What a day we had - what a wonderful state and people!! I haven' walked so much in forever, but was it ever worth every step.
Feb 5th – Fun Day in Montgomery, AL
Driving around, we found the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol – Both beautiful bldgs.
![[Image: Feb5GovsMansion_zps97ebdfee.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5GovsMansion_zps97ebdfee.jpg)
On to breakfast at Chef Michael Bertozzi’s Central restaurant – We split a Margharita flatbread and Crispy Oyster Salad: Crispy bacon lardons, shaved Pecorino Romano, Lemon Anchovy vinaigrette (a takeoff of a Caesar – lemon, olive oil, deli mustard, anchovies) , with fried oysters and artichoke croutons. The salad was wonderful!! We ate all the salad, but doggy bagged most of the flatbread. Cartlidge & Brown’s ’09 Zin from Healdsburg (where we used to live), CA was excellent with the Oyster salad and vinaigrette. Have never see this wine before – we’re on the lookout for it, tho.
![[Image: Feb5MargaritaFlatbrdCentral_zps58cd0e13.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5MargaritaFlatbrdCentral_zps58cd0e13.jpg)
![[Image: Feb5OysterSaladCentral_zps74e07fa0.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5OysterSaladCentral_zps74e07fa0.jpg)
Then we walked around the Alabama River Walk and saw the high water mark of 1961 and the whole town must have been under water. Amazing. Visited Hank William’s Museum and listened to his music for quite a while. Picked up a cookbook there – Hall of Fame of Southern Recipes. There is evidently a Hall of Fame book for each state. Would love to start collecting them.
Time for lunch at Capitol Oyster Bar – You can’t believe the neighborhoods and roads we traveled to end up here.
![[Image: Feb5CapitolOysterBarShack_zps8b8a6a5d.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5CapitolOysterBarShack_zps8b8a6a5d.jpg)
Roy almost wouldn’t let me out of the car, but perseverance got us in for Oysters Rockefeller and the Gumbo I’ve been looking for. Wonderful!! I also ordered to go (to play with later) a grilled Amberjack (have never heard of this one) Po’boy and a container of Crawfish Cream Sauce. Don’t know what I’ll do with them, but that Amberjack better be a tasty fish, it was expensive!!
![[Image: Feb5RoysOysterRockCapitolOysterBar_zps56337cd9.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5RoysOysterRockCapitolOysterBar_zps56337cd9.jpg)
![[Image: Feb5GumboCapitolOysterBar_zps53ed7158.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5GumboCapitolOysterBar_zps53ed7158.jpg)
The highlight and the most moving of the day was visiting the Civil Rights Memorial. Good Lord, I started crying the minute I saw the Martin Luther King wall – so moving. And all around the rim of the Fountain are names and events of the killing of so many during those days and the senseless murders. I’ve never seen anything like it. Through the whole exhibit and movie, I couldn’t help but think of how I had to choose between being a ‘good girl,’ staying where I ‘belonged’ and raising my kids, when I so wanted to do something to be a little part of this time and show support. But, I chose the family and watched from the sidelines. Would be interesting and frightening to know where I would be today had I chosen differently. If you ever get the chance to see this memorial, it is so worth it.
![[Image: Feb5CivilRightsMonumentMontgomery_zps485b6ea6.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5CivilRightsMonumentMontgomery_zps485b6ea6.jpg)
![[Image: Feb5CivilRightsFountain3_zps65b2351f.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5CivilRightsFountain3_zps65b2351f.jpg)
![[Image: Feb5CivilRightsFountain_zps445da604.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5CivilRightsFountain_zps445da604.jpg)
![[Image: Feb5CivilRightsFountain2_zpsf56134d7.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5CivilRightsFountain2_zpsf56134d7.jpg)
By this time we were just about worn out, so needed sustenance…. Drove to Sinclair’s, a small funky neighborhood restaurant. Roy had Chicken Piccata and I had a darn good grilled steak. I ended the day with a shot of Kahlua over ice. We then dragged ourselves home and to bed. Up early to head for a one night stay in Forsyth, GA. Won’t have to do much cooking in the next few days, we brought home doggie bags from every stop!!
![[Image: Feb5KahluaatSinclairs_zps90b07e44.jpg]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/cjdacook/TRAVELS/Feb5KahluaatSinclairs_zps90b07e44.jpg)
Feb 5th – Fun Day in Montgomery, AL
Driving around, we found the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol – Both beautiful bldgs.
On to breakfast at Chef Michael Bertozzi’s Central restaurant – We split a Margharita flatbread and Crispy Oyster Salad: Crispy bacon lardons, shaved Pecorino Romano, Lemon Anchovy vinaigrette (a takeoff of a Caesar – lemon, olive oil, deli mustard, anchovies) , with fried oysters and artichoke croutons. The salad was wonderful!! We ate all the salad, but doggy bagged most of the flatbread. Cartlidge & Brown’s ’09 Zin from Healdsburg (where we used to live), CA was excellent with the Oyster salad and vinaigrette. Have never see this wine before – we’re on the lookout for it, tho.
Then we walked around the Alabama River Walk and saw the high water mark of 1961 and the whole town must have been under water. Amazing. Visited Hank William’s Museum and listened to his music for quite a while. Picked up a cookbook there – Hall of Fame of Southern Recipes. There is evidently a Hall of Fame book for each state. Would love to start collecting them.
Time for lunch at Capitol Oyster Bar – You can’t believe the neighborhoods and roads we traveled to end up here.
Roy almost wouldn’t let me out of the car, but perseverance got us in for Oysters Rockefeller and the Gumbo I’ve been looking for. Wonderful!! I also ordered to go (to play with later) a grilled Amberjack (have never heard of this one) Po’boy and a container of Crawfish Cream Sauce. Don’t know what I’ll do with them, but that Amberjack better be a tasty fish, it was expensive!!
The highlight and the most moving of the day was visiting the Civil Rights Memorial. Good Lord, I started crying the minute I saw the Martin Luther King wall – so moving. And all around the rim of the Fountain are names and events of the killing of so many during those days and the senseless murders. I’ve never seen anything like it. Through the whole exhibit and movie, I couldn’t help but think of how I had to choose between being a ‘good girl,’ staying where I ‘belonged’ and raising my kids, when I so wanted to do something to be a little part of this time and show support. But, I chose the family and watched from the sidelines. Would be interesting and frightening to know where I would be today had I chosen differently. If you ever get the chance to see this memorial, it is so worth it.
By this time we were just about worn out, so needed sustenance…. Drove to Sinclair’s, a small funky neighborhood restaurant. Roy had Chicken Piccata and I had a darn good grilled steak. I ended the day with a shot of Kahlua over ice. We then dragged ourselves home and to bed. Up early to head for a one night stay in Forsyth, GA. Won’t have to do much cooking in the next few days, we brought home doggie bags from every stop!!
Retired and having fun writing cookbooks, tasting wine and sharing recipes with all my friends.
www.achefsjourney.com
www.achefsjourney.com
What a wonderful day you had.
just need an Internet connection.
But, I did send you a msg. abour 'files' on the home page - did you get it?