Black Forest Ham, Smoked Liverwurst & German Bologna

These are perfect fixings for a Super Bowl sandwich platter.  Just add a loaf of your favorite fresh bakery bread and some spicy mustard.

Patak Meats 4107 Ewing Road Austell, GA 30106 770 941 7993

Cracker Barrel’s Blueberry Pancakes

“No sharing, get your own pancakes!”

There is nothing light and fluffy about these pancakes.  They’re made from a thinner batter.  And, there’s a decadent buttery crispness to the edges.  Be sure to remove that extra dollop of butter on top [...]]]>

Cracker Barrel’s Blueberry Pancakes

“No sharing, get your own pancakes!”

There is nothing light and fluffy about these pancakes.  They’re made from a thinner batter.  And, there’s a decadent buttery crispness to the edges.  Be sure to remove that extra dollop of butter on top unless you’re a hard core butter fan/addict.

Easy Over Eggs & Bacon

Dickinson’s Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup

Cracker Barrel
(You know where they are.)
((If you don’t, just drive down any highway on the east coast.))

Blue Willow Inn

The front lawn is littered with tables topped with striped umbrellas and the front walk is lined with benches for lingering.

Daisies Grace the Table

What to drink?

Sweet tea, of course.

Oh, you have homemade lemonade.  That would be [...]]]>

Blue Willow Inn

The front lawn is littered with tables topped with striped umbrellas and the front walk is lined with benches for lingering.

Daisies Grace the Table

What to drink?

Sweet tea, of course.

Oh, you have homemade lemonade.  That would be lovely.

Fried Green Tomatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Salmon Cake, Parmesan Chicken & Fried Chicken Livers

Smothered Pork Chop & Collard Greens with more Chicken Livers & Sweet Potato

Custard Pie, Blue Willow Squares, & A Fruity Trifle

Ask about the Blue Willow Inn Squares and they’ll happily try to sell you a cookbook.  Buy the cookbook and it’ll tell you that those yummy little squares are also called Park Avenue Squares.

Slivers of Chocolate Cake

We weren’t being greedy.  Those slivers of chocolate cake were super-thin… really.

Who doesn’t love daisies?

Time For A Walk

A Glance Across The Street

This old general store was closed.

We couldn’t help peeking in the windows.  We spotted an assortment of sundries cluttering the shelves.  Everything from shampoo and deodorant to vintage coca cola and pepsi bottles, the past and present mingle together in silent harmony.  There’s a story to be told here.  And, this isn’t the only unusual shop on the street that’s inviting us to come in and listen.

Most of the shops on this street were closed.  But, there’s still an antique shop or two, an art gallery, a Mexican restaurant and an attorney’s office under construction.  This charming little town is trying to survive on the tourist traffic generated by Blue Willow Inn.  But, there’s more to see here than the Blue Willow Inn.  There’s a quiet town oozing with charm, nearby sunflower farms, plenty of farm fresh peaches to buy and people to meet.  This little town has a story to tell. We owe it to them to listen.  We owe it to small towns… everywhere.

There’s beauty out there waiting to be discovered.

Blue Willow Inn Restaurant
294 North Cherokee Road
(GA Highway 11)
Social Circle, GA 30025
770 464 2131

Traveling & road trips are fun.  They’re the perfect excuse to indulge in the worst sorts of guilty pleasures with only minimal guilt.  Why?  You’re in some state of fatigue.  Always.  You’re hungry.  Usually.  And, most importantly, you’re in a city full of strangers.  There’s no one there (that you [...]]]>
Cinn-A-stack Pancakes

Traveling & road trips are fun.  They’re the perfect excuse to indulge in the worst sorts of guilty pleasures with only minimal guilt.  Why?  You’re in some state of fatigue.  Always.  You’re hungry.  Usually.  And, most importantly, you’re in a city full of strangers.  There’s no one there (that you know) to witness your descent into decadence and debauchery.

Under normal circumstances, we’d avoid the Ihop as if it were diseased.  But, if we’re on the road?  The gloves are off.  Good judgement is thrown out the window.  Pancakes doused in two types of sugar-rich sauces sound perfect.  Sign us up.  Cinnastack pancakes… We are there.  First, the pancakes are schmeared with a layer cinnamon icing.  Then, for good measure, they’re drizzled with a buttery sugar glaze.  The lily is gilded with a huge dollop of whipped cream.  Who needs maple syrup?  This is a sugar rush without a drop of syrup needed.

Fruit Salad with Granola & Pepto Bismol Pink (Strawberry?) Yogurt

Then, a bowl of fruit is used to confuse the body.  It neutralizes the guilt and washes away all of the empty calories.  Did we really eat that?  No one will ever know.

Ihop
(on a highway near you)

FROG Jam

Fig, raspberry, orange & ginger all rolled into one jam.  The flavors of raspberry and fig dominate.  Orange and a hint ginger contribute a nice background complexity.  Yum.  This is perfect for Thankgiving, Christmas and every holiday in between.  Visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads… definitely.

FROG Jam

Fig, raspberry, orange & ginger all rolled into one jam.  The flavors of raspberry and fig dominate.  Orange and a hint ginger contribute a nice background complexity.  Yum.  This is perfect for Thankgiving, Christmas and every holiday in between.  Visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads… definitely.

It was yummy on breakfast toast and it’s destined for turkey sandwiches at lunch.  Turkey Day sandwiches, too?  If it lasts that long.  Here’s to hoping.

Hillside Orchard Farms
18 Sorghum Mill Drive
Lakemont, GA 30552
706 782 2776

Need holiday gift ideas?  Check out Jaemor Farm Market.  They’re worth the drive… I just hope you have a few hours to spare.

Jaemor Farm Market has a wide assortment of fruits, vegetables, nuts, snacks, baked goods, jams & jellies, fruit ciders and juices, preserves & pickles, boiled peanuts, [...]]]>
Elderberry Jelly

Need holiday gift ideas?  Check out Jaemor Farm Market.  They’re worth the drive… I just hope you have a few hours to spare.

Jaemor Farm Market has a wide assortment of fruits, vegetables, nuts, snacks, baked goods, jams & jellies, fruit ciders and juices, preserves & pickles, boiled peanuts, handmade items and other gifts.  There is even a small shack selling BBQ.  (We’ll be checking that out on our next visit.)  The corn field maze & pumpkins for sale (many varieties of pumpkins of all shapes & sizes) in the market are a must for Halloween!

They’re open now thru Christmas.  (But, they close early on Christmas Eve.)

Current Favorites:
Elderberry Jelly
Sweet Potato Fried Pies (Amazingly Good!)
Quick Breads (many varieties available)
&
Boiled Peanuts (even if they are REALLY salty)

Jaemor Farm Market
5340 Cornelia Highway
Alto, GA 30510
(located on GA Hwy 365)
770 869 3999

Zoo Atlanta Needs Your Help!  They need to raise 500,000 dollars before December 31, 2009 to keep the giant pandas that have called Zoo Atlanta home for 10 years.

Give So The Giant Pandas Can Stay!

Sponsor a Cub:  I want to be a Sponsor

Other Ways to Help:  GiveSoTheyStay.org

To Donate Click Here:  [...]]]>

Zoo Atlanta Needs Your Help!  They need to raise 500,000 dollars before December 31, 2009 to keep the giant pandas that have called Zoo Atlanta home for 10 years.

Give So The Giant Pandas Can Stay!

Sponsor a Cub:  I want to be a Sponsor

Other Ways to Help:  GiveSoTheyStay.org

To Donate Click Here:  GiveSoTheyStay

Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Avenue, SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
404 624 WILD

AthFest showcases local artists and musicians.  With 40 boothes and close to 50 artists, the artists market has everything from fine art and pottery to funky handmade items.  And, with literally hundreds of musicians and somewhere in the neighborhood of 173 bands, there will be plenty of music to suit just about every taste.

For [...]]]>

AthFest showcases local artists and musicians.  With 40 boothes and close to 50 artists, the artists market has everything from fine art and pottery to funky handmade items.  And, with literally hundreds of musicians and somewhere in the neighborhood of 173 bands, there will be plenty of music to suit just about every taste.

For more information, band schedules and venues:  AthFest

June 19, 2009 — 5:00pm to Midnight Tons of sand and wading pools will turn Decatur Square into a beach for the day!  Live music, children’s games and facepainting will add to the festivities. No coolers or pets will be allowed.

Tickets:  $6.50 in advance or $10 at the gate Children 12 and under will [...]]]>

June 19, 2009 — 5:00pm to Midnight
Tons of sand and wading pools will turn Decatur Square into a beach for the day!  Live music, children’s games and facepainting will add to the festivities. No coolers or pets will be allowed.

Tickets:  $6.50 in advance or $10 at the gate
Children 12 and under will be free (limit two kids per paying adult)

For more information:  Decatur Beach Party

Michael Klapthor