Category Archives: Taste Bud Travels

Sausage and Cabbage

On St. Patrick’s Day we may tend to think about green beer or Irish whiskey. Or we hunger for traditional Irish foods. When doing so, corned beef and cabbage may come to mind, even though the dish is not originally … Continue reading

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Welcome Sully’s Place!

Welcome to Sully’s Place in Columbus, NC! This new all-American grill sits in the classic location of the former Green River Tavern and Larkin’s Carolina Grill. The menu features a great selection of pub appetizers, salads, soups, and sandwiches. They … Continue reading

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National Italian Food Day

  We celebrate National Italian Food Day every year on February 13th.         So, perhaps you’ll want a nice Bolognese pasta, because Ragu alle Bolognese is Italy’s national food, made with meat, tomatoes, and tagliatelle pasta.   … Continue reading

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National Croissant Day

  I was first introduced to croissants while on a college internship in Copenhagen, Denmark. Each morning, as I traversed the walking street near my destination, I learned to stop in at a pastry shop.         What … Continue reading

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National Baking Month

We’re celebrating National Baking Month with a recipe from yesterday’s look at National Arkansas Day. Arkansas Possum Pie does not contain opossum… or any other meat. It’s a creamy layered pie with chocolate and cream cheese in a melt-in-your-mouth pecan … Continue reading

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National Chop Suey Day

Chop Suey epitomizes American Chinese cuisine. Both Chop Suey and Chow Mein are stir-fry dishes. Chow Mein is an authentic Chinese dish, while Chop Suey is totally Americanized. In preparing Chow Mein we typically mix the stir-fried ingredients in with … Continue reading

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August Is National Peach Month

Peaches juice up our happy little taste buds as a yummy fruit should.  Put them in a pie, put them in a muffin, or simply put them in your mouth! Because it’s summer, let’s put them in a dazzling drink. … Continue reading

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National Pennsylvania Day

July 20th is the date in 1776 that Pennsylvania became the 2nd state to join the union. Geographically centered among the 13 original colonies, the Keystone State is where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed.     … Continue reading

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Celebrate National Fried Clam Day!

Mom taught me a passion for great fried clams. They are never doughy, and they are never clam strips. The frozen ones, such as the ol’ Howard Johnsons fried clams do not come close to the real deal. Great big … Continue reading

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National Onion Ring Day

    I happen to be a huge fan of great onion rings. I’ve loved the big fat, juicy ones at summer fairs. I’ve relished amazing loaves of crispy skinny ones.       I’ve devoured nuggets and straws, bountiful … Continue reading

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International Sushi Day

Folks who may think they do not like sushi are usually confusing sushi with raw fish, which is actually sashimi, not sushi. That said, sashimi and sushi are often served together, but not necessarily. A sushi chef is a master … Continue reading

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National Road Trip Day

The Friday before Memorial Day is National Road Trip Day. Thus, today we officially kick off the summer road trip season on this day. Millions of Americans hit the road for the long weekend to visit friends and family while … Continue reading

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National Yucatan Shrimp Day

Yucatan Shrimp combines authentic Mexican cuisine with some Caribbean flair. But surprise! Yucatan Shrimp comes from Florida, though inspired by Mexico. The dish was created by Doc Ford’s Bar & Grille of southwest Florida fame. (Check them out in Fort … Continue reading

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National Colorado Day

April 12th is the date in 1876 that the Centennial State became the 38th to join the Union. The first of the Four Corner States, Colorado is noted for the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and boasts 53 mountain peaks … Continue reading

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National Burrito Day

Celebrate National Burrito Day by combining your favorites and wrapping them in a flour tortilla. The first photo is hubby Ron back in 2012, enjoying his favorite burrito at a Columbus, North Carolina restaurant, Cocula’s. It’s their gi-hugic Burrito Tejano, … Continue reading

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National Cocktail Day

Sooo many cocktail possibilities exist. Plus, you can create your own. Not being a current fan of hard liquor, I do recall some truly fun cocktails. A piña colada on a hot summer day or a frozen strawberry daiquiri or … Continue reading

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National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!

Invented in 1908 by Italian restauranteur Alfredo di Lelio, this celebrated dish is simply noodles tossed in butter and parmesan cheese. Of course, we have a great many adaptations, many including adding a decadent alfredo sauce for more creaminess. We … Continue reading

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Celebrate La Poutine Week!

The famed Québécois dish called Poutine forms the center of a week of Food Festivals, especially in Canada, where the dish originated. French fries, topped with cheddar cheese curds and brown gravy started in the province of Québec, Canada, but … Continue reading

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National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day!

Visit an art gallery today and let your troubles melt into the creative genius that surrounds you. Or choose an artist… one of your personal favorites. And look up all of their works online.   Say, “Ahhhhh.” Or check out … Continue reading

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National Oysters Rockefeller Day

This appetizer classic was first created to simply fill in for the snails that were highly heralded in New Orleans’ French Quarter in the late 1800s, at a time when a snail shortage was plaguing the restaurants.  Jules Alciatore, son … Continue reading

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National English Toffee Day

If you’re unfamiliar with English toffee, think of a Heath bar, which has an English toffee core. So, how many generations have enjoyed the sweet confection known as English toffee? Every generation since the early 19th century. There are subtle … Continue reading

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National Tempura Day

Our “food mood” is determined by more than just flavors. Texture also plays an important role. When light and crispy, but not greasy tug at your heartstrings, tempura is perfect! Japanese chefs spend many years perfecting their tempura technique, but … Continue reading

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Merry Christmas!

    A couple of days before Christmas, Sir Ronald and I went to a lovely holiday event at the historic Lake Lure Inn in Lake Lure, North Carolina.               The 1927 setting proved … Continue reading

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National Bouillabaisse Day

  Bouillabaisse is a hearty seafood stew that harkens back to ancient Greece, where Marseille was founded in 600 BC. To be authentic, the classic French soup must include Provence, France’s indigenous red scorpion fish.   However, in the United … Continue reading

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Memorable Moments, Silly Sidebars, and Terrific Takeaways

  Although Paradise is powerful, we could not stay forever, utterly absorbed in our visit there… although it is tempting.     We so enjoyed our trip to the Hawaiian Islands and our visit with my sister Deborah in Kaua’i. … Continue reading

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Na’Aina Kai Sculpture Park

I find it fitting that bronze sculptures of founders Ed and Joyce Doty now grace the Na’Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park in an area where she often sketched out her ideas, as her husband would sit with her … Continue reading

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Botanical Wonderland

I cannot possibly end my ramblings about visiting Kaua’i without taking you to the North Shore and delving into horticulture. For Ron and me, experiencing all this alongside my sister, Deborah, gave us wonderful insights and up-close, local experiences one … Continue reading

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Big Island Eruption Time

With Mauna Loa on the Big Island erupting again for the first time since 1984, she has been long overdue. Volcanoes are interesting. Officially, there are 161 volcanoes that are considered “potentially active” in the U.S. 48 are in continuing … Continue reading

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Kauai Movie Buff Alert!

  While visiting Kauai, we learned of many places that have served as perfect settings for film and video. More than 70 movies and television series have used the island of Kauai for settings that have depicted a vast array … Continue reading

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Lessons and Learning

While visiting the island of Kauai, we stayed at the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club on the south shore in the Poipu Beach area.   The grounds are simply gorgeous… so much so that hubby says he wants to marry the … Continue reading

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The Oldest Hawaiian Island

Cruising toward Kauai, our final island on our Hawaiian tour, I spied where the Kalalea Mountain range stretches to the sea in the northeastern portion of the island.     I later learned that the two jagged peaks at the … Continue reading

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National Happy Hour Day

Before we can enjoy Happy Hour, we must dance our way through several other hours first. Let me begin with a little Big Island info.     Of the 13 distinct climates found on Earth, 11 are right here on … Continue reading

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National Sundae Day

Sundae makes Fun Day on each and every day you choose. But must “I scream; you scream; we all scream for ice cream” necessitate traditional ice cream in that sundae? I used to think so. But now I’ve been introduced … Continue reading

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The Big Island

Being greeted by a rainbow as we cruised into the harbor, we knew we were in for a great day. And a wonderful new adventure! The Big Island is home to Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. Simply having to … Continue reading

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Here Today… Gone to Maui

On our cruise, we got to enjoy 2 days docked at the Kahului Port on the island of Maui, known as The Valley Island. Cruising into the harbor, I could easily see how the warm moisture from the Pacific Ocean … Continue reading

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National Nachos Day

I love nachos of all sorts. A marvelous Mexican chef and restauranteur taught me to make them with a single layer of chips, individually adorned with cheese, sauce, and any other finely diced toppings you need. That is still my … Continue reading

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Yes! Oahu Is Correct!

Sean O’Kane got it right! He recognized the classic spot on the North Shore near the Polynesian Cultural Center. Ron and I spent just a couple of days on Oahu, before boarding a cruise ship. We stayed 3 nights on … Continue reading

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Guess Where We Are!

Yes, it’s an island… a very specific island. Can you name it? (Only true guesses, please. Just email, text, or private message to me if you know because Sir Ronald or I shared the info.) Think now… the visual and … Continue reading

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National North Carolina Day

Since we now call North Carolina our home, I must salute this day properly. As a child, I knew of North Carolina as “First in Flight” thanks to the Wright brothers making history in Kitty Hawk. As the years passed, … Continue reading

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National Dumpling Day

Pick a culture or pick a dumpling! In America, I must admit that our dumplings are pretty boring… typically baked filled pastry or pieces of dough added to a dish & usually boiled, as for soup. That likely harkens back … Continue reading

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