Is it about Seafood or Barbecue?

When renting a vacation house for the week, part of the attraction is to have our own kitchen and offset food costs by preparing some meals at home (mostly breakfast and lunch as well as heavy snacking).  Vacation spent in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina means of course a few trips to the beach.  The beach inherently means seafood. Doesn't it?  Well, no. My mother does NOT eat anything that was raised in water. Ever. Also, we are in the culinary south, aren't we?  Regardless, someone spotted Pigman's Bar-B-Que and it was put on our to-do list.

I thought it had a fairly good chance of pleasing everyone in the group.  As you may have noticed on the first night, pulled pork was ordered by 1/3 of us.  We then had dinner in one night and were ready to try Pigman's.

The atmosphere was a bit more chaotic, and the dining was far more casual.  Orders are placed at the cash register, the meal is paid for and then a server brings trays to the table.  We had a bit of confusion - one order was forgotten and one wasn't sure they received the right order.  However, this is what it looked like:

Beef with hush puppies, sweet potato fries and cole slaw.

A trio of sides

The ribs!

I had the beef which was soft and tender as well as flavorful.  The smoke was in the background rather than the first recognizable flavor which is exactly how I prefer it. The sweet potato fries were crisp and the cole slaw was flawlessly prepared. I sampled a bit of the ribs and the meat easily yielded and could be pulled or broken apart with fingers or fork.  Although this experience was not entirely crowd pleasing, the majority enjoyed themselves.

A quick tour through the crowded retail area also resulted in our purchase of 2 souvenir t-shirts.  One with a nod to Mr. Marley included an illustration of a pig's face with the caption, "We be hammin..."  Fun.  Vacation.  Fed Well.

Link to Pigman

Outerbanks, North Carolina - Dinner in Nags Head

Hours and hours of driving, two of it stuck in traffic, a quick stop at the realtor's office to pick up the keys to the rental house, throw the bags in our bedrooms and we are ready for dinner.  Our vacation home is off the main road and we talk it over for a few minutes. Each of us noticed a few different restaurants in the area and when the Mr. gave the name, "Firefly," I just thought it sounded promising.

We thought about simply driving until we found something that looked good.  I know, we shouldn't judge a book by the cover and we shouldn't judge a restaurant by it's facade, but we hadn't had a chance to look through our tourist guides or get a feel for the area and so we hoped the Firefly would provide us with a great first night memory.

Looking for the restaurant also gave us our first lesson in paying attention to the mile post markers.  It is those posts which allow the tourists to determine how much further they have to drive and find their destination.

My older son's girlfriend called to make a reservation since we are a group of 6 and it is a Saturday night after all, and when she was told they do not accept reservations I was hesitant.  After spending most of the day in the car I could hardly stand the idea of spending time waiting for a table in a crowded restaurant with crying and frustrated children or arguing adults.  When we pulled in to the parking lot and I saw the over sized Adirondack chair for photo-ops, I was sold.  Nothing to do with food, but I just wanted it to work out.

After a few minutes of posing and photographing, the group walked in and were immediately seated.  The dinner crowd had not yet formed and I ordered a margarita on the rocks with a huge smile! A few orders for iced tea were placed.

Once we ordered, our lovely server brought us this:

A large, salty and crispy dish of "cracklins."  Well, it was received with mixed reviews, but I think we all appreciated the thoughtfulness of the gesture and the ability to have a new culinary experience right away.

I was the only one to order a first course and it was the most luxurious and silky cup of soup.  Shrimp and corn chowder I will not soon forget.  It was sweet with just the right amount of texture to puree blend.  The temperature of the soup was comfortably hot and I could feel the road weariness begin to slip away and my shoulders fell down from my ears.

I continued my new and flavorful journey by ordering the lobster macaroni and cheese for my main course. Main dishes are customizable with a list of side dishes so I try the spicy deep fried green beans with a remoulade dipping sauce.

The crumble on the casserole, I believe were smashed crackers, but the entire dish was warm in seasonings and quite a few steps away from those "back home."

Here's a glance at the other options at the table:

Pulled Pork with Waffle Fries - 2 were ordered in the group

Prime Rib Sandwich with Waffle Fries

Firefly Signature Chopped Summer Salad

Steak with cole slaw and potatoes

The tired travelers thoroughly enjoyed their meals.  We left full and happy, ready to unpack (well, maybe it can wait until morning) and talked about our plans for the following day.  The one thing we agreed to do was go to the beach and so our vacation truly began at the Firefly and we were Fed Well.

Link to Firefly

Perkins in Virginia - On the Way to an Outerbanks Vacation

Vacation.  For us in 2013 the definition involved 6 adults, one 6 year old yellow lab female, one pick up truck, one car and many hours on the road.  We began on a Friday afternoon and stayed overnight in Virginia on our way to North Carolina.  The theory was that half the miles or more would be behind us so on Saturday we would be able to kick off our week with some immediate beach time.

We found a motel that accepted our canine family member, Maddy, had a reasonable rate and was modern and mostly clean.  (It was a motel after all - nothing is perfect)  We started our day with a meal in the motel's Perkins.  Maddy was able to rest comfortably in our room since we planned to check out after breakfast. Here are our orders.

A country omelet 

French Toast with bacon

Poached eggs with potatoes

The photos above and below were part of one meal.  A pepper and onion omelet with pancakes.

 Two eggs over easy with pigs in a blanket and hash browns.

Steak and eggs

Classic choices, right?  Everyone was happy and filled with anticipation.  What activities will we be able to accomplish?  We talked about what we hoped to see and do;  para-sailing, tea with the queen at an Elizabethan Garden, and of course simply planting ourselves at the beach.  I hoped the rental house was as good as it looked online and said a silent prayer to the vacation God(s) to allow everything to go smoothly and for everyone to have a good time.  Future posts will reveal how it all played out.

On a Saturday morning in July, one group of vacationers was happy to start their vacation feeling Fed Well.

Stony Brae Revisited: Dining Alfresco

I have been to Stony Brae in Cragsmoor a number of times now but had yet to eat outside on their slate patio in the back.  It's been on my "to do" list and is now crossed off.

The goals for a summer weekend should be few and simple.  Mine was something like this:

1.  Enjoy a Cosmopolitan outside
2.  Enjoy a meal outside

A hot Saturday after helping the Mr.'s Mom get settled into her new home seemed like the perfect time to cross items off of a brief to do list and Stony Brae seemed the perfect choice. The Mr. and I were joined by our younger son.

We are asked if we would prefer indoor or outdoor seating and I skip to number two on the checklist.  Alfresco is my goal. The entire area was shaded thanks to the building but the umbrellas did add a certain something to the atmosphere.

To start, I order a Cosmopolitan.  The restaurant offers a twist with a nod to the area in a Cragmoorpolitan featuring a blueberry accent since the area was once a popular blueberry picking destination.

We ordered from both the special and regular menu.  To begin, we were brought out carving boards with a crusty roll that maybe could be called a pop-over shape and butter. It truly is about the simple things sometimes when it comes to food. Fresh bread and creamy butter.  

Next, we shared the clam appetizer.  The spicy sauce had a bit of zip which we loved and ate fairly quickly.

Soups.  Yes, soup in summer. Two orders of the french onion for the men:

I take a sample taste and remember they use something different in their broth - a wine/alcohol/can't quite put my finger on it.

For me, the potato and mushroom soup with truffle oil.  Lovely. The potatoes are pureed and it really doesn't feel heavy or too much.

Time for main courses.

The Caesar Salad with Shrimp for our son.

Though I am not a fan of Parmesan, he enjoys the toile (cracker).

For the Mr. a grilled chicken breast sandwich with avocado and bacon as well as a spicy mayonnaise. No one should be surprised that he selected poultry. The fries were dusted in sea salt, crisp and simply amazing.

Home made pasta.  I didn't have to read another word. Home made pasta with a variety of mushrooms, red peppers in a creamy tarragon sauce and topped with micro-greens. Happy mouth and soul.

I purposely leave half of my entree because I am determined to enjoy a dessert as well. The chocolate flourless cake is dense, with a heavy chocolate flavor served in a pool of creamy goodness dotted with a mocha flavored sauce.

Mission accomplished.

We enjoyed our dining alfresco experience and will return to Stony Brae.  With a small stretch of the imagination it felt a little bit like being on vacation.  The atmosphere, the pace, feeling relaxed and Fed Well were all worth every penny.

ll Villaggio Pizza

Work day lunch.  Sometimes it is the highlight of my work day.  The choice is always easier when you have a craving and every once in awhile the brain simply screams out, "pizza!"  Whenever the brain screams out a food request it simply must be answered.

Suffern, New York and the immediate surrounding towns boast a number of pizzeria choices and I've visited no less than 6. By category the selection includes; flat/thin crust, most traditional New York style, widest variety of toppings, quickest delivery and vast selection of other lunch choices.  

We have used Il Villaggio quite frequently for their take out and so a mid-day field trip is not out of the question.

My friend and I look over the selection in the case and our decisions are quick.  For me, one Nona slice which includes a number of vegetables and a plain slice and for my coworker, also the Nona as well as an eggplant slice

Here they are:

We were served fairly quickly, the food was hot, the cheese had a nice stretch - what more could one ask for?  

Our view:

Beverages can be selected from the coolers and I tried something new!  I prefer to drink bottled water except when I am in a restaurant that may provide tap - in which case I order either unsweetened iced tea or a plain old cola.  

An iced cold iced tea for the pizza adventure

and guess what it tasted like?  Yes - tea!  I was so happy!

The bill for each of us was just over $8.00.  Is that a lot, average or fair for 2 slices and a drink in Rockland County, NY?  The break from a hectic Friday work day left us feeling Fed Well.

Good Eats at Memory Lane

Wednesday night is car cruise night at Memory Lane in Bloomingburg.

A free, fun, family oriented event which includes music and a car show.

Picnic tables under a pavilion offer cozy seating for those who want to enjoy a burger or cheeseburger with fries or perhaps the evening special.

As the season progresses, a farm stand is also available on site.

Read about Winterton Farms at Memory Lane 2012 by clicking here

Enjoying an ice cream or milkshake while walking among the vintage vehicles is encouraged, but please don't touch the cars.

I haven't decided on a favorite ice cream flavor or treat yet.  I am still working my way through the menu.  I am looking forward to seeing you at the next car cruise.  We can share stories of feeling Fed Well.

Famous Deli-Licious' Best Kept Secret - PUMPKIN

Once upon a time, a lifetime ago, I worked in a building on Dolson Avenue which was visited by a man a white uniform, with a large white apron and a picnic basket filled with sandwiches for sale.  Many of us would buy them and my quick favorite was roasted red peppers, with fresh mozzarella and portabello mushrooms on a roll.  One day I drove to the Famous Deli-Licious store myself and was amazed - the visuals, the atmosphere, the selection...I had never had such a food experience.  I asked for my favorite and was told they wanted me to try something new.  Pumpkin.

Pumpkin?  On a sandwich?  I couldn't get my head around the idea, but I've always been a fairly adventurous eater (creamed pearl onions/liver/lobster - all tried and liked by the age of 8).  Ok.  I'll have the pumpkin.

I was given a large and crusty roll filled with pumpkin cutlets and my favorite fresh mozzarella.  Oh my.  Leave behind any thoughts of pie or jack-o-lanterns.  This is completely unrelated.  I've been a fan ever since and we now have a family tradition to serve the Famous Deli-Licious pumpkin as part of our Thanksgiving meal.

My younger son craves food from "The Italian Pork Store" and recently requested we have it for dinner and so we ordered a smorgasbord of items for a kitchen table picnic. The relentless rain kept us inside.

Bread.  It all begins with bread.

Prosciutto Bread

"Traditional" Bread

We have also ordered a small ball of mozzarella, black, oil cured olives and marinated mushrooms.

Genoa Salami, Prosciutto and Cappicola

Add a fresh salad, sliced tomatoes and we are almost ready.  I love this buffet feast for the diner's ability to customize flavor combinations.  You can make a gourmet chef salad, a sandwich or a variety of sandwich combinations - open face or closed.  Food heaven for this family. 

I gently heat the pumpkin in the oven for a few minutes and this is how it looks:

A slice of pumpkin on bread with fresh cheese and tomato and I simply cannot speak - not because I have food in my mouth (although that does factor in) but I am speechless.  

I'm sharing a very important secret with you - go to the Famous Deli-Licious Pork Store and order the pumpkin.  Now.  But, if you see me waiting in line, all's fair in food and pumpkin love and I may buy all that remains for sale.  

This dish is one that I will not attempt to make on my own, leaves me and my family feeling Fed Well and has wonderful holiday memories attached.  Today, try the pumpkin.