Local Places – Page 51

The Great Chicken Wing Quest Continues….again….

April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 by KTgreen

Friends, we are still tasting those chicken wings. For this installment we went to Spring Hill–twice, Crystal River and Hernando. We were all over the place!

Our first visit was to Rookies II in Spring Hill on Anderson Snow Road and Spring Hill Drive. It’s tucked back inside a shopping plaza. We picked this place because it was close to the Suncoast Parkway and we were on our way to the airport. (Third time that weekend.) Anyhow, we invited a bunch of independent judges to meet us there. So there was Terry and me, Jes and Andrew, Donna, Yvonne, Vera and Michelle. This was over a month ago and someone ordered wings, and there was shrimp and quesidillas and a rueben, a taco salad and perhaps more. (Okay, truth in blogging, I should write about these bar hops as soon as we leave the pub. But sometimes I don’t, on this one I waited a month and I didn’t take notes. But, come on, we were on the way to the airport! Who takes notes after they’ve drank a few beers and they are on the way to the airport????? And no, I wasn’t driving.) So I can’t tell you who had what but we all had a really good time. There was some kind of crazy competition going on in the parking lot so we had entertainment, too. Service was good. Food was yummy. And beer was wonderful.

Then Terry and I stopped at the original Rookies on 19 a couple of weeks later, it’s past Spring Hill Drive but not all the way to County Line Road. Great directions, right? Anyhow, we left ‘happy banjo lesson’ and this was the closest place that served food and beer. (Beer is always nice after ‘happy banjo lesson’.)

Our next chicken wing visit was prompted by a friend telling me that she was performing at Crackers last Wednesday. Couldn’t miss that!

Paul Bateman and Leigh Humes — Paula Bateman and Leigh Humes

Crackers is usually crazy busy but it was kind of empty when we got there on Wednesday evening. We found a table back in a corner of the tiki bar where Paula was performing. But then the place started filling up and all the spaces were filled so we invited some woman to join us. Okay, they weren’t strangers–I probably knew at least one of them.

Crystal River — Beautiful view of Kings Bay

Grouper plate — So I got grilled grouper instead of my typical fried since I’m trying to eat healthier. Someone at our table had to point out that there was a whole lot of fried potatoes on that plate! Who put those there? I had to eat them because children are starving in Africa.

Our last stop was at Chicken King in Hernando. Terry had this place on his list of Chicken Wing restaurants.

I said to Terry, ‘I don’t know about this place, looks like there could be a bunch of little kids in there.’ But there wasn’t. No one in that dining room could have been young enough to have small children.

Chicken King probably shouldn’t have been on the list of chicken wing spots. But if you want good homemade food with friendly service and good prices, this is the place to go. We were met before we even got in the door by a guy asking if a table for two was okay. Seriously, this person met us out on the sidewalk. Our server was pleasant and efficient. Terry got “wing dings” which were pretty much fried chicken like my Mom used to make. I got Chicken and Dumpling and I’m pretty sure that my Mom was reincarnated and working back in the kitchen. I told a worker at the counter that I thought there should be some chocolate pie to go along with the meal since that’s what my Mom would have served. And she pulled one of the fridge. While Chicken King didn’t win the best wings contest, it certainly gets high marks for a friendly family style restaurant.

With Terry as the wing judge, he said that Crackers wings were as good as Neon Leon‘s which was the winner thus far. But I’m going to put my two cents in and say that Crackers gets extra points for the view and the music!

Our new winner is CRACKERS!

Our Sunny Weekend

April 7, 2014 by KTgreen

What a great weekend. Temps in the 80s. Sunshine!

Here’s my first daylily bloom of the year.

Daylily And the first passion flower that I noticed.

Passion flower The weather was perfect for “Top Down Travels”. Went to First Saturday Village Market in the “Historic Village Shoppes of Dunnellon”.

First Satuday Village Market We went once last year and there were so many more booths and people this year!

My favorite place in Dunnellon is Grumbles House. The plants are beautiful and there are so many cool garden accessories.

Grumbles House

I only bought two little plants while I was there. Can’t get a whole lot into the Camaro.

Sewing Machine — I liked this old sewing machine, too, but have no where to put it.

Car eyelashes — And I think my car needs some eyelashes. (not the Camaro)

And we’re not done with our adventures.

Here’s Maggie getting ready for her first bike ride of the season on Sunday. She’s gained her weight back from being sick last year.

Then we went to Citrus Hills for another Farmer’s Market and Car Show.

And then on to Hernando to check out the lake and park.

Ducks — I went down to check out the ducks.

This was a really nice park with pavilions, picnic tables, a swimming area, a playground and boat ramp but there were very few people taking advantage of all the amenities. Then I saw the hater sign. Explains it all.

Sign — Good thing we left Maggie and the beer at home!

Tea Class at Tea House 650 Cafe

April 1, 2014April 1, 2014 by KTgreen

Back in February Terry and I took a cooking class along with a bunch of friends at The Mullet Hole Tavern in the Heritage Village in Crystal River. So much fun! Last week one of these friends invited me to a tea class at the Tea House 650, also in the Heritage Village. Now that I’ve been to cooking class I couldn’t pass a chance to learn about tea!

Wares — These are just a few of the different containers of tea leaves. And wine, too!

Formerly the Back Porch garden and Tea Bar, I had been there many times over the years. Usually to buy tea but I’ve also had lunch there a few times plus bought a cute little teapot from the shop–perfect size for two cups of tea.

Gail, one of the owners of the tea house, led us through several tea subjects–from how healthy tea is to the different varieties–even how they are picked. We tried a few different flavors, looked at and smelled the different types of tea leaves, and learned about Yerba Mate which Gail mixed with royal coconut oolong to make a delicious hot energy drink.

Our little group stayed for lunch, yum! I highly recommend the Tobouli wedge with Red Beans and Rice along with a glass of white blueberry ice tea.

One of the other women in our group had the chicken salad which also looked wonderful.

The Tea House 650 Café is located at 650 N. Citrus Aveue in Crystal River. Their phone number is 352-564-1500 and website is www.teahouse650.com. Gail holds tea class every Tuesday from 11am until noon. The classes are free but limited to six guests. Besides tea, they also sell tea accessories, lunch, lovely items for the garden, and unique gifts.