Sunny Days

IMG_2271, originally uploaded by reach33.

Sloanman soaking it up

Sloan's gets sandy

IMG_2294, originally uploaded by reach33.

We brought Sloanman down to the edge of our great country for the first time. Click the pic fo mo.

Review: Lulu's Homeport - Gulf Shores, AL

Someone told me Lulu is Jimmy Buffet's sister and the website confirms it. While we were grubbin' an older lady came up to our table and we asked her if she was Lulu. "No" she said, "I'm Taylor Hicks's grandmother." BAM! This place is packed with famous relatives!

But how did it taste?















Atmosphere: Flawless
Definitely the main attraction is the place. Right on the intercoastal waterway, huge kid-friendly sandbox area, bright colors, musician stage, big picnic tables to sit at, etc etc. It doesn't get more beachy than this. You won't be dissapointed.









Service: Mediocre
Lulu's obviously has a ton of business because when I had a special request for my dish they said sorry, the kitchen doesn't do special requests. Sounds like the Apple of the restaurant biz. I guess when people flock to you, you can afford to set some limits. It wasn't even a big request so that suprised me. Other than that service was great.








Food: Just pretty good
I asked the waitress what the best thing on the menu was and without hesitating she said the Mahi Mahi tacos. They were ok, not amazing. Other dishes were the pineapple topped hamburger, which was excellent, and the blackened mahi mahi greek salad, which was just pretty good. Not terribly dissapointed with the meal but not impressed either. It's a solid meal, but the attraction isn't the incredible food.






Verdict: Go to have a good time, not to have your tastebuds amazed.












Lulu's is located just off Hwy 59 in Gulf Shores


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Review: Huff n' Puff Smokehouse - Waynesboro, MS

Tucked away in a town only 2 or 3 people have ever been to, is a double wide off Hwy 145 that serves up "pecan smoked barbeque", Huff n' Puff Smokehouse(I was shocked they had a website). Instead of driving thru one of the usual fast food places that grab you on road trips we decided to go local and weren't dissapointed.



Atmosphere: Down home double wide
I liked it. Something endearing about eating BBQ in a double wide with classic red/white picnic table cloths. I'm not sure I would franchise the look, but it works for a local spot in Waynesboro. If you look at the pick above you can see it really is a double wide trailor.









Service: Good with a southern accent
You order at a window and the peeps behind the counter are really nice. They even put extra food on the plate for some newcomers. Funny thing is they closed at 8 pm on a friday night, so luckily they kept it open a little longer for us.









Food: Better than average
Since Memphis has so many good bbq spots, there is a lot of competition with my tastebuds. Huff n' Puff came strong but I can think of several places I would rather eat bbq than here. I wouldn't be sad if I had to eat there again, but I doubt I would have ever thought again about it if it wasn't for this blog. The sauce was too sweet and I don't like sweet bbq. The red beans and rice were nice, and the potatoe salad was loaded with sour cream, which makes me queasy.






Verdict: Definitely the best place to stop halfway to the coast from Memphis, but don't go out of your way to get there.










Huff n' Puff is off Hwy 145 in Waynesboro, MS


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My current situation

He must work out

Review: Noodle Swing - Flower Mound, TX

So while in the Dallas area visiting family I had the opportunity to check out a new Thai restaurant called Noodle Swing, so hip I know (click on their name to see how not to design a website). With a fairly unimpressive logo and predictably modernish interior I didn't expect such tasty food so let's get into the review shall we?


Atmosphere: Predictably Mod
It wasn't bad at all. In fact its a pleasant spot to be. It doesn't scream fine restaurant but it works for generic 2008 restaurant decor. Might I add the lighting was pleasant.



Service: Good
In fact, I can barely remember the service. Which is probably a great thing.














Food: Fantastic
My "goto" thai dish is the Pad Thai. From what I understand that is to thai cuisine what the hamburger is to American food. I had the chicken pad thai and it was some of the best I've had. Other selections at the table were something I can't remember but it was good, and also Basil Fried rice, which definitely got the approving nod from the taster.







Verdict: Go Here for a quick and tasty sit down meal













Noodle Swing is located off Cross Timbers road in Flower Mound, TX

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In Waynesboro grubbin'

Tasty

Just starring on the applesauce and oatmeal

Practicing

How sad that this sign's fine print is what some aspire to

Mesmerized

Profile of a Champion

When I'm nervous I grab a giraffe

Metrosexual alert!

Review - Golden India Restaurant, Memphis, TN

The perfect blend of taste's from across the pacific and gluttonous portions found in the American buffet describe my latest food adventure at Golden India Restaurant in Memphis. I realize this is my second buffet review in a row. I merely ate until I was 'satisfied' :)

Traditionally, indian food is not on my good list, but everyone kept talking about this buffet saying stuff like "Dude, I don't like indian food AT ALL, but this place is awesome", which pretty much sums up my experience here too. Don't worry if you don't like curry, Golden India will have your tastebuds in a flurry.

What?




Atmosphere: Scary
You walk in and you say "Is this the place they want me to go?!". It's very poor and makes you think about possibly turning around and walking out the door despite the awkwardness you would feel. Because Maroon is the color of death, I did not appreciate the table cloths or the carpet.









Service: Just Fine
There was a little bit of a shortage of food in the buffet at the beginning but it was filled back up promptly.





Food: Home Run
I still hate curry, but I love this place for some reason. Everything I put in my mouth was tasty. Lamb meatballs, Caulliflower whatchamacallit, Chicken blahblahblah. I can't remember any of the names but I remember wanting more of all of it.
They only have the buffet on weekday lunch. I have no clue how the menu items taste but they are probably good too.







Price:
For a water + buffet + tip = 9.36


Verdict: Go here for Lunch, even if you don't like Indian food


Golden India is located off Madison Avenue in Overton Square

Sloan and his friend

Swordfish with tomatoe, basil and caper sauce complemented with Zuchinni and herb couscous

Eating dad's sock. (not dirty!)

Pillsbury

Jaba the hut

Waiting at the doc for the 4 month checkup

Review: Leonard's Pit Barbeque - Memphis, TN

Ashley and I like to try new spots to eat so I thought it would be good for the millions reading this blog to let us be the guinea pigs for places you haven't been. I'll rate Atmosphere, Service, and then the most important Taste.

Last night we went down to southeast memphis to try out Leonard's Pit BBQ. If you look on the website you will see they are going to be featured on the Food Network...WHAT?!





Atmosphere: Lame-O
I found out Leonards started in the 1920's and this location was created in the 80's, but it's not cool throwback 80's. They have a car in the middle of the first room that is cool...I guess. You know how some old restuarants have this charm to them and you wouldn't want to change a thing? Well, that is not Leonards. It is old without the charm, just a very dark and overall pretty dreary feeling vibe.

Service: Fine
We had a nice lad serving us. It was a buffet so they got off easy here but he did have prompt drink delivery. Everyone that worked there was nice.


Taste: Mediocre
This is where all the other categories can fade away, right? If the food is awesome then you can have me eating in the bathroom. Leonard's came up far short of what I would expect from a place that the Food Network is covering. It was a small buffet with plenty of OK food to choose from. I tried almost everything, the best was the baked chicken, the greens, the mac and cheese, and the yeast rolls.





Supposedly the time to come is for the Sunday lunch buffet and we appeared on Sunday evening.

Towards the end of the meal I was so confused. Why do people like this place? So I asked the waiter, "What to people come to Leonards for?"

"The onion rings and the lemon icebox pie."

WHAT?!

Verdict: Don't go

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Sloanman gettin his chat on with Grand

Feelin free

Learning to stand

Guitar Hero = Fun!

He needed some workout gear

Chilly came over to shred on the new axe

--
Ben Washer
Sent from my Phone

The fam stopped by the office

Enjoying time at the new coffee shop down the street

Late night magic at Perkins diner with Danny "the Hammer"

Ben making Sloan laugh.

This is my best rendition of Ashley's first performance from the video "Sloan Laughing", which we all know and love. Take a second and watch Dad do his best to be like her.

You might want to watch the old video first to jog your memory:





Here is the new Daddy Edition™:

Testing. Sloan in da carseat!

Testing. Sloan in da carseat!, originally uploaded by reach33.

Yo look errbody. Sloanman up in the seat!

--
Ben Washer
Sent from my Phone

Smilin' Sloan

[repost] Some photogs for you peeps on Sloanman having a good time on the bed. Click for the whole set.




You can notice the mohawk has morphed lately as he has lost all his hair except for a nice little patch on top.