I don’t know anyone who loves free stuff more than one of my new acquaintances — specifically food.
He is the guy standing in line when a new restaurant opens and gives the first 100 people coupons for a year of free food. He got free pizza for a year at a fast-food joint when it opened in Conway three years ago. He’s still mad that he overslept last year and missed “by three or four minutes,” he said, free food for a year at a chicken restaurant.
The guy has websites he uses on a regular basis to get good deals, including one that sells gifts cards at a discount. Our newspaper has the Daily Deal, and that’s another place to get, say $25 worth of food at a restaurant for $12.50. When he takes his family on vacation, they eat “where we have coupons,” he said.
When I told this guy I covered the opening of a new hospital, he said, “Man, I meant to go to that — free food.” I didn’t take the tour, but I was told it was just some cookies.
I’m wondering if he shows up to funerals of people he doesn’t know, just for the casseroles.
On Talk Like a Pirate Day last week, he and his family dressed up and scored free doughnuts at a participating shop. His kids went in the morning, and he was planning to go that evening. I rarely eat doughnuts, but I considered digging in my grown sons’ old toy box, where I know there is a pirate’s hook, pirate’s hat and bandanna (the rule was three items of pirate clothing). I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
This man told me his parents dressed like pirates that day, too, and scored free fish at a seafood restaurant that was participating in the fun and then went to get free doughnuts for dessert. I guess I see where he gets it.
Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I like a good deal or free food, too. My husband and I had a coupon for a free salad at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and I also had rewards that gave me a half-price deal at another restaurant. We ended up eating lunch and dinner for about $8, so that was fun.
I recently had a birthday, and I looked forward to a free coffee and free bakery item at restaurants I frequent — plus I had free dessert when I ate at a locally owned restaurant to celebrate my birthday.
This guy would do great on one of those shows where the challenge is to eat in some city for $20 a day, or less. Heck, he could probably stretch it into a week.
I told my husband about this guy, and my husband sent me a link to a story in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about people camping out in the parking lot for the opening of a new location in Little Rock of the popular chicken restaurant. The first 100 customers Thursday received a digital card preloaded with a one-year supply of 52 meals — a chicken sandwich, medium waffle fries and a medium beverage.
I forwarded my husband’s email to my new friend, who replied via his cellphone.
“I’m here — 67th in line.”
Of course he was.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.