“Slap the dog and spit in the fire, people!” The Gift Horse restaurant in downtown Foley is an incredible experience in southern cuisine. Along with the antique shops it takes up nearly the whole block. This building had at one time been a skating rink as well as the USO and American Legion and it features a 28 foot long banquet table. Whoa. That’s a big one.

Rae and I were the first customers in one of the antique stores and the guy gave Rae a free dinner for her birthday 🎂 on the 31st. What am I supposed to do? I had an awesome lunch. That’s what.

Cheesy grits

The Key Lime was the best I have ever had! Super sweet graham cracker crust. Great flavor.

The southern fried chicken, chicken and dumplings and the atmosphere was outstanding.

If you need a break from the beach like we did, hit up the Gift Horse for some southern culture.

The Original Oyster House 🦪 in Gulf Shores, Alabama is the restaurant that we visit every time we vacation in the Red Neck Riviera. It has been delicious every time. My parents introduced me to The Oyster House back in the 90s and Mom likes to tell the story of when she asked for a window seat. (The restaurant is on a bayou.) They seated them at a window seat overlooking the parking lot.

Mason Fleetwood is not just held to 🍕 pizza. This filet doubles the bun and is fried to perfection.

I double mine up and add a slice of cheese and wash it down with a Big Red. Quality!!!

Check them out at 358-1800 for fish, tenderloins or pizza.

This social distancing, for me, equals preparing meals at home and spending more time with my family. Serious situation, however, I will find the positives from something out of our control.

We started with marinated chicken tenderloins marinated in Olive Garden dressing. Outstanding call by Heidi. Grilled on the Weber Grill on indirect heat and turned out delicious.

Cheese tortellini from Sam’s Club with marinara and asparagus with garlic salt.

As it turned out, I had ordered a whole coconut 🥥 pie 🥧 from Town House before they close down on Friday. So this outstanding meal was closed out with a wonderful slice of 🥧 pie. Did I ever tell you that I only like two kinds of pie?…Hot and cold!

The Johnsonville company is headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. What better place is there for bratwurst to come from than Wisconsin!

With the pandemic we have plenty of time to plan meals at home. As well, a Friday evening 🔥 fire was a wonderful idea. This brat with a slice of cheese laid in the bun and a strip of Gulden’s Spicy Brown mustard was the best!

The excellent roasting technique started with this hollow log. I ran the brat through there several times for a well rounded roast.

On top of that, how about these perfectly roasted marshmallows!

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!!!