JeffC

Lexington Wow...never thought I'd see the Parkette drive-in mentioned here! That was my usual destination after taking my girlfriend to the drive-in movie across the road, nearly fifty years ago. The signature sandwich was and is the double decker Poor Boy hamburger...nothing special, but they were one of the first doing the double decker. It's a true Lexington institution, one that will probably be there for as close to forever as we can measure. Joe Bologna's was my go-to pizzeria for a brief time, just after college. I went back a couple years ago and would agree that the breadsticks in garlic butter is the best thing on the menu. Back in the day, Joe opened his pizzeria when there was no decent pizza in Lexington, so his success was quick and continues to this day, even though there are better choices around. Good Fellas on North Mill has very good pizza...I was up there for the end of the Keeneland meet and very happy with the pizza we took home after the races.

It was...Needless to say, I kept the flight attendants busy--they provided the airsick bag brigade during the worst of it. Luckily for my friend , there were plenty of empty seats--people in front and behind me were able to relocate. Explosive is too mild a word....we had shared a huge Indian feast a few hours before the flight. Fortunately, most of my memories were made vague by my delirium.

Bimbo, Cho's bit reminds me of the time over forty years ago when I was leaving India after having been there for a few months. I had developed something of a traveler's ego after drinking water from train water fountains and eating all manner of street food with nary a complaint from my digestive system. I used to tease my friend about his sensitive tummy...but on the morning of our last day, I developed a huge thirst (it was August in Bombay and it was hot!), so I stopped at an orange juice vendor stall and when they gave me the juice, it was warm. I asked for ice and was accommodated, ignorant of where the ice came from. (My friend told me later that they had chunked some off an ice block, then picked it up off the ground and put it in the juice.) Long story short, I boarded our plane in the wee hours, about the time that my abdomen was beginning to rumble in a way that I had never experienced...and what followed happened at warp speed, leaving no option other than to stay in my seat and....well....I was wearing a white pajama-type bottom with a draw string and a white Indian shirt. I've experienced "IT" a couple of times since, but never with with such concentrated speed and power. There was literally nothing I could do...there was no time to get climb over my companions and up the aisle. Just moving would have made things far worse. The flight lasted another nine hours....

Absolutely....in my case, changing the diet was huge, but starting a regular program of exercise has made the biggest difference. It took a few weeks of eating well to bring me to the point where I was ready to exercise. I really believe that diet and exercise are mutually reinforcing--it's hard to eat a crappy diet and feel good enough to exercise daily, just as being a couch potato can encourages bad eating habits.

In February I stepped on the scale and was mortified--for the first time in my life, I'd broken the 200 pound barrier, weighing in at a hefty 203.4. At 5'10'', that's well into the "overweight" range and, frankly, I'd been feeling listless and shitty for weeks. My wife and I decided we needed a food plan, so we started something called the Healthy Transitions Diet, which is very much like the Whole30--no wheat, no "white" foods (rice, potatoes, past)", no sugar, no dairy, no alcohol). About the only thing we allowed ourself that Whole 30 would eliminate were a few Sami's Bakery flax and millet chips. The no alcohol thing was hard for this confirmed wino, but at the end of 10 weeks, I'd lost 26 pounds (wife lost 20+) and felt better than I had in years. After a few weeks, my procrastination (of years standing) melted and we finally joined or local health and aquatic club--I now work out at least four time a week and spend 45 minutes on the elliptical each time. It's now over six months later and I've started drinking a glass of wine every couple of days and have gradually been adding things like cheese, breads, and cream. I'm still down 25 pounds--thanks to vigorous workouts--but it's becoming more and more evident that the clarity and easy energy that came from the diet is being compromised by adding these things...so we're going tighten things up and see what happens. All of this is to say that I'm definitely a believer. We had no idea how much better eating this way could make us feel.

I never realized how much I loved pho until I lived in a place that doesn't have it. The closest thing in or near Myrtle Beach is something called Vietnamese noodle soup at a local pan-Asian eatery--it's not bad, but it isn't pho. They don't sell enough of it to really pay attention to the broth or the quality of their ingredients. I can get plum sauce, sriracha, jalapenos, sprouts, etc., on the side, so I load up the bowl and pretend..... Oh, for the days when I could drop by Pho 75 for a bowl.

Thanks for the link! Nice interview....except maybe for the last part. Although I'd bet that Sean Brock (McCrady's/Husk) will be involved with his Charleston operation in some way, the thought of Rodney spreading himself too thin is a bit scary. I don't want anything to jeopardize the goodness of his 'cue! I was over there a couple of weeks ago and got to talk with him for the first time--he was sitting on the front porch of the store, just relaxing and watching the world go by. And it goes by VERY slowly out there...he's a genuinely nice guy and loves (and may be a bit overwhelmed by) how the world is discovering his barbecue.

A few things to add to my previous posts.... The Blue Elephant--a little Thai restaurant in Murrells Inlet (a few miles south of Myrtle Beach), it's only open for dinner and can be a little pricey if you're used to DC Thai prices, but the food is excellent, the spice level--if you order levels 3 or 4 (this is too hot for me, and I LOVE hot food!)--is incendiary, and all the meals are prepared by the owner/chef. Be prepared to spend a couple hours, as the food comes out at a leisurely pace. Far and away my favorite MB Thai. Scott's Barbecue--see the "Hemingway, South Carolina" thread. It's a bit over an hour from MB and isn't really a restaurant, but you can pick up what is probably the best barbecue in South Carolina. It has been featured in ABC Nightline and the NYT. Well worth the drive. Ciao--small Italian restaurant on business 17. No unusual dishes, but everything is done very well. Call for reservations. Bombay at the Beach has slipped...not a good thing for a place that was mediocre on their best day. The little family-run Ethiopian place is still open and, despite a VERY limited menu, is pretty good. Mr. Fish has raised their prices, but it's still very good.

It's not really a restaurant, but there are a couple of picnic tables outside. Most people just go back out to their cars and dig in. Scott's is an old-time roadside market that you find on the back roads in the Carolinas. When I pick up a few pounds for myself and friends, I always buy an extra half pound and eat it with my fingers while driving home--it really is "finger-licking good"....and a few napkins keeps things from getting too messy. Tweaked, have you been there during one of your visits? If you ever go, I'd love to hear what you think. Scott's is 62 miles from my house and is about 50 miles from Myrtle Beach. One very important caveat--they are cash only. The nearest ATM is a few miles down the road in Hemingway...learned that the hard way the first time I went.

Thought I'd bring this back to the top. Since the original post, Scott's renown has continued to grow. Sean Brock of Husk and McCrady's in Charleston recently described Scott's as his "most favorite place to eat in the entire world". He and Rodney Scott often cook together at competitions--they won Best in Show at the 2011 Meatopia in NYC--as well as for the fun of it. But despite it's growing fame, the only change at Scott's has been an extra buck a pound for the barbecue, and extra business day (Wednesday), and the addition of slaw as a side. Seriously, this place is worth the extra effort if you are ever in the Charleston, SC area and have a few hours to spare....

If you love music and believe that it sounds best through vacuum tube components, I really think you'll like Deja Vu. Thirteen years ago I wandered into Vu's original store and was very quickly won over by the sound of tube audio. Vu knows audio, has an amazing ear, and will patiently demo and explain the equipment he sells. He helped me put together a sweet little system that hasn't changed in twelve years, except for a CD player upgrade. One of the complaints some have about high end audio dealers is attitude, as if they're doing you a favor to take time with you. That's especially true for newbies, who can find really good audio equipment intimidating. Vu and his staff are friendly and more than willing to take time with you. Although I've flown south, I know I can always call Vu with advice or recommendations. He stands by the gear he sells--and makes--and treats his customers well. Deja Vu Audio Jeff Craddock

Then let me raise a glass to the wonderful family that stopped and helped me out when I was rear-ended on the Beltway three years ago.....like you, it was a hit and run and it was definitely a case of a big guy picking on my little Miata. It was January and it was cold and rainy. The family had come to DC from Tennessee to spend time with their daughter--who was also in the car--who was at Walter Reed, recovering from her IED-inflicted wounds. I was hit pretty hard and was probably in shock, but these kind people helped me call the police, managed to get the license plate of the offender, helped fill in the details for the accident report, and stayed until they knew I would be fine and on my way. When I finally calmed down enough to reflect on what had happened, their kindness literally brought tears. There really are good people in this world.

Same here....hasn't it been a remarkable day? Cheers!

Scott's Bar-B-Que in Hemingway, SC, is said to have the best pulled pork in the state. It's made in the Eastern Carolina style--pulled pork, cooked over a pit for 24 hours--with a fiery vinegar-based sauce. It's been featured in the NY Times and on Nightline and in a short documentary. Tomorrow morning, a friend is joining me on my montlhy pilgrimage to pick up a few pounds. Scott's, from The Intrepid Traveler

I love the peaty malts and Lagavulin 16 year-old remains my favorite. You just can't go wrong with that one. Laphroaig 10 year-old is also very good, as is Talisker, from the Isle of Skye. The latter is peaty, but with a peppery note that makes it entirely unique.

There are a few places in Myrtle Beach that are better than mediocre.....Mr. Fish on US 17, around 31st Ave. N. is connected to the Mr. Fish seafood market and has some very good seafood, not at all like the Calabash-style places favored by most tourists. And because there are so many transplants from PA, NY, and NJ, there are quite a few very good red-sauce Italian places. Ciao on US 17 is one well-worth checking out. They are as good or better than any of that genre that we tried when we lived in DC. They are not particularly creative--mostly the red-sauce standards--but some do it very well, indeed. And then there's Scott's, maybe the best bar-b-cue in the Carolinas and certainly miles better than anything in the DC area. It's nearly 60 miles from Myrtle Beach, in Hemingway, SC, but their bar-b-cue is famous, having been profiled in the NY Times, on Nightline, and in other foodie venues. The stuff is simply amazing....check out my post in "Hemingway, SC" on this forum...you'll find a link to the NY Times article and a documentary that is well worth a look. When we moved down here in February, after 17 years in DC and hundreds of wonderful meals, many because of my love for this forum, I made a concerted effort--perhaps even an obsession--of finding decent food. It's been mostly frustrating, but has yielded a few gems. The fried chicken at Fresh Catch, just a few miles outside of MB on Highway 90, is wonderful and well-worth trying. The only Ethiopian restaurant in South Carolina is in downtown Myrtle Beach--it's owned by a professor at Coastal Carolina University and is pretty good. There's one Indian restaurant--Bombay at the Beach--and it's decent. Not Passage to India good, but it would hold its own with some of the lesser Indian restaurants in metro DC. I like it better than Minerva, to name one. There are several taquerias which cater to the may Mexican immigrants in the area....some are quite good, albeit inconsistent. I've ordered the chile rellenos maybe five times at Maya--on US 17--and have gotten it five different ways. Sometimes with beef, sometimes with cheese, once as a soup!....but each time good. But as johnb notes, the best bet is to cook your own food...and we probably eat in five or six nights a weeks and go out maybe once per week. What we've lost in quality, we've made up in money saved.

Mediocre at best pretty much nails it....but you're right, Thai Seasons is a pretty good option, easily the best Thai on the beach. There are a few gems to be found, but they are few and far between. Have you made it to Scott's yet? If you go, don't forget that they are only open Th-F-Sat.

I always thought Woodlands in Langley Park had the best dosai in MoCo or just about anywhere else. It's very near the old Udupi Palace, just west of the intersection of University and New Hampshire, on the other side of University from the old Udupi Palace. Madras Palace in Gaithersburg also has good South Indian fare.

So sorry to hear this....although we've moved far away, I've always looked forward to coming back to MoCo and eating at my favorite haunts. Bobby's had the best fries, an excellent crabcake, and as ol_ironstomach noted, maybe the best key lime pie in metro DC.

The Nightline piece was pretty good, but here's something even better....for any of you who love bar-b-que and want to see how it's really done, check this link out.... Rodney Scott shows how it's done.....

According to Scott's Facebook page, ABC's Nightline is doing a piece on them either Thursday or Friday this week.

To a friend who died last night, after a long and painful decline due to cancer. As one friend put it, "...he was able to maintain his sense of humor and face it all with grace". Godspeed....

So good to see a post about El Patio. One of the owners was my colleague at the MoCo Crisis Center, so we would get carryout from time to time when we were on the evening shift. When I retired, he brought me a bag of empanadas on my last night, as he knew how much I loved them. Nice to see them get a good mention here....as DanielK noted, the fare is tasty and quite substantial.

I guess this could have gone into the Charleston thread, but Hemingway is 82 miles away. Or the Myrtle Beach thread....but again, 60 miles away. It's 65 miles from my house, mostly through two-lane backroads. Hemingway only has one real claim to culinary fame.....Scott's Bar-B-Que, located on SC Hwy 261, at Brunson's Crossroad. Anyhow, after hearing word of mouth, the praises of more than one southern food writer--one of whom proclaimed Scott's (with understandable southern bias) to be the best barbecue on planet--and finally reading the New York Times artlcle linked below, I made a pilgrimage to this shrine of vinegar-based 'cue. The top-down drive through SC backroads was a treat in itself. I'll just say it. This is one of the finest eating experiences of my life--the first bite, sans sauce, was a pork epiphany. The smoky, rich meat had a depth of flavor that that could make the gods cry. This is simply some incredible stuff--perfect, as one comment on the NYT article noted. I've never been good at describing food flavors...I just know what I like, and jeez do I love this stuff. I had them prepare me an order with sauce--fiery hot, from the bottom of the jug--and I giddily finished it off. All you get here is barbecue--chicken or pork, or, more recently, rib-eye--and a couple slices of white bread. No slaw, no hushpuppies....just the 'cue. I bought four pounds of the pork, along with a half-gallon of sauce, for just under fifty bucks, tax included. Two pounds for me, two for my buddy who is a true Carolina barbecue-lover, having grown up in NC and eaten in almost every little roadside place in both states. He came over just a few minutes ago, ate a few bites, and proclaimed this stuff to be the finest he's eaten in his sixty-odd years. My wife, not generally a fan of such things, can't stop going back for "just another couple of bites". Click here for the NY Times article One caveat--they are only open three days a week (Thur-Sat). If you're a barbecue lover and you find yourself anywhere near this place--and by near, I mean one or two hours away--please consider a side trip.

Just for fun, I'll throw this in. On Thursday I'm going to hop in the roadster and drive a bit over an hour (I live in SC, so from DC it would be more like 8-9 hours) to Scott's Bar-b-que, widely considered to be the finest barbecue in South Carolina. Given what I've tasted since moving down here, that is high praise indeed....as much as I loved Urban BBQ, this Carolina stuff rocks! It's only open three days a week and serves nothing but the 'cue. No slaw, no sides....just pork! The NYT did a piece on Scott's last year, resulting in a new wave of afficionados.... Scott's BBQ, Hemingway, SC.... The plan is to eat some on premises, then carry out two pounds of the 'cue and a quart or so of sauce. I'll report back in the "Intrepid Traveler Thread".