Good Morning, Darlings!
I had the sweetest time in NOLA with my darling husband, but the birthday celebration didn’t stop there. This past Friday night, 22 of us gathered to celebrate some more at Karaoke Melody, a terrific spot on Buford Highway that has private karaoke rooms. Most.Fun.Ever.
The photos really tell the story here, so lets begin!
Teague Checking The Mics
Good Afternoon(!!), Darlings!
I trust you all had a bang up Christmas. We certainly did. There were six of us gathered around the table this year and it was the one of the nicest Christmases I can remember. Oh, we had fun. But you knew that already, didn’t you? 
First, let me list the menu:
Prime Rib, Dry Aged By Eric
Yorkshire Pudding
Mashed Potatoes
Peas
John’s Awesome Veggie Bake w/Brussel Sprouts, Portabellos, Broccoli, Wild Rice, Cheese (Everyone had at least 2 helpings of this!)
Beef Gravy
Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding w/Homemade Whipped Cream
Everything Cookies
Buckets and Buckets of Champagne
Warm and Inviting, Yes?
Good Morning, Darlings!
It is a very rainy day here in Atlanta. I understand there will be snow up north. But here, not so much.
But it has been cold! I thought some soup was in order. Miss Diane was sweet to pick up a gift for us and swing it by, so I thought she should have dinner with us. She called me mid-afternoon to let me know that her beau Jonathan would be flying in from assignment in Columbus, Ohio early evening. How exciting! We would finally meet her mystery man. Jonathan is a well-respected videographer and we couldn’t wait for him to join us.
And to add to the mix, we invited Crystal and Teague to join us. I love a party!
Eric and I are so lucky that our friends are our family. Last night was a prime example.
Each year, Crystal and Teague host a Pre-Thanksgiving dinner that celebrates all the wonderful friends and neighbors we have. Everyone gets to cook what they would like for Thanksgiving as opposed to what they might be forced to endure annually with their blood kin on the 4th Thursday of November. My dear friends really know how to throw a bash. This year the guest list totaled 30 people – wow! Not only did Teague fry a turkey, but grilled two pork butts as well. Crystal was kept busy making not one – but two – dressings. One was an old family recipe with raisins and apples and the other was an oyster dressing. Yum yum yum. Click to continue »
Happy, Happy Sunday, Darlings!
For all of you that do not live in Atlanta, I have to tell you that you missed a great time yesterday in Cabbagetown. Chomp and Stomp is just the southern social event of the year. I rode over early with Crystal and Teague so we could help Miss Lisa set up at her booth. The top was off the jeep and the day was warm and sunny. In November!
We arrived and I helped Miss Lisa with her sign for the day. She decided on selling locally made snap-when-you-bite-them hot dogs and beautiful white bratwurst.
You know what? I have so many photos, I believe I will let them tell most of the story. And away we go!
Miss Lisa's Specials of the Day
Those Gorgeous Brats
Miss Lisa & Mr. Bob Share A Moment
Mr. Bob is a restaurant reviewer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so we kinda have to hide his face. You would agree his is a great face, if you were to meet him.
There were a slew of celebrity judges on hand to judge the chili (and there was a LOT of chili to judge). There was Kevin Gillespie, of Woodfire Grill , who might very well go all the way on “Top Chef,” Kevin Rathbun, who slew Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef,” Scott Serpas, Shaun Doty , Joe Truex and certainly not least of all, Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch. Some fun shots for you:
Chefs Gillespie, Serpas, Doty, Hopkins and Rathbun
Chili to be Judged
Chef Gillespie Takes a Moment for his Fans (me!)
As exciting as mingling with celebrity chefs is, there was also live music and other celebrities as well. Hollis Gillespie (no relation to Kevin, I believe) is a famous author who is about to have her books adapted into a television series. She is seriously hilarious and took a moment to let me be photographed with Lary, her bff and herself. Go buy one of her books!
Hollis, Me and Lary
And of course, lots of friends and neighbors were there, too.
Leila, Val and Jay
Val, Me, Leila, Miss Crystal
Val and Me Before We Entered the Toilet Plunger Relay Race
Yes, Miss Val and I entered a relay race – I called it the Toilet Plunger Relay, Chomp and Stomp called it the Cornholing Relay Race. One member of the team holds a toilet plunger between their legs and runs to the next member, who is holding a roll of toilet paper between her legs – #1 has to use the plunger to thread the toilet paper onto the handle of the plunger. It was fun. We didn’t win, but we laughed – a lot! Oh, and we had to do it while holding a cabbage on our heads. Pretty!
Now for the main attraction – The Cabbage Shredding Contest. Our bestie Teague has won this competition 3 years in a row. First, there were two heats to see who would battle Teague for his crown. Then it was time for Teague to show em how it’s done. Little Michelle handed us her ball point pen and we all wrote a big “T” on our palms to show our support. Teague was clearly in the lead when all of a sudden, he dropped his cabbage! We all gasped and waited to see what would happen next. Teague, the consummate professional, just popped over the table, grabbed the cabbage core and once again took the crown! We all howled with joy! Wooooooo Hooooo!!! I even got some cool action shots. And I won’t even make you wait to see them.
Teague Was In It To Win It! Look at the Cabbage Flying!
Our King and Queen
As Teague’s motto goes – “Today We Slaw!” and slaw he did. He most certainly did.
Besides cabbage and chili everywhere, there were some other food vendors (besides Miss Lisa and her awesome dogs and brats). Lets take a look, shall we?
Perla, One of Miss Lisa's Coffee Girls
Nobody Can Resist a Corndog!
Funnel Cakes! Fried Dough! Nom, Nom, Nom...
After all our darlings filled up on chili and beer, Pie Queen Crystal and Cabbage King Teague (foodie royalty!) invited us all back to their house for a bonfire. Miss Lisa was so sweet and gave me a bundle of bratwurst and buns to take to the bonfire and I added some blue corn chips.
Miss Crystal grilled the brats while we all warmed ourselves by the fire. They were insanely tasty and everyone gobbled them up. Then Becky and Tim introduced us to a twist on an old favorite – ’smores. They took two slices of Italian bread, brushed it with olive oil and salt, grilled it, spread it with a nice smear of Nutella, roasted a marshmallow and slipped it between the two pieces of grilled bread. It was heavenly. Tim called it “Italian ‘Smores,” I said it should be called “It’s A’smore.” Whatever you call it, I can tell you what it tastes like. It tastes like you need one more.
"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, It's A'Smore!"
By this time I was pretty beat and ready to hit the sack. Eric and I bundled up and walked home as our shoes crunched the dried, fallen leaves underfoot.
I am going to leave you with a quote from Mr. Tim’s blog :
For me, that place is Atlanta.
xoxo, Patti
