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Sparkle (0)
Hi guys,
This is an excerpt from my mom's next book..if you like this check out her first one "Adventures of the Quarter Slot Sisters" at www.barbarapom.com
It was the end of July and time for another "sisters" birthday outing. Fannie Mae was turning ???? and we thought she deserved a lunch and movie day. The movie "Mamma Mia" was playing and since most of the sisters (except me) had seen the Broadway play and since we all love Abba music we decided it would be a fun movie to see together. Bettie Sue volunteered to plan the outing and as rarely ever happens all the sisters were in town and could join in the fun. Another added surprise was that my daughter Kerri and granddaughter Lucy were visiting from California and Kerri wanted to join the sisters to see exactly what happened on one of our outings. Of course she had read all about our adventures, but that's not like a firsthand experience. Granddad Billy Ray jumped at the chance to have Lucy to himself all day so everything was set for our big day.
Since there would be nine in the group, we had to drive two cars so I volunteered my car as did Fannie Mae. Dixie offered to drive and I was only too happy to let her have the pleasure of driving my new Ford Lincoln. Trixie rode in our car and the other sisters rode with Fannie Mae. We were going to Athens (Georgia, not Greece unfortunately) and were to meet at The National, a restaurant recommended by Trixie. Now you would think that since Trixie had been to the restaurant that she would know how to get there, but as sometimes happens with the sisters, our sense of direction isn't always right on the money. We knew the address, but when we got to downtown Athens, we couldn't find the street. Most of the streets are one way so we had to be careful not to turn the wrong way as Dixie has been known to do on several occasions. Finally after a few wrong turns we saw the street and the restaurant and needless to say were relieved as we could imagine the other sisters sitting and waiting for us.
Now Trixie had told us that the restaurant was kind of eclectic (that's a big word for different) so we were anxious to see what she meant. To our surprise the other sisters were not at the restaurant when we arrived so that was a relief. The hostess showed us to our table and gave us menus to peruse (read) while we were waiting. About that time the rest of our group arrived and said they had no problem finding the restaurant and were just sitting in the car waiting when they saw us go inside. We secretly thought they were probably lost and riding around like we were but being the sweet sisters that we are didn't contradict their statement. After all the sisters said hello to Kerri and chatted a few minutes, we started seriously scanning the menu to find some delicious entrée to order. Well to say the items on the menu were different than anything I had ever seen is an understatement. Just to give a few examples: grilled Greek romaine heart with creamy feta dressing, red onion, tomato, kalamatas, banana peppers and oregano oil
manchego cheese with quince membrillo
jamón serrano thinly sliced with Spanish olive oil
pimientos de padrón Galician green frying peppers, sautéed with olive oil and sea salt (most mild, a few hot)
grilled baby octopus skordalia, parsley & paprika
Atlanta Wolf Fish
with creamy Calasparra-saffron rice, asparagus a la plancha, piperade and tahini
grilled flank steak (certified angus beef) punched red potatoes, arugula, fried piquillo pepper and salsa verde
Vegetable Plate
chickpeas and okra with yogurt and harissa, asparagus in a pistachio viniagrette, watercress tabbouleh, eggplant tagine with feta over couscous, and sugar snaps with a tomato-fenugreek sauce 17.00
Grilled Ashley Farms chicken breast & thigh
piri piri sauce, rice and black-eyed pea salad, okra,
yogurt and almonds 20.00
Tybee shrimp and Eggplant Tagine
herbed couscous, Split Creek feta, sugar snaps,
cilantro & sesame 22.00
Atlanta Wolf Fish
with creamy Calasparra-saffron rice, asparagus a la plancha, piperade and tahini 24.00
Pork Shoulder Steak
roasted Yukon gold potatoes, zucchini with smoked pepper, and a Serrano ham-buttermilk dressing 22.00
Flank Steak
