Absorbine_Sr

Happy Birthday Vicki! Miss you!

Sorry for the loss of your friend Wayne. And thanks for this post. I lost my two older brothers to alcoholism. It is a horrible thing, as at the end my brother Chuck hated me and we ended in a bad way. I'm still in conflict over his passing, ten years later. Your words ring true. I looked up to my brothers, and this disease consumed them. I know I drink, but I also know I am not like them. Life is too important to let it go that easily. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Finished product. Gin, lime and cilantro marinated pork chops with lime cilantro rice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pork chops marinated in gin, lime juice, garlic and cilantro. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A great dinner from the wonderful Debbie. Prosciutto with peas and fettuccini. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Though probably a pipe dream for me, my liver is forcing me to follow this closely.

Done. Go WW!

Grahame, I have found your sandwich. This is Kuma's version of a BLT. With 10 ounces of bacon. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday Steve! Hope it was a great day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday Wayne. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fennel and Italian sausage soup with cannellini beans and tomatoes. Accompanied by a nice wine and good crusty bread. Come on Fall, we're ready for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday my friend. Enjoy the day and I hope to see you soon. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You too lil bro. Good eating is good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So, tonight we visited Chef and the Farmer and may I just say, it was everything we hoped for and more. We started off with flash fried collard chips. Crispy and lightly salted. We also had grits with gumbo, andouille sausage and local shrimp. No pic on this one but I've never had grits this good. Next up, Debbie had a Jed's salad with local greens and blue cheese dressing. I had charred green beans with coarse mustard and muscadine grapes. We asked the sommelier for a wine suggestion to go with our main course choices (within budget) and we were happy with his choice. Debbie went for the tomato pie and fall veggies for her main. I went with the sage brined pork chop with dirty farrow and sweet and sour beets. Not only was it the best pork chop I've ever had, it was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever consumed. Finally, Debbie had a watermelon and rosemary sorbet with watermelon dice and a rosé float. It was a meal beyond reproach and if you are ever in eastern North Carolina, get your ass here. Oh, my dessert? A very dry Martini. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So, we follow a show on PBS called "A Chef's Life." It's about a woman and her husband who run two restaurants in Kinston, N.C. Last night we visited their oyster bar, The Boiler Room. First up, the gentleman pictured is shucking my fresh oysters. Said oysters There were two more oyster dishes were consumed. Their take on a Rockefeller and a spicy offering where the oyster is served on a pork rind with a hot sauce and slice of jalapeño. No pics as they disappeared too quickly. Sorry. They were delicious. We also had a roasted corn, tomato and kale salad. Very clean and refreshing. On to burgers. Debbie had a veggie Butterbean burger. Mine was a surf & turf burger with popcorn oysters and a jalapeño mayo. Seen below. With that, a tip of the hat to Hot Doug, an order of beef fat fries. Not duck. What looks like cheese on these is actually powdered beef tallow. They explained it keeps down the greasiness. All was excellent. Also not pictured is Debbie's bread pudding. Also awesome and can be seen on Facebook. Tonight, their main restaurant, The Chef and the Farmer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Video of a run we did on the Blue Ridge Parkway today. Low clouds, rain and unfamiliar road kept me from pushing too hard, but Debbie and I (and the GTI) enjoyed it a lot. Shot on Debbie's iPhone 6 hand held. Forgive the couple of thumb intrusions. https://vimeo.com/140013072 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Busboys and Poets Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mekhleme, Iraqi corn beef hash with poached eggs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Yep. Heading to D.C. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Skyline. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday Sir!

RIP Gary. And Wayne, I believe I met Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson the year of that tour. I worked for Camelot Music which was based in Ohio. They had a yearly convention for managers, and one year that I went Hunter's band performed live for us. There was a meet & greet afterwards and I got to shake hands with both of them and talk to Mick about his days with Bowie. In hindsight, I bet he hated that. And chilling story about your ride back. Glad you guys were back a few cars...

Shelly, it looks like the pencil has Palm Rejection: