A Long Weekend Archives - Page 9 of 12

Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA

09/19/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Steve and I had not been to Callaway Gardens since the first year we were married — 1971. At that time, we were dirt-poor college students who just wanted to spend a few idyllic hours riding around (gas was only about 25-cents a gallon, remember?). We drove about an hour, went through the gates and starting oohing and ahhing about the beautiful surroundings and dreaming of a time in the future when we could return and actually STAY for a day or two. And, believe me, considering our circumstances, it was one of those times when we could have sung “To Dream the Impossible Dream.”

Forty-five years later, we’ve learned to have a budget category specifically for TRAVEL, and we felt a strong need to “get away and just be.” Callaway Gardens seemed like the perfect place . . . and it was.

We hit it at just the right time for our purposes — their SLOW season. In the spring, thousands of azaleas bring in the crowds, and during the holidays the dazzling light shows attract visitors from miles around. Summer finds it bursting with families — mommas and children enjoying the beach area, while Dad plays a round of golf on one or both of the championship courses. I’m sure Callaway Gardens is beautiful in all of those seasons, but for us, the 2nd week in August with all the kids back in school and the families back at home, the quiet was very, very welcome.

A Plumleaf Azalea, one of Callaway Gardens’ signature flowers.

Caladium leaves.

We stayed in one of the Mountain Creek Villas, but you might prefer a cabin or a hotel-like room in The Lodge and Spa or at Mountain Creek Inn. Our villa had a comfortable living area with a flat-screen TV, full kitchen, fireplace and wi-fi access. The bedroom also had a fireplace and wonderfully soft beds.

Exterior of a Mountain Creek Villa which blends in to the wooded environment.

Living area in one of the Mountain Creek Villas.

Throughout the thousands of acres, visitors can enjoy miles of hiking and biking trails. We chose to rent a golf cart for a half day which allowed us to pull over and take photos at the slightest whim.

Callaway Gardens has a strong commitment to education. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center have remarkable displays with specially-scheduled events. The Birds of Prey shows at the Discovery Center are sure to inform and entertain you. Fair warning about the Butterfly Center. It is hot, hot, hot!!!! And so humid you are bound to see your own sweat popping out within the first few minutes of entering the large glass butterfly-filled pavilion. The admission fee into Callaway Gardens includes entrance to these two places also.

Butterflies feasting on fruit at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center.

Birds of Prey Show at the Discovery Center.

We tried 3 different eating places while we were at Callaway. The Plant Room Restaurant is inside the Mountain Creek Inn and offers a lavish breakfast buffet. It was good, although somewhat pricey. The food at the Country Kitchen inside the Country Store on Hwy. 27 was both delicious and reasonably priced, plus you get the added bonus of a gorgeous mountain view out the windows –which I suspect is spectacular in the fall. The Gardens Restaurant is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays and has a chef-driven, gourmet menu.

Our table at the Gardens Restaurant.

Dining room at the Gardens Restaurant.

Brie en croute – a mouthwatering appetizer at the Gardens Restaurant.

Pork tenderloin, carrots, asparagus and peaches. Beautiful entree at the Gardens Restaurant.

There are several restaurants in nearby Pine Mountain. We tried the Oyster House. It was nothing to “write home about” but certainly adequate. Most of the seafood was fresh, and the prices were okay. Can’t you just sense my enthusiasm? Ha! We passed a Mexican place and a barbecue cafe, so there are other options if you’re interested.

Oyster Po Boy and Clam Chowder at The Oyster House, Pine Mountain, GA.

If you are a history buff, particularly a Presidential history buff, then Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Little White House is about 30 minutes away in Warm Springs, GA and Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains, GA is about 90 minutes away. In this Presidential election year, it is very eye-opening to remember those who served in that office in the past. Just sayin.’

FDR’s Little White House.

This area in Georgia is certainly worth a few days of your time. It is beautiful, and you’re almost guaranteed to learn something new.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students – Part 4 “Get Outta Town!”

09/12/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

If you come into Auburn for a football game intending to just spend a few hours with your student/child, have a meal, see the game and then head back home, you might as well face the fact that you will be in a crowd, a big ol’ crowd. At all of the eating joints within walking distance of the stadium, you’ll be standing in line or waiting quite awhile for a table. If you’re a tailgater, then you’ll have your own food with you, so that’s another subject altogether. In the mid- to late-90’s when our kids were there, we used their dorms or trailer as our gathering spots. Many students have much more deluxe accommodations these days, I hear. Don’t tell our kids. 🙂

However, if you have the luxury of coming in a day early or staying for a day or so AFTER the game, or if you come for a visit when there’s no ballgame on tap, then I have another place for you to enjoy. Head 10 miles down the road to nearby Opelika and find the railroad tracks. A beautiful area has been developed on South Railroad Avenue with eateries of all kinds and live music is scheduled frequently. There’s a nice parking area, and the landscaping is lovely. Several of the restaurants have outdoor dining patios you can enjoy when the weather is nice. A few fun shops also welcome browsers.

The two places Steve and I tried on South Railroad Street recently were Ma Fia’s Ristorante and Niffer’s at the Tracks, but you could also choose Side Track Coffee, O Town Ice Cream, Irish Bred Pub, Jefferson’s, or 8th and Rail. 8th and Rail, I must say, has a menu that doesn’t seem to fit its name — sushi and cocktails. ??? What’s up with that?

If you want to “eat like the students eat,” then go to Niffer’s. I mentioned it briefly in a blog post a few weeks ago. There are other Niffer’s locations in Auburn and at Lake Martin with the same tempting menu. Get a basket of corn nuggets with honey mustard sauce for starters. You’ll be glad I told you. Ah-may-zing. Burgers take center stage at Niffer’s. Choose from 5 different types of patties — beef, black bean vegan, vegetarian, chicken or turkey. Then, pick from an array for toppings and sides. This is a multi-napkin experience. So delicious.

Niffer’s — a favorite of the Auburn faithful.

Eclectic decor of Niffer’s interior.

Looking toward the front door of Niffer’s.

Veggie patty, topped with pineapple and mozzarella with a baked potato.

Ma Fia’s was formerly a simple pizza place, but now it has an extensive and mouthwatering Italian menu. I loved the eggplant parmesan, and Steve gave his pizza 2 thumbs up. The foccacia bread at the beginning was great, too. The atmosphere at Ma Fia’s is more intimate than that of Niffer’s. Think smooth jazz and cozy tables.

Opelika is half the size of Auburn, but it has much to offer. I hope you have a chance to find this neat gathering spot by the tracks.

Oh, and one more thing, here is a link to my article about Railroad Avenue recently posted in MilesGeek.com.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students, Part 3 (A Unique Cafe)

09/05/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

CREPE MYRTLE CAFE

The Crepe Myrtle Cafe at 1192 Donahue Drive in Auburn is nestled into a plant and flower-filled oasis. To find it, look for Blooming Colors nursery at the corner of College St. and Donahue. As you wind your way to the back of the property, you will see a building with a large outdoor dining patio. At the front of the cafe, a produce store filled with locally-made goods and gift items has a large seasonal display. Then, start thinking about crepes of all kinds — breakfast crepes, savory lunch crepes and, of course, dessert crepes. What a clever play on words! Crepe myrtles are grown and sold at Blooming Colors, and the cafe prepares edible crepes.

Large outdoor dining patio.

Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., and then the rest of the menu is ready and waiting from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If crepes aren’t your “thing,” don’t worry. Pigs in a blanket, fresh-made scones, and plenty of salads, soups and paninis are also available. Kids’ roll-ups are also offered, which are actually 1/2 paninis with traditional favorites inside such as ham and cheese, peanut butter honey and banana or PB and J.

Unassuming sign points the way.

The order counter at Crepe Myrtle.

Steve and I shared the Veggie Lovers Crepe, the Eggs Florentine Crepe and a hot, gooey cinnamon roll. Very good!! I did find out that the cinnamon rolls aren’t made from scratch or anything, but they were still delicious.

Our breakfast!

Warm, ooey, gooey cinnamon roll.

Eggs Florentine crepe with plenty of fresh spinach.

The atmosphere is completely casual, and we found it to be a delightful choice for breakfast, and the prices were good. We also came out with several goodies from the produce section.

South Alabama peanuts.

Locally-grown tomatoes — the definition of summertime.

Colorful displays of fresh produce in the front section of the cafe.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students, Part 2 (Restaurants)

08/29/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, there are some definite “student favorites” when it comes to eateries in and around the Auburn University campus — Guthrie’s, Cheeburger Cheeburger and the like. I would also add Momma Goldberg’s Deli and every chain fast food place known to man. However, if you’re looking for something a little more unusual or upscale or even trendy, then today’s blog and next Monday’s will provide some recommendations.

THE HOUND

This was the #1 recommended must-try restaurant that I heard about from a trusted friend and also learned from “people on the street.” Located at 124 Tichenor Ave., The Hound is located on the street behind Cheeburger Cheeburger, conveniently beside a parking deck. The building used to house a printing company, then a brewery, before becoming this exceptionally popular casual dining spot. When you walk in, you will be reminded of a rustic hunting lodge or even a barn because of the concrete floors, brick, weathered wood walls, cedar plank tables, mounted deer heads and antlers and lots and lots of wood accents. This is NOT a tablecloths-and-cloth-napkins kind of place. It is one that is being fully embraced by students, teachers and returning alums of all ages.

Front exterior of The Hound.

Casual interior of The Hound with lots of wood and openness.

Owners are Matthew and Jana (Caruthers) Poirier. Jana, along with lots of immediate and extended family members, are diploma-bearing Auburn fans. The dream of Matthew and Jana was to return to Auburn and establish a restaurant and bar with (according to their website) a “focus on bacon, bourbon, community, and family.” The bacon, by the way, is actually cured in-house at The Hound. Some of the tables and many of the wood beams and decorative touches throughout the decor were handmade using reclaimed wood and other “finds” from Alabama. A large community table and the hostess stand were crafted by Jana’s father and used in her wedding to Matthew in 2010. Upside-down minnow buckets used as light fixtures add to the lodge/barn feel of The Hound — not to mention the large painting of hounds when you walk in the front door.

Painting inside the front door goes perfectly with the restaurant’s name.

Upside-down minnow buckets used as light fixtures.

Community table made by the father of owner Jana Caruthers Poirier.

Hostess stand crafted from reclaimed wood by John Caruthers.

Since the Auburn University mascots are the eagle and the tiger, I wondered how The Hound got its name. According to our server, Matthew Poirier fell in love with a restaurant in California during a trip there which was called The Bloodhounds, so he wanted to bring a similar vibe to Alabama. Another California connection is a special spicy pepper sauce that they have shipped in to use in several of the recipes.

The Hound is closed on Mondays. On Saturdays and Sundays, it opens at 9:30 and serves a separate brunch menu. Tuesdays through Fridays it opens at 11:00 a.m. and closes at midnight. For our first visit, Steve and I were there for lunch. He chose the Little Piggy Grilled Cheese with a house salad. This was no ordinary grilled cheese. It consisted of 3 cheeses, some of that house-cured bacon, tomato and brandy ketchup on sourdough bread.

This Little Piggy Grilled Cheese and house salad.

I chose — as a result of feeling that I was in a hunting lodge — the Bison Burger and fries. Naturally, I had to ask where the bison meat came from. Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson, Colorado provides the lean and very tasty ground bison. It was delicious!!

Bison Burger, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and tobacco onions with fries.

I suspect that the Poiriers will continue to have great success. They have, in fact, already opened another restaurant — The Depot — which is only a couple of blocks away at the railroad tracks and specializes in seafood. It will be on our must-try list for a future visit.

Prices are well above fast food prices, but so is the taste and quality. We enjoyed The Hound a lot and would certainly recommend it.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students, Part 1

08/22/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

When you come into Auburn to a) see a football game on a glorious fall Saturday or b) to give an extra hug and some cash to a needy, homesick college student or c) because you just want to find some places that appeal more to a slightly older demographic than the typical 18-22-year olds who are in the thick of their college experience, then I have a few suggestions for you based on a recent visit.

WHERE TO STAY??? On a game weekend, you can probably forget about it unless you are willing to pay double the normal rates and “stay for a minimum of two nights.” If you’re the sleeping bag or blow-up mattress type, you might find a few vacant square inches in your child’s apartment or trailer. If you’re one of the VERY lucky ones, perhaps you have your own deluxe motorhome and can come and stay for several days within the shadow of Jordan-Hare Stadium. Otherwise, though, I’d suggest looking for hotel rooms in Montgomery, Columbus, GA or the Lake Martin area.

I did spot a Bed and Breakfast near the railroad tracks and a few steps from downtown Auburn that looked very nice from the outside. It’s a Victorian house painted a beautiful blue called The Crenshaw Guest House and was built in 1890. Check out their website. B & B’s can be a LOT of fun, and I promise that the location of this one is great. As a bonus, a new restaurant — The Depot — recently opened diagonally across the street, which specializes in seafood.

If you come during the week and want a gorgeous place to relax and play a round of golf away from the crowds, then the Auburn-Opelika Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Grand National is a great choice. Grand National is one of the Robert Trent Jones golf courses, and the hotel is lovely. If you ARE able to book it for a game weekend, they offer a free shuttle service to the Auburn mall and from there you can take the Tiger Transit to the stadium — which I would strongly suggest rather than trying to drive in and search for a parking spot on your own. In addition to very comfortable beds, they offer free wi-fi and a bountiful breakfast buffet (for an additional charge). If you go while the weather is warm, the pool is fabulous.

Comfy beds at the Marriott.

View of the pool from hotel room at the Auburn-Opelika Marriott.

Golf course at Grand National in Opelika, AL.

And, here’s another thought. If you like the great outdoors and somewhat rustic accommodations, consider renting one of the cabins at Chewacla State Park. They were originally built in the 1930’s but were updated in 2003. There are only 6 of them, so plan early if that sounds like something you’d enjoy.

I should, of course, mention the Auburn University Conference Center. It is extremely nice and is right in the center of the action, but you might be fortunate enough to book it for 5 years from now on a game weekend. Alas.

Then, here’s another appealing option. Enjoy the hospitality of great friends who LIVE in Auburn. I think I’d like that best of all.

Check back next Monday for some restaurant suggestions that Steve and I found to be well worth recommending.

Memory Food and Photos for Auburn Grads (title suggested by daughter Laura)

08/15/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Steve and I recently spent a few days in our beloved Auburn — the place where we spent the first year of our marriage, from which we both have hard-earned degrees, and to which we both sent much hard-earned money when our kids were there. We needed to get away. We’ve had a lot of sorrow and stress since February of this year. We wanted to just “be” for a few days. Whipping out my Travel Writer Hat, I started researching the latest and greatest restaurants that I could review. Our kids, instead, balked at that idea and said we should stick to the “tried and true.” We managed to do both. In a future post, you will read about restaurants that have appeared on the scene in recent years and have begun gathering their own loyal followers.

For those who know The Loveliest Village on the Plains well, you will recognize the places in the photos, and hopefully, they will conjure up great memories.

Laura says, “When I think of Auburn, I think of chicken fingers. My two favorite places are Guthrie’s and Tenda Chick.” So Laura, these photos are for you. I hope you get to eat some soon.

I hear the chicken fingers are amazing.

Niffer’s is another traditional place for Auburn alums and for present students. I tasted their corn nuggets with honey mustard dressing for the first time this week. Oh my! Steve and I shared a basket and seriously couldn’t make ourselves stop eating them. Positively addictive. Niffer’s has great burgers. They have so much variety that even vegans and vegetarians can dine there with plenty of choices.

Niffer’s for terrific burgers.

Cheeburger Cheeburger is right down the sidewalk from Toomer’s Drugs as you go toward the railroad tracks. Or, if you’re merely thirsty, stop in at Toomer’s for lemonade.

Cheeburger Cheeburger! I wonder why they left spelled it that way??

The newly-planted trees at Toomer’s Corner will finally be ready for rolling with the upcoming football season. Let’s just hope that exuberant celebration event gets to happen many times beginning September 3, 2016 when Auburn plays Clemson. In case you were in a foreign country after Auburn won the National Championship in 2010, Google “Harvey Updyke” or “Toomer Trees” to read the full story. It has been a massively expensive restoration project to be able to bring this tradition back to the Auburn campus.

New trees are finally big enough to roll again. War Eagle.

Do you need a new Auburn t-shirt or sweatshirt? The 3 top places to look would be J & M Bookstore, Anders Bookstore and Tiger Rags. Tiger Rags is also the place to get your Game Day shirt when you arrive on a future fall Saturday.

A great place to buy Game Day shirts and Auburn gear of all kinds.

THE iconic building at Auburn is Samford Hall. It has provided the backdrop for thousands of family photos. Two grads — one from 1971 and one from 1972 — couldn’t resist the photo op either. Have I mentioned that I graduated the same day that Pat Sullivan did?

The building that represents Auburn to many people.

Samford Hall with 2 old grads in front.

“2 bits — 4 bits — 6 bits, a dollar. All for Auburn, stand up and holler!!!!! War Eagle!!!” 20 days until kick-off!!

Jordan-Hare Stadium with its massive Jumbotron!

Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Birmingham’s Historic Five Points

06/20/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Location, location, location and beautiful historic restoration. Those are key words where Hassinger Daniels Mansion B & B is concerned. It is in the heart of bustling Five Points. The back parking lot is adjacent to the parking lot for Highlands Bar and Grill, and a Chick-Fil-A is on the other side of the driveway. As a matter of fact, you can walk 3 blocks and pass dozens of shops and eateries.

Front exterior of the Hassinger Daniels Mansion.

Large verandah perfect for watching the world go by.

Sign by the front gate.

The mansion was built in 1898, and was bought by the current owners, Ira and Sheila Chaffin, in 2010. Mrs. Chaffin is an architect, and Mr. Chaffin is a sculptor and wood carver. They knew exactly what to expect in undertaking the remodeling and refurbishing, because they had done the same thing 10 years earlier with Cobb Lane B & B — their first venture into the World of Hospitality. Actually their two B & B’s are the ONLY B & B’s in Birmingham, and both are very successful.

Sheila Chaffin explains a fun game to some guests.

The rooms are comfortable with all kinds of architectural and period nuances — such as clawfoot tubs, glass transoms over the doors, fireplaces and decorative woodwork. Breakfast is hot and delicious. Afternoon treats and cold drinks are complimentary, and so is the wi-fi. You are likely to share breakfast in the large dining room with some very interesting people from all over the country, and the Chaffins are gracious hosts. Because of the historic nature of this Victorian Queen Anne building, it is not required to be handicap-accessible, and because of Mrs. Chaffin’s allergies, they don’t allow pets. But, for sheer convenience and uniqueness, Hassinger Daniels was a good place for us to stay.

Chandelier in the Camelot room.

Stained glass in the stairwell.

As a bonus feature, Mr. Chaffin houses Chaffin Carousel Carving School in the basement, and guests are invited to go down and have a look. We stayed in the Camelot room and actually had a full-size carousel horse in our large bay window.

A carousel horse carved by Ira Chaffin.

Fireplace and carved carousel horse in Camelot room.

To reserve a room, go to the Cobb Lane website because the website for Hassinger Daniels is under construction.

To know more, see my article in Trip101 about this B & B.

See and Eat in Baton Rouge, Part 2 — Magnolia Mound Plantation and Galatoire’s Bistro

05/18/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

SEE:

The main house of the Magnolia Mound Plantation was built around 1791. At that time, it was in the center of 900 acres of a busy agricultural enterprise. Now, it is on a busy street in Baton Rouge. The grounds and additional structures provide a great place for a self-guided tour or you can join a narrated tour to get the full story. The property also makes a beautiful wedding and event venue. Visit the website for hours, prices and upcoming special programs. Steve and I arrived at the end of the day and missed the guided tour, but we enjoyed strolling the grounds on our own and peeking in the windows and doorways. There is so much fascination history to learn and understand about the French Creole culture.

Open hearth kitchen in a separate building on the grounds.

Looking toward the highway from the sprawling front porch.

EAT:

Galatoire’s Bistro, located at the corner of Perkins Road and Acadian Thruway, is an elegant place for lunch or dinner, and the food is EXCEPTIONAL. The decor features lots of taupe and gold with black and white accents, glass, mirrors and chandeliers. I particularly liked the black napkins since I love bright lipstick! Our server was a delightful girl who was attentive and extremely helpful. Read an article I wrote for Epicurean-Traveler.com here for pictures and details. In the meantime, here a few additional photos. White tablecloths and scrumptious bread pudding, anyone?

I have also written an article for Trip101.com about a wonderful B & B in Baton Rouge, The Stockade. Read about it here.

See and Eat in Baton Rouge, Part 1 — Rural Life Museum and Restaurant IPO

05/11/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Baton Rouge has a funny French Acadian name that means “red stick.” As in New Orleans, there is plenty of Cajun and Creole food to be had, but Baton Rouge is also the Capital City of Louisiana and the home of Louisiana State University with its Tiger Stadium, a big SEC rival in sports of every kind. When Steve and I were driving around the campus a few weeks ago, we even spotted Les Miles, the head football coach, cruising around in his golf cart going from the stadium to the impressive football complex. We hoped he spotted the Aubie sticker on our car. Ha!

Anyway, we found several very enjoyable attractions and restaurants in Baton Rouge. I’ll share a couple today, and others in my next post.

SEE:

LSU has a Rural Life Museum that is something they can be very proud of. British Museum has even called it one of the “Top 10 Outdoor Museums in the World!” Wow! High praise indeed. Steve and I didn’t spend but a couple of hours there, but we were very impressed. We especially liked the vast display of antique cars, farm implements, and historical depictions of happenings in this part of the state. There is a nice gift shop, and this is a made-to-order field trip for area school children.

We also happened to be there when the azaleas of the gardens were in full bloom.

Alabama and LSU play IN Baton Rouge this fall (Saturday, Nov. 5, to be exact), so if you make the trip, maybe you can go a day or two earlier and take in some of these attractions I’ll be recommending. Auburn fans will need to wait until next fall.

EAT:

Who knew that two card-carrying Baby Boomers could enjoy something as trendy as tapas? We made our way to Restaurant IPO and had a wonderful dinner of tapas and desserts. Executive Chef Scott Varnedoe and his staff have an ever-evolving menu of creative and delicious menu items, and the decor is sleek and attractive. Feel young. Feel “with it.” Give it a try.

3 different tapas – duck poppers, hogshead cheese, and stuffed dates.

I wrote an article about it for Epicurean-Traveler.com that you can find here if you want to see more pictures that will make your stomach growl.

5 New (to me) Food Terms and Descriptions

05/09/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I’ve been eating for 65 years now. I know a LOT about food. I have been cooking regularly for 45 years now. I know a LOT about cooking. I have lived in Alabama all but 4 years of my life. I know a LOT about Southern cuisine. But, recently I came face to face with things on my plate that I had never seen and certainly had never eaten before. Some were simple. Others were profound. You maybe have heard of all of these. If so, then I want to encourage you to start a food blog and educate the rest of us. Truly. But, if you are like me, someone who enjoys learning new things, then perhaps I can share some of my newly found knowledge with you.

1. A5 Wagyu Beef — “Wa” means Japanese or Japanese style and “gyu” means cow. This particular breed of cow is either black or red in color. It was used historically in agriculture because of its superior physical endurance resulting from more intra-muscular fat cells. We know that as “marbling.” It has a taste like no steak I’ve ever eaten, and now I know that it is also healthy!! The saturated fat is different in this breed and has a minimal effect on raising cholesterol levels. This beef contains the highest amount of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) per gram of any food. Read more here. What you mainly need to know is that it has a marvelous buttery flavor, and you can truly cut it with a fork. Oh my goodness. A picture couldn’t possibly do it justice.

2. U12 Shrimp — If you want to be “in the know” when you talk to the person behind the seafood counter, order your shrimp by the COUNT rather than asking for small, medium or large. If you see a number like 21/25, that refers to the number of individual shrimp in a pound. The “U” in U10, U12 and U15 means that a pound will have UNDER that number. For example, in U12 Shrimp, you could expect to get maybe 9 or 10 shrimp. In other words, they are VERY large — often called colossal. Some even go ahead and call them prawns. On St. Simons Island recently, we had some wild Georgia shrimp that were U12. I should say that STEVE ate those shrimp since I am allergic to them. They were beautiful . . . and HUGE. Read more here.

U12 Wild Georgia Shrimp that had been out of the water less than 48 hours.

3. Fiddlehead ferns — a delicious and beautiful vegetable that looks like a thin stalk of asparagus that has been rolled into a spiral. It is typically grown in the Northwest and has a very short growing season. You can read more about them here. The taste is very fresh and mild, and they add visual impact to a salad, don’t you think?

A colorful salad with fiddlehead ferns

4. Foie Gras — Okay, so I had seen this before on menus, but wasn’t interested enough to find out what it was or to pay the (usually high) price to sample it. But, at a meal where Steve and I were recently, foie gras was the first course. It is basically “a sliver of goose (or duck) liver” and was surprisingly delicious. When I say a sliver, that’s what I mean. It was a VERY small serving size, but just enough for us to know it was special and extremely well-prepared. We won’t be afraid of it in the future. For some reason, there are folks “up in arms” about it. Read more here. My veterinarian husband had no problem with it, so there. It’s not slimy or unpleasant in any way. Taste it!

Foie gras with a leaf of fried sage on top.

5. Geechie Boy Grits — Of course. I’ve had grits HUNDREDS of times, but these grits were unusually good grits, so creamy and rich-tasting. I was on the Georgia coast when I heard the term. I found out later they come from up the coast a bit, produced on a farm on Edisto Island, South Carolina. You can even order some for yourself here if you want to taste the Cadillac of all grits. I plan to do that very thing myself.

Geechie Boy Grits with Greens on top, fried chicken, and roasted veggies.

So, have you learned anything by reading this post? Was I the ONLY person who didn’t know these facts already?

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