When we look back on today, we’ll remember it as a travel evening. By the time we made it to Florida we were ready to be out of the car. That worked out well since, after that, there’s just the water.
On the way, do you know where this is?
No? Need another hint?
Fine, one more.
It is a small southern town, so there’s no shame if you don’t know it. I sent those pictures to my friend Elizabeth. She’s from that town and she didn’t know, either. (I like my geographic quizzes to be challenging.)
Anyway.
We’re at a Residence Inn, somewhere in Florida, which has the most pretentious lobby I’ve ever seen in a hotel I can afford. The sink in the bathroom off the lobby:
It has the H and C, the universal symbols for “Ouch!” and “Brrr!” The knob rotates. But that doesn’t turn on the water. Twist, pull, tug, push and you get no water. You can control the temperature of this mythical H20, but you have to — oh.
It is a hands-free faucet. There’s a sensor under the spout. But you still had to touch it. And that’s Florida.
The Yankee and I had dinner at a place called Crabby Bill’s. There was a dour faced man in the classic grimace pose on the logo, how could you go wrong? Also, there was seafood.
I discovered corn and crab chowder. Got the recipe:
4 tablespoons butter or bacon fat
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 small green pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
3 cups corn, cut off cob
2 cups milk or more
1 cup cream
1/2 pound crabmeatMelt butter or bacon fat in pan.
When hot, add onions and green pepper.
Saute 5 minutes.
Add potatoes and cover vegetables with water.
Cook 10 minutes.
Add corn and continue to cook until potatoes are tender.
Add 2 cups milk and the cream.
Stir and bring to a boil.
Add crabmeat and just heat through.
Thin with milk if necessary.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir in parsley.
I might eat that all fall.
The place was full of signs, both manufactured and handmade, like this one:
We picked up The Yankee’s mother. She flew down for a quick weekend visit a bit further down the coast. We’ll do that tomorrow.
