It’s been fun!
Capricorn Records Recording Studio
Prattsburgh, GA
Radiohead
Sisters Creole- fried shrimp po boy
Paradise Garden
Henri’s – pastrami
1929 Beach Bungalow
Natchez
The Mercenary at Hot and Hot Fish Club
De Wain Valentine exhibit GMOA
Can’t wait to see where 2013 will take me! Happy New Year y’all!
image courtesy The Branded Butcher
In celebration of my first ladies’ night out as an old married lady and the end of 2012, my friend Katie G treated me to dinner at The Branded Butcher in downtown Athens. Having been there only one other time for drinks, I was so excited to see what their menu had to offer.
The Branded Butcher opened its doors in the Spring of 2012, and is focused on the art of charcuterie while embracing the local farm to table concept. The space is simple and straightforward: old exposed brick walls, warm lighting, cafe style tables, comfortable bar area, and local art displayed throughout.
We started the night with some cocktails…I can’t resist a champagne cocktail so close to New Year’s Eve so I went with the Moulin Rouge (Death’s Door Gin, housemade orange bitters and grenadine, and Champagne). Katie went with her tried and true dirty martini. Both delicious.
Totally starved and needing to make the 8:15 showing of Anna Karenina at Athens Cine, we quickly ordered some items….The charcuterie menu showcased a great variety and everything sounded delicious (except for maybe the trotters- not sure I can get into that). Katie insisted on ordering the pork belly confit and the scotch egg. With oysters being one of the chef’s favorite foods, we also decided on a half dozen raw oysters.
The oysters were the perfect start to the meal. Two different types were served (the names now escape me) with housemade saltines, BB hot sauce, mignonette, and cocktail sauce. YUM.
Next up- Charcuterie.
Pork Belly Confit
Pork Belly is one of those things that I’ll always try but usually one bite will suffice. This dish however changed my mind. It had the perfect smokey flavor and crispness to it that went well with the creamy deviled egg puree and fresh watercress. I could’ve eaten this one all by myself.
The Scotch Egg
I’d never heard of a scotch egg before but when Katie described it as an egg wrapped in sausage and then fried; how could I resist? This tasty dish was served up with a celery root remoulade and whiskey gastrique. Over and over we gushed about how yummy it was until sadly the sausage/egg ball of goodness was gone and we were left with an empty skillet.
Next we decided to have a little green and shared the White Salad. An interesting juxtaposition of bitter and creamy: Frisee greens, macrona almonds, mozzarella cheese, giant white beans, and an olive vinaigrette.
We foolishly ordered another dish to share; we simply couldn’t resist the mussels.
image courtesy Richard Hamm
After an already scrumptious meal, these mussels were another pleasant surprise. These delightful morsels were served up with caramelized onion brodo, olives, chickpeas, orange, farro, toasted fennel aoli, and toasty bread to sop up the broth.
Although we had to skip dessert do to our engagement with Keira Knightley‘s latest period piece, we had a lovely evening with the butcher. I know I will be back soon.
Contemplating New Year’s Eve…coveting these gorgeous champagne flutes from my favorite shop in St. Simons Island: Viola’s Market. I think I need these. What are your plans to usher in the new year?
Downtown Greensboro GA circa 1895
The reign of King Cotton in the early 19th century facilitated the growth of many small towns in the Southern region of the United States. Greensboro, Georgia, founded in 1803, became the hub of economic growth and the commercial center of Greene County. Fifty years after its founding, Greene became Georgia’s largest cotton-producing county. In 1838, responding to the need to transport the region’s ever-growing crop, the Georgia Railroad reached Greensboro, cementing the city’s status as the county’s commercial center. By 1854 the town had its own cotton mill, the Greenesboro Manufacturing Company. The merchant class that profited from this commerce became the town’s elite. After the Civil War and boll weevil devastation, Greensboro declined economically as did most of the once prosperous cotton kingdoms.
Once at the heart of the rich cotton belt and the center of Georgia commerce, downtown Greensboro has been slowly establishing itself as a regional destination for beautiful architecture, antiques, art, and local food. Living in nearby Athens, visiting Greensboro makes an excellent day trip to relax, shop, and eat. Check out my favorites!
The Greensboro Antique Mall is located in the former Big Store of 1860, owned by local banker and merchant Mr. Charles Davis. The Big Store was the largest goods emporium between Atlanta and Augusta and boasted that they sold everything “from the cradle to the grave.” Not a whole lot has changed since then. The Greensboro Antique Mall has been in business since 1994 and its 11,000 square feet space is full of vintage treasures collected by 50 different dealers.
The shop is so enormous and full of unique items one could spend all day here. After antiquing…take a respite down the street at the Yesterday Cafe for some sweet tea and comfort food.
This family owned restaurant is located on Main Street a few doors down from the antique mall. They have just about every classic southern dish you can imagine from fried green tomatoes to country fried steak….and don’t forget the buttermilk pie (featured in Southern Living).
image courtesy Two Old Ladies on the road
I can’t ever leave Greensboro without a stop at the local Ripe Thing Market to pick up some goodies for the road. This gourmet shop is full of local prepared foods, local meat and seafood, produce, ice cream, candy, and more. They also have tons of samples so you can try a variety of items before purchasing. I’m a huge fan of their homemade preserves, hoop cheese, and hibiscus tea. They are open 7 days a week and their staff is so friendly and helpful.
image courtesy O’Brien Family Farms
These are just a few things to see and do in the charming town of Greensboro, Georgia! Ever been there? If so, what are some of your favorites?
It has been non stop wedding and holiday fun with family and friends this past week in St. Simons Island! Hope y’all had a wonderful holiday and have a happy new year! Will be back on the road soon!
image courtesy: Moxy Mag
Safe travels and happy holidays y’all! Be back on the road soon…
Hamrick Family Breakfast Casserole- Christmas morning tradition.
I love the holidays- Roadtripping to visit family and friends and of course eat. I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes with y’all today: The Hamrick Family Breakfast Casserole. This dish is the staple for any Hamrick Family Christmas morning. My grandmother and grandfather created the recipe many years ago and it has been a family favorite as long as I can remember. Safe travels and Happy Holidays!
1lb. of sausage
5 slices trimmed bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 c. 8oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
7 eggs, well beaten
2-1/4 c. milk
3/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Crumble sausage in skillet; cook until brown. Drain excess grease. Spread bread cubes in a buttered 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Tip with sausage then cheese. Combine eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, and pepper; beat well. Cover and chill overnight. Remove cover and bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes. The finished dish will have puffed up and started to brown (6 to 8 servings). *This is great as a veggie casserole too. We’ve used spinach and mushrooms as well as onions and tomatoes as meat substitutes.
photo credit Ryan Hines
The Christmas in Cobbham event was a huge success! This photograph was taken in the entry of what is believed to be Athens, Georgia’s oldest high style gothic house built in 1860. Note the incredible Ogee arch in the foyer and the alternating walnut and white oak flooring. So beautiful! For more information about the Cobbham Historic District in Athens visit this link.
Off Highway 77 at the highest point in Elberton, Georgia sits the Georgia Guidestones. These giant monoliths were created in 1979 out of local Pyramid Blue Granite and were commissioned by a mysterious “R.C. Christian.” He said that he represented a group of people that wished to remain anonymous. This group, which sought to bring about an “Age of Reason,” intended to commission a monument inscribed with instructions for rebuilding society, due to the group’s anticipation of an eventual collapse of civilization.
The List:
The message of ten guidelines or principles is engraved on the Georgia Guidestones in eight different languages, one language on each face of the four large upright stones. Moving clockwise around the structure from due north, these languages are: English, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.
It’s baffling to me that a monument like this exists; and how ironic it’s smack dab in the middle of the bible belt. I had heard of the guidestones as a child but was reminded of them last year during one of my graduate classes. Our precarious instructor suggested the site as a possible subject for a hypothetical preservation plan. The monument’s celebrity status and undocumented history had us all hoping he was going to give us another option…thankfully he did. Given the monument’s size and status, it will likely become the subject of a preservation plan or at least a project for future preservation students.
Often referred to as America’s Stonehenge, the guidestones somewhat controversial messages have caused as much curiosity as they have fear and anger. Supporters (notable among them Yoko Ono) have praised the messages as a stirring call to rational thinking, akin to Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason. Opponents have attacked them as the Ten Commandments of the Antichrist.
In early 2012, a documentary exploring the origins of the stones and theories about Mr. R.C. Christian was released Check it out!
Regardless of who this R.C. Christian is or was or why he had the monument built, it is clear he knew what he was doing…The Georgia Guidestones are quite striking- dare I say beautiful. They are for certain an engineering masterpiece that flawlessly tracks the sun and have captured the attention of anyone to visit them (for better or worse).
We clearly had fun on our visit.
Want the “full” story? Check out this link.
Excited for Athens Clarke Heritage Foundation’s annual Heritage Holiday Gala tonight! Stay tuned for pics!
Em's on the road 