Tasty Travels & other Stories

Nicholas Bruns and Tonya Martin were married on Saturday August 7, in Pekin, IL.  Nick’s brother Jesse and Tonya’s sister Sherrie stood up for them along with my son Jason and niece Maggie.

All the family was there to celebrate where we had the chance to take this ‘Bruns Boys’ family shot.

During the service there was a poem read in memory of all the special loved ones who weren’t with us any longer which touched me deeply.   All the photo’s I took can be seen in Nick & Tonya’s wedding album.

CONGRATULATIONS…..  Nick & Tonya

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Our second Grandson, Wyatt Joseph David Long was born on July 15th,  2:08pm at Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL.   Wyatt weighed 8lb – 8oz and was 20″ in length.    More photos soon as Wyatt was not allowed out of the nursery until late that night.

His parents , Brian and Kelly along with his sisters Kara, Megan and Madison are looking forward to having this little man in the house.

MORE PHOTOS!

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Our Grandson, Drew Alexander was born on July 8th at 10:23am at Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL.   Drew weighed 6lb – 14oz and was 20″ long.    SEE MORE PHOTOS

His parents , Chad and Jessie are starting to adapt to their new way of life.  All our love goes out to them all.

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It was a great day to witness our son Justin’s graduation from Ferris State University.

His degree is in business but his passion is golf.  Soon to be a PGA Professional, Justin is off on his 1st job at the La Grange Country Club in La Grange IL.   You also can follow the professional career of Justin R. Bruns.

It was just a short 32 years ago that another member of the family graduated from Western Illinois University with a Masters in Park Administration…..

and see where that got him!

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In my search for places to eat in Nashville, TN,  Arnold’s Country Kitchen was always on the top of the list.   Rating 5 stars for the food is all I care about (as Suzanne will attest to)  atmosphere is secondary and Arnold’s proves that.

Arnold's 5 Stars in my book

Located at  605 8th Avenue South  (Googled),  Arnold’s is in an industrial ares of Nashville, only open for lunch on weekdays.  I would suggest you arive after 12:30pm or else you may have to stand to eat your lunch.

Walk in the door and your already in the food line, cafateria style with different choices every day of the week.  Since it was Friday, catfish was on the menu although Suzanne chose the meatloaf and I took the roast beef, greens and potatoes.

Corn bread cakes, corn bread cooked like a pancake was a treat I had never had and of course we had to try the Ches Pie (too sweet for both of us.

I would say 1/3 of the crowd was from out of town.  We sat next to a couple from Ohio who read about Arnolds in a magazine.  Over all, I’ll be back!  It’s just my type of place.

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Since I can’t resist a Brewery / Restaurant, I had to go to MacTarhahan’s Taproom with friends from Quilt Market. A little out of the way, we finally found it thanks to ‘Helga’ their Garmen GPS. Unbelivable weather in Portland this week led us to the decision to eat outdoors which turned out to be a good choice.

This was the first place that gave me a choice of a 7 glass or 10 glass sampler of the beers. A NO BRAINER, I choose the 10 which included all the MacTarnahan brands but a number of Pyramid Brands as well since this is their brewery house. All had their good and bad but by the time I finished them all, they started to all blend together. I lucked out and got an extra IPA, not sure why but whose complaining.

Dinner was wonderful for the most part. Started off with the ‘Garlic Fries’ which we good but expected a non deep fried version. Suzanne had the mushroom ravioli with no regrets. I had the Scottish Pie and enjoyed every bite. Don’s port tenderloin was dry but flavorful and Mary’s enjoyed her Garlic Chicken Pasta.

Critics were not but if a good time with close friends is what your after, try MacTarnahan’s Taproom.

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Flying Dog Wheat Ale poured with little head, familiar clove, spices and grain
aroma leads off this wheat beer. Color is slightly muddy golden. Flavor is weak to start but has a flavorful finish with medium carbonation. Not bad but for a US wheat, see what other say…

John’s Beer Scale

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Ok,  If your going out to dinner and you want to look like your drinking a million
 bucks, order a Stella Artois.  The bottle is wrapped like champaign.  I found that it poured clear pale yellow with thick white head, very appealing. Aroma was faint but plesant.  The taste was not overwhelming with very little after taste, more like a light beer.

The bottler, InBev Belgium  of Leuven, Belgium describes their beer as:
“Stella Artois is one of the world’s best-selling beers and is enjoyed in more than 80 countries. Its full, characteristic flavour and high quality is assured through a superior brewing process and by using the finest ingredients available.  The UK version is brewed, filtered and kegged at Samlesbury. Batches are sent to Magor for pasteurising before being canned or bottled.”

Although not ranked well on my favorite beer site,  this is a beer I could drink again.

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So I saved a “Good Eats” episode on my DVR for quite a while now. I didn’t want to loose the brine recipe that Alton Brown gives in it. So tonight, I watched the episode and the recipe for Stuffed Grilled Pork Chops. All I wanted was the brine so after I wrote it down, Suzanne says “Where you going to keep it so you don’t loose it?” Then it hit me, right here!

———-
PORK CHOP BRINE
1 cup Salt
1 cup Dark Brown Sugar
1 TBS Black Peppercorns
1 TBS Mustard Powder
2 Cups hot Apple Cider Vinegar

Dissolve ingredients and let sit for 10 minutes to ‘come together’

Add 1 lb of ice

Wait till brine is cool to touch and then add chops making sure they are covered. Let brine for 2 hours or so and then grill to perfection.
———-

Now, if I can only remember which post I put this in when I need it!

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Had Grolsch a number of time.   Most memorably in Chicago at a convention, that’s where I first got a bottle with the rubber stopper.   Always enjoyed this beer.

Grolsch Premium Pilsner has a wonderful golden color with a white frothy head that disapated to foam on the sides of the glass.  The aroma is faint but grainy.  Flavor starts off strong but lacks a finish.  It does have a fizzy body lasts through the whole glass.

Other haven’t ranked this one as I have so maybe it’s the idea I like??

  John’s Beer Scale

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