Tag Archives: food

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I fear I’ll never catch up…

March 28, 2020 Rivergirl 31 Comments

Which is why I’m posting about Valentines Day at the end of March.

It started with a nice bouquet of roses….

And a kitchen selfie before we went out for a late lunch on the water.

The building used to house a garage… and was previously a wonderful restaurant called, are you ready?

La Garage.

Clever… no?

But now it has new owners and a new incarnation as the Water Street Kitchen and Bar.

It sits on the Sheepscot River in Wiscasset and please pardon the reflection of my hands in the window.

We’ve been wanting to try it for a while, and found that’s it’s undergone a major remodel.

The feel is more modern.

And I have to say I was loving the metal works installations. This would be perfect for all my husband’s rusty ~~crap~~ treasures!

But first things first.

A marvelous basil limeade with a view….

The menu was small, but seemed alright.

And just as the waitress brought my (overly salted) charred Brussels sprouts appetizer, the husband saw a friend of his walk in and asked them to join us.

On Valentines Day.

Oh, well.

This called for two Blueberry Mojitos… .because a girl can only take so much romance.

Husband had a butternut squash soup, which you couldn’t pay me to eat.

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And then it was on to a rather dry, garlic-less shrimp scampi for me, and an overcooked paella for the other half.

The meal was redeemed by dessert.

A delightful lemon marscapone cake…

Husband’s friends said their meals were good, and the cocktails were lovely so we might give them another try. We do like the area and supporting small businesses.

And I might have to take another look at the metal works.

They really were quite interesting.

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Celebrating 36 years of not killing each other…..

March 27, 2020 Rivergirl 34 Comments

Yes, there’s that as well.

This was the very first picture of us ever taken ….

Back in 1984, on that awful chair at his mother’s house…… right before we got married. I may look twelve, but no worries. I’d just turned 20. (As for the husband’s hair… I have no idea what was going on there.)

We knew each other for 6 days.

Yes, you read that correctly…. 6 days. And to be honest, 3 of those were the required waiting period for the marriage license.

People thought we were crazy. (We knew we weren’t.)

Me & Fred, boat

People said it would never last. (It’s been 36 years.)

Me & Fred, ballfield

The Grateful Dead had it right…..

What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been!

Me & Fred, Harley Rally 2

But I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Anyway…. this year on our anniversary?

A seriously beautiful bouquet from my other half….

That got better every day as all the blooms opened up.

The rose colors were gorgeous.

Then it was off to our favorite restaurant in Boothbay Harbor…. before their doors were shut due to the virus. The decor is nothing to write home about, and the menu is smaller in winter….. but the food is still fabulous.

As were the seasonal cocktails.

I started with a Ciderberry.

And moved on to a few Sugar Plums made with this.

OMG!!

If you’ve never payed attention to any of my advice before?

Start now… and buy a bottle.

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It doesn’t matter if you’re not a fig fan. I actually hate the things.

But this was like nothing I’d ever tasted before. A very unique flavor. I read they also make a Golden Apricot ….. and I’ll be looking for that as well.

Can’t remember what they called my appetizer but it was delicious, with just the right amount of spice.

Husband went with his usual French Onion soup and a light main dish of broiled haddock and asparagus.

I, on the other hand….

Dove into the richest, creamiest most delightful Parmesan risotto you’ll find this side of Italy. It’s one of their specialties and I can never resist…. paired here with pan seared scallops, mushrooms, arugula and a citrus balsamic glaze.

I don’t care how many pounds I gained…

It was worth it!

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I am a Frustrated Frito.

March 25, 2020 Rivergirl 37 Comments

In case you’re wondering why….

Who are you?

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Things that fall into the WTH? category.

March 25, 2020 Rivergirl 31 Comments

When checking out at the grocery store last week I saw these….

Rap Snacks.

I’m sorry, but no one needs Cardi B. flavored potato chips.

The woman wore a coffee filter to the Grammys. Enough said.

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Something else no one needs?

This….

I believe I actually said WTF when I first saw it.

Now come on…. if you have that much facial hair to catch?

Skip shaving altogether and put your beard in a pony tail like all fashion forward men do.

I think by now you all know of my lifelong aversion to dolls.

They’re creepy…. and if you don’t want me to spend the night? Put a few of them in the spare bedroom and watch me run.

But this?

This is the stuff of nightmares.

And speaking of that?

I was cruising Atlas Obscura a while back for an interesting day trip and their recommendation gave even me pause.

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Yes, you and your significant other can visit the picturesque vistas of Turkmenistan and tour the Gates of Hell.

And if you think I’m kidding?

I’m not.

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Admittedly…. as tourist attractions go, it’s a little strange.

But I’d still rather go there than back to Busch Gardens.

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The last supper….. in Williamsburg.

March 21, 2020 Rivergirl 20 Comments

This is for the food (and drink) people.

An entire post devoted to our final meal in Virginia. (That’s 2 in 3 days so no more complaining!)

(On a side note, it was Bogart day last Sunday and the husband and I did nothing but eat, drink and watch the classics.

The Maltese Falcon. Key Largo. The Caine Mutiny. African Queen. And my all time favorite movie … Casablanca. I cry at the nightclub scene when they drown out the Germans by singing La Marseillaise… every damn time! Good stuff.)

But back to food.

After spending 8 hours in an antique store that day I was in dire need of a cocktail.

Or eight.

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And when I saw a sign for Eddie Romanelli’s?

I may have squealed.

I didn’t think this was a chain, but there was one in Wilmington, North Carolina we used to make a pilgrimage to every other month when we lived down south. Their Crabmeat Cannelloni in Carolina Shrimp Sauce?

To die for.

We sat at a high top in the bar area because of it’s… ya know.

Proximity to the cocktails.

Prickly pear margarita?

Come to mama….

Sadly the crabmeat wasn’t on the menu, but the fresh baked bread with herbed olive oil was wonderful.

As was the Caesar salad.

And the sparkling Tuscan lemonade. Fresh, crisp and quite delightful.

Husband had a juicy charbroiled steak with garlic sauteed spinach…

While I indulged my inner Italian with some pasta…. drenched in garlic Parmesan cream and loaded with grilled chicken, mushrooms and peas.

Were there more cocktails?

Maybe….

And damn that waitress for not clearing them as fast as I could drink them.

I’m going to blame the cocktail consumption for this last picture I took on the way back to the resort….

Because I have no idea what it is…

Or what it was supposed to be….

But trust me, it was fabulous.

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Dinner on the waterfront.

March 19, 2020 Rivergirl 41 Comments

This is for all the people who scream about food pictures. An entire blog devoted to a meal.

Though I’m not a fan of oysters….

The York River Oyster Company in Gloucester Point, Virginia seemed like a great spot for dinner.

So we strolled around the marina checking out the boats before heading inside.

It was a little too cold for outdoor seating in December.

So we picked a table with a view.

With a pole right in the middle to ruin any pictures I might want to share.

Yay us.

I started with an Orange Crush which seems to be a very popular cocktail lately.

And then cringed at the thought of anyone wanting red wine in their Mule.

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We started with an appetizer order of simply superb steamed shrimp.

They were perfectly cooked and seasoned and just melted in our mouths.

Cocktail number 2?

An Afternoon Delight.

And I dare you not to have that song stuck in your head all day.

Dinner for me was a crab cake and fried shrimp. The most I can say about them is they were decent. The crab cake could have had more crab and the shrimp were a bit overdone. Which was a shame because the flavor was there.

I don’t know what the husband was thinking with this abomination.

A burger topped with bacon and pulled pork…. for those days when your arteries just feel too clear.

He picked it apart and ate everything separately which probably defeats the purpose, but said it was good.

Dessert was a nice tart Key Lime Pie. Don’t give me those sugary sweet versions. When I order Key Lime? I want my lips to pucker.

Yes, like that.

Night descended while we ate.

And while I’d give the restaurant a solid B minus ……

I have to admit they did have a clever slogan.

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So now I know.

March 16, 2020 Rivergirl 42 Comments

I went grocery shopping this morning….

And I now know what we will all be doing during the virus apocalypse.

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Baking.

Because there wasn’t a freaking bag of flour for miles.

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There was beef, but no chicken.

Tissues, but no paper towels.

Ham, but no bacon.

Macaroni, but no spaghetti.

You never know what will disappear next. Although I did notice there was plenty of kale…. which makes it official.

If all that’s left on the shelves is kale? I will starve to death.

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Portraits continued…. funky hair, warts and finally, food.

March 15, 2020 Rivergirl 21 Comments

Crossing back over to the DeWitt side of the museum, things got a bit more formal.

And a trifle bizarre.

I think a little 18th Century photoshopping was in order here.

Okay then.

I saw the portrait of the gentleman on the left and thought, “What’s with the hair?”

And apparently I wasn’t the only one who asked.

It was an extensive gallery.

And according to George…. will be even more extensive soon.

Another sad statement of the times.

This couple struck me as a little odd.

Is it me or does the wife’s right arm look a wee bit…. off? As in, did the creepy husband chop it off and line it back up for the portrait?

We’ll never know.

At the far end of the gallery there was a video that was oddly mesmerizing.

And then on the way out there was a chair, which I forgot to photograph.

But George didn’t like it.

Chairs that were no good for sitting.

Excellent.

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Through with the museum, we realized we’d not only skipped lunch but were now ready for dinner.

When I asked the husband what he was in the mood for, he said anything… so I picked a well reviewed barbecue restaurant in Williamsburg.

And the husband didn’t like it from the minute we stepped through the door.

Why?

Who knows.

They brought us yummy cornbread to munch while we looked at the menu.

Which he also didn’t like.

Pulled pork sundae? Come on… what’s wrong with that!

I managed to talk him into staying for appetizers.

So he had a chili he didn’t like either.

I went with some spicy steamed shrimp.

And while the rest of the customers were enjoying large platters of succulent looking food, he told me to pick another place because all they had on the menu was barbecue.

Gee. Who woulda thunk it?

People always think I’m the picky one, but when it comes to eating out my husband will drive you to drink.

Which in my case isn’t necessarily a negative…. but still.

CvjuLdNUIAAUTYT

The second restaurant that night was Italian.

Everyone raved about Sal’s, so I figured, why not?

He couldn’t complain about the menu being small.

It went on for multiple pages.

The garlic knots were perfect.

(Okay, I ate 4. Don’t judge.)

The salads were fresh and tasty.

My veal Marsala was tender, perfectly cooked and filled with wine soaked mushrooms.

He certainly couldn’t complain his chicken parmigiana was a small portion.

Good God, it was huge.

But you know what? He didn’t like this place either.

And heck, I’m the one who should have been complaining….there were no cocktails!

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Day 13….. Colonial Williamsburg, the Rockefellers and Bassett Hall

March 8, 2020 Rivergirl 16 Comments

The day started with biscuits and gravy for me and two plates of chipped beef on toast for the husband. The waitress thought he was kidding when he asked for a second helping… but no, he was serious.

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Technically no, that’s made with hamburger.

But I digress…

Since the weather was beautiful that day we headed back over to Colonial Williamsburg to finish exploring.

First up, Bassett Hall. Home to John D. Rockefeller Jr and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. I was completely unaware that the Rockefellers were the ones responsible for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg and the idea of opening it to the public.

For a wonderful history of how and why, watch this:

Seeing the interior of the house meant taking the tour…

And this distinguished gentleman was our guide. He was a font of knowledge as well as legally blind.

It was a lovely home.

Comfortable….

And not nearly as grand as their other residences.

They relaxed here.

Didn’t entertain socially.

And enjoyed time with family.

In their eyes it was a country home.

And hey….. there was a chicken over the mantle, so maybe it was.

I’m sure Abby didn’t spend much time in here….

But I liked the funky sinks….

And the high tech for the time fridge.

Next to the kitchen was the servants quarters…

Which didn’t look too bad either.

Done with the tour….

We began to roam the grounds….

But not before my husband managed to start a political discussion with our guide. I imagine they’re instructed not to engage…. and he remained as neutral as Switzerland. Very diplomatic.

The gardens were a bit bare since it was December.

But the shrubbery was impressive.

And who wouldn’t love a private tea house in their backyard?

How sweet is that!

We happily strolled around….

Enjoying the beautiful day…

And felt like Rockefellers.

Minus the large sums of cash and thinking hey…

That garage would make a pretty nice house in itself.

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Yorktown waterfront…. a pub, good food, some feral cats and a view.

March 6, 2020 Rivergirl 37 Comments

In case you haven’t already guessed, there was not a single wine filter gift to be had in the entire state of Virginia…. so the only thing left to do was drown my sorrows at the Yorktown Pub.

This unassuming little place got great reviews and had been recommended to us by numerous people so we gave it a try.

While it’s definitely a no frills local hangout….

The riverfront views were lovely.

The feral cats were friendly….

Plentiful, and well fed by the bar owners and staff.

And while the cocktail list was basic?

The drinks were tasty, potent and cheap.

What more can a girl ask?

Good food.

The husband’s weird combination of chicken fingers and mixed veggies looked odd but he was happy with it…. and my fried shrimp were quite honestly the best I’ve had in years. Fresh, juicy, and perfectly cooked with a light crisp batter. Add homemade tartar sauce, some marvelous fries and another cocktail?