Where ya been, Dishes? Well dear readers, I could bore you with musings on my vacation and domestic problems… As a matter of fact I think I will. I will try to keep it somewhat food related. (Warning: graphic images attached that may not be suitable for all readers.)
1. I needed a vacation. Bad. So I took one! Yay!
2. Just because your vacation rental has a kitchen, it doesn’t mean you have to cook a damn thing. So I didn’t!
3. My husband insists it’s a Florida state law that all residents must have tattoos, and if you don’t have one, they will give you one. I didn’t believe him until I woke up with an oddly placed bruise on my inner bicep that was shaped remarkably like a map of the Florida Keys.
4. I have been beaten by a stew. This is Sebastian Stew, served at the Vero Beach Riverfront Chill & Grill (not associated with Dairy Queen’s Grill And Chill). I still don’t know what compelled me to order stew at a restaurant. In August. At the beach. No clue, but everything in it sounded good – a Holy Trinity base with tomatoes, smoked brisket, Andouille sausage… It is all things to all men, and maybe to one lucky woman. I’ve tried to replicate it, but even using the tips our waitress (dead ringer for Tea Leoni, including smoky voice) gave us, and transporting a bottle of Krystal Hot Sauce across state lines, I can’t even come close.
5. Two years in a row our Tea Leoni-looking waitress has sported a large square bandage on her wrist, leading me to believe she’s covering up an unsavory tattoo for work reasons (and further confirming my husband’s theory). If I looked like Tea Leoni, I wouldn’t take any risks like that, and would use my tattoo budget to buy mirrors.
6. I remain unspeakably delicious and irresistible to mosquitoes and no-see-ums.
7. I attempted to take a hot dog legs picture at the beach, but due to my vampiric complexion, it looked more like a bratwurst legs picture, which I decided not to share on Facebook.
8. Just because 19 people on a food website tell you a pizza place is the best in Florida does not necessarily mean it is. Just because all the employees are genuine New Yorkers does not necessarily mean it will be the best New York Style pizza you’ve ever had, although they did fulfill the stereotypes about rude New Yorkers. I do enjoy being referred to as “youse guys” though. Just a little.
9. Florida is starting to brew some good beer.
10. It doesn’t matter one bit how good the food is if you’re eating with one hand and swatting flies with the other.
11. Bless the waitress who assured me the pasta dish wasn’t “too” fishy, but “just fishy enough.” Darned if she wasn’t exactly right.
12. I realize I may sound anti-tattoo. That is not the case, but as a person who cries if they get a bad haircut, I decided it may just be too risky for my delicate emotional state.
13. Vodka tonics taste amazing on vacation, which makes me wonder why I don’t drink them every day, like for breakfast even.
14. I love grocery stores. I love grocerying on vacation. Even store brands look exotic if you don’t have them at home.
15. New air conditioning units are expensive.
16. The prospect of purchasing a new air conditioning unit can put a bit of a damper on your vacation fun.
17. A dear reader actually tagged me on Facebook that they made and enjoyed my zuccheroni. In over a year of blogging, this is a first and it was amazing. Thank you dear reader – that meant the world to me. I would love to get more feedback, especially on original recipes. I know y’all are out there. I see you.
18. Finding a pool of blood in your driveway is an upsetting way to start a Friday. My 18 year old, 6.5 pound cat has used up another of his lives, ringing up a respectable veterinary bill to boot. I suspect the assailant, a 15 pound stray monster, is dead. Don’t mess with Zorro, folks.
(This is the graphic image to which I was referring. Please be assured that I’m not some sort of monster who was all about posting pics on social media when my cat was injured. This photo was taken post-vet visit, and after he started spitting his food all over the damn place again. He may be immortal.)
19. That’s about all I have today, youse guys. Just wanted to check in and assure everyone I’m still alive and still blogging. I’ll get to cooking once the house cools down, I get the driveway hosed off, and I go to boring old local grocery again.
20. I’ve been reading Marcella Hazan, so get ready for some down home Italian.
illdothedisheslater 