The Village Pub

A sad sad night.

We have been to the Village Pub many times...from the Two for One Curry nights to after church lunch. For a little over year it would be one of the first restaurants that would come to mind when it was time to go out for dinner.

The staff was great...the food as wonderful. The atmosphere could not be better. Great curry, great fish and chips, decent beers. Who could ask for more. Our allegiance was even to the point that our eight year old (now ten) would request going there.

So a Friday night found us in Gulfport again. There is a art walk on the first and third Friday of every month. It is always fun to walk around, see the crafts and look at people (probably the best part).

Without a second thought we decided to go to The Village Pub for dinner....we were greeted at the door by the owner/waitress. She gave us hearty welcome of someone inviting old friends into ones home... we chose a table inside.

Where we witnessed people coming in after us getting service....owner making room for people at the bar and serving them (after we arrived). People that were put on the wait after we arrived...get sat and served...

Needless to say...we left. I am greatly saddened by this evening that we experienced at The Village Pub.

I hate to say it...no longer will this be a destination. There are too many decent restaurants that would be more than happy to take my dollars. Next time I walk into this door it will be an after thought....or a moment that I am severely outnumbered.

Smokin' Rib Shack

The sun was shining....My forehead was burned...a long day was had at the soccer fields watching my daughter's U12 team play in a tournament...um, they didn't do all that well, but all of the girls played their hearts out.

Next stop, ROCKFEST 2011 at Our Savior Lutheran Church East Bay Campus. As we pulled into the parking lot my eyes began to get wider and wider. What did I see?



You guessed it...something that I would love to have in my back yard. The smoker of all smokers. Well not really, just a real nice smoker that I would love to get closer to.

With the smoke wafting out of the stacks I had to make my way over to the wonderful piece of metal. When the doors were opened I stood in awe at its contents. I love the sight of smoked food. I love the smell of smoke. I just love it.



So of course we had to order some of this smoked goodness...



I got two of the three dishes that they were offering. On the Rib Shack menu were Ribs, Pulled Pork and Chicken. I of course had to get the Ribs, because that is the barometer that all BBQ should be measured by. I also ordered the Pulled Pork, just in the mood for pork.



The pulled pork was delicious. Or I should say that mine was. My 10 year old also got pulled pork that was filled with fat and a good portion was not eatable because of it. The flavor was very good though.

The Ribs,...well, not all that tender. I first was a little leery when the gent that was cutting the ribs had a huge meat cleaver and was smacking between the bones...and at times was having a hard time splitting them. They tasted good though, although on a scale of 1-10, I would say these ribs were a 5.

Now the highlight...THE SAUCE. I think that the sauce saved some mediocre ribs, and made the pulled pork wonderful. I would have liked to have a straw and drink the stuff, it was that good.

While this was not near the best Q I have ever had, I do realize that it was on location. The sauce makes me want to go and check this place out.

Eating Central: Nick's Family Restaurant

Years, and years and years ago...ok, maybe 7 years or so, I wanted to start a project where I ate at every restaurant up and down Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Wanted to go from Bay to Gulf checking every place out. Then I would write about it and try and sell it to the newspaper.

This quest never happened though. Every once in a while I think about it, but never act on it. You see, I am not really a writer...and I wasn't really sure on how to do it anyway...but now, I have this new wonderful medium and I am going to start eating Central.

So what better place to start than Nick's Family Restaurant. Why? Well I have eaten breakfast there almost every Sunday morning for a couple of years. It is a restaurant where a patron is totally comfortable....

... I must qualify that. If a person walks in off of the streets, maybe not so comfortable. But once you know the staff and the food it is as if you are having dinner at a family members house. I always like it when the staff knows you and your family, and when you sit down 3 cups of coffee magically appear in front of you.

The food is nothing super special...but it is super special. It is home cooking where you won't find any crazy. A patron knows what to expect and what they will get EVERY TIME....and that is something.



Pictured above is my weekly Sausage Omelet...now the empty space is where the potatoes are supposed to be, but I ate them already. Our table has the same order almost every Sunday....My omelet, my wife gets the Farmer Omelet (no Green Peppers, but with Tomatoes)...my daugter and Mom get eggs with bacon and ham respectively.

Other than the breakfasts I have had the Turkey Rueben (sucker for Kraut I am) and we have gotten the wraps and soups and salads. We have always been pleased. And the more comfortable we get, the better the food. This is a place we will be back to many, many, many more times.