I thought I'd turn the usual "here's my week at the beach" report upside down. 
It was time to spend a week back in Memphis, so last Saturday what seemed like the entire Frog house contents, including dog, were loaded into the Outback and off we went at 7:30 AM. Oops, caught in the Saturday AM "go home" crowd going up 331. By the time we got to Opp, where we could have peeled off for the Geogiana route, the damage was done. Oh well.
Lacking a good catfish place in SoWal, we wanted to stop for lunch at Ezell's Fish Camp in Pelham (Exit 246 on I65 behind the Best Western) but we couldn't find a shady spot in the parking lot (for the dog) so instead, we ate on the patio (with dog there, too) at Margarita Grill at the same exit. Nice waitress and service, OK but not special food, good prices. It worked just fine, thanks. Maybe Ezell's in November...
Check out www.catfishrestaurants.com and Ezell's own web site.
Things were just fine back in Memphis. We saw a lot of friends, the neighbors hadn't turned the house into a crack house, the mowing service is doing a pretty good job, etc.
I never ventured out of Midtown, the whole week. Here are the eating spots, all recommended:
Boscos on the Square - One lunch, one dinner. I had the Asian chicken salad for lunch and the plank salmon for dinner. Both very good. They brew some very good beers, too. Can somebody tell me why they had to close the Germantown location? It sure should have been as big a success as the Midtown one.
Los Compadres - My current favorite Mexican in Memphis. Can somebody please convince them to set up shop in SoWal?
Central Barbeque - My current favorite barbeque in Memphis. Can somebody please convince them to set up shop in SoWal? Is there an echo in here here here here?
Fino's from the Hill - Italian deli and grocery at Madison and McLean. A Midtown institution, and rightfully so. Great sandwiches, soups, pasta specials, lovely desserts, all authentic Italian. Don't be mistaken, we are NOT talking typical pizza and pasta place, Fino's is a whole different thing.
Bogie's deli - Popular lunch spot behind Overton Square. I had the Friday-only shrimp salad sandwich special. Much more shrimp than mayo, thank you. Very good indeed, along with their always-dependable pasta salad, also thankfully not over-mayoed.
Fresh Slices - Great little neighborhood cafe on Overton Park. Simple food, well done, modest prices, friendly service. It's always a favorite.
Huey's for beers Thursday night with the old gang. A Midtown tradition. Good hamburgers and bar food if you need it. Six or seven locations, but the original is the only one for me.
Friday afternoon at Studio on the Square to see the Bourne Ultimatum. Less suspense and more action than the previous two, by my gut feel. But still entertaining.
And yesterday morning, it's back to SoWal. We stopped at EasyWay Produce on the way out of town for some Ripley TN tomatoes. When they are in season, i.e. now, they are the best. And a couple of jars of those great Amish sliced peaches. See www.easywayproduce.com
Lunch was at the Golden Rule Barbeque in Hoover. Takeout eaten in the car in their parking lot to let the pooch stay cool, and it made for a quick lunch. A really good sliced pork sandwich. See www.goldenrulebarbeque.com.
The Georgiana route, coupled with relatively light traffic on 331 (most of the Saturday arrivals were already here by 5:00 PM) as well as the quick takeout lunch led to a Treefrog record 8 hour 45 minute trip (not exceeding 78 MPH on the freeway, honest!).
There you have it. I'm happy to be back in cool and breezy SoWal. Yesterday's high temp near Montgomery (by the Outback's outdoor themometer) was 102.
It was time to spend a week back in Memphis, so last Saturday what seemed like the entire Frog house contents, including dog, were loaded into the Outback and off we went at 7:30 AM. Oops, caught in the Saturday AM "go home" crowd going up 331. By the time we got to Opp, where we could have peeled off for the Geogiana route, the damage was done. Oh well.
Lacking a good catfish place in SoWal, we wanted to stop for lunch at Ezell's Fish Camp in Pelham (Exit 246 on I65 behind the Best Western) but we couldn't find a shady spot in the parking lot (for the dog) so instead, we ate on the patio (with dog there, too) at Margarita Grill at the same exit. Nice waitress and service, OK but not special food, good prices. It worked just fine, thanks. Maybe Ezell's in November...
Check out www.catfishrestaurants.com and Ezell's own web site.
Things were just fine back in Memphis. We saw a lot of friends, the neighbors hadn't turned the house into a crack house, the mowing service is doing a pretty good job, etc.
I never ventured out of Midtown, the whole week. Here are the eating spots, all recommended:
Boscos on the Square - One lunch, one dinner. I had the Asian chicken salad for lunch and the plank salmon for dinner. Both very good. They brew some very good beers, too. Can somebody tell me why they had to close the Germantown location? It sure should have been as big a success as the Midtown one.
Los Compadres - My current favorite Mexican in Memphis. Can somebody please convince them to set up shop in SoWal?
Central Barbeque - My current favorite barbeque in Memphis. Can somebody please convince them to set up shop in SoWal?
Is there an echo in here here here here? Fino's from the Hill - Italian deli and grocery at Madison and McLean. A Midtown institution, and rightfully so. Great sandwiches, soups, pasta specials, lovely desserts, all authentic Italian. Don't be mistaken, we are NOT talking typical pizza and pasta place, Fino's is a whole different thing.
Bogie's deli - Popular lunch spot behind Overton Square. I had the Friday-only shrimp salad sandwich special. Much more shrimp than mayo, thank you. Very good indeed, along with their always-dependable pasta salad, also thankfully not over-mayoed.
Fresh Slices - Great little neighborhood cafe on Overton Park. Simple food, well done, modest prices, friendly service. It's always a favorite.
Huey's for beers Thursday night with the old gang. A Midtown tradition. Good hamburgers and bar food if you need it. Six or seven locations, but the original is the only one for me.
Friday afternoon at Studio on the Square to see the Bourne Ultimatum. Less suspense and more action than the previous two, by my gut feel. But still entertaining.
And yesterday morning, it's back to SoWal. We stopped at EasyWay Produce on the way out of town for some Ripley TN tomatoes. When they are in season, i.e. now, they are the best. And a couple of jars of those great Amish sliced peaches. See www.easywayproduce.com
Lunch was at the Golden Rule Barbeque in Hoover. Takeout eaten in the car in their parking lot to let the pooch stay cool, and it made for a quick lunch. A really good sliced pork sandwich. See www.goldenrulebarbeque.com.
The Georgiana route, coupled with relatively light traffic on 331 (most of the Saturday arrivals were already here by 5:00 PM) as well as the quick takeout lunch led to a Treefrog record 8 hour 45 minute trip (not exceeding 78 MPH on the freeway, honest!).
There you have it. I'm happy to be back in cool and breezy SoWal. Yesterday's high temp near Montgomery (by the Outback's outdoor themometer) was 102.
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home! Loved reading the upside down report!!! 
Summer is finally hitting us in TX...we should hit 100 for the first time this year this week.
