111 replies to this topic

[robirdstx]

Hi all. Time has sprung forward, so its time for My Spring Break Blog to begin. Today, DH and I will be going down to Galveston Island, but first let me welcome you to our home and show you around a bit.

Please take a seat and I'll show you my kitchen.



We are fortunate to have a good sized kitchen with lots of counter space and lots of cabinets and drawers.





See my new rice cooker. Love it!




The double ovens come in handy. The top one has a broiler and is self-cleaning.




Time to make some breakfast. I'll be back soon.

[Chris Amirault]

Looking forward to following your foodblog! I've only been to Galveston once, but it was a fascinating place. I'm eager to read more about the foodways there.

Which Zojirushi is that?

[robirdstx]

Looking forward to following your foodblog! I've only been to Galveston once, but it was a fascinating place. I'm eager to read more about the foodways there.

Which Zojirushi is that?

Thanks Chris. I live less than 25 miles from the Island but always feel like I'm on vacation when I go down there. We'll be having lunch there today and we'll be sure to take photos to share.

My rice cooker model is the NS-VC05. I haven't made a bad batch of rice since getting this around Christmas last year. I particularly like the keep warm feature.

[robirdstx]

Just a light breakfast today - want to leave lots of room for lunch! I love my "new" old Toastmaster toaster that I found in an antique shop last month. My mom says its just like the one we had when I was growing up and it turns out my sister got one at a yard sale a few years back.





And my avatar doggie, Morgan, had her usual this morning - some moistened Innova kibble and part of a thawed frozen raw food chicken patty.



Time to get ready to roll on down to Galveston. See you when we get back later this afternoon!

[Darienne]

I would kill for your kitchen. Well, maybe not kill, but definitely maim severely.

[Kim Shook]

And I would join Darienne in the maiming. Fantastic kitchen! And I adore your toaster – it is EXACTLY the one that I grew up with. My parents got it as a wedding gift in the late 1950’s and I don’t think that my mother replaced it until the 1980’s. I would love to find one. I am really looking forward to your week!

[Shelby]

And I would join Darienne in the maiming. Fantastic kitchen! And I adore your toaster – it is EXACTLY the one that I grew up with. My parents got it as a wedding gift in the late 1950’s and I don’t think that my mother replaced it until the 1980’s. I would love to find one. I am really looking forward to your week!

We had that same toaster, too!!!

Looking forward to this week. I've always wanted to visit down there!

[judiu]

Kim and Darienne, I'll join the maiming, if I may! Beautiful kitchen; everything that mine's NOT!

[robirdstx]

And I would join Darienne in the maiming. Fantastic kitchen! And I adore your toaster – it is EXACTLY the one that I grew up with. My parents got it as a wedding gift in the late 1950’s and I don’t think that my mother replaced it until the 1980’s. I would love to find one. I am really looking forward to your week!

Darienne and Kim Thanks! I didn't know how good I had it with this kitchen when we bought this house. My priority at the time was a good backyard for the dogs (we had four at that time).

My mom says she doesn't remember exactly when she got her toaster but she thinks it was a wedding gift when she and my dad got married in 1953.

[robirdstx]

We had that same toaster, too!!!

Looking forward to this week. I've always wanted to visit down there!

I guess it was a pretty popular model.

Thanks! Let me know if you get the chance.

Edited by robirdstx, 13 March 2011 - 03:34 PM.

[robirdstx]

Kim and Darienne, I'll join the maiming, if I may! Beautiful kitchen; everything that mine's NOT!

Thank you.

[robirdstx]

Okay, we are back from our trip down to Galveston but I have a lot of photo processing to do before I can post about it, so here are some more in depth photos from my kitchen.

The open cabinets and pantry!

[Anna N]

Lovely kitchen. Is that a wireless weather station on the right hand side of your breakfast bar?

[robirdstx]

Lovely kitchen. Is that a wireless weather station on the right hand side of your breakfast bar?

Thanks Anna. Yes, that is one of my DH's toys. The breakfast bar is where we have most of our meals but we also have the option to use our dining room (it faces east and is nice in the morning).



And when the weather is nice we like to eat out on the patio by the pool.

[robirdstx]

Galveston Island Part I - Seawall Blvd. After crossing the causeway to the Island, we made our way over to Seawall Blvd at 61st and cruised down to 12th, with stops for photo ops and shopping at Murdochs.

The Spot


Fish Tales


Benno's


We stopped at Benno's for a brew and some fries and had a sit down to listen to and watch the waves. Beautiful day - lovely breeze, low humidity, and temps in the low 70s.

[karlos]

I love to eat outside. Please include pics of your dogs. Do you still have four?

[robirdstx]

Galveston Island Part II - Katie's Seafood Market. After finishing our sit down at Benno's, we crossed the Island to the harbor side. Katie's, at pier 19, is where I took the snapper teaser photo. Today we were in search of a whole fresh fish to cook on the grill for dinner tonight. And we found it at Katie's.



We chose a 2 lb red snapper.


Gutting and scaling our fish of choice. (Sorry about the blur.)


While we waited, I took some more photos to share with you.










Condiments and Sauces for your fish.


Our fish is ready. (Not shown, but the fish went into our cooler and was topped off with lots of ice to keep it cold until we got back home.)


Behind the scenes - go out and around and behind Katie's to where the boats pull up and you may see this:



Local Fishermen!


And if you look towards the harbor you may see this:

Edited by robirdstx, 13 March 2011 - 07:46 PM.

[brucesw]

I'm loving this... getting a guided tour of a place I know and learning something new! Benno's is one of my favorite stops on the Island; I've heard of Fish Tales and The Spot but never stopped but Katie's is brand new to me.

Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more.

[robirdstx]

I love to eat outside. Please include pics of your dogs. Do you still have four?

Hi Karlos. I agree, eating out of doors always takes me back to picnics in the park. We purchased this house nine years ago so, sadly, only one of the dogs is still with us. But she is a treasure! Every morning after she has her breakfast she enjoys her jerky treat. Her snood helps to keep her ear feathers clean while she eats.

[robirdstx]

I'm loving this... getting a guided tour of a place I know and learning something new! Benno's is one of my favorite stops on the Island; I've heard of Fish Tales and The Spot but never stopped but Katie's is brand new to me.

Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more.

I'm so glad and thanks!

[Chris Amirault]

What are your dinner routines? Do you usually make at home? For how many people? Do tell!

[robirdstx]

Galveston Island Part III - Harborside, The Strand, And More. After leaving Katie's we found a place to park just off The Strand and took off on foot to work up an appetite for lunch. Here is some of what we saw on our stroll.

The Olympia Grill - Greek food - haven't dined there yet.


Willie G's - good stuff!


Fisherman's Wharf - one of my favorites - great deck for dining outside!


We wandered into this wine shop!






Black Pearl - I dined here last time I was in Galveston


and this is what I had - wonderful grilled fish tacos!


Today we are having lunch at the Gumbo Bar.


First up, a thirst quencher.


Many choices!


After placing our order, we watched the action.




DH had the Lil Daddy Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. This is the small size!


I had the Shrimp Po-Boy Shorty and the Fresh-cut Potato Fries.

[Chris Amirault]

What is the sauce with those fish tacos?

[robirdstx]

What is the sauce with those fish tacos?

Hi Chris, its listed as a chipotle mayo on their menu. The dish actually came with three tacos but I had already eaten the first one before I remembered to take the photo.

[robirdstx]

After lunch at the Gumbo Bar we strolled back to our car and left the Island for Alvin to get some strawberries at Froberg's Vegetable and Fruit Farm. They have the best strawberries and other great produce!



You can purchase already picked fruit, like we did






or you can pick your own!


The atmosphere at the farm was awesome! The pictures don't show it but there were families everywhere. The farm has a playground for the children and tables for having a picnic.





In addition to the strawberries, we bought this little thyme plant to put in the garden.

[Shelby]

Galveston Island Part III - Harborside, The Strand, And More. After leaving Katie's we found a place to park just off The Strand and took off on foot to work up an appetite for lunch. Here is some of what we saw on our stroll.

The Olympia Grill - Greek food - haven't dined there yet.


Willie G's - good stuff!


Fisherman's Wharf - one of my favorites - great deck for dining outside!


We wandered into this wine shop!






Black Pearl - I dined here last time I was in Galveston


and this is what I had - wonderful grilled fish tacos!


Today we are having lunch at the Gumbo Bar.


First up, a thirst quencher.


Many choices!


After placing our order, we watched the action.




DH had the Lil Daddy Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. This is the small size!


I had the Shrimp Po-Boy Shorty and the Fresh-cut Potato Fries.

I actually just said "ohhhhhhhh mmmmmmmm yummmmm" outloud over that shrimp.

[robirdstx]

Back at home and it was time to cook our snapper. DH got the grill going while I started some rice, in the rice cooker, to go with the fish. I must tell you that this is the first time either of us has cooked a whole head-on fish. We were keeping our fingers crossed.



In preparing the snapper for the grill, I rinsed and dried it then brushed a mixture of softened butter, minced garlic and grated ginger root inside the fish. I brushed the outside of the fish with olive oil and put it in its cage.



By the time we got the fish on the grill it was already getting dark so not the best photo.



What I had read about grilling whole fish led me to believe it would cook pretty fast and I didn't want to overcook it, so we brought it in after about 20 minutes. It looked okay on the outside but it was still raw inside. Not good! So instead of putting it back on the grill, we preheated the lower oven to 350F and baked it for another 15 minutes. Prefect!



We had the fish with pico de gallo, shreddedd red cabbage and a spicy remoulade. The sauce is a mix of mayo, dijon, dry mustard, olive oil, rice wine vinegar, paprika, green onions, garlic, cilantro, anchovy paste and lemon juice.



After we ate, I picked the rest of the meat off the bones and head. There is an amazing amount of meat on the head! Monday's dinner is going to be fish cakes.

[heidih]

Great job on your first whole fish. Yes, fish heads yield some lovely sweet meat. Do you think you will do it again?

That shrimp po'boy really got me drooling. Have not had one since I was last in New Orleans.

[andiesenji]

Great job on your first whole fish. Yes, fish heads yield some lovely sweet meat. Do you think you will do it again?

That shrimp po'boy really got me drooling. Have not had one since I was last in New Orleans.

Some fish heads do have plenty of tasty meat. Back in the '70s, when I could still have ocean fish, my husband was a sport fisherman and often came home with sheepshead (similar to the hogfish in the Gulf) and one of the Portugese owners of the fishing boat gave me a recipe for a stew made from the heads. They are rarely seen in fish markets because they hang out in kelp beds and aren't that easy to catch commercially. The meat is very delicate and tasty.

It has been three decades since i visited Galveston (a side trip while in Houston for a series of dog shows over two weekends with 4 "free" days between) and I really appreciate seeing your photos.
We also drove down to Corpus Christi another day and after all this time I have probably mixed the memories of the two places in my head.
I remember in one place we could wade out in the very clear water a very long distance and saw a lot of fish feeding with their heads on the bottom and their tails flashing at the surface.

Thanks for sparking some pleasant memories.

[robirdstx]

I actually just said "ohhhhhhhh mmmmmmmm yummmmm" outloud over that shrimp.

I did much the same thing. The shrimp were big and tender and just darn tasty.