by Maryann Strickland
Ville Voice Eats Correspondent

If you have a roaring appetite and limited funds, being a Louisvillian during the recession is not such a bad deal.  Plan to vacation right here at home.

You can “take a walk on the wild side” with the purchase of an annual membership to the Louisville Zoo and (while supplies last) get a free gift card for $25 to Max & Erma’s Restaurant plus a free gift from the Zoo gift shop.

Five of us went out to dine at Max & Erma’s at The Summit on Derby Day using our fun-tastic gift card.  The atmosphere is as casual as your own Kentucky backyard (minus the mosquitoes). One person in our group tried the “Ragin Cajun” burger (perhaps because it sounded like the name of a race horse). This 10-ounce burger is fiery and has a little kick with Cajun spices, grilled onions and pepper jack cheese.

Three of us enjoyed the “Garbage Burger.” While the name may not sound enticing, this selection allows you to build your burger with your choice of ingredients including everything from bacon, onions, mushrooms, guacamole, marinara, and four kinds of cheeses.  (Hold the guacamole, please!!)

The fifth member of our crew ordered the “Fish & Chips”…a safe “bet” if you will.  This seafood favorite comes with an order of seasoned fries and cole slaw.  Add in a couple of side salads and all five of us ate for $64.95…BUT…with our $25 gift card, it only cost us $39.98—about $8 per person.  Not a bad deal at all.  The portions were filling and there were even some requests for take home boxes.  Had we been able to eat anymore we certainly would have enjoyed the “all you can eat” dessert bar for only $2.99.

Now that’s a vacation!