~ Eric Hoffer
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thought of the Week: July 30, 2011
“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.”
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thought of the Week: July 25, 2011
“When you examine the lives of the most influential people who have ever walked among us, you discover one thread that winds through them all. They have been aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then with their physical selves.”
~ Albert Einstein
~ Albert Einstein
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thought of the Week: July 16, 2011
“Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown.”
~ Bob Levey
~ Bob Levey
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dining with David: Bristol Seafood Grill
Bristol Seafood Grill – Creve Coeur, MO – July 14, 2011
www.bristolseafoodgrill.com
After a long day of presentations and a 2.5 hr drive back to MO, we decided to stop off and get a good dinner; in fact, the only dinner for the week. I quickly looked for some good seafood from my iPhone apps and found a place rated pretty high; we decided to try. Give an A plus to the iPhone.
A very nice restaurant that was packed; not your true full upscale but pretty close; white tablecloth and the normal fancy stuff; shame my bride could not be here.
This would turn out to be a salmon night so we started with some smoked salmon flatbread. This was some tasty little bread covered in smoked salmon, garlic sauce, caper, watercress and lemon olive oil; very good stuff. I then had a cup of their creole gumbo. This was a good little cup of soup; large chunks of sausage, shrimp and a spicy sauce.
We both had the meal of the night though, Cooper River Sockeye Salmon. Wow, this special salmon only available ~60 days out of the year is worth the wait. A very rich taste, almost like butter, with a great color and texture; really nothing like normal salmon. I have had both Sockeye and King in the past and both are excellent. I was able to top mine off Lobster Mac N’ Cheese; now I am not a Mac & Cheese person but this was pretty good.
Of course, they topped off the meal by serving warm, sweet biscuits on your side platter for your enjoyment. They even give you homemade honey butter to really set it off. A great meal, a great place and a wonderful piece of salmon.
Rating: 9.5
www.bristolseafoodgrill.com
After a long day of presentations and a 2.5 hr drive back to MO, we decided to stop off and get a good dinner; in fact, the only dinner for the week. I quickly looked for some good seafood from my iPhone apps and found a place rated pretty high; we decided to try. Give an A plus to the iPhone.
A very nice restaurant that was packed; not your true full upscale but pretty close; white tablecloth and the normal fancy stuff; shame my bride could not be here.
This would turn out to be a salmon night so we started with some smoked salmon flatbread. This was some tasty little bread covered in smoked salmon, garlic sauce, caper, watercress and lemon olive oil; very good stuff. I then had a cup of their creole gumbo. This was a good little cup of soup; large chunks of sausage, shrimp and a spicy sauce.
We both had the meal of the night though, Cooper River Sockeye Salmon. Wow, this special salmon only available ~60 days out of the year is worth the wait. A very rich taste, almost like butter, with a great color and texture; really nothing like normal salmon. I have had both Sockeye and King in the past and both are excellent. I was able to top mine off Lobster Mac N’ Cheese; now I am not a Mac & Cheese person but this was pretty good.
Of course, they topped off the meal by serving warm, sweet biscuits on your side platter for your enjoyment. They even give you homemade honey butter to really set it off. A great meal, a great place and a wonderful piece of salmon.
Rating: 9.5
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Dining with David: Hickory River Smokehouse
Hickory River Smokehouse – Decatur, IL – July 12, 2011
www.hickoryriver.com
Our customer picked a little BBQ place for us to eat lunch today. I have been avoiding an IL type meal but when offered it with a little que, I just had to go for it. I got their special ‘BBQ shoe’. This was a toasted piece of Texas toast, covered in pulled pork, slathered with fries and coated with their special cheese sauce. That was not good enough and I added some of their ‘mixture’ sauce; a combo of their mild and hot BBQ sauce.
I will have to say that this was a good little meal. The pulled pork was very good; had that nice smoked taste but not so strong that it is overwhelming. The potato fries on top was a good mix and even their cheese sauce had a good little spicy taste. Top that with their BBQ sauce and I was quite pleased with my ‘shoe’. Never thought I would say, ‘I enjoyed that shoe’ but ole well, welcome to IL.
Rating: 8.5
www.hickoryriver.com
Our customer picked a little BBQ place for us to eat lunch today. I have been avoiding an IL type meal but when offered it with a little que, I just had to go for it. I got their special ‘BBQ shoe’. This was a toasted piece of Texas toast, covered in pulled pork, slathered with fries and coated with their special cheese sauce. That was not good enough and I added some of their ‘mixture’ sauce; a combo of their mild and hot BBQ sauce.
I will have to say that this was a good little meal. The pulled pork was very good; had that nice smoked taste but not so strong that it is overwhelming. The potato fries on top was a good mix and even their cheese sauce had a good little spicy taste. Top that with their BBQ sauce and I was quite pleased with my ‘shoe’. Never thought I would say, ‘I enjoyed that shoe’ but ole well, welcome to IL.
Rating: 8.5
Monday, July 11, 2011
Travels with David: Lincoln Tomb
Lincoln Tomb – Springfield, IL – July 11, 2011
In continuing with the Lincoln day theme, we left the Lincoln home and headed to Oak Ridge Cemetery. This place is the home of the Lincoln tomb and war memorials. They were closing the doors but a nice lady allowed us to go in for a few minutes. Wow, what an impressive place. It is coated in granite and houses Lincoln (10 feet below and behind the monument below), his wife Mary and three of their sons.
Standing back outside and looking at the impressive monument, chills come back. God Bless the USA!
Travels with David: Lincoln Home
Lincoln Home – Springfield, IL – July 11, 2011
www.nps.gov/liho/index.htm
In continuing with the Lincoln day theme, we left the presidential library and headed 5 blocks to Lincoln’s one family home. This place was built back in 1839 and for those times, was a very nice house. Amazing to see how they lived back then. Nothing personal, but just don’t like that one bedroom for him and a connecting bedroom for her. Loved the desk and furniture in the house though.
www.nps.gov/liho/index.htm
In continuing with the Lincoln day theme, we left the presidential library and headed 5 blocks to Lincoln’s one family home. This place was built back in 1839 and for those times, was a very nice house. Amazing to see how they lived back then. Nothing personal, but just don’t like that one bedroom for him and a connecting bedroom for her. Loved the desk and furniture in the house though.
Travels with David: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum – Springfield, IL – July 11, 2011
www.presidentlincoln.org
My travel partner this week decided for us to go visit a little history; little did I know that today would be Lincoln day. Once we took care of some business, we went to the presidential library. This is a very impressive place (just look at the pictures below). There is a mock white house with the Lincoln family, two movies, lots of artifacts and tons of true history items. Nothing but a small heaven on earth for the history buffs (sorry Courtney).
There is certainly a lot of good and bad you can say about Lincoln but he was an American and this place will give chills down your spine. I thought I knew a lot about our country and good ole Abe, but not true; this place taught me a lot. I walked out of there with head high and feeling good about American. God Bless the USA.
www.presidentlincoln.org
My travel partner this week decided for us to go visit a little history; little did I know that today would be Lincoln day. Once we took care of some business, we went to the presidential library. This is a very impressive place (just look at the pictures below). There is a mock white house with the Lincoln family, two movies, lots of artifacts and tons of true history items. Nothing but a small heaven on earth for the history buffs (sorry Courtney).
There is certainly a lot of good and bad you can say about Lincoln but he was an American and this place will give chills down your spine. I thought I knew a lot about our country and good ole Abe, but not true; this place taught me a lot. I walked out of there with head high and feeling good about American. God Bless the USA.
Dining with David: Charlie Parker's Diner
Charlie Parker’s Diner – Springfield, IL – July 11, 2011
www.charlieparkersdiner.net
As we drove in from St. Louis, MO (isn’t flying great!), we needed to grab a little bit for lunch. I had seen this place on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and thought, why not. We get off the interstate and drive around a back road to what looks like an old metal hangar building. And oh what our eyes see, but this is the restaurant.
Now, this place is known for their 16” pancakes (yes, bigger than a pizza) and their horeshoes (pick your meat with cheese sauce, not cheese but cheese sauce, covered in fries; called a shoe).
I didn’t want to overdo so decided to try their regular pancake, a 2 stack flavored with blueberries along with a side of bacon and hash browns. My travel partner, who loves veggies, got their Vegetable omelette. I just cannot even comment on a veggie omelette; but it must have been good as he ate the whole thing. I think the best thing he got was their massive wheat toast though.
My pancakes were huge; glad I didn’t try the 16”; these regulars filled the plate. They were completed coated with blueberries, rather than the normal sprinkle of fruit. I cannot explain what was in these things but they had a very unusual taste; a bit like whipped eggs, vanilla and something else (?). I topped it with a little syrup and wow, they were good. No way I finished these things; left half (well, maybe a ¼ after my travel partner ate some too). The bacon was good; normal. The hash browns were dry grilled rather than butter/oil grilled; different but good.
www.charlieparkersdiner.net
As we drove in from St. Louis, MO (isn’t flying great!), we needed to grab a little bit for lunch. I had seen this place on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and thought, why not. We get off the interstate and drive around a back road to what looks like an old metal hangar building. And oh what our eyes see, but this is the restaurant.
Now, this place is known for their 16” pancakes (yes, bigger than a pizza) and their horeshoes (pick your meat with cheese sauce, not cheese but cheese sauce, covered in fries; called a shoe).
I didn’t want to overdo so decided to try their regular pancake, a 2 stack flavored with blueberries along with a side of bacon and hash browns. My travel partner, who loves veggies, got their Vegetable omelette. I just cannot even comment on a veggie omelette; but it must have been good as he ate the whole thing. I think the best thing he got was their massive wheat toast though.
My pancakes were huge; glad I didn’t try the 16”; these regulars filled the plate. They were completed coated with blueberries, rather than the normal sprinkle of fruit. I cannot explain what was in these things but they had a very unusual taste; a bit like whipped eggs, vanilla and something else (?). I topped it with a little syrup and wow, they were good. No way I finished these things; left half (well, maybe a ¼ after my travel partner ate some too). The bacon was good; normal. The hash browns were dry grilled rather than butter/oil grilled; different but good.
The atmosphere is this place is great. The food is even better. I would love to go back and try their sandwiches; they looked great. This is a must try place.
Rating: 9.5
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thought of the Week: July 9, 2011
“Things to remember:
1) The worth of character;
2) The improvement of talent;
3) The influence of example;
4) The joy of origination;
5) The dignity of simplicity;
6) The success of perseverance.”
~ Marshall Field
1) The worth of character;
2) The improvement of talent;
3) The influence of example;
4) The joy of origination;
5) The dignity of simplicity;
6) The success of perseverance.”
~ Marshall Field
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Thought of the Week: July 2, 2011
“If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.”
~ Lee Greenwood
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