This quarantine situation has at least had some positive repercussions.

With the social distancing we have had the opportunity to dine at home more often and prepare our own meals.

When I could press the pause button long enough and separate myself from the “Justified” cop show I have been binge watching, I created this masterpiece. Diced 🧅 onion, 🌶 peppers, mushrooms 🍄 and asparagus sautéed and then add the 🍳 eggs. I’m getting better with my flip and then added two slices of American 🧀 cheese. Then some hot 🥵 hot sauce sprinkled over the top.

You would pay 💰 8 or 10 dollars in a restaurant for this creation. On a side note, Heidi has made some 🥧 pies that are sure to hit the pages of Walt’s Diner.

On a road trip to Lawrence County, we stopped at Jiffy Treet. The mural on the side by Adam On Point is impressive in itself.

I had the waffle cone with 2 scoops of Samoa Cookie ice cream. The chocolate, caramel and toasted coconut 🥥 cookies were an incredible addition to the 🍦 ice cream. And the waffle cone was fantastic. Pretty sure they make their own.

Papa’s Grill is on Highway 46 in Columbus west of I 65. I met my son, Lawyer there after school one day for dinner.

I was there early and had a PB & J. (Peanutbutter Busted Knuckle mixed with a Strawberry 🍓 Blonde from Quaff On. Delicious.

Lawyer and I both had the Western Burger 🍔 which was a 1/3 pound beef burger with 🥓 bacon, Colby Cheese, BBQ sauce and onion straws.

And check out this order of Papa’s 🍟 fries!

Maybe the coolest thing about the place was the picture of the Downtown Columbus Bridge and the Sun King logo on it. ( My apologies, some lady was sitting in front of it.)

Shawn Malone has got it going on at Brooklyn 🍕 Pizza on 2nd Street in Seymour. Heidi and I joined Weight Watchers for the new year and have been being successful with our healthy eating quest. ( I’m down 15 pounds.)

This week I tried the zucchini crust with sausage, pepperoni and fresh mushrooms 🍄.

Heidi had the cauliflower crust with the healthier chicken, 🌶 peppers, onion 🧅 and spinach. Both were fantastic!

However, the incredible part is that the crust is gluten-free and Weight Watchers friendly if you just have to eat pizza.

The zucchini crust has fewer carbs than the cauliflower and both are tasty. Maybe the Kentucky Common 🍺 pints were over the top, but I left there happy and am still making progress.

On a side note, you never know who you will find there. Tonight it was former Seymour High teacher and coach Harry Knight and his son and my 1980 (40 years ago) classmate Harry D.

We are on to something here people!!! Heidi’s Christmas gift to me this year was a Blackstone Griddle. I got it seasoned and ready or action today as Heidi brought home a slab of salmon and Bruce and Mendy Stahl contributed some 🍤 shrimp.

We simply seasoned the salmon with salt and pepper and the shrimp with Dominant One and sizzled it on the grill in avocado 🥑 oil. The veggies were seasoned with garlic salt and Dominant One.

We sliced some 🍋 lemons and that was all we needed for a delicious dinner at home. Boom!!!

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, which is located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. Janko is the guy that started the restaurant at 223 West 6th Street in Bloomington.

I had the 20 ounce ribeye 🥩 steak cooked medium well, baked 🥔 potato and mushrooms 🍄.

This was for sure the most expensive steak I’ve ever had at $38. 💰 💴 I had been wanting to dine there for a few years so I was prepared the price 🏷 tag. The steak was excellent and the potato was on point. (Really hard to mess up a potato)

As an appetizer we had Janko’s spicy meatballs and they were tasty.

The dining room, of course, had an Indiana University theme.

I had LASIK surgery a week ago in Louisville and had been talking to my optometrist about the Louisville food scene. He had successfully suggested Mussel & Burger Bar and I followed his lead to Momma’s. Located at 103 Bauer Avenue in Louisville.

They are known for their wings and they were very good!

We tried the cheesy corn and can’t really recommend it. However, the slab of sweet cornbread was pretty darn good. I asked for some honey 🍯 and it was straight from a hive of 🐝 bees. Very thick and sweet.

Check out the ramekin ( new word to my vocabulary) of house made mustard and bread and butter pickles. There are also some fried pickles on Heidi’s 🥪 sandwich.

The most significant features of the place were the autographed wall by Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Or maybe the authentic 🖼 painting by Bob Ross.

While in Louisville for a Lasik eye surgery consultation, I asked my optometrist where I should eat lunch. (I always ask the locals when I travel.) Even to Louisville.

He sent me to the Taylorsville Road location if Mussel and Burger Bar. It is a swanky spot with a great 🍔 burger!

I went for the well-done 🥓 bacon, cheddar, grilled onion and mushroom 🍄 🍔 burger on a fresh pretzel 🥨 bun and pomme frites. (Pomme frites= German for 🥔 potato 🍟 fries)

The fries were great and the burger was outstanding! I had them bring me some house made bbq sauce on the side and it was tangy and added to the experience.

Next visit, I’ll see what they do with the mussels.

Twice, Heidi Wintin has purchased Bertie Darlage’s Red Velvet cake at the Lutheran Central School Auction.

Bertie has been serving the students of Lutheran Central meals for about the last 47 years. On the side, she makes this wonderful 🎂 cake and some crazy good 🍏 apple dumplings as well.

The cake is moist and baked to perfection while the butter cream frosting is smooth and delicious.

This cake was actually Heidi’s last Christmas 🎄 🎁 present. I had asked Bertie to make one when she had time and she was so kind to oblige. Thank you!!! (I’ll bring you some bbq)

I don’t mind telling you all that this may have been my best Christmas gift giving ever for Heidi. I had jewelry from Tiemeier’s which is always a winner and was clever enough to have some gifts delivered to a friends house so Heidi wouldn’t see them. Not to mention this awesome cake delivered on. We Year’s Eve.

Happy New Year, Bertie and I’ll see you next week!!!

Welcome to Jonesville, Indiana! RaeAnn and I had some errands in Columbus and decided to hit The Brick.

It’s just a brick colored block building that specializes in 🍔 burgers. They don’t have draft beer, just cans and bottles. You can get a burger and a bowl of soup or some chips. They do a couple of things and they do them right.

I get my 🍔 burger with cheese and grilled 🧅 onions. Not even a plate. It comes on waxed paper. If you do it right, that’s all you need.