Well, after our excursion to the various beaches we made our way back to the hotel in that Janet had seen that Dallas was playing today on CBS. Well, leave it to the network to put on a different game and that was just not right. So Janet went walking and I did some posting before taking a nap. Love, love, love naps on weekends.
So this evening for our last supper on the coast we went to a place called Lil' Bayou Restaurant and the Magnolia Lounge, a taste of Louisiana in Seaside. You'll see as you look at the photos the restaurant offers three distinct and different cuisines: Cajun, Creole, and Northwest Seafood. Cajun food is a little spicy but hearty, Creole food is cooked using traditional European techniques with local ingredients and Northwest seafood is just delicious. So sit back and relax and enjoy this gastronomic journey.
So the dinner begins with the two photos above. Bayou Clam Chowder is good and spicy but not overly so. Some call this the best clam chowder they have ever had. While I cannot say that, I can say it was the best this weekend. What a nice bite to it. Also you can see some spicy chips that were served and a "next-day slaw" that was vinegar based and had some jalapenos chopped in, but not hot. Quite good. After this came a plethora of plates that just exploded with flavors. Up first was Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Banana Salsa. Large shrimp grilled to perfection and served with sweet and slightly spicy banana salsa. Discovered that the salsa was an accident in that it was to be mango but they did not have any and so used bananas. Thus, the rest is history. Also served was Corn Maque Choux a creamy corn made with rich cream. Boy it brought the hush puppies to life. Hushpuppies with a spicy marinara and that was forgettable. Fried Green Tomatoes that were served with a bland vinegar but I opted to use the banana salsa. And finally, Fried Okra which was served with the green onion vinaigrette that was also forgettable. But oh the memories of the south swirled and our bellies filled. Soon Main course would be served.
Janet decided to go with the Grilled Vegetable & Mozzarella Salad. This salad was a mountain of spring greens with a blend of grilled squashes, asparagus and more and she opted to add four grilled prawns then have the honey mustard vinaigrette on the side. She could not finish it tonight but likely will for lunch tomorrow.
I decided to go simple and southern. Paneed Breast of Chicken which takes a pounded breast of chicken and is dredged in flour and fried. Covered in a southern pecan gravy, it was served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. In the end, the chicken was good, but the dish was lifeless and pretty much DOA on arrival. Would not order again.
Something I have so discovered this weekend is that my Dad still lives through me. I swear at just about every meal at some point, often near the end, there will be a spill. Either a little soup or a drop of salad dressing, just something to make a stain on my shirt. This happened to Dad and now me. Oh I get them out, but they are another sign I need to refocus and drop some weight and make it so there is less space to travel from plate to mouth. It is cutting the travel time across the great divide. Yes, of course I mention this at the end of a long posting on food, but then when is a good time to talk about the battle of the bulge? What can be said is that the weekend was much more about relaxing and not so food focused, but heck I know y'all enjoy hearing about the food! Catch up more later!
Upon my return to Seattle a nap way really needed and so slept the afternoon away. Up at 4:40pm and time to get a shower and ready to head to Ballard as Jodie and Rob hosted me for dinner. A delightful surprise was including a couple of people from the wine dinner. Shepard's Pie and fresh from the oven cookies plus a couple bottles of wine made for a great evening. Home by 8pm and believe you me, I was asleep by 9pm. Good Night!
Happy Birthday Janet, I look to many more fun memories and journeys with you in the future, my sister, my friend! Enjoy!
So this evening for our last supper on the coast we went to a place called Lil' Bayou Restaurant and the Magnolia Lounge, a taste of Louisiana in Seaside. You'll see as you look at the photos the restaurant offers three distinct and different cuisines: Cajun, Creole, and Northwest Seafood. Cajun food is a little spicy but hearty, Creole food is cooked using traditional European techniques with local ingredients and Northwest seafood is just delicious. So sit back and relax and enjoy this gastronomic journey.
So the dinner begins with the two photos above. Bayou Clam Chowder is good and spicy but not overly so. Some call this the best clam chowder they have ever had. While I cannot say that, I can say it was the best this weekend. What a nice bite to it. Also you can see some spicy chips that were served and a "next-day slaw" that was vinegar based and had some jalapenos chopped in, but not hot. Quite good. After this came a plethora of plates that just exploded with flavors. Up first was Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Banana Salsa. Large shrimp grilled to perfection and served with sweet and slightly spicy banana salsa. Discovered that the salsa was an accident in that it was to be mango but they did not have any and so used bananas. Thus, the rest is history. Also served was Corn Maque Choux a creamy corn made with rich cream. Boy it brought the hush puppies to life. Hushpuppies with a spicy marinara and that was forgettable. Fried Green Tomatoes that were served with a bland vinegar but I opted to use the banana salsa. And finally, Fried Okra which was served with the green onion vinaigrette that was also forgettable. But oh the memories of the south swirled and our bellies filled. Soon Main course would be served.
Janet decided to go with the Grilled Vegetable & Mozzarella Salad. This salad was a mountain of spring greens with a blend of grilled squashes, asparagus and more and she opted to add four grilled prawns then have the honey mustard vinaigrette on the side. She could not finish it tonight but likely will for lunch tomorrow.
I decided to go simple and southern. Paneed Breast of Chicken which takes a pounded breast of chicken and is dredged in flour and fried. Covered in a southern pecan gravy, it was served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. In the end, the chicken was good, but the dish was lifeless and pretty much DOA on arrival. Would not order again.
This is a Guard Rail - the old fashion kind
They keep you from going over the edge and crashing.
This is a Seagull on a Guard Rail.
This is a HUGE piece of driftwood on the beach...
Parked at Tolivana - Pondering the Waves...
What the hell is Tolivana, you ask?
A State Park on the Oregon Coast I share...
All of Oregon Coast is public access and oh the beauty...
Chris is touring the northern coast with his sister.
Foggy weather makes for a mystery morning.
His sister thinks she can get a better picture! 
Here I am trying to smile and not aware that she is about to take my picture as I get in one of my first slurps of coffee of the day. You would think I have a Carrol Merrill look to me or something. Let's Make A Deal!
So then I am laughing so hard from the first attempt that indeed this is the perfect time to try and take the 2nd picture. And the fish are trying to get away as fast as possible.
OK, I thought we did this one already. Get the camera away from my sister, she is going to make me look like a drunk before we are done. Oh wait, too late. I look toasted in this picture and have not been near a cocktail in three days. Heck, my left eye looks like it is one of those "lazy eyes" or something.
OK, let's try this again. What is going on here? It is like I am looking just past her or am I praying? Not quite sure. It is like "take me to your leader!" or something like that. I look like a droid, not the phone, the robot.
And why should there be the perfect result? No, this one looks like I have been kicked in the nether region or perhaps tazed or something? I now know what a deer looking in the headlights feels like! And so goes our photo shoot of the moment. And she only had one hot chocolate, imagine what would have happened on two?
This amazing sculpture of a Halibut greeted us this morning. It is copper and hangs over the fireplace at Morris' Fireside Restaurant. This is a place we discovered years ago and the current location sits where the original was built back in 1925 and sat until it burned down in the latter part of the 20th century. The current building was built at quite an expense and has been feeding the masses since.
We both opted for simple breakfasts. As you can see here it was flapjacks, eggs and bacon with maple syrup served on the side. It seems Janet and I both agree that pancakes do not need butter, just the syrup.
As you can see above it was hash browns, scrambled eggs and bacon for me. I got a biscuit and the server was nice enough to bring a small ramekin of their sausage gravy to try. To be completely honest, I now wish she had not. It was pasty and tasteless. I had to dump a lot of salt and pepper on it just to made it edible.
