Tuesday

Saturday’s Musings of Treats and Whimsical Fun Days

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Well, this week was so jam packed, I didn’t even get a chance to sit down and write. The last 10-14 days have kind of been like this, but this week, I didn’t have the extra to add words to the page.

So, today, I thought I might conglomerate them all as one. 😂 I thought the title turned out quite original (lol); now, let’s see how the blog will end up. Maybe great. Maybe a little less than good. But it really doesn’t matter. You can at least say I tried!

A few weeks ago, I threw a little dessert together that I thought I’d share. It’s pretty simple, and you can pick up most items at your local grocery store, and you can adapt it to your personal preferences.

I started with a simple lemon pound cake. I just happened to have Sara Lee’s lemon loaf. I added a couple of scoops of key lime gelato (I love Talenti Gelato!) and dropped a handful of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries on top. And then, I drizzled caramel over all this.

Oh, it was so yummy! Truthfully, because it was a cooler day right at the end of September, I was wishing I’d had this “grand thought” back in the summertime; however, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment one bit!

This one thought, of enjoying a “summertime dessert in the fall,” led me to thinking, sometimes, we can miss celebrating a moment we should be celebrating!

We can get so bogged down with past regrets or future ambitions that we aren’t present in the moment we’re living. Yes, we need to deal with the past at times, but we should be able to put it in it’s proper places. And we should be pushing forward toward those goals and dreams we have ahead, or we’ll never get beyond where we are.

Yet, if we are seeking so hard after those things ahead, or we become overwhelmed by the sorrows OR joys of the past, we will miss what is right before our very eyes!

So, take a moment today.

Breathe I deeply and exhale slowly.

Let your eyes focus and settle in on those things and those people before you.

Cherish the laughter; embrace the tears.

Walk through the days with purpose and diligence.

It’s not always about where you’ve been or even about where you’re headed.

Sometimes, it’s simply about where you are and who is there with you!

Now, go give yourself a treat today and have a whimsical fun day! 😊

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & hard work.

Thomas A. Edison

“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

James 4:14

Tuesday’s Treats #206

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The Shack (the Waterfront Original)

Location: Fort Walton, Florida

I reviewed this a couple of years ago, but unfortunately, I somehow messed up the actual review, and only half of it got posted…and for whatever reason, WP won’t allow me to go in and fix it! Ugh!

Well, we ate here again the other day; so, now I can give a full review! Yay!

The dockside feel of this restaurant is wonderful! The large windows are latched above from the inside ceiling. The wooden pub style tables and chairs lend themselves to a casual, feel-good atmosphere. The uncovered dock, of course, is the literal “dockside feel” (lol), but we prefer the inside “dockside.”

The day we went, the wind was blowing pretty fiercely, but I just twisted up my hair with a pen, and we rocked it through lunch. It was too good not to enjoy! And if you were sitting on the gulf eating seafood, the wind would probably be worse! The food will fill your belly until you can’t eat anymore, and you’ll want to ask them to roll you to the door.

You can find the wonderful plate pics in my previous review*, as we were starving on this day, and I didn’t even pull out my camera! We ordered the hushpuppies for an appetizer, and let me tell you, if you’re not careful, you’ll fill up on these before your food comes to the table! They are that good! And they’re served with a strawberry butter, which at first thought, sounds like quite an oddity, but oh, it is scrumptious! Also, on the last trip, we had the firecracker shrimp app. Delicious!!

We ordered blackened red fish and blackened mahi mahi, both are served with hush puppies (yeah, we ate more! lol!) and cole slaw. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Everything was delicious, even the cole slaw, and I’m not usually a fan. Oh, I did order a Caesar salad to start as well. It was a bit too heavy on the dressing, but the flavors were oh, so yummy!

We were going to have dessert, but we had just stuffed ourselves to the brim. So, we opted out, but they have several we wanted to try! I was so wanting their key lime pie! Had it last time, and what I remember was delicious!

We will definitely come again when we’re back in the area.

*Note: it appears that the the review link may not open. However, if you go to the search bar of my blog and search “The Waterfront,” the Tuesday’s Treat #139 will appear! How weird!

website

Tuesday’s Treats #205

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Seasons 52

Location: Buford, Ga

Ok so, if you have followed my Tuesday’s Treats, you know that I don’t usually review franchises because these are pretty common and vary mainly depending upon the managers. However, this particular franchise is not in every season, and before this one, I had never been to once, much less heard of it very often. So, I’m going to make an exception to my “no franchise rule,” and take a moment to tell you about this place. It’s just that good! 😉

Let’s start with the atmosphere. This place is just great. It has lots of different really neat seating arrangements, and because of the various lighting options, you can choose a bright and airy table, a cozy, romantic booth, a cool round booth/table for a larger group, and even a sunny, fun patio setting. (This pic doesn’t do perfect justice, as it was a sunny day outside; so, the booths were a bit bright as well.) But the design team thought of everything, because there’s even a two seater table with “booth-type” chairs that have an armrest to one side. How wonderful is that?

Now, let’s talk about food. Oh. My! I love shrimp and grits, and although this dish has a bit more tomatoes for my liking (I hate tomatoes, just love everything they make!), the grits are deliciously creamy, and the shrimp is scrumptious!
The pepperoni flatbread is incredibly good! It’s not a huge portion; it’s made more as an appetizer, but it is oh, so tasty.

A few pics of which I didn’t get a pic are the salmon, the lobster bisque, and the naked burger. The salmon is served with sautéed green beans (a little crunchy), and marbled potatoes. The burger is served with no bun and a small salad, but we get it with a bun and ask for a side of the marbled potatoes. The lobster bisque is creamy and full of lobster and crab. All of this is SO SO good!!

The other day, I ordered the corn wheels and grits to go along with the salmon. Oh. My. Goodness! I overindulged myself, and it was AMAZING!

Okay, you’ve waited patiently; so, now we will top it of these little beauties. These are mini bites of heaven in a cup! (actually called “Mini Indulgences”…accurately named!) We splurged on this particular day and ordered 7, and we got one free!

From the top, spiraling downward, the options were key lime pie, peanut butter torte, pecan pie (x2), espresso panda cotta, Belgian Chocolate S’mores, strawberry cheesecake, and key lime pie (again). They also have a cookies n’ cream and a raspberry chocolate chip cannoli, but these all suited us just fine! Oh. My. Word!! We are prickly about key lime, but this one has the perfect mixture of tart key lime and rich graham cracker crust, and that caramelized whip cream on top is just delectable! The espresso will be a delight to coffee lovers everywhere. Our boys loved the S’mores and the strawberry cheesecake. Oh, and the pecan pie was a bit too sweet, but the pecans were so good, and the added crust was as if I’d snuck a bit of grandma’s homemade pecan pie.

We left on this particular day needing to be rolled out of the restaurant like a barrel! But we did leave full and very satisfied! 😂

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #204

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City Central Tavern

Location: Sugar Hill, Ga

*I know it’s Wednesday, but ‘better late than never,’ right? Ha!😂

This place has a great atmosphere, and you can enjoy your meal inside or outside on the patio, complete with a a cushioned couch and a beautiful working waterfall.
Yes, this is a pretzel. It’s an appetizer, and it is delicious! What a great presentation!
Southwest Chicken Skillet. Delicious!!
My son gobbled up a taco before I got the pic! 😂 He said they were very tasty!
I didn’t get a pic of all the food, as we gobbled it up when it arrived! Lol. However, I did get a pic of the menu. The choices are pretty unique to CCT, and I believe you won’t be disappointed.

We have ordered the Shrimp and Grit Bowl, the Southwest Chicken Skillet, the Classic Burger, the wings and the Chili Dog. As you can see from these choices, it’s basically a high scale sports bar menu, but they do it with style and class.

The Shrimp Bowl is delicious, although I order the chorizo on the side, simply because I think chorizo is a bit of a bully. The dish begins to taste more like chorizo than what else is in the bowl. The grits could be a bit more creamier for my liking, but this bowl is very tasty.

The wings, chili dog, burger do not disappoint. There are endless ways you can order each of these, and we’ve had several that have been wonderful.

The Southwest Chicken Skillet is bountiful enough to share for two people, maybe if you don’t have an over eager appetite. We got an appetizer, and I wasn’t able to finish my skillet with it’s piles of chicken, kale rice, jalapeños, cheese and black beans (and I don’t eat black beans).

This is a great little dive for a friendly lunch or casual date. I’m not sure I’d worry about getting too romantic here, unless sports programs and rock and roll music is your thing, but we love it. … And when my husband and I are alone together, it’s a romantic date no matter where we are!

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #203

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Well, it’s been a little while again, but let’s see if we can get this started once more…

(Have to acquire the name!)

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

I know it seems funny that I don’t have the name of this restaurant, but as you will see below, I have the picture of the name. I have to get in touch with my Ukrainian friends to get the American spelling! Lol.

This place was so intriguing. We were told it is the setting of the Soviet Union homes back before the USSR fell. I felt like I was walking into a home from the 1960s in America.

I especially loved the bakers area, where they were creating all kinds of delicious goodness! I placed that pic at the beginning because I felt it really captured the essence of this restaurant.

The food was actually similar to what you could find in some diners in America. The menu was several pages long, and the food, although delicious, was not fancy or extravagantly presented. (My apologies for no food pics! We were starving by the time it came!)

The food was really good. We had pickles and veggies as an appetizer. We had roast, chicken fillets and sour cherry dumplings and a chocolate cake for dessert. There were other items ordered in our party; however, my memory is a bit fuzzy from the January trip. *I will get an update here soon!

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I almost felt conspicuous in the restaurant, as I was so awe struck by the decor and atmosphere.

The bakery displayed all sorts of delectable pastries and goodies!
If you can decipher Ukrainian (or maybe a bit of Russian) , you might be able to read this!
The atmosphere was actually very quaint and cozy. I felt as if I was eating in someone’s home, enjoying conversation in their living room.
This was the table in which we sat. The bench was soft and inviting. The bookcase behind simply decorated with a few plants and vases, and a warm lamp glow just beyond.
The stairs going to the downstairs of the restaurant was filled with old books I’d like to sit and read and a vintage lunchbox that made me wonder who owned it, where he has worked and if his home had been a bit like this one in years past.
The napkins and toothpicks were all neatly displayed in little red and white checked jars.

I have never appreciated Russian fare nor the Russian way of life, as I have read so much destruction and so much heartache that they have brought to their world. Yet, when eating here in this restaurant, I can see why there are some in Kyiv who almost want to believe Russia doesn’t want to bring harm but good. (Yet, watching their invasion of Crimea, I do hope they are never deceived… another story for another day… 😉)

*I will need to acquire the name and the website; so, you can visit one day while you’re in Kyiv!

Tuesday’s Treats #202

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RCB (Riverstone Corner Bistro)

Location: Canton, Ga

This place is really nice, and the food is amazing! We have eaten here several times, almost every time we’re in the area. The staff is also attentive and friendly.

The pimento cheese appetizer is amazing! Just watch out, because if you eat the whole thing, and there’s only two of you, you might not be able to finish your lunch/dinner! 😂

The shrimp and grits are definitely a winner. Let me just say, Smoke Gouda Grits! Oh my word. So good! We’ve also had the burger, too he grilled chicken and the market fish of the day. Everything is delicious! I’m wondering if they can make anything bad. Seriously.

Now, let’s talk desserts. They have several yummy options, but our favorite is the double brownie. Oh. My. Word! Ooey, gooey chocolate with a scoop of ice cream. Just the way it should be. Delicious!

Website

*Well, after a way-too-long hiatus, Tuesday’s Treats are back. Between Covid, shutdowns and our job becoming a bit busier rather than slower during all of it, I’ve not been writing very much over the last 3 months. So, I’m working back into it, and my good blogging friend, Linda, over at Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy, reminded me how much she enjoyed these; so, here we go! (Btw, she’s got a great blog! Go take a look. I believe you’ll really enjoy it!) 😉

**…and I suppose, since it’s been so long, I couldn’t even keep up with the day this is supposed to be posted! Lol!! I am reposting this on Tuesday; since, I got ahead of myself and posted Tuesday’s Treats on Monday! 🙄🤦‍♀️😅

Tuesday’s Treats #201

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Capital Grill

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

This place was amazing. We went for Valentine’s Day, and although we didn’t make reservations, we ended up with a great table and a great server.

Tuesday’s Treats #200

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Paperlo

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

This place was has just the neatest decor and atmosphere. The staff is friendly and some can speak a little English. The food is delicious, and again, the decor is just really cool. (Lots of pics on this one; so, get ready!)

The food was phenomenal, and the menu was completely in Ukrainian; so, our friends told us things on the menu and ordered for us. As you can see, we ate like kings.

We started with a cheese plate that was delicious. It had four different types of cheeses and honey and ground coffee to dip. Now, I know, that sounds crazy, but it was SO good! They also had brought a type of dried beef, like beef jerky. It had a little kick of spice, and it was great. Our friend ordered a plate of, what I would call, bruschetta. I’m not sure what it is called there, and I don’t eat raw tomatoes all that much, but she said it was delicious.

My husband (and our oldest) ordered a burger that was about as big as his head! He had to squish it to try to eat it, and he eventually just eat it with a fork and knife. 😂 I ordered a steak and grilled veggies, and it was scrumptious. Our youngest ordered a cheese pizza. It was different, as it didn’t have red sauce on it, but it was very tasty.

We also ordered some drinks like (non-alcoholic) mojitos. One had ginger and lemon and the other was apple. They both were good; I liked the ginger and lemon best.

We had so much food; we were stuffed and couldn’t finish it all! We so enjoyed this food, and we look forward to visiting again when we return to Ukraine.

The Website appears to be in Ukrainian, but I didn’t peruse all through time see if there is a language selection. They also have a FB page.

Here are some more pics of the cool decor.

Tuesday’s Treats #199

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La Hacienda

Location: Suwanee, Georgia

*My apologies for this pic not being all elegant and nice. I had planned to take a quick one and get another, but my husband dove into his molcajete so quickly that I missed the opportunity! 😂

The food, staff and atmosphere here is great!

They have four locations: Dawsonville, Cumming, McDonough and now in Suwanee. We visited the Suwanee location.

My husband would tell you to get the molcajete; it is amazing. My oldest would tell you to get the pollo ranchero, and I would say get the pollo hacienda. Our youngest loves the rice and beans and queso. Honestly, I love my dish for the chicken and sauce and rice. Being a “Gulf of Mexico shrimp” girl, I’m honestly not crazy about the tiger shrimp, but you may very well love it.

The salsa has a nice little kick. The chips are fresh, and the been and beef dip is phenomenal. The queso is great as well.

We haven’t had any of the seafood or taco choices, but the items in the menu look delicious! We have frequented the new Suwanee location several times – four times in one week! 😂 Yeah, you could say we liked it just a little.

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #198

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Park Side District

Location: Lawrenceville, Ga

This place is absolute amazing! Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere is cool. The only thing I might would change is there’s not a ton of real “intimate” seating, but we went during lunch, and we had a nice seat.

The food is phenomenal. We started with the Gouda grit fritters, added a salad, salmon, shrimp and grits, brussel sprouts and dessert. I had the apple cobbler and my husband had the red velvet bread pudding. Oh. My. Word!!

Now look, my husband doesn’t even like brussel sprouts now bread pudding, and he loved both! 😂 The fritters are something special and unique; you’ve just got to try them. The shrimp and grits and the salmon is so good; I’ve been craving these since we left!

That apple cobbler is so fresh and delicious, and the bread pudding is surprisingly moist and scrumptious! You’ll want to try this place out soon!

Website