Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!

Friday was my birthday, but Monday was a holiday, so I suggested to Deborah that we celebrate on Monday.  I worked Friday, so it would have been 7 o’clock or later before I could have made it up to Pinehurst.

I had my 6 months, doctor’s visit, with Dr. Sloan on Monday morning which had been re-scheduled for 9:30 am.  The week before, I had gone in to get my lab work done (blood & urine).

Things fell into place in the morning.  I got up, showered, and headed to the Rainbow Restaurant for breakfast.  I managed to get a load of wash started, and load the dishwasher and get it going before I headed out the door.

I got to the the Rainbow and sat in one of my usual places, the right corner, just inside the front door.  There are four booths there.  There was a large number of men in the next room, and Marie was rushing around in a “hurry mode.”  I ordered coffee, link sausage, eggs (don’t recall if they were over medium or scrambled) ,crispy potatoes and whole wheat toast “dry not buttered”.  *Although, I sometimes spread butter on the bread.  Erna and Bufford came in and sat diagonally across from me.  I kidded with them that Marie was in a hurry mode and they better be ready to order as she came through.

I got up to get the catsup and hot sauce and as I did, Marie said something to me.  A short while later she realized that she hadn’t brought my breakfast to me.  And, a little while later she remembered the toast.

The Hendricks came in, greeting Erna, Bufford and me.  Both Mr. (I guess he’s Reverend) and Mrs. Hendricks (nee Methodist College/University) are delightful people.  *In fact, as I was leaving, I turned to both couples and stated that they were such fun to play with (maybe not my exact words).  I had enough time to go back to my apartment, get my food chopper out of the dishwasher, and collect all the items I wanted to take with me.  *I brought the ingredients for the mango, avocado, pineapple, & chipotle salsa, and garbanzo beans and ingredients for some hummus (garlic clove, tumeric, Italian parsley, lime).  I brought a can of smoked oysters, but didn’t open it because Deb wasn’t enamored of oysters.

Rev. Hendricks had mentioned about a paternity case in which an native American Indian from Oklahoma (the father) had filed for custody of his child, who had been adopted by a non-Indian couple and the South Carolina courts had upheld his right to the child.  I grumbled, playfully, as I left saying that I would have to google for more details on the case to figure out who I thought should have custody.

Later, in the doctor’s office waiting room, I had a chance to google, from my phone, and found enough of the details to decide that I thought the courts were right also.  There is some kind of federal law, relating to keeping Indian families in tact (as if you shouldn’t keep all families in tact), the father had filed for custody 4 months after his child’s birth and the case had been in the courts for some time.  I’m sure the SC couple love the child, but they had to know that it was possible the child would be returned to the father.  Doesn’t lessen the love & loss.

I signed into the Dr.’s sign-in sheet and sat down.  Not very long afterward, a fellow patient, one seat over to my left started coughing (or maybe it was sneezing), but whichever, it rudely awakened me to the fact that there were sick people around me… sick people that could give me whatever flu or virus they were currently suffering through, so without hesitation, I got up immediately and moved as far away from everyone as I could (by the large window near the elevator & bathroom).  *I felt bad, if my moving made them feel bad, but I would feel worse if I got their disease.

Not too long later, Casey (one of Dr. Sloan’s nurses) came to the door and called my name.  I followed Casey to the weigh-in room, and quickly on the scales, saw that I was weighing about 250 lbs.  (I figured that I had gained about 20 lbs. since my last visit.  Later Dr. Sloan would let me know that it was only 9 lbs. more.  *I’m thinking it is still about 20 lbs. more than the lowest I had been earlier in the year, which was 229 lbs. for one day.)  Casey took my blood pressure (130 something over 85 or so) and after I asked her, it was in the normal range, and probably a little better than my last visit.  Casey directed me to wait at the end of the hall on the right (where I have always waited).

A short time later Dr. Sloan (Jes) came in.  She looked through my numbers and said everything was looking very good.  She even suggested that I might be able to reduce my dosage of Metformin (which has not been a real problem, except for gas, and that, not that bad), so I now bite a tablet in two, and am starting to take half my previous dosage.  I’ll check my bgl and if it stays within a reasonable range (125 to 100) for the next month, I’ll keep the lower daily dosage.  I’m supposed to get blood work in about 3 months (April), and then have another blood work and Dr.’s visit in about 6 months (July 2013).

Found that Dr. Sloan was a graduate of ASU (Applachian State, Boone, NC).  I told her a short story about my yellow ASU rubber duck that I have on my bathtub ledge.  I bought it as a present for Jackson Cooper Sharpe (didn’t know if he would be a boy or girl, or what the name would be when I bought the ducky).  I thought I might buy rubber ducks from various colleges/universities and give them in a mesh bag so that they could all be pulled out for tub fun.  He didn’t float well… he would flop on his side when there was enough water in the tub.  So, I got a baby blanket, and kept the one rubber duck.

It was a little after 10 am when I left the doctor’s parking lot and headed up to Pinehurst, NC.  The day was sunny, mildly cold and beautiful.  I’ve driven the “slightly over an hour” trip between Fayetteville and Pinehurst many times.  The trip is a good time to think about whatever you might want to think about.  The twists and curves are familiar and don’t require much thought to navigate, while you think about things.

I rang Deb’s door bell.  The front door was open, so I could see down the hallway.  No one answered, but I could hear someone banging pots and pans, as if they were looking for one.  I waited, and just as I reached to ring the door bell again, Deb poked her head around the corner from the kitchen as if she hadn’t actually heard the door bell.  *She hadn’t apparently.

She was thinking that pizza would be for dinner, while I had thought we would have pizza for lunch and the salsa and hummus for dinner.  She changed clothes and we headed over to Vito’s Pizza, which was nearby.

When we got to the door of Vito’s, we saw that the place was closed for lunch (just today, not because of the MLK Holiday, but, as Vito would personally tell us when he came out to talk to us) they were putting in a new “something” [freezer, counter, something which would stir up saw dust and make dining unpleasant for lunch] but would be open for dinner (5pm).  I suggested that we go back home and fix the salsa and hummus for lunch, and then go out for pizza for dinner.

We had a good time preparing lunch and eating it.  I slept for a while afterwards, and Deb prepared my sugar-free coconut cream pie (from scratch).

Russ came home from work about 3:30 or 4.  I woke enough to reach up, say hello, and shake his hand from the sofa.  He and Deb conversed about some “time share” arrangements, etc.  Deb gave him the salsa and hummus to keep him satisfied until we went out for pizza, and Deb & I made running commentary as he tasted the items.

I’m not sure why we changed from Vito’s to the Mellow Mushroom.  It might be that Russ said something about there being a new MM in Pinehurst and that they had good pizza, when he and the kids had gone to one with Brian & Julie.  I was all for going to the Mellow Mushroom (we have one in Fayetteville that I haven’t visited yet, but plan to now).

Russ drove us over to the MM.  Russ and I got out and Deb left us to do some quick (turns out, “hectic”) shopping at Wal-Mart while we went in and sat down and ordered pizza and drinks.

We sat around the corner from the front door.  There were various large, fake,  mushrooms hanging from the ceiling.  Large murals painted on the walls and even a large green caterpiller (all referencing Alice in Wonderland).  It reminded me a little of some bar that I had visited when I was first in Chapel Hill, at Carolina, in 1972.

Tashina came to our table, to greet us (Russ & me) which was to be the start of a very pleasant meal/experience.  She asked if we wanted to see a beer list, but Russ ordered tea, and I ordered unsweet tea, with some sweetner, and we said we were waiting for one more person.  Tashina was very “laid back” but personable.  She took what I considered an extreme amount of time talking to us.  *This was not a bad thing.  This was a good thing, but it is not something that most waitresses do, or are allowed to do.  But, when it happens, it is much appreciated, and hopefully our tip, matches the gratitude we want to express to an attentive waitress/waiter.  **I’m never sure if what I think is a good tip, is what the waitress thinks is a good tip.  It would be a shame to be trying to express your gratitude and it be interpreted as a “ho hum” reward.

But, let me say, Tashina gave us all a very enjoyable experience, one that I was most grateful for, as I celebrated my birthday a few days late.

Tashina offered options and suggestions on what we might order.  She said that her favorite pizza was the Thai Pizza.  The ingredients looked good from the menu, but there were several other specialty pizzas, Mediterranean, Buffalo Wing, and House Special (a good old everything on it) pizzas.  And, I especially wanted a good old standard pizza.  Tashina said we could have a half & half pizza, two types on one pizza.  The small pizzas come cut in 4 pieces, which she said could be double-cut.  That was perfect.

We ordered 4 types: Mediterranean, Buffalo Wing, House Special and Thai, and wanted them double-cut so that we could all try each.

Deb arrived, we talked, and the pizza was brought out by another waitress.  I noticed that they weren’t double-cut.  Tashina came over and took them back for the extra cut. *Hey, what does it take to do the extra cut, and yet it provided each of us the opportunity to sample each and determine which we liked best.  A small gesture that meant a lot.

The pizzas returned and we all began to try what looked good.

The House Special was very good, exactly what I had been looking for.  I don’t eat a lot of pizza any more.  I don’t go out with a group very often, and buying a medium pizza, or even a small may be too much for me.  But, then I tried the Thai pizza.  Deb had started with this one, I think, and had really liked it.  It was sweet, and had chicken, Thai basil and tomato, with some sweet sauce.  I liked the flavors a lot and complimented Tashina later for her suggestion.

Earlier, Russ had mentioned to Tashina that we were celebrating my birthday.  He said it only once, and not much more than a passing comment.   But, this is one of those extra touches provided by Tashina that made the experience special.  Late in the dining experience, I look across the dining area, and see Tashina bringing what appears to be a plate with something “birthdayee” on it.  How does one recognize a birthday treat from a distance?  Maybe it is something we learn when we are very small.  I said, before she turned the corner and made it to our table, “She has gone over the top!”  I knew this was for me.  I also was pretty sure that neither Russ nor Deb had made a special request to bring this.  Tashina had recorded the item in her databanks, and had taken that extra step to make my/our experience exceptional!  And it was expectional.  Thanks Tashina!

Oh, it was a three cornered green plate with whipped cream at the three corners.  There was a round chocolate cake brownie at the center, with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and a cherry topped even higher.  There was chocolate syrup, spelling “Happy Birthday,” written across the plate.  I said, “Let me get a photo,” to which Tashina was quick to offer the pose above.  Obviously, not her first time at play with customers.

We all enjoyed the desert immensely!  Thank you Tashina for your generous and playful spirit.  Much appreciated!!!

—

During our play, “Tashina” mentioned, to Russ, that her name was that of an Indian princess.  I had earlier asked if she were a Lumbee Indian. to which she had responded to the affirmative.  Her maiden name was Harris.  Not what I normally think of as one of the more famous Lumbee names, such as Oxendine or Locklear.

Please take this as a reference from me, Bill:  Tashina (nee Harris) is an exceptional “people person”.  I’ve only had one brief, but memorable encounter with her, but I left having been made better by our “play time.”  If she wants to work for you, I would suggest hiring her quickly, paying her generously, and stepping back and reaping the rewards of a talented worker.  — Bill.

I was watching Jacques Pepin fix a soup on television and when I saw the finished product in the red bowl/tureen, I took a picture of it.  I’m not sure what caught my eye, but it was a deep rich red and the soup looked so good bubbling up in it.

I googled for red soup bowls, but didn’t find anything that looked like the picture I had.  Finally, I gravitated toward KQED and the web site that had hosted the Pepin cooking show.  I found what appeared to be the episode I had watched and entered a comment asking who might have made the soup bowl shown in the episode.  After posting the comment, I continued to look through the web site and found a Credits link that listed the various vendors that had supported the show.  When I clicked on the Emile Henry link, the first image that appeared was the bright red bowl.  Apparently, they have a line of this cookware (Flame Top) that combines a special clay with other secret ingredients to produce cookware that can go on the stove top, in the oven, and in the microwave & dishwasher and has a 10 year warranty.  They had red, black and blue versions, but, I liked the red.  *I visited Amazon.com and found that I could purchase the oven for about $20 less than buying it directly from the Emile Henry Company.  I ordered it with the free delivery option.  Instead of taking more than a week, I see that the item should be delivered today (only 3 days).  It may be Monday, if they do not leave the package on my doorstep.

ADDENDUM [04/03/12]:  UPS did try to deliver on Friday, but without a signature did not leave the package.  I signed the back of the delivery notice and left it on my door on Monday.  Monday afternoon when I arrived home from work, the box was sitting in front of my door.  It was a rather large box, and I first thought that maybe Amazon had sent me a larger sized pot than I ordered.  As I picked up the box, it was very light and I realized that there was probably packing material around the oven inside.

As I put the box down, I heard a sound that made me think, “Oh, the lid must be broken.”  I then thought, “No, it is probably just jostling around inside.”  As I peeled the flaps of the outer box, I saw the large pockets, bubble wrap which encased a smaller box.  The lid was intact.  As I removed the lid, I saw that the pot was broken… in several pieces.  “Damn, if it isn’t always something.”

I removed the inner box.  Strangely, the outer box had no signs of damage.  The inner box appeared to have been punctured from the inside out (although, I guess you could puncture from the outside and while removing the prod, the cardboard would be pulled outward.  Maybe the broken pot had pierced the inner box?

I went online and found the Amazon return policy pages.  I entered my reason for wanting a replacement pot and saw that I could print out return labels for UPS (no charge to me) to return the broken oven.  Amazon would also send out a replacement before actually receiving my return, but would charge my credit card if the return wasn’t received within 30 days.

I plan to package it up today, print out the labels, affix them and take the package to the UPS office (wherever that may be… Hope Mills?).

ADDENDUM:  The replacement package arrived on Thursday (following the Monday when the first package arrived) a little before 2pm.  I immediately opened the outer package and then noticed that the inner box (the first one was a solid dark green color), which had pictures of the red oven, was punctured as the first inner box had been.  When I opened the inner box, I saw that the lid and pot were both intact, although I gave them a close inspection to make sure there were no cracks or chips.  But, whatever had punctured the outside of the box had indented part of the inner cardboard.  *I left feedback on Amazon.com letting them know that they should check to see if they have something that is doing this during packaging.

ADDENDUM: I procrastinated for several days before packaging up the return, but got online and found that there was a UPS Store in the Westwood Shopping Center.  I planned on leaving for lunch early, as I didn’t know how long I would have to wait at UPS, and also wanted to go to Red Lobster (It has been many years since I went to one [in Jacksonville, NC, I think] for lunch.

So, I walk in the door at UPS and almost immediately a young man, behind the counter, was asking if he could help me.  I said, “Yes,” but there were a couple of people at the counter being helped by two other clerks, and I was a little quizzical about how I could be helped.  But, as I walked around to the end of the counter, the young man walked around from the back of the counter and took the package as I handed it to him.  He looked at the label and told me the time the package should leave that afternoon.  We both turned our backs to each other as I headed out the door dumbfounded.  I couldn’t believe that I had come in, did what was necessary, and was out the door in 30 seconds (or less).  Wow!  I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had waited 20 minutes or more.

I got an email notice today (04/13/12) that said my return had been received by Amazon.  *I haven’t cooked with the new pot yet.

ADDENDUM-ADDENDUM [02/24/14]:  It took me almost two years before I tried cooking something in this pot.  I went to Hubert/Jacksonville to celebrate Ray, Mary Ann and my birthdays and we went to Longhorn Restaurant on Sunday, January 19, 2014.  While there, I had a delicious French Onion Soup, and I decided to make more when I got home that night.  Coincidentally, I see that the soup that Pepin was fixing was “Onion Soup Lyonnaise-Style”.  Well, it turned out well, but one soup in almost two years seems somewhat underused for the $100+ pot.

ADDENDUM-ADDENDUM-ADDENDUM [06/24/21]: And now, almost ten years later and I don’t recall the last time I cooked anything in the pot. It is a beautifully made oven. I bought some dried beans yesterday at the WNC Farmer’s Market in Asheville. Speckled Butter, Yellow Eye and October beans all that I have never tried. I bought some pieces of ham hocks this morning at IGA, and some Andouille and Kielbasa sausages at Publix.

ADDENDUM ADINFINITUM [04/09/24]: I think it was last year that I gave the round, red oven to Jacquelin. Actually, I just left it, along with some other stuff, inside their new house they have been building. The beans I mentioned above, I cooked, and all three did not reach the level of flavor worth repeating. I have written about this bean cookery elsewhere. I came away thinking that these beans had not reached the level to compete with their more favorite counterparts, such as black-eyed peas or white limas.

I never did cook much in the red pot. I did cook on the stove top (surprising to me) and in the oven a few times, but it was a pretty pot. *I am now reading “The Black Box,” a Harry Bosch novel by Michael Connelly. I am just beginning the read, but there is a young woman, who was found, dead, in an alley during the 1992 race riots in L.A. I think this case wasn’t solved, and now in 2012, it may still go unsolved. So, the time of the story is also the actual time that I bought this little round, red oven.

I awoke early on Thursday morning before my alarm went off.  Got up, showered, and left early enough to get to Asheville by about 11am.  I almost always stop at the Davie County Rest Area for a bathroom break and stretch.

I got into Asheville with enough time to find Cafe Azalea on Tunnel Road about 30 minutes before it opened.  I roamed down around a few mountain roads and went past Warren Wilson College before turning around and making it back to the restaurant.

There are a few outside tables, at which there were a few adults and a little girl.  I walked into the darkened interior and was seated by the waiter near the back, but facing out (the establishment having a large glass front).

I looked through the menu, and the waiter brought me iced tea, and waited on several other customers (a couple by the front door, a man reading a paper by the front window, and a couple which came in, went to the register/bar area, talked briefly with the staff and then left).

I ordered the Shrimp & Grits, which I had seen reviewed online as being distinct in that they weren’t too spicy, but perfect for the reviewer.  *And my review would be the opposite.  They weren’t distinctive, because they weren’t spicy, and although not totally bland, just “nothing to write home about.”   However, they are worth blogging about;-)

I also ordered a cup of the Ginger-Carrot Soup, which in addition to those ingredients already mentioned, included creme fraiche and coconut flavoring with a topping of chives (I think.).  I enjoyed the slight flavors, but eventually added some raw sugar to “turn” the soup for a sweet element.

The Shrimp and Grits were a disappointment, but the soup was different, and good.

I finished my meal, left and entered the Blue Ridge Parkway below the restaurant.  I soon found the Folk Art Center (a museum, working art studio and gift shop).  I roamed the aisles, and bought a couple of coffee mugs, toured the museum and then left.

I found the Days Inn via my GPS (almost) and after checking in, realized that this was a really old hotel which had been renovated… The cheap price had not entered my consciousness as a question mark.  *The hotel, room and facilities were adequate for me.  If I were married, I would not bring my wife…

I did ride around downtown Asheville, by the Grove Arcade, and then eventually out to the WNC Farmer’s Market where I made a quick tour.  *I did not intend to buy anything on Thursday, especially ramps.  But returned on Friday morning to buy cheese, honey, some potatoes, a couple of tomatoes, and a couple of bunches of ramps (@$3).

At some point, around 5pm, I set my GPS to find Luella’s BBQ Restaurant.  It appears to have been a curb side service at some point, but no longer, and is located at one of the entrances to UNC-Asheville.

I entered and was seated by a young blond waitress in a black t-shirt and black jeans (the uniform of the establishment).  I was given a menu and ordered sweet tea.  There are tables, booths, and bar stools at the “bar” by the kitchen.

I ordered a half-rack of ribs, a bean salad, and a house salad with a sundried tomato vinagrette and hush puppies.  I tried various sauces, liking the Luella’s sauce.  *I left with about half the ribs and a small cup of the Luella’s sauce.

So, I head out on US 40 West, eventually turning off and winding my way to Canton, NC.  I then took a southerly leaning road, hoping to find the Blue Ridge Parkway at some point, and then take that back to Asheville.  The road followed a small winding river, sometimes close and sometimes further away, but then returning.

Eventually, I found myself on Hwy 215 which I followed for a good distance.  The sun began to dip behind the mountains, but I chose to continue on Hwy 215, not knowing for sure that it would cross the BRP.

I came to a large mountain lake ( ), which I think was an Episcopal summer retreat.  I continued on although there were no longer any homes visible from the road, and I only recall passing 4 motorcycles and an old truck heading down the mountain(s).  *It finally dawned on me that the tops of the mountains were coming nearer.  I passed a rushing waterfall, and continued to wind back and forth along the road.

Finally, I saw a sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I was pretty close to being as far along the Parkway as I had ever come southward.  I think I was about 30 miles from Asheville when I started back along the road.  I stopped at several points to take a few quick pictures.  I noted a few instances of lovers stopped in vehicles to view the setting sun.

I passed what must have been a landslide which closed the Parkway a few years ago.  A large portion of the mountain-side appeared to be sandy soil with a few large boulders dotted about.  It looked none to secure, and I would not be surprised to hear that the Parkway was closed again due to another slide in less than two years.

As I neared Asheville, it was already night-time, and the increased lights of homes and businesses were obvious.

The next morning, I ate the breakfast buffet provided by the hotel.  The food was good, but I did note that most of the guests were speaking Spanish, and that pinto beans and jalapenos were included on the buffet.

I packed up, filled the cooler with ice, and headed downtown to find an Indian restaurant.  I did find it, but parking would have been a problem for lunch, so I decided to eat elsewhere.  I headed out to the Farmer’s Market where I bought my goods.

Just before leaving Asheville on Friday, I drove along Tunnel Road (which parallels US 40) and turned into the East Village Grille, which is a sports bar & restaurant located diagonally across from the Veterans Hospital (east Asheville). The sign appears to be old, but inside could be 5, 10, 15 years or older.

There were several tables of customers when I walked in. A waitress smiled and told me I could sit where I liked. I walked to the end of the room, nearest a large window facing Tunnel Road. Traffic was not worrisome or noticeable to me as I watched TV, and people.

I was handed a large booklet menu. Probably 10 pages, wrapped in vinyl, and items such as sandwiches, chicken, seafood, Greek food, and wines, etc.

A male waiter, dressed in black (as were all… dressed in black) came to my table and I made a comment about the menu being like “War and Peace,” or some other large tome. I ordered sweet tea (which was sweet and good when it arrived), and the Philly Cheese Steak and potato salad (good, but could have had a touch of sweetness). *The bun was good, the cheese was melted, and the steak & mushrooms were well done.

I asked the waitress if I could have a small amount of “Tiger” Sauce. My waiter came back with a small black cup of Tiger Sauce, which was a rich deep ruby red, with flecks of pepper seeds in it. The Tiger Sauce was worth the whole meal. I dipped my Philly Steak, cheese and even the bun eventually to get every hot drop of this sauce. It was hot, and I believe had Habaneros in it, but it wasn’t too hot. *Today, I googled for Tiger Sauce, and see that it is a known quantity, sold by various companies. I’ll go looking for something that looks like what I remember, and hope it will have the same flavor. Habanero hot, but without garlic, and sweet.

[NOTE 02/14/25]:  Something small I still remember about that first taste of Tiger Sauce, was that they charged me for the sample.  I think it was only 35 cents, but at the time I thought that I should have gotten it for free.  I think later, I realized that the sample I received cost them about 35 cents, because of what a bottle of Tiger Sauce cost. [end NOTE]

After lunch, I decided to drive along Hwy 70 instead of US 40. I think I’ve done this one other time, with the same result. You eventually take US 40 over the Continental Divide, and down the mountain. But once down to Old Fort, I intentionally got back on Hwy 70 and took the scenic tour toward Winston-Salem. Eventually, at Hickory, after shopping at Belk for pants, shirts, socks and even a pair of new shoes (brown suede), I did get on US 40 and made it to my Comfort Suites hotel by a little after 6pm. I did stop off to eat supper at Panera Bread where I had some vegetable soup, a ham sandwich, and a cold lemonade.

I fell asleep almost immediately after getting in my room, leaving the television on, while on the Weather Channel. My sleep was basically restful, while having brief bouts of awareness that there were severe storms coming up from the south and doing great damage as they did. About 10:43pm I finally woke up, and turned the TV to the movie Avatar, (by chance, not intent). I cussed as Spanish sub-titles panned across the screen, but eventually found the CC (Closed Captioning) button and turned off any text display.

The next morning, when I awoke about 6:30am, rain was coming in brief waves and rain drops bouncing in puddles on the parking lot and vehicles below. I showered, and went downstairs for breakfast. I had a large Belgian waffle, some syrup, a glass of cranberry juice, and later, some milk, and some coffee before heading out on tour. It was still raining when I left the hotel and quickly found a gas station where I filled up my tank. I then took the Hanes Mall (road or parkway) path and came to Silas Creek Parkway. I now know that I turned in the opposite direction from which I should. Eventually, I would use my GPS to get back on track, and crisscrossing roads, would find Reynolda Road, and take a brief tour of the Wake Forest University campus on a rainy, early morning.

When I returned to my hotel, I googled for Indian restaurants, and found one Tumeric, which ended up being only a short distance from where I was. I called and found that they opened at 11am. So, I packed up my goods, loaded them into the Civic, and drove around town to kill time until about 11:30, when I hoped that there would not be many customers, but would have all of the lunch buffet deployed.

I tried the buffet at Tumeric Indian Restaurant in Winston-Salem on Friday at lunch. They open at 11am, and I was apparently their first customer about 11:30am. Three more customers arrived before I had finished my meal.

As I pulled up to the curb, there was a young red headed, white guy, sitting out on a bench beside the front door. He hopped up and went inside, which made me think he might be a waiter or clerk. Sure enough, he was my waiter, and sat me at a table for two near the cash register. There was a young Indian, probably in his 30s, at the cash register. I almost choked as I sat down because the air was stifling from whatever had been cooked already. I quickly got over this feeling and was quite comfortable before I was deep into my meal.

I ordered water to drink and was told the buffet was ready.

I hopped up and went back to the buffet area which was behind my table.

I can tell from an online recipe that one of the deserts that I had, and went back for a little more, was Dal Payasam. There were raisins and cashews on top.

I had some yogurt rice, and tried both the goat and chicken curry. I’m not sure if it was called a chutney, but I had a couple of other mixtures, which I suppose were not a main course.

The food was good, the water cold, and the desserts simple but delicious. I talked briefly with my waiter about being from the Coast of North Carolina, and that I liked going to the beach when everyone else was not there. Especially like the rainy day that was that morning in Winston-Salem.

The day would clear up quickly as I drove down to Pinehurst to visit Russ and Deborah Savage. But, later, one of the storms of the day would blow quickly thorough the Village and then no more rain or breeze there. That was not the case across much of middle and eastern NC for the rest of the day. Russ and I watched the storm(s) reporting on TV as tornadoes touched down in Sanford, Raleigh, and other points.

---

Addendum [05/30/22]:  NC Tornadoes – April 2011 (10 years later) *  I was visiting Russ & Deborah on the day when the tornadoes came through the Fayetteville/Lumberton area.  But, there was a wide swath of destruction which in my mind looked like God had taken his hand and scraped it along the Earth from the SW to the NE, lifting it at some points but a definite NE direction.  **I think they told me that Longhill Pointe apartments had some damage from this storm (including the apartment I live in).  I drove over to the nice neighborhood next to Longhill and saw some brand new brick homes that had been demolished, leaving only a lone brick wall standing.

---

On Sunday, Russ, Deb and I drove up to Winston-Salem to tour the Reynolda House Museum. Afterwards, we ate at Old Staley’s Grill & Ale Restaurant which is directly across from the house, but not visible because of dense vegetation.

Russ drove past the restaurant at first because there were only about 4 cars visible. It was a large deserted parking lot at about 4 pm. He turned around at the Reynolda House entrance and then drove into the restaurant’s parking lot and up near the front door. The sign said that they should be open. Russ parked across several motorcycle parking spaces, so that the car would be in the shade, and we all went inside.

We were seated quickly, as there were only a few customers sparsely sitting about the restaurant. It is a sports bar with large TVs and at least one really, really large TV. A NASCAR race from Talledega was coming to an exciting finish… if I had the least bit of interest in stock car racing, which I haven’t since I graduated high school.

Bright, bubbly Bailey was our waitress, quick with a smile and information. We ordered burgers all around. Russ had the waffle sweet potato fries (good), Deb had crinkle cut regular fries (good, crisp, chewy middle and just the right amount of salt), and I had baked beans (a good sweet bean). Russ did order sour cream (at my suggestion) for his fries. Whether it was Bailey, or the “new” cook, what Russ got was a dollop of butter (which Deborah said was actually margarine). None of us ever brought this faux-pax to Bailey’s attention.

My burger was large and good, a little pink in the middle. I scraped off the chili, and asked if I had actually gotten any Pepper Jack cheese, which I had ordered. It was pointed out to me that there appeared to be a little cheese around the edge of the burger, and that the rest had probably melted into the hot burger. There were dill pickle slices on the burger (I prefer sweet.), and a large dill wedge on the side.

I just recently came across the Tiger Sauce – Habanero Lime flavor. It was really good, but I’m not sure how different it is from the Original flavor. Maybe hotter, and I don’t remember any lime flavor coming through.

ADDENDUM [03/04/23]: I’ve probably mentioned this elsewhere, but I found that I liked the new Habanero-Lime Tiger Sauce better than I did the Original. I even ordered a 6-Pack of the Habanero-Lime Tiger Sauce and think I gave away some as Christmas presents. But later, when I tried to make another order, I found that the new sauce had been discontinued. And, then later, I got a notice that the Habanero-Lime Tiger Sauce was available. I ordered another 6-Pack, and it arrived in a few days. But, when I opened it, they had sent me the Original version. The new version wasn’t available, and Amazon told me to throw, use, or give it away and not send it back.

My friend, Deb, recently celebrated another birthday. Our rushed society has come to think nothing of combining into one celebration, the birthdays of several friends or relatives. It is more convenient and less of a strain upon our limited time. Due to missed communication, I only left her birthday present, upon her doorstep, and then returned home without actually seeing her, on Her day. Later that night, I called to leave a birthday message, only to have Deb answer the phone. It was then that I learned that she had phoned and left a message notifying me of her change of plans on her birthday. She would not be home late that night, but would be home most of the day (apparently, except for the brief time that I stopped to leave her present).

So, I sent Deb an email, and then later called, and we arranged to spend most of the day together, a week later, in honor of her birthday. One of the presents I had left upon her doorstep, were a couple of small jars of one, a salad dressing, and two, barbecue sauce, which were recipes from “Mama Dips.” Both of these had been purchased at the Museum Shop of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. I had stopped by there in hopes that I might find a book that Deb would like, but when my eyes had lit upon the name “Mama Dips,” I knew I had a small something to add as a present.

Deb had met Mama Dip at a speaking engagement. I had thought that she and her husband, Russ, had visited Mama Dips Restaurant in Chapel Hill, but on Saturday I found that this wasn’t the case.

In my email, I had suggested that we might eat at Mama Dips. Deb thought this was a very good idea, but it was only on Saturday morning that I realized that the Duke / Carolina basketball game was to be televised that night at 8pm. I couldn’t recall where the first game had been played, but soon googled and found that the game was going to be played in Chapel Hill.

I could not imagine a worse time to visit Chapel Hill, in order to eat at Mama Dips Restaurant. Could there be more people in Chapel Hill than on “game day” for the most important game of the season? The second meeting of the two basketball teams this season? Wouldn’t there be long lines at all restaurants, and impossible to find parking?

I eventually agreed to at least try to eat at Mama Dips, although, as we drove to Chapel Hill, I couldn’t imaging not having to backtrack and finding a less crowded restaurant along the way. And, as we went, Deb expressed that she was getting extremely hungry.

When we neared Chapel Hill, I started the Sprint Navigation app on my phone. I clicked on the “speak destination” option and when prompted, said, “Mama Dips.” I did not add the words, “restaurant,” nor “Chapel Hill,” but the app understood what I said, and came up easily with the location and directions to Mama Dips Restaurant on Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill, NC.

We made the suggested twists and eventually, as we turned into Mama Dips parking lot (running around and back of the restaurant), I saw several empty spaces, and no lines of any type waiting to enter her establishment. We parked, got out of the vehicle and walked around to the side of the building and up the steps.

As we entered the door, there was a couple waiting on a bench, but then it became obvious that there was no line for waiting to be served, and the maitre-d took a couple of menus and guided us into a crowded room and to a table for four.

The walls of the room amplified the noise of the people, with a door to the kitchen just off to my right.

A tall, thin, black waiter came to our table and we ordered sweet tea. Later, Deb ordered fried chicken, green beans and (I don’t recall, and apparently did not try some of it.), and a biscuit. I ordered the barbecue pork ribs, potato salad and black-eyed peas (with some chopped onion) and cornbread.

Two women sat at a booth in front of me. One had a baby boy.

At some point, there was a small commotion behind me as a group of guests came to their table and began to sit down. I first noticed a tall, bald, black man whose face was familiar, although my first thought was that he must have been a former Carolina ball player that I had seen on TV. I then recognized the face of a white TV commentator, and then I realized that the black man was also a basketball commentator. It was then that it made sense that college basketball commentators have to eat, just like the rest of us.

My first thought was that the white commentator was Jim Lampley, which I almost immediately knew was incorrect. Eventually, I was able to google and find that this was Jim Nantz. It was only at game time, later that night, when both Nantz and his co-anchor appeared on the TV screen, that I was able to say, that’s “Clark Kellogg.”

Nantz and the others began to talk about the game and players. Eventually, as Deb and I continued our meal, I realized that I could hear Nantz’s distinctive voice above the loud drone of the other people in the room. I told Deb that it was like leaving your TV on in the room, tuned to some program that you weren’t interested in, but wanting to have that familiar drone in the background.

I tried some of Deb’s fried chicken. The meat was moist and tender and had a very good flavor, and the breaded skin had good flavor. *Often, you can taste the oil in which the chicken was fried, but this wasn’t the case.

Deb tried some of my barbecue pork ribs. They were tender, moist and there was a good amount of meat on each bone. However, I did not think they had any barbecue sauce on them. The sauce was brought in a small plastic cup. The sauce had an unusual flavor, and a high vinegar content. I added some sugar to “turn” the vinegar, and later asked for another cup of sauce.

The potato salad was good, and included celery seeds, but it was not something that I would say was exceptional.

I asked for some chopped onions for my black-eyed peas. I thought the peas were under-cooked making them a little mealy, and too lightly seasoned for my taste, but then probably many people would not like the peas if they were more highly flavored. The cornbread was of the light cake type and did not detract from the rest of the meal.

Deb ordered Coconut Cream Pie for desert, and we both had coffee. The coffee was hot, and good. I tasted her desert. The pie reminded me of Pecan Pie, without the pecans and chewy coconut added. This definitely wouldn’t be something that I would order. Coconut cream pie should be light, hmmm… and creamy.

We left the restaurant, stopping outside the door to get several “free” magazines. As we drove around the back of the restaurant, Jim Nantz was getting into his vehicle with several other men. *I later would say that we had lunch at Mama Dips with Jim Nantz and left together. True, but subjective;-)

[NOTE 01/06/25]: Mama Dips has been closed for several years in Chapel Hill. The best fried chicken is on the buffet at Seaboard Station in Hamlet, North Carolina. [end NOTE]

The Secret to Good Black-Eyed Peas

My favorite simple food might be “a mess of” cooked black-eyed peas, ham hock, and some chopped Vidalia onion. I could possibly enjoy a whole meal of nothing but this, and perhaps some cornbread. I like cornbread that is almost like a light cake, but I also like the flat fried type of corn cake.

I found that cooking black-eyed peas and ham hock is easy if you use a slow cooker. Use the dried beans, and add plenty of water to cover them (and allow for the absorption of much of the water into the beans). I like a ham hock with a good bone and several knots of good meat that will eventually “fall off the bone.” Add a little ground pepper. Let them cook slowly for at least 4 hours. Taste them at the end of the 4 hours period, looking to see if they have fully cooked (and are not mealy) and are tender.

Once the beans are tender, you might mash some of the beans up, which will help the broth thicken.

Now, the “secret” is to pull the beans off the heat, let them cool, and then put them in a bowl and cover them and let them refrigerate overnight. The next day, re-heat the beans and ham hock, chop up some sweet Vidalia onion and serve. The flavors will break down and meld together overnight (or perhaps by the refrigeration), and what are good beans will become great beans. I have several times tried to speed the process, but the beans are “always better the second day.”

If you have a surplus of the cooked beans that last into the 3^rd day, then you might boil some white or small red potatoes, quarter or halve them and add them to the beans.

---

INSTANT POT VERSION

Black-Eyed Peas & Seasoning Meat — Half Recipe (Instant Pot)

Servings: 1–2

Ingredients:

• 1 heaping cup dried black-eyed peas (this equals 1/2 lb)
• 2–3 oz seasoning meat (diced uncooked bacon, ham hock, fatback, or smoked turkey)
• 1/4–1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups water or broth
• 1/4 tsp salt (add after cooking if needed)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• Optional:
  • Pinch crushed red pepper,
  • 1/4–1/2 tsp smoked paprika,
  • 1/2 small bay leaf

Instructions:

Press Sauté. Add the seasoning meat and let some fat render. Add the diced onion and cook 2–3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir 30 seconds.

Add the black-eyed peas and the water or broth. Add pepper, optional spices, and bay leaf. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot.

Seal the lid. Cook on Manual/Pressure Cook for 15 minutes. Let the pot naturally release for 15 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.

Stir and taste. Add salt only if needed. If you want a thicker broth, use Sauté for 2–3 minutes to reduce.