Saturday, July 10, 2010

Happy Anniversary! Kara and I agreed on this weekend for our annual Smith vacation with Memaw and Grandad and it fell a day after Martin's birthday and on our 17th wedding anniversary. Mewmaw had reservations at Tanyard Springs cabins at Petit Jean State Park and it was perfect! It was a wonderful place to take kids. They fished, we hiked, cooked out and enjoyed our cabins. We had a great birthday dinner for Martin and we hiked the next morning with the whole crew. We also took them to the swimming pool that was packed.

Memaw had her coolers packed with provisions for the entire weekend. She had gatoraide and snacks for the hike and pool, knew where to rent the fishing poles and get Kara's ice. She had Martin's dinner organized and it was delicious. She also brought her favorite annual breakfast...omelets campfire style. Using her farm fresh eggs, ziplocks and a pot of boiling water, we each fixed our own omelet. To your beaten eggs we could add cheese, onions, fresh jalapenos and tomatoes. You zip it and let it simmer in the water for a few minutes then voila! It's your own personal omelet. She also had ketchup ready for Chloe. Memaw can sure plan, organize and cook!

For dinner Saturday night, and giving Memaw a break, we ate a mile away at the River Rock Grill located at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute that Kara's mother recommended. Luckily the place wasn't packed and they graciously sat us in our own dining room. With four children nine and under including an infant, that was a good move on their part! We were seated and immediately offered a wine list. I have to confess I didn't write down every dish this trip but Kara had the mussels and Jackie loved his Filet and creamed spinach. The kids had hamburgers and pasta with marinara. I was glad they had these offerings! We loved our dinner, it was a perfect meal and the kids did great.

The institute is part of the University of Arkansas system and is used as a convention center for groups. We didn't check out the rooms but the facility was very neat. The institute was really something!

I highly recommend Tanyard Springs for your next family vacation and you've gotta eat at the River Rock Grill!

First picture is of Whit and Chloe in a hammock at the cabins, then one of the kids outside the restaurant rock climbing and the last is me taking a picture across from the water fall at Petit Jean State Park.

River Rock Grill, 1 Rockefeller Dr., Morrilton, Ark. 501-727-6235 Check out the fabulous website: www.uawri.org

Tanyard Springs, 144 Tanyard Springs, Morrilton, Ark. 888-826-9273 www.tanyardsprings.com

Mike Shannon's, St. Louis, July 2, 2010

Saturday, July 2, 2010

Mike Shannon delivers again! Jackie and I ate at one of our downtown St. Louis steakhouses on our way to the Cardinals/Brewers game. It was a hot day and we asked to be seated inside in the ultra posh bar area near the tv's so we could see replay World Cup games. We had a wonderful, young waiter that kept everything rolling. Jackie ordered the grass fed filet that was listed $2 more than the other filet. No entree comes with vegetables or salads, so Jackie ordered up the burgundy mushrooms. I had the very delicious House Salad with artichokes, grated Parmesan and house vinaigrette. For my entree, I ordered a side of the lobster mac. I didn't want to eat too much before the walk over to the stadium in the heat. It was a heavy side and we split it and left a ton on the table, just sayin. I made a pass through the ladies room and found it in perfect shape. Mike Shannon's was great, as it has been over the years. Our bill was $102 which wasn't too bad, with the Schlafly beer and glass of chardonnay. We did wonder why they didn't serve all grass fed beef instead of a choice of the beef fed artifical growth hormones. I'll have to research that!

Original Review June 2, 2009

Mike Shannon's is one of our favorite downtown St. Louis establishments. Jackie and I have been to Shannon's for 15 years now and are never disappointed. When the new Busch Stadium opened in 2006, the year the Cardinals won the World Series, Shannon's opened an outside bar that faces the north end of the stadium. This is our new spot before game time. This year's St. Louis trip was a new endeavor for us as parents. It was our first trip without Chloe which means we stayed at the fabulous, and I mean fabulous Four Seasons Hotel at Lacledes Landing. This fine, five star, hotel was plush, brand new with a tv in the mirror of the bathroom...We loved the view overlooking the arch.

Back to our weekend without Chloe in fabulous St. Louis, we met some old friends at the patio at Shannon's before the game. It is a great place to stop before the game for beer, brats, hamburgers and nachos. We sat closer to the restaurant on a side patio that had the bar menu from the restaurant and I of course ordered toasted ravioli and we had Stella's and Ultra's and good times talking old times. The ravioli was okay, but not the best.

We were off to the game so I can't review the menu for this wonderful constant restaurant. But it is a must for dinner featuring steaks and seafood. They are known for the delicious house Italian salad and creamed spinach in my book. Jackie loves their steaks.

Mike Shannon's, 620 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63101 314-421-1540

Charlie Gitto's, Downtown St. Louis, July 3, 2010

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Jackie and I put Gitto's on our agenda every time we are in St. Louis. We hit it just right Saturday before the Cardinals/Brewers game. The place was packed of course, with Cardinal fans galore. We ordered what we do every year, Toasted Ravioli for an appetizer, yes I am cringing, and house salad and Ravioli for dinner. We split a bottle of Chianti and loved it. Jackie also made a comment about the bread, room temperature with no butter. This is the way he likes his bread!

I took a spin through the bathroom located upstairs and so enjoyed going down memory lane. Before children, we would get a group of friends to rent one of the rooms upstairs. We'd usually have 20 or so and enjoy our own waiters and having the room to ourselves. Both rooms were empty which makes me want to get everyone together again!

I love Charlie Gitto's. You'll get outstanding Italian cuisine and service and if you are a Cardinal fan, you'll fit right in on a game day.


June 2009 Original Review:

Gitto's, Gitto's, Gitto's...This is my favorite restaurant in all of St. Louis and has been for 15 years. Charlie Gitto's, downtown St. Louis, opened in 1974 with Charlie Sr and Annie (his wife) and other family members, running the casual family restaurant. His daughter, Karen Gitto, is my contact for when we book the banquet room upstairs.

Gitto's has a great Italian menu but I don't veer off course when I eat here. I always stick with what I love. I am not an appetizer person but I always get the appetizer toasted ravioli which is the best, homemade ravioli anywhere. It comes in a large bowl with marinara sauce for dipping. The ravioli are small without a ton of crust, which I like, and dusted with Parmesan cheese. For dinner I can't not order the ravioli. My friends swear by the Chicken Parmigiana, Gnocchi, New York Strip and the Manicotti but I just can't order these when I dream about the Ravioli and meat sauce 364 days of the year. A must is the Charlie Gitto's salad which is a shredded iceberg lettuce salad topped with artichokes and a special house Italian dressing and dusted with aged Parmesan cheese. I nearly licked the plate clean. Jackie ordered the ravioli also, we were going to order one and split it since we had been at a beer festival earlier at Forrest Park, but he wanted to get our own. And we both nearly finished both huge bowls. We got to Gitto's just in time to get seated before the Saturday game rush at 4 pm and I was bound and determined to watch the Belmont pre-race on ABC. So luckily it all worked out. We also ordered a bottle of Chianti that Jackie said he'd split with me and he did thank goodness, that was a lot of wine with some really good food.

I have to admit I didn't get our waiter's name. I was so into the ravioli and salad and Chianti that I totally ignored him while watching the race highlights. But I can say he was great and attentive.

All I can say about Gitto's is that it's my favorite Italian restaurant of all time. It is always good, it is always reliable and the staff are friendly and attentive and it's a must when you're in St. Louis. Gitto's sister restaurant boasts a more formal menu and set up on the Hill, which is the heart of the restaurants in the middle of St. Louis. But downtown will always be my choice of the two. Plus you can't get the ravioli on the Hill. That should be a crime.


Charlie Gitto's, 207 N. 6th St., St. Louis, MO 63101 314-436-2828

Cheers, Little Rock

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Our annual girls trip was slated for last weekend via Kara's nursing and other parameters. This was our fourth annual trip and our numbers change every year due to pregnancies, costs of the trips, other summer vacations, etc. We had one of our smallest crews this year but it was a fun weekend at that. Jessica Bass Vaught offered her parent's Hot Springs condo for our overnight girls weekend, so Kara and I, along with Jimmy Huff's fabulous girlfriend Beth Malone, headed to Little Rock to pick up Jessica and Beth Pleasants Bradshaw. After a great visit in the car, many subjects being covered including nursing, gardening, the droid, families, friends, work, recycling and topped off with tons of laughter, we made it to Jessica's and headed on but wanted to stop for lunch. Jessica suggested this restaurant near her home and we were thrilled with her choice.

We were greeted just before noon and were promptly seated and ordered up our unsweet teas and water. The restaurant had a great patio near the front door but it was too dang hot that day to sit out there even with the fans on. The restaurant is small, I'd say it seats maybe 50 people, and that's a guess. Kara ordered a large cheese dip and chips to share, I cringed when I heard her order an appetizer, but I did partake once served. It was a homemade, creamy cheese dip without rotel, of course. I loved it and we all wiped it out.

For lunch I ordered our server's choice of the Vegetarian Delights, and btw (by the way Kara), I am not a vegetarian but enjoy low fat dining out choices. She picked the Avocado Sandwich, featuring rye bread with avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheese, mayo (I had it without), and Italian sauce. I loved, loved it's freshness. All sandwiches are served with homemade chips and a pickle but they gladly substituted fresh fruit which was strawberries and oranges and I loved it! My lunch cost $11.87 without tip and I think that's great!

I did venture to the ladies room before heading on to Hot Springs, it's located through the kitchen which meant I didn't do a hair check walking through or even a forehead scratch, and it was in perfect shape as was the kitchen. This was a wonderful find. Everyone was so pleased with their order and our server. I hope to make it back to Cheers. We continued the "Cheers" and laughter on into Hot Springs and met up with Julie Raffety Boone, who came after work for more laughs and cutting up.

Cheers in the Heights, 2010 N. Van Buren, Little Rock, 501-663-5937 www.cheersith.com

The Killough's Blueberries, Wynne

Wednesday, June 24, 2010

Wow, what a year the blueberry has had! I'm thrilled to announce the purchase of my ninth gallon of local, organic blueberries from fellow Presbyterians Cecilia and Kyle Killough! Thanks to my mother-in-law Helen AKA Jeanie, Joy, my local BFF, and my fabulous sister-in-law Kara, I have my freezer full of wonderful blueberries. I am thrilled to have this load for the whole upcoming year. I love to eat a cupful frozen at my desk, put them in Southern Living's Blueberry Streusel Muffins and on top of my granola cereal in the morning. I am so happy to have these guys around, what a blessing!

And just when I am publishing...Jackie brings in a wounded rabbit...it has a broken rear leg and he shows it to Chloe...well, I'm planning "June's" funeral now...dang it....an update Tuesday, June 29...June is eating like crazy! It's super hard to raise a wild rabbit hence my funeral plans. That joker hides under a towel in the back of a box and goes to town on carrots and my arugula out of the garden. Martin joked yesterday that when June is released, in about a month with that broken leg, that he'll wipe out my garden...that's funny and he better pack his bags and head over to Martin's, just sayin...but he's or it's alive so far.

Godsey's Grill, Jonesboro

Saturday, June 19, 2010

We visited this great downtown Jonesboro restaurant after Chloe's first triathlon. I think I was more excited about the event than she was. I kept repeating what she needed to do in transition (drying her feet, skipping her socks, getting her shoes doubled tied, put on her racing bib etc) until Chloe finally said, "mom, why are you SO into it?" I just cracked up realizing how I must have sounded. Anyhow, we went by our favorite bike shop, Gearhead, to get supplies, her brakes looked at and Jackie's new mountain bike tires for Father's Day. After all that, we were starving and I trumped Jackie's request to go to a brewery for Godsey's. And I have to say it was a fabulous choice.

We were promptly seated after signing in (that's what you do in a dry county that serves liquor) near the rear of the restaurant in a booth. That was perfect since us three had Evan Huff, a cousin's 3 year old son with us. His dad Jimmy was getting his first Specialized bike and Evan needed something to do so he came along. He was super pleasant and said please and thank you the whole time!

Chloe and Evan were starving so with our drink order of lemonade and unsweet tea, we ordered them the grilled cheese and chicken nugget kid's baskets. Luckily they came out right after the drinks did and Chloe happily served them both up as much ketchup as needed. Chloe does such a great job with younger children. She wants a little brother or sister so bad and requested one the other day. Evan just watched her and enjoyed that giant serving of ketchup.

I ordered the Drunk Chicken Flatbread sandwich with chopped drunk chicken, cheese, red onions, jalapenos, lettuce and tomato. I loved that it didn't have ranch or mayo on it, it was perfect just as served. For the choice of sides, I got the homemade chips and loved them. They are sprinkled with a seasoned salt with a kick. Jackie ordered the Black and Blue burger with bacon, sauteed onions, blue cheese sauce, blue cheese crumbles, lettuce, tomato and pickles. His choice of a side was the same as mine, which bothered me just a bit because I like to try many things off the menu but they were great, crispy chips. The choice of sides are homemade french fries, that Chloe and Evan tore up, fried green beans, onion rings, pasta salad, baby baker potatoes and sweet potato fries.

Evan and I checked out the ladies bathroom and found it to be in perfect shape. I really liked Godsey's. I especially liked the unsweet tea, it was good and strong enough. You'll love their service, clean restaurant and excellent food. We took my tea to go and the extra chips and french fries to Chloe's chickens, just sayin.

I added some picks of Chloe at the tri...we are so proud of her!

Godsey's Grill, 226 S. Main, Jonesboro, Ark., 870-336-1988 www.godseysgrill.com

Homegrown Vegetables, Birdeye

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

If you read my blog, you know I love having a vegetable garden and have enjoyed growing tomatoes since 1998. This year, after reading books and understanding sustainable gardens, I think everyone should try and get there with their own garden. Being able to grow your own food without relying totally on the grocery store, is a very green approach. Just on Monday, I needed a tomato and purchased a few Roma's at my local grocery store, Hay's. They were grown in Mexico and looked like they were picked about a week ago. When you stop and think about the energy it took to bring those tomatoes to Wynne, it goes like this...the tomato is plucked from the vine, put on a truck to a warehouse, then is transported from the warehouse to the grocery store either by truck or airplane, then I drive to the grocery store, buy the few Roma's then drive them to my house. Wow, that's a lot of energy for a few tomatoes and a lot of gas burned and electricity to keep them fresh. Good lord, let's all put out a garden!!

I am proud to say my peppers, lettuce, arugula, basil, strawberries, pumpkins, watermelons, squash, cucumbers and all look really good this year. It takes very little time to get seeds in the ground and patience to wait until you can pick the fruit. You'll love this confession...I had an unusual two foot tall plant that bloomed in April. I had no idea what it was. The plant fell over a few days ago and I pulled it out today and it was potatoes! I forgot I found a bag of Yukon gold potatoes and planted them in March, I think, and am thrilled with the finding today. How funny, to forget that I planted them. So, get it out there and see what happens!

I also plant Zinnia's from seed packets every year in front of my garden to cover up my lack of pulling all the weeds. I don't get them all pulled in a timely manner with work, Chloe, community stuff, church, etc., so I put the flowers out so I can have fresh cut flowers every day in my kitchen! I used 4 seed packets of different varieties of Zinnia's and just look at all those flowers! I have volunteer Zinnia's that come back every year.