Fat Friday!

If you have not been to Philadelphia or the Main Line, you need to go. What an absolute treat to visit my dear friend, Julia, back in October. Wow! What a city. I enjoyed my time there immensely. The Main Line in incredible. Each home is more beautiful and interesting than the last. Of course Julia and David own the prettiest house of all. I loved the interesting architecture and gorgeous yards. It is also fun to see all of the universities and private schools and old churches in the area. I can't wait to go back!


While I was there, David treated us to a FABULOUS dinner at Barclay Prime. David was fortunate enough to secure tickets to see the Phillies in their final game, so he sent us to dinner with Julia's precious friend, Katie. The three of us had the best time at Rittenhouse Square's finest. Barclay Prime was quite a treat!
How fun that Katie knew our server from years prior! We began our evening in the bar where we had a fabulous St. Germaine (elderflower) cocktail with pineapple juice, St. Germaine, and vodka. I was introduced to elderflower by Julia on this trip, and I am a believer! After drinks, we were escorted to the fabulous dining room.

The dining room felt so very "Mad Men". I kept waiting for Don Draper to walk through the door. He did not, but I would not have been surprised! Julia ordered a wonderful fish from Australia. I had a fabulous wedge salad and the filet. I couldn't entice anyone to split the filet with me, as it was more than enough meat. The filet was prepared perfectly, and we enjoyed our sides served family style. The sides included truffle whipped potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and creamed spinach. Every bite was scrumptious! We left very happy girls! I was so thankful David was generous enough to send us to such a wonderful restaurant, but we did miss his company!
I can hardly wait to get back to Philly. I hope you'll visit Barclay Prime if given the chance!

Fat Friday!

Mama Henley never misses a chance for a good meal. One of my favorite clog-your-arteries places is Char Grill in Raleigh, North Carolina. I would venture to say that an extended visit to Raleigh is not complete without a stop at the Char Grill. They have been grilling fresh burgers since my Mama was dating in high school. In fact, one of my best friend's father took Mama to Char Grill on a date back in the day. Picture a 1950's style restaurant. The only difference is that now you get out of the car to place your order. The menu is filled with hamburgers, including their famous long rectangle burger, the Hamburger Steak Junior, french fries, onion rings, and fantastic shakes. YUM. I am getting hungry just thinking about it! A Carolina burger is served with slaw, chili, ketchup, and mustard. My favorite combo is cheese, ketchup, mustard, chili, and onions on the small hamburger. It is FANTASTIC!!! A Diet Pepsi with good pellet ice always compliments my favorite meal there!

Years ago we brought our dear friends, The Woods, to Raleigh on our way to the beach. Mr. Wood knows his food well, especially since he is an official judge at the STATE FAIR OF TEXAS. Being someone who loves culinary treats, Mr. Wood asked me if there was a special way to order his burger. Being a Southern belle, I felt I shouldn't tell him what to do, so I told him just to order whatever sounded good. To this day, we laugh every time DH and Mr. Wood tell the story. Mr. Wood claims that he was presented with a plain, non-exciting burger, while my burger was dripping with goodness. I don't think he's ever forgiven me for not recommending the chili and onions on a cheeseburger!

If you find yourself in the Great State of North Carolina, and you can stand to gain a pound or two, or you just love a good burger, try the Char Grill! And tell 'em Mama Henley sent you!

Fat Friday

The Tampa Bay area is home to many fabulous beaches. You must come and enjoy a swim in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico! We just love it here. The weather is especially fabulous in the late fall and early winter. One of our favorite family activities is exploring the areas around us. We love visiting new beaches and eating at different restaurants.
However, we keep coming back to FRENCHY'S in Clearwater. Their grouper sandwich just can't be beat!!! Frenchy's has 4 locations because it is just that good. They are famous for their grouper sandwiches which can be served grilled, blackened, or fried. Grouper is low in saturated fat and is a good source of vitamins B6 & B12, phosphorus, potassium, protein and selenium. Frenchy's four restaurants each serve about 1,40 pounds of grouper fillets per week! WOW!!!!!

Despite the oil spill, Frenchy's grouper has remained safe. They have had it tested several times and the oil has not affected our fish here. Our favorite location is the Frenchy's that is right on the beach.

Fat Friday

It's Fat Friday again! I was so looking forward to lunch out with a friend, but it turns out I was to have lunch with one of my very favorite people right here at home. Our sweet Tiny has a fever virus, so we are enjoying the day together. She is quietly sleeping right now and I am tempted to join her!
Tampa is home to many culinary delights, but I now understand why the only place recommended to me when we moved here was Pane Rustica. It truly is the BEST Tampa has to offer. Tampa has many wonderful restaurants, but for those who love really good food prepared well, you must go to Pane Rustica. It's wide variety of menu items pleases all palates. I love that you can eat for $5 if you buy their pizza and drink water, or you can have a salmon sandwich on homemade rosemary foccacia bread for around $12. Fantastic!
This summer, Kevin, owner of Pane Rustica, expanded his restaurant. The "old side" still allows up-at-the-counter ordering, but you can sit on the new side for full-service at lunch and dinner. We have even called and made reservations for lunch after church with a crowd of 10 and we were accommodated. I told the server that Pane Rustica was going to be our country club on Sundays since we are still fairly new to Tampa and have not pursued membership at this time! The food really is the best in town and you always feel like it's pretty healthy too.
I can't get enough of their flatbread pizzas. They make interesting combos like bacon, gorgonzola, and caramelized onions or roasted red pepper, mushrooms, goat cheese, and caramelized onions. There is a great zucchini, squash, and olive tapenade pizza as well. For $5, it's a great deal for a big slice!
My favorite sandwich is the grilled chicken with roasted red peppers, a delightful mayo, grilled onions, and melted cheese on rosemary foccacia bread. You can choose your bread from several fresh offerings.
The menu specials change daily. They make delicious mussels, scallops, salmon, pheasant, gnocchi, and all kinds of other delightful meats and foods. In fact, I had a fantastic grilled mortadella, grana panna cheese, cranberries, grilled figs, and a green herb flatbread that was amazing. Kevin's staff uses fresh, in-season ingredients. You will not be disappointed!
Some people enjoy their breakfast pastries and other offerings served with fresh illy coffee for breakfast. It's a great place to go any time of the day! They are closed on Mondays and on Sun. evenings. Bon Appetit!

**I tried my best to take images off of their site so that you can see the food and restaurant, but I couldn't do it! Be sure to visit their website!**

Fat Friday.... Ladies Who Lunch

All of us love to visit the Big Apple, and you can't visit New York without walking through Bergdorfs, even if you don't plan to shop! I just love the smell of the beautiful clothes mixed with the latest fragrances and rich leather. Ahh... Bergdorfs. There is something about the hustle and bustle of this store that excites and overwhelms me every time. Restaurant BG is absolutely FABULOUS on their 7th floor as it offers a beautiful view of Central Park, and a lovely pale blue interior that calms you the minute you walk in the door. I love to eat there, but when I am in a serious shopping mode, I like to eat downstairs at Goodman's. The menu is PERFECT for ladies who lunch but who don't have all day to eat bon bons. Personally, I LOVE the sliced chicken breast tea sandwich. I have tried to duplicate it at home, and I failed. It just wasn't the same. The tea sandwiches are the perfect size. You don't feel like you are wasting food, yet you do not feel guilty for eating every bite of this delicious concoction. I don't know if you love to read menus as much as I do, but I have copied their menu for you to peruse below. Bon Appetit!

Menu



Appetizers & Soups
SEASONAL SOUP 6.00/7.00
SWEET PEA SOUP 6.00/7.00
WARM EGGPLANT TART
roasted eggplant, aged balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, brie, goat cheese, balsamic glaze. 14.00
CLASSIC DEVILED EGGS 8.00
ORGANIC MIXED GREENS
dried cranberries, toasted pumpkin seeds, shaved machengo cheese, English cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lemon-basil vinaigrette. 14.00
QUINOA SALAD
dried apricots, toasted almonds, edamame, red onion, tear drop tomatoes, baby spinach, pumpkin seeds, parmesan dressing. 16.00


Sandwiches
TEA SANDWICHES
cucumbers, cream cheese, white bread; chicken, watercress, whole wheat; lox, black bread; egg salad, tomato, rye. 14.00
SLICED CHICKEN BREAST
bacon, avocado, Thousand Island dressing, pumpernickel. 14.00
CHICKEN CURRY SALAD
ginger, dried cranberry, whole wheat pita. 14.00
TUNA SALAD
scallions, celery, pumpernickel. 14.00
ROASTED VEGETABLE
avocado, tomato, red pepper, portobello mushrooms, alfalfa sprouts, fontina cheese, whole grain mustard, 9 grain bread. 14.00
DUO
tuna salad or chicken curry salad sandwich, cup of soup. 14.00


Salads
SEASONAL FRUIT
cottage cheese or yogurt. 17.00
GOTHAM SALAD
diced chicken breast, ham, gruyère, tomatoes, beets, bacon, egg, iceberg lettuce, Thousand Island dressing. 18.00
CHOPPED SALAD
tomato, roasted red peppers, celery, radishes, chickpeas, anchovies, red onion, gruyère, beets, balsamic vinaigrette. 18.00
POACHED JULIENNE CHICKEN
mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado, Dijon vinaigrette. 17.00
GOODMAN'S CAESAR
chicken or shrimp, baby red and green romaine, sourdough croutons, parmesan dressing. 17.00/19.00
SHRIMP & LOBSTER
avocado, beets, roasted tomatoes, sherry vinaigrette. 24.00
THE BEAUTIFUL
citrus-marinated salmon, baby spinach, yellow squash, roasted tomatoes, artichokes, oranges, lemon-basil vinaigrette. 23.00
SEARED AHI TUNA SALAD
mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, olives, red onion, feta cheese, sherry vinaigrette. 17.00
Dressings: mustard vinaigrette, Thousand Island, sherry vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, lemon-basil vinaigrette, parmesan


Special of the Day
CHEF'S DAILY SPECIAL
A.Q.


Desserts
CRÈME BRÛLÉE 7.00
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE 7.00
BROWNIE
fresh whipped cream. 7.00
WHITE CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD PUDDING
warm caramel sauce, vanilla bean ice cream. 7.00
POUND CAKE SELECTIONS
cinnamon walnut, chocolate chip. 7.00
LIMONCELLO ICEBOX CAKE 7.00
CARROT CAKE 7.00
FRESH FRUIT & BERRIES 7.00
ASSORTED COOKIES 7.00
GOODMAN'S SUNDAE
vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, candied pecans, whipped cream, maraschino cherry. 9.00

Fat Friday

GOOOOO Dawgs!!! Sic 'em!! Football season is almost here and hubby can't wait for me to boil some Georgia peanuts for him. Football games remind me of dressing up in my best dress, sometimes donning a hat, and heading to the game where we were squished through a gate while the smell of Jim Beam filled the air. I never could see that little ball down on the field from my nosebleed seat, so I just enjoyed socializing. I went to college at the University of Georgia, as you might have guessed.
Athens is a wonderful college town. It parallels Chapel Hill, NC. Broad Street is the main street in downtown Athens. It is filled with wonderful restaurants and shops and bars. When I visited UGA for the first time, my parents took me to a charming Italian restaurant called DePalmas. The parentals always rate a town based on its Italian restaurants, and Athens was no exception. DePalma's fit the bill perfectly and even raised the bar for us on what it takes to be a really great Italian restaurant. DePalma's is the perfect place for dinner because penniless college students can afford a slice and a coke, while parents can come to town and treat their dear ones to a fabulous meal without breaking the bank. People LOVED their breadsticks as a starter, and all of their salads have delicious homemade dressings. The homemade breadsticks were braided with spinach and onion or meatball and onion and then baked with mozzarella. Can you say, "YUM"? They are so delicious and so homemade that you must allow 20 minutes for them to bake. So, sit back and have a glass of chianti while you wait for this goodness!

One of their old favorites is Pasta DePalma, which is angel hair pasta baked with rosemary cream, mushroom, mozzarella, and your choice of artichoke, ham, sausage or chicken. At just $12.00, it is priced well. They also have Chicken Parmigian which is served with a side of spinach angel hair marinara. All of the pasta dishes are fresh and delicious. A grilled angus flat iron steak will set you back $19, and it is one of the most expensive entrees on the menu. DePalma's is priced right!
Their pizzas are all amazing with a great traditional as well as speciality pizzas like the Italian with prosciutto, roasted peppers, and mozzarella and asiago cheeses. You just can't go wrong at DePalma's!
If you find yourself with the good fortune of being in the great city of Athens, Georgia, head on over to DePalma's Italian Cafe'; you will not be disappointed!

Fat Friday

It's the weekend! In my mind, today feels more like Wednesday since school began on Wednesday and has had me confused ever since. But all hail the weekend! It is upon us!!! Perhaps you have never been to Martha's Vineyard and are planning a trip there. It is one beautiful place!! One of our favorite restaurants there is called Alchemy. It is located right in Edgartown on the old cobblestone Main Street near the waterfront. Perhaps President Obama will visit while he is in the Vineyard for the next 10 days.

Last September we went to Martha's Vineyard for Darling Husband's 40th birthday. What a fun time we had! Our first night we went to dinner at Alchemy with our dear friends. This quiet restaurant quickly became a loud restaurant when our crowd descended upon it! Thankfully it was the Off Season, and those at the restaurant didn't seem to mind. At least that's what we told ourselves!

Everything at Alchemy is delicious. Their entrees have a wonderful French influence. I enjoyed tuna tartare and a salad. Others feasted on scallops and the Asparagus and Jonah Crab Salad. I have to admit that I have no idea what the men ate, but everyone did leave happy! The French bistro-style restaurant is a fun place to eat while in Martha's Vineyard. We have found that all of the restaurants tend to be a bit on the pricey side due to having to have food shipped to the island, but Alchemy was quite delightful!

Fat Friday... Craig and Sally's

Craig and Sally's is our favorite restaurant in the whole world! It is located in Frenchtown in St. Thomas. If you are a true foodie, you will LOVE Craig & Sally's. Sally began her restaurant on the concept of wanting to serve fresh food daily. Her menu changes each day according to what is fresh at the local market. It's as close to a "farm to table" meal that you can get on St. Thomas!

We spent our 15th wedding anniversary at the Ritz in St. Thomas. It was our 5th time at the resort because we love it so much. A highlight of every trip is that we will take a cab and go to dinner at Craig and Sally's. I called in advance so that we would be sure to have reservations on our anniversary. Our waiter, Douglas, was waiting for us when we arrived. We braved a rainstorm and a long cab ride just to have Sally's amazing bites of goodness.

Our meal began with the lamb chop appetizer. The meat was so tender and perfectly prepared. Imagine our surprise when Douglas informed us that my brother and sweet sis in law had called in advance to buy our appetizer and dessert! We were delighted! The lamb appetizer did not disappoint.

I had a delicious ribeye with a fayot sauce that was out of this world!!! It was served with tender gnocchi and beautiful green beans. Dh tried the grilled crown roast pork chop with buttered potatoes, brasied cabbage, and chorizo sausage gravy. His pork chop was enormous and he said it was perfect! We also enjoyed a nice red wine and the white chocolate with raspberry sauce cheesecake. To say we were surfeited would be an understatement! It was all so delicious.

In fact, it was so delicious that we brought new friends back with us the next night!! Craig expressed their appreciation by treating us to dessert! If you visit St. Thomas and don't try Craig & Sally's, you are making a grave mistake! It's the BEST!!!

Fat Friday

Trolly Stop hot dogs is a Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina institution. If you are in Wilmington or near Wrightsville Beach, you need to stop. It is a place famous for its many varieties of delicious hot dogs. Personally, as a good native North Carolinian, I love the North Carolina dog with slaw, chili, and mustard. I don't mind some onions on top too!


The menu is creative with North Carolina names for the different styles of hot dogs. You order inside, pay with cash, and sit outside watching the people and boats pass by as you devour your dog. Life is good.

Fat Friday / 220 East Restaurant

Dh and I love to find good restaurants. We especially love to support local restaurants as we feel it does the most good for our community. Do you try to buy and eat local food? I've had trouble finding a co-op here in Florida, which was most surprising, but I love it when you can order fresh local food delivered to your door each week. It definitely encourages good eating habits. Anyway, tonight we tried a restaurant that is new to us called 220 East on Davis Island. What a treasure! The food was fresh and delicious and very reasonable. Somehow the owners have managed to create a place that is inviting and romantic for a date night yet loud and comfortable enough for 2 families with 8 children between us to dine happily in the corner. The children's meals were reasonable at $5 each, which included a drink and dessert. They were also large enough to share if one chose chicken fingers or one of the larger choices. The blackened grouper sandwich was prepared perfectly and we were able to add a house salad as opposed to french fries for just $1.50. What a treat! It is always fun to visit Davis Island and we happily obliged and let the children enjoy an ice cream cone at Java and Bean as well! If you're ever in Tampa, you should try 220 East! I know we'll go back!