joiei

Fifi, the next time your in Ft Worth, check out Pendery's just off downtown. They list American, Spanish and Hungarian Paprikas on their web site. God, I love walking into that store, it smells of spices, peppers and good.

I refer to a cookbook put out by alumni of the U of Texas. It seems very complete and has recipes that my grandmother used to cook back in Coleman many years ago.

When I was home recently for a wedding, Publix is apparently moving into the Florida Panhandle in a big way. They not only have a new store at Sandestin Beach resort, but they have a big new store just north of the firestation in Seagrove beach, (although Arvida would probably perfer if we refered to it as Watercolor). So much for the little store at Blue Mountain Beach that I used to live behind.

the creole cream cheese also makes a very good ice cream to serve with bananas foster bread pudding.

For my everyday, I shop at Reasor's or Supertarget, although target has a limited selection. For more gourmet stuff and meats I go to Petty's. I use Whole foods and Akins for speciality items only. I avoid Albertsons and the Neighborhood Markets by Walmart, not a good enough selection, Albertsons is way over priced and just nasty, their seafood counters stink. And besides, I hate having to wait to pay or to have to check myself out at higher prices, I am doing their job for free. We have a new market, sort of like an Eatzi's, called Marketplace at Kingspoint. They are out of Rogers, Arkansas and are supposed to open a store in Chicago next. Lots of prepared foods, but they carry a bigger selection of Nueske's so I do not have to order it shipped in. Lots of higher end gourmet items, and a coffee bar that is not Charbucks. Their bread is a dissappointment, it is La Brea brown and sell. Oh well, can't have everything. Marketplace at Pinnacle Place in Rogers

My favorite French Fry po'boy was from Mimi's out by the lake at Canal Avenue. Now I am craving one. Can i get extra pickles with it?

I would recommend The Lonesome Dove Bistro. My first experience with Tim's cooking was at a Central Market cooking class. If you have time, you might check out the Ft Worth store on Hulen, just off I-30 and Camp Bowie. In the cultural district is a nice little French restaurant Escargot Restaurant that is quite good. Enjoy your visit, I always have a good time when I go down for a weekend. Dallas in one day, that will be tough.

I made my trip to the beach. It was great. The weather was wonderful. The spring break crowds not all that bad yet, even though it was AEA (Alabama Education Association) week. I had a grilled fish sandwich at Smiling Fish photo of Smiling Fish. The sandwich was very nice, not overcooked, and well seasoned. For dinner on the first night, we ate at the Lake Place in Dune Allen. The chef is Jim Richard (louisiana pronunciation - Ree-sh-ard) and he is doing great things. Everything is done in house in a very tiny kitchen. The dinner started with a crispy fresh mozzerella ball with basil oil as amuse. For the first course, we ordered the Duck Gumbo, (some of the best gumbo I have had in ages) the salad was greens with pecans and a very light vinagrette, just perfect to quite the flavors of the gumbo. For the main course, I had a wild game fish plate, Cobia and wahoo, two of my favorites, right behind triggerfish. each was done to a turn, still very moist without being undercooked. One of my companions had a snapper, panned with crawfish tails and haricort verts over pasta. Desserts were cream brulee, pineapple upside down cake and a very good interpertation of molten chocolate cake. I really wish I had been taking notes, I just have this fond memory of no matter how painful it was, I was not leaving anything behind. The wine we had was a Bennett Family Chardonnay reserve. The next day, we had lunch at D&K's Grayton Corner Cafe, the view was as good at the Grouper po' boy. Yes, i ate fish as often as I could. The next non-wedding event meal was Sunday lunch at Luna del Mar. This restaurant is owned by Linda Galvan from Dallas. The Bacon wrapped shrimp with fresh salsa salad was very nice. The only bummer was the sushi from Akatonbo - Sushi served from a vintage airstream bus at Seaside. It was not very good, at least the spicy tuna roll I had was over vinegary. In all, it was a nice experience. THe quality of the restaurants along that part of the coast has improved so much since the late 80's, when I first moved there. In all, a great trip.

I just got back from a quick trip to the beach for a nephew's wedding. On the way home, I stopped at Peanut Hill on Moffatt Road on the west side of Mobile. The peanuts were XL, lightly salty with lots of what I would call pot liquor. They were pretty messy to eat while driving, but by the time I got to Jackson, they were gone. They were not too mushy which was nice, just lightly chewy. There were peanut stands galore between Mobile and Jackson.

have you seen this one, I just hope it is legal to post the link Turnpike films - Starbucks

I am headed down to the Beaches of South Walton this next weekend for a wedding and will be hoping the cajun boiled peanut lady is still there by the Navarre bridge. With any luck.

Where I grew up in Northwest Florida, my Granny always asked for a Nehi. I use - coke water fountain go box

The last really good chocolate I had was in San Miguel de Allende at San Agustin in San Miguel de Allende You had a choice of Mexican, American or French. The French was the best, at least I thought so.

It would be nirvana if Abita was able to bring afew selections including my favorite root beer ever.

Personally, I would recommend cutting out of the meeting like mid morning, if you wait until late afternoon, you will miss SOOOO much great music and dancing and dining and imbibing. The festival usually stops for the day around 7pm. It gets dark. Then you take a break, grab a short nap, get some food in you and head to the clubs to party till the wee hours. THen do it all over again the next day.

Root Beer from Abita Springs. My grandfather, who was from Texas, would only allow Dr. Pepper in his house. Coke, pepsi is not a choice, period.

Thanks all for your help. I think I am all set for my adventure. I am also considering a quick side trip over to Big Lake, my place of birth. I haven't been there since I was 5 so that could be interesting. I can definitely go with the protein power lunch.

Jaymes, any help you can give on San Angelo. I am going in April for the National Ceramics Competition show at the museum. Too bad the Hiltons no longer have a hotel in the first town where they started. Joiei West Texan by birth

what about The Forge?

Chicken fried steak seems to be the national food of Oklahoma. In Tulsa, the place to go at lunch is Nelson's Buffeteria. They have been doing it the same way for 75 years. Nelson's with pictures I just hope this link is legal. The photos of the Art Deco sign and the how to photos are great. here is a link with a testimonial More on Nelson's Buffeteria, the epicenter of CFS in Green Country Next time your in town to do a Bruce Goff architectural tour, dont forget to stop here for lunch. And they have a live western swing band on Fridays, continuing the Bob Wills music tradition that started at Cain's Ballroom.

PIE!!!!!

This sentence of the review caught my attention Does that mean the Spanish influences are now starting to be passe in terms of foods. So where do we go from here?

the roasted artichokes with onions is very good, the way the recipe is written drove me crazy, no i did not massage the oil into the artichokes and inspite of this, the dish was well received.

It looks like it is unanimous, almost anyone with Texas connections knows about this dish. My father was from Coleman and we did this often for breakfast. And the rice was cooked especially for this dish in the morning. I do not remember us eating much rice with dinner when I was very young. And the split hot dog with bbq, such memories, i do not know if I would eat the hot dog now, but I am going to go put on a pot of Riceland's best right now. Yum.

My 8 inch Puegot is going on 25 years old. And still keeps on a grinding just fine. Of course I thought it was extravagant to pay that much at that time but in the long run, it has been very cheap. The hotel sized mill I use at work was replaced free when the grinding mechanizim went kaplooy on me. They were very nice about it because the model that went bad is no longer being made. And the new one is so nice. I have used William Bounds, but i prefer the Puegot.