot of folks out there doing this, but it works well for my clientele," he said. "Most of them are pretty serious into their fitness programs."

Khani said the idea came up during a conversation with his neighbor, Adam Britt, who is a bodybuilder.

"He knows that I cook, and we got to talking about it," Khani said. "I started doing it for him, so I became his personal chef for a while. I said 'you know what there are probably other folks who would like this.'"

"I'm not a big asparagus fan, never have been," said Britt. "But if he (Khani) makes it, I will eat it.

"He makes an excellent curry chicken," Britt added.

"That comes from the blood line," said Khani, who has been cooking for 13 years. "It is still not as good as Mom's curry chicken."

A 3-, 5- or 7-day meal program is offered. People can buy single lunches and single dinners as well as combo meals.

Meals are prepared daily at the restaurant in Sebring and are ready to be picked up between noon and 2 p.m.

"What we're doing with this custom meal program now is a way to try to pull in some new business," Khani said.

"We are totally happy with it," he said. "At this point now we are ready to put it out there a little bit further."

Khani has also started a catering company - Chef Drew's Catering Co. at Roadhouse Grill.

He will handle corporate events, weddings, private parties, birthdays, prom parties and graduations as well as private/personal chef services.

Cold chicken salads, hot foods, green salads, finger foods and sandwiches are among the items that are available.

Khani also said Roadhouse Grill is going to start a Sunday brunch in November. The hours will probably be 8 - 11 a.m.

Sebring girl wins Woody's contest

Cheyenne Spires, 10, of Sebring won a trip to Disney World for four people and two nights in a hotel in a contest being held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Woody's Bar-B-Q. She also received a $130 gift card to the restaurant.

Children 10 and under were invited to write "30 Good Deeds I Did This Summer" and enter the list at their local Woody's store in August.

A few of the winning entry items that contributed to Spires winning the grand prize trip were: looked for neighbor's lost cat; recycled cardboard, plastic and glass; donated toys and clothes to charity; passed out flyers for community blood drive; made up Mom and Dad's bed; washed the truck; helped plant a summer garden with her grandma; adopted a dog from the humane society.

Managers of the local Woody's submitted their top entries to Tammy Poudrier, director of marketing for the chain. Poudrier said she received entries from 25 of its 37 stores.

Cheyenne's parents are Deah and Sam Spires.

Restaurant to open in Spring Lake

A new restaurant is scheduled to open in the small strip center in Spring Lake on U.S. 98.

The name has yet to be announced but the eatery is expected to open next month.