Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!

Don’t you love it when you finally remember to go to that joint that you love to eat at, but always forget to go to when you’re in the mood to eat out and then one day you remember that joint and finally eat there again … and aren't you happy you did?

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The BF took me to a movie (Apollo 18 – yuck, don’t bother, it was awful!) anyway…

I suggest we hit the Cajun Café on the Bayou, known for authentic Cajun and Louisiana Cuisine. I’m so glad we did! It was the BF’s first time.

Greg scolding me for playing my iPhone , signs posted all around the joint saying "no cell phones please" - but I was only taking pictures!!

It was one of those unusual lower humidity days in Florida and we opted to sit on the back porch overlooking the bayou and a big sign that said,  Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler! which means Let the Good Times Roll! 

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Greg enjoyed perusing the overwhelming list of craft ales. Since I’m not a beer drinker, I just enjoyed the fun names and cool beer labels posted on the wall!

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Greg ordered crawfish étouffée, I snuck a bite and it was incredible! Like most of the food a the Cajun Café, it had a decent kick to it. Cleared out Greg’s sinuses!

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I ordered a gator burger…. that’s right , made with REAL gator meat. They liken the flavor to lean pork and I’d have to say that is a good description. I loved it. Our waiter, Stuart, said that the gator burger and the crab wrap are two of the most popular sandwiches. 

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The thing was a big as my head. I order it somewhat blackened and later added their incredible home made BBQ sauce - plus a side of dirty rice.

Now, one cannot leave the café without ordering the infamous bread pudding for dessert! I consider myself a bread pudding connoisseur, and this is hands down the BEST BP EVVV-AHH! 

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Imagine real French bread from a French bakery, swimming, no wait... drowning in whiskey-butter sauce and then topped with vanilla cream served in a huge cereal bowl! 

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The Cajun Café is well worth remembering! Hit them up for lunch or dinner sometime! Note: they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. 

www.cajuncafeonthebayou.com


  the joy of living ~ joie de vivre

A Labor (day) of Love

Labor Day Weekend is notorious for cookouts! And there is nothing like a good slab of meat on the grill.

 my favorite is grilled thighs - skin on of course!!

I’ve been to my fair share of backyard BBQ’s and have leaned that the fine art of grilling is not a skill that can be taken for granted! I also know there is a big difference between charcoal grilling and gas grilling that amounts to more than just taste. I won’t for a minute pretend to know what I’m doing behind the spatula and tongs – I’m a better fire starter than a grill master…. I’ll leave that to the professionals … (enter Bobby Flay stage left…. ) Grill It with Bobby Lessons - click here!

I’m fortunate enough to have a master griller at home, one who is more than happy to fire up the pit and cook up a DE-lish meal .... I’ll be thinking of you all this weekend while I’m eating my succulent BBQ chicken and noshing on my all American potato salad … yum!

 Grill Master Greg - the boy can work those tongs! (click pix to enlarge - back arrow to return)

May your Labor Day weekend be minus the labor and served up with some outdoor cooking, frosty libations,  fun, sun and lots of R & R! 

don't forget - wine goes great with meat!  (click pix to enlarge - back arrow to return)

Pass the remote, I'm hungry...

While social networking has become a phenomenon in the past decade, food has become a source of entertainment within that social network. We’re all about sharing our eating activities online, sharing photos of mouthwatering meals and decedent drinks, posting status updates like “bacon” and making sure everyone knows we’re checking in” at our favorite eateries.

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It was less than 40 years ago that food was mire sustenance, we cooked our Hamburger Helper on our harvest gold stove top.  We ate because we needed to fuel our bodies.

1970's kitchen

In the 70’s and 80’s gourmet meals were reserved for upper class.The unwashed, middle class considered a fondue party or a Friday night at Pizza Hut outing to be the ultimate communal dining experience. In this new millennium we call home, anyone can buy a Groupon to a five star restaurant. You can even pick up gourmet treats at the local Publix deli.

 old school Pizza Hut

The electronic media feeds this foodie trend. There are whole channels devoted to just food - airing on TV's in virtually every country around the world!  Without picking up a single cookbook, magazine or recipe card, we can get expert advice from our chef friends, Bobby Flay and Tyler Florence (my two culinary crushes!).

Tyler & Bobby

You  never have to leave your house to travel to the deep south for some N’awlins Style Cookin’ from The Emeril *BAM* or savory southern stick-to-your-ribs comfort food from charmin’ mama Paula Deen. We can hone our entertaining expertise with shows like Barefoot Contessa or Sandra Lee’s Semi Homemade. We can witness daring cuisine as it becomes game show fodder on the Food Network Challenge. Or learn the science behind food with Alton Brown… even feed our sweet tooth while watching a baker show down in the Cupcake Wars.

So my point in all this, you ask?  It’s not so much a point as it is a personal observation. Our taste buds have crept out our mouth and into our brain. Our appetite is as much cerebral as it is oral. We are creatures that not only love to feed on food - we experiment with food, we socialize over food, we visually devour food artistry ..... and this food we love so much has become our source of entertainment – thus giving new meaning to couch potato. 

What Happened to Sunday Dinners?

Sunday dinner use to be the family watering trough – everyone would get what they were doing done and come together around the dinner table to feast and pay homage to the week gone by. 

 Baked chicken, sweet potato waffle fries and wild rice - OUR Sunday dinner
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When I was growing up Sunday dinner was only an occasional tradition – if company was in town or if it were someone’s birthday that week, then we’d all gather and break bread.  And when we’d gathered on any given Sunday, it was always at Gram’s house. Gram was our culinary matriarch.  She had the inherent knowledge that a home cooked meal was the glue that binds a family together. Holidays, birthdays and anniversaries were always celebrated at Gram’s dining room table.

Truly authentic Sunday dinners were something I imagined intensely ethnic families were more in tune with, like Loretta Castorini’s family in Moonstruck. Their Sunday dinners were filled with lively debate and loving disagreements over a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

Moonstruck - Loretta and Ronny at Sunday dinner

At Gram's house it was more of a mild mannered midwestern gathering, the biggest debate was usually over the latest movie on the top ten list. The feast consisted of roast turkey or a ham and you could always count on mashed potatoes and gravy. When Gram died so did the family dinner gatherings - the glue that bound us, gone. We started our own families; many of us moved on and thus passed a beloved tradition that will not soon be forgotten.

Gram & me circa 1966 (click to enlarge- back space to return)

Regardless of the ethnicity of the Sunday dinner, it’s a tradition deserving of preservation. I personally vow to create one Sunday dinner once a month. Seems like an easy enough task, we’ll see if it’s actually achievable! Wanna join me?

for the LOVE of EAT!

I'm not afraid to say it... I really love to eat out. It is a weakness, yes. I'm a busy gal and as much as I'd love to have loads of time to experiment in the kitchen, I just don't! So I eat out. 

I have many favorite restaurants. However, I have found he hardest part about frequenting my favorite's is trying something new. I find one delectable dish on the menu and every time I return, I end up ordering the same thing over and over. Is it because I take comfort in knowing I won't be disappointed? 

Here are some of my favorites I'll order time and again!

Sogno Di Cioccolata "Chocolate Dream" Carrabba's

rich fudge brownie brushed with Kahlua and layered with chocolate mouse and whipped cream

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 Pasta Sostanza- tagliarini with sauteed mushrooms, artichoke hearts and spinach in tomato basil sauce with shrimp and sprinkled with bread crumbs! Also from Carrabba's 

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croissants - anywhere and everywhere they are served... I literally could O.D. on these things! 

and triple espresso with three sugars - a.k.a. Cuban coffee is amazing! 

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The Rumba Salad - or any salad laden with avocado - I love avocado! Other similar salads at Cheesecake Factory and BJ's Brewhouse - most have a southwest twist to them - oh so delish!

Rumba Island Bar & Grill

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Speaking of BJ's Brewhouse - their gourmet mac and cheese is incredible!

It was the gourmet mac & cheese and the fried artichoke hearts that lured me away from their Santa Fe Salad at BJ's Brewhouse.

BJ's Brewhouse

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Aside from the peel and eat shrimp and the conch fritters - I never leave The Fishery without having my orange key lime pie!

The Fishery in Placida, FL

My friend, Kate, and I literally CRAVE these boneless wings from Mugs and Jugs - the mild are our favorite. 

Mugs and Jugs

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on your way to Key West - make sure you stop for a Lobster Reuben at   I'm craving it just looking at this photo!

The Keys Fishery web site

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the best place for Sushi (a gotta have it!) is Hula Bay - so pretty and SO yummy!

Hula Bay

What are YOUR favorites? 

The Crusty Upper Crust on AMI

This past weekend I was entertaining an out of town guest, my BFF, Krisco, from Grand Rapids and no, she didn’t earn that nick-name for obvious reasons, so get your mind out of the gutter people!

Me & Krisco on the deck at Rotten Ralph's
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When I have company I like to show them around the area and go to some of my favorite eateries. AMI, otherwise know as Anna Maria Island, is one of my most favorite places. If you've got a hankering, I have found three places with what I consider some GREAT seafood delights. Since Krisco has never been to AMI, we hit a few of the local shops before lunch.  The Sand Dollar  – I liken this place to a Pier One with a beachy twist.

Greeting us at the front door of Ginny & Jane E's - a new outfit, perhaps?
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 Ginny and Jane E's at the old IGA – this is an eclectic mix of hand made artistry, flea market finds, antiques, plus, they make a mean espresso ... oh, and did I mention it’s a coffee and pastry shop too?

flaky, buttery, melt in your mouth goodness and a triple espresso - ZING!

As we eased down Pine Avenue we hit a few of the newer shops. One in particular, which will remain nameless to protect the ignorant, was filled with shi-shi interior design merchandise and over priced bird-cloth fashions (= cheep-cheep). As Krisco and I were perusing the goods, a couple locals strolled in to chat with the owner of our anonymous establishment. The conversation we overheard was so upper class socialite Real Housewife wanna-be that I had to chuckle. As we  strolled past the checkout counter the proprietor politely asked the usual please-buy-something-before-you-leave questions … are you on vacation – where are you from - blah blah. Then she asked if we were going to lunch. This was obvious bait cast so she could recommend her friend’s restaurant, one of the upper-crusties we heard her conversing with earlier. I proudly exclaimed, “Yeah, we’re going to Rotten Ralph’s – they have great shrimp!” If ONLY I could have video taped this woman’s expression when I said our plan was to hit a local dive. The look of utter disgust was priceless! It was as if she was told her precious baby girl had run off to marry an over-weight, tattoo laced, locked and loaded Hell’s Angel. It took her a good 20 seconds to gather her composure enough to say, “oh … how nice.”

Escargot from HEAVEN! Don't every think you can't eat a snail, these are orgasmic!
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I love good food. I don’t care if I’m sitting on a picnic table along side a four-lane highway. If you make it, I will come. Sure, I appreciate great ambiance, but in Florida, especially along the Gulf, most restaurants are very casual.  Rotten Ralph’s is off the beaten path and considered more of a local hang out.  You can access it by boat which makes it pretty fancy in comparison to most dive bars or greasy spoons. More so, they have THE BEST escargot EVER! Their snails are to die for! 

A dozen shrimp $17.95 and WORTH every penny!
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Plus, huge shrimp – oxymoron, yes - but you’d have to be a moron NOT to eat there! These sweet, succulent, straight from the Gulf shrimp ruined me. I will never be able to eat frozen shrimp again!

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The moral of our story, boys and girls – great food can come from a Diner, Drive In or Dive – why do you think that show is so popular on the Food Network? Clearly I’m not the only one of that opinion.  

Next time you're visiting AMI check out:

Rotten Ralph's you MUST have the world famous escargot! 

Rod and Reel this is another 'rustic' restaurant perched at the end of a pier - make sure you get there for breakfast since they have a heaven on earth seafood omelet overflowing with scallops, shrimp and crab meat and melty cheese ... you'll be hooked from the first bite!

The Waterfront if you desire ambiance and great food - this place has it, whether you're inside next to the saltwater aquarium or out on the veranda over looking the bay. I recommend the Tropical Salad, Lobster Bisque, baked Brie or Truffled Gouda Mac & Cheese. MMMMmmmmm

Who died and made you Mrs. Fancy Pants?

What makes someone and expert on food or wine? Who are these people who decide that a Sauvignon Blanc should never be paired with Steak Tartare and is better served with shell fish? Who says that a $80 bottle of Martinborough Reserve is better than my $10 bottle of Finca La Linda? Isn’t taste in the bud of the beholder? Is it because you have a fancy pallet that is far superior to mine? Yes, I seem to have more questions than answers today – but I would guess one or more of these ponderings have crossed your cerebral cortex at some point.

frozen vanilla yogurt with semi sweet chocolate chip and a smooth red wine

I would never tout myself and an ‘expert’ in anything – not even television advertising, something I’ve been paid to do for over 27 years – but I do feel I can sniff out a mean gourmet mac and cheese or hunt down an affordable oaky, earthy blend of red wine.  I am of the belief that the so called ‘experts’ on food and wine tend to trump themselves up by scaring off us regular Joe’s and Jill’s. Finding that perfect wine is just a matter of experimentation.

mugs & jugs mild boneless wings and Malbec

First, seek out your biggest nasal sensory turn on. Next, you need to figure out the flavors that titillate your gustatory system. Soon you too will become the master of your oral-olfactory domain. For example; I know I don’t enjoy sweet wines so that rules out most whites. I also like a heavy, more robust texture on my tongue. This drove me to red wine. I started trying different reds… Merlot, Cabernet, the newer Malbec… and SURPRISE! I’ve found I do enjoy all of them. Then, I started to notice that I love earthy smells – interestingly that earthiness also translates into a flavor in most of my favorite wines. I joke that if it tastes like an oak tree that was drug up dirt road, chances are I’ll love it! After I figured out my wine preferences – I started exploring regions. I don’t think I’m unusual in the fact that many domestic wines cause me headaches, some almost immediately. I almost gave up on reds from the get-go until a friend mentioned that most domestic wines use a lot of sulfites to accelerate the fermentation process.  Since then I have moved on to imported reds and hardly every have a problem.

tree bears red wine and my oh-so-yummy cheddar and BBQ dog!

I could go on and on about my research from my focus group of one. The point I’m taking so long to reach is - anyone can be an ‘expert’. What matters is what tastes good to you! I’m sure I’d appall many a critic if they saw me drink my $10 bottle of Spanish red with my BBQ cheddar hot dog!  But do I care? Hell no. I say if it tastes good then DO IT! So…. Are you gonna do it? Let me know, I’d love to hear about it!

BTW - that $80 bottle of 1998 Martinborough Vineyard Reserve I mentioned above - actually beat out a $5500 bottle of 1990 Domaine de la Romanee- Conti La Tache - see for yourself! $80 wine beats $550 wine in taste test 

RELAX ... don't do it

I'm no stranger to sleepless nights. Those unfortunate few who follow me on facebook know this all too  well. So when a co-worker received a sample of the "RELAXATION" brownie - she readily handed it over, knowing it may offer me some much needed ZZZzzz's. 

As I eagerly unwrapped this slumber inducing treat, I felt like I was doing somthing illegal. The package did show Mary J. front and center. Yes, I clearly remember her from my younger daze. Hence my growing sense of paranoia. I slowly unwrapped this hope filled treasure and ... BLEHH! Let me tell ya, this thing tasted like total CRAP!  As far as sleep goes ... I felt a bit loopy ten minutes after I ate it and easily feel asleep that night, but falling asleep is never my problem, staying asleep is the issue. Do I recommend them? Nope. However, if you wish to do your own experiment - you better hurry up. These babies may not be on store shelves much longer ... FDA-says-relaxation-brownies-are-unsafe

Take a BYTE outta THIS!

Well, here I am... doing the blog thing. Excuse me if I come across as clumsy, but I'm not sure where to start. I've gotten into the blog-biz a bit late by most people's standards. I was coerced by some well meaning friends to pursue the things I love via this public forum - that would be food, taking photos and a zest for life. Truth be told, I believe they were getting sick of my posts on facebook! So here I am - rambling on with my ill fitting grammar - participles dangling all over the place. Well folks, that's how this bitch ROLLS! Sit back and scroll through this not so unique gal's take on the eatable, the serendipity and the pursuit of over indulgence!

I'm a sucker for homemade mac & cheese, boneless chicken wings and imported red wine!
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I love Christmas for two reasons ... peppermint mocha's and the Starbucks sugar cookie bears!
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Most people consider dietary staples to be ketchup, butter, salt ... to me staples include Josephine Mussels and Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Grill- just to name two! 

sushi = perfection .... LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! (click to enlarge- back space to return)

coconut crusted grouper sandwich from Rumba.... amazing!
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