Sweet Home Alabama 2013 - 3

It's daylight savings time!  Can spring be far away? 

Sunday -- We went to Ryan's where they have been advertising a hibachi grilled chicken/shrimp/beef special. We missed Mimosa Madness at the Clubhouse as I needed to rest my table muscle and LeRoy had to strap in for a NASCAR race.  We took a bike ride and ended up at Hebbe's for late afternoon cocktails and a few laughs.

Monday -- Met fellow WAW members at Craft Farms restaurant for lunch.  No, it's not a farm, but rather a golf course surrounded by many upscale subdivisions.  Had a coupon for onion rings -- they were huge...and shared.   I suggested we opt for the site next door if we ever return here, but after the rain, the entire patio area was covered with 3" of rain although 4 hours later it was almost dry.

Tuesday -- Took a drive to Pensacola, FL to Joe Patti's Seafood Market. This is a world famous fish monger that sells a carnival of seafood at wholesale prices. There was a 100 foot seafood '  counter of a plethora of fresh caught fish and shrimp, everything from fish fillets, sushi, lobster, cheeses, wines, gourmet deli and gelato.  There was constant motion with people were coming and going.  There is a protocol: bring a cooler, browse the seafood counter, get a number from the security guard to be served at the seafood counter and wait for your number to be called.  Be ready or you will lose your turn.  You get your order from an associate who will walk you from item to item while giving you preparation tips.  You take your booty of fish to the back counter to pay and have it packed in your cooler.  So many fish, so little time.

I was introduced to beignets, deep-fried triangular pastry (like an elephant ear at the Fair) and sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Of course, you could also get them with a raspberry filling or Bavarian cream filling.  We ate delicious grilled shrimp at Sam's Restaurant right across the street from Joe Patti's.





We drove along the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola.  The Gulf Islands protects 5,842 acres of public land and 18,953 acres of water along 52 miles of Gulf and bay shoreline around Pensacola.  Mississippi shoreline is also included but no Alabama shores, which were originally considered and as of 2009, is part of the national seashore.

White sand blew and drifted across the paved road and the on the stairs to the boardwalks.  the boardwalks help protect growing plants on the sand dunes and make it easier to access the beach. The sparkling white quartz sand, sometimes called "sugar sand" creates what some say is the world's whitest beaches.  While we walked the beach and picked seashells, the surf crashed onto the shore creating its own thunder.