The Court Room: Bedford

I went to visit my brother, Frank today in Bedford and we visited The Court Room. It has a combination basketball 🏀 and Cajun theme.

This is one section of the basketball court-like bar. Continuing with the Cajun part, that is a pint of Abita Purple Haze that was on draft. Abita is a Louisiana based brewery.

They will give you a sample if you would like to try a beer. Also, they have flights.

Shrimp Etoufee. Grilled shrimp 🍤 in a creamy and spicy sauce. I had to dab my forehead several times due to the sweat.

Frank had the oyster 🦪 PoBoy and Cajun fries.

Frank donated this poster to The Court Room honoring Bill Garrett. Bill was the first African-American basketball player in the Big Ten.

The significance of Bill Garrett, from my point of view is that my Dad, Walt Wintin, was a high school team mate of Bill on the 1947 state championship basketball team from Shelbyville. Bill was selected Mr. Basketball that year as well.

(Dad flat out admitted that he was just fortunate to be the same age as some very talented basketball players that played for the Golden Bears.)

Indiana University President, Herman B. Wells and coach Branch McCracken were instrumental in bringing Bill to IU in the late 40s when the Big Ten had yet to integrate. Dad told me that he attended Bill’s wedding in Madison when he married Betty Innskeep. He said that He was one of three white people that attended the wedding. The other two were Mr. and Mrs. Branch McCracken.

Big Woods: Edinburgh

Heidi took me back to school shopping today. Since our week on the beach 🏖 in June through the fair, I have done nothing but eat, drink , and be merry. Thus, I either need new pants or consume nothing for a few days.

Heidi spotted the Big Woods as we entered the Edinburgh Outlet Mall. After shopping we had a seat at the bar. As we chatted with Samantha, the bar tender/waitress, we raved about Big Woods and Hard Truth and how we enjoyed the product. As the gentleman next to us exited, he extended his hand and said “Thank You. I’m Jim, the owner.”

Jim added that they have enlarged the outdoor terrace area at the Nashville location and are turning it into an amphitheater that will seat 1,000 guests as a music venue.

I really like this situation. With all the quality craft beer that Big Woods and Quaff On! offer, they throw in a Miller Lite for that guy that just can’t get there.

Our awesome bar tender, Samantha, gave me a sample and then I ordered a pint of their new Six Foot Huckleberry Blonde. It was light, crisp and delightful!

I had the 🐓 chicken, 🥓 bacon, ranch panini on ciabatta bread and it was fantastic! The bread was toasted to perfection and the house made potato chips were warm when they were delivered.

Whoa! Reed’s Place

So it’s Friday, July 23rd. My 60th birthday 🎂. My sweetheart of a wife, Heidi, plans an incredible evening of food, family, friends and fun.

We get to Reed’s Place and my best friend from college, Jon Tilmon is waiting at our table. Surprise! Then we enjoy the Tomahawk 🥩 steak which was fantastic as well as a Strawberry 🍓 👱‍♀️ Blonde. Reed’s can now serve alcohol. while dining, Heidi gives us all (Pottschmidts, Stahls, Jon and us) tickets to a concert 🎵 at Hickory Hills Golf Course.

We go to Poplar Street for a round and then it is back to Stahl Farms before the concert. We turn the corner around the garage and there are 30 people saying “Surprise!” I thought Jon Tilmon was the surprise. Now here is my Mom, we shared a few moments on this day 60 years ago, my brother David, And a bunch of our closest friends and family. Heidi absolutely slayed it! Turns out she made fake concert tickets and the party was ON. I should have known something was up when the Stahls garage was all cleaned up when we were left for the restaurant.

Heidi raised the bar so high that I could never reach it. Her birthday was the next day on the 24th and I got her a card.

Jon Tilmon, my awesome wife, Heidi Wintin, Walt Wintin, Billie Wintin, David Wintin.

Doughnut 🍩 Central

Cleverly, Central 🍩 Doughnuts out of Columbus has been setting up in surrounding towns one day a week and getting their product noticed.

RaeAnn delivered a dozen doughnuts to the Jackson County Fairgrounds to celebrate my 60th birthday. We were assisting Nina Hackman with the quilt judging. In reality, they needed a tall person to help hang them after being judged.

Top right is a “cronut.” Part doughnut and part croissant 🥐. Whoa! Below that is the 🍁 maple 🥓 bacon and it is incredible!!!

Central doughnuts comes to Seymour and Brownstown and we are happier for it.

Thirsty Turtle 🐢 Lake Barkley

This wonderful creation is the Hawaiian 🐢 Turtle. Grilled chicken, pineapple 🍍, 🥬 lettuce, ginger sauce on a Brioche bun. A side of some very creamy Mac and cheese.

What a great idea! The ginger sauce really added some flair to the sandwich.

You can arrive by land or water. We docked our boat 🚤 and walked up the ramp for our dining experience.

A Blue Moon sporting an orange 🍊 slice with Barkley Dam in the background.

Blanco on Broadway: Nashville

Tiger 🍤 shrimp fajitas. The waitress asked “Are you good with a little spice?” They made my forehead sweat just a little.

The waitress brought the bill in a Pilsner glass.

The Jimmy Buffet team of The Tilmons, The Condras and The Wintins.

Wickedly Awesome Chicken 🐓

A combination of BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, Italian 🇮🇹 seasoning and steak seasoning on the 🐔 chicken. It marinaded overnight.

We have really been hitting the chicken hard this summer. But, it has been very good every time. 10 minutes on indirect heat. Flip, and 10 more minutes on indirect heat. Then finish up with it directly over the coals. I have a nice old Father’s Day present of a digital thermometer 🌡 that easily lets me make sure the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees.

The sweet corn 🌽 came from Hackman’s Farm Market south of Vallonia on Highway 135. I prefer to cut it off the cob. The Brussels sprouts came out of a bag and we very tasty. ( Heidi has really come around on the Brussels sprouts!) it is also and easy clean up.

Minute Steak 🥩 and Scalloped Cabbage

Take a cubed steak, brown it in flour and Chef’s Secret and then bake it. Boom!!! 💥 Let me tell you about the scalloped 🥬 cabbage. Nina Hackman gets a big cabbage from her brother Barry Melloncamp, chop it up, add a can of chicken soup and put cheese on top and then bake. Incredible!!!

Minute steak, mashed potatoes 🥔 and scalloped 🥬.

Get some Grassy Fork grown blackberries from Ronnie Jo Scarlett, flour and sugar are the main ingredients for the cobbler, then add a couple scoops of some melting ice cream and it is Blackberry Heaven!

Nina also made me try a raspberry 🥧 pie. She got some Grassy Fork grown raspberries from Barry’s wife Linda Melloncamp, bake a pie and add the melting ice cream again and it is a home run! grassy Fork grown is a great way to start a summer meal!!!

Shrimp 🍤 Kabobs: It’s What’s For Dinner

Before cooking: Shrimp, yellow pepper, 🧅 Onion, 🍍 Pineapple, and red 🌶.

Finished product. Along with some baked broccoli 🥦.

Just before taking the kabobs off the grill. The colors equal flavor.

Heidi seasoned the kabobs with sweet chili sauce . I grilled them for five minutes on each side with applewood smoke for flavor. Each piece of the kabob was filled with taste.

🍤 Shrimp 🌮 Tacos a la Heidi

Sautéed 🍤 shrimp, 🥬 lettuce, tomatoes 🍅, 🐓 chicken, avocado 🥑 and cheese on a soft taco shell. On the left is Ceviche. Heidi mixed 🥒 cucumbers, 🧅 onion and cold 🍤 shrimp. I love the colors of this plate.

On vacation last week, Heidi and Sophie had some fish tacos and Heidi decided that she could reproduce them. And reproduce she did, by golly! They were outstanding! Now, this ceviche business was really good if you like that kind of thing. Fresh veggies and shrimp marinaded and served cool. The tacos 🌮 have two incredible ingredients: the sliced 🥑 were fabulous and we found a new condiment that is out of this world…Hidden Valley Ranch Blasted Bold Buffalo sauce.