Down-Home Hibachi
A down-home hibachi is not really a hibachi at all. It is actually a Weber Grill without any legs that is propped up on cinder blocks in the backyard. Uncle Mike from Saluda, North Carolina proclaimed that his beloved old grill was a hibachi when the legs fell off, lowering it significantly to the ground. […]
Mountain Pizza
As we hear my Uncle Mike’s truck pulling up the mountain in the late afternoon drizzle, we know dinner is here. Luckily, Brian and my cousins are almost back from a swim in the pond, so they can get cleaned up and have dinner with us. As they walk up to the porch with a […]
Appreciating Asheville
You do not have be a millionaire to experience grand mansions, delicious food, unique culture, and beautiful scenery in Asheville, North Carolina. Amanda and I visited the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn, ate at restaurants Tupelo Honey and The Mellow Mushroom, enjoyed talking with the friendly people of the town and appreciated beautiful […]
Hors D’oeuvres by the Southern Sisters
When my family is around there is never a lack of food. Not only do we have a pretty large dinner most of the time, but we also serve a whole bunch of hors d’oeuvres. For as long as I can remember this has been the way we like to entertain guests and sometimes we […]
Tryon BBQ Festival
Nothing says summer like barbeque and here in North Carolina, they know how to do it right. People come from all over to attend the Tryon BBQ festival and luckily we were able to be there to sample delicious ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, coleslaw, beans, and hush puppies along with plenty of bands and […]
Hippie Town Ohio
“This place has true beauty, and I am from Montana, so I know what beauty is,” said a woman who was hiking with her young son in Glen Helen Park in Yellow Springs, Ohio. We waited for her to pass as she stepped off a wooden bridge spanning a rocky stream that twisted around overgrown […]
The Backyard in Columbus
Having a home-cooked meal on the road can be a treat. While visiting Aunt Susie and Uncle John in Columbus, Ohio Brian and I were able to cook for them. We took advantage of the sunshine and used the backyard to grill up a great meal together. Sharing food and a dining experience with friends […]
A Restaurant in Columbus, Among Us
Columbus, Ohio is a city of large, fast-paced chain restaurants. I had the pleasure of “cutting my teeth” at the Columbus Fish Market as a first job after high school. I was often in over my head as I worked the sauté station, helping to churn out 400 plus covers a night. We knew of […]
The Scoop on Columbus
In Columbus Ohio there is a trendy ice cream shop that is all the rage. Unlike some similar places in New York City, Jeni’s Ice Cream offers a large variety of off-the-beaten-path flavors, but still things you want to eat. Jeni’s is responsible about their ingredients; milk, cream, and berries are raised sustainably from Ohio’s […]
Thrills in Hocking Hills
Being an Eagle Scout, I have had some truly wondrous encounters with nature, as well as many experiences with camp food, not all of which have been great! On long hiking or canoeing trips into remote locations the scenes of nature could be stunning, but the freeze dried food left my friends and I dreaming […]