Saturday, July 24, 2010

pappy's corn squeezin's


Well, between Scotch and nothin', I suppose I'd take Scotch.  It's the nearest thing to good moonshine I can find.
                      ~ William Faulkner





1931 Pinckney Island, South Carolina moonshine operation


it was a mighty fine, full-moon-out-tonight birthday present


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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

by the time they threw us out, i'd met everyone except hunter himself

Many people in Savannah have never heard of Shellman (or Shellman's) Bluff and if they have, they don't know where it is.  This picturesque fish camp area provides access to a nearby national park and two wildlife refuges.  However, that is not the kind of wildlife that Ashley, Anna, Ken, and I were in search of.  I'd heard tales of the good times at Hunter's Cafe on the bluff--tales that will cannot be repeated here; however, even with GPS, it's not that easy to find.  That's because main street is a one-lane sandy road which meanders along the shoreline of the Broro and Julienton rivers leading into Sapelo Sound, the island rumored to contain some of Blackbeard's hidden treasure, and one of the wildlife refuges.  One local restaurant touts the bluff as 
 "Not a place for fast lane folks.  Ain't got no red lights.  
No 4-lanes.  We move slow here.  Try it--good for your health."


front door parking for your golf cart or ATV



inside front door of Hunter's



Ken and Anna chat up Marie



 *Jim Grimshaw, Ashley, Capt. Gerald


*read more about Grimshaw@ 




Chicken Strips and Hunter Chips
Ashley added all that extra salt as she recommended the chips rather than fries.
She was right!  These chips are outstanding.  Uniform sized potatoes sliced to the perfect thickness for a nice crunch, but not overdone.




Fried Shrimp, Hush Puppies, Hunter Chips

The menu includes seafood, steaks, burgers, and sandwiches.  Shrimp is fresh, local catch and not heavily battered.



Yankee, go home!




Ken on the screened porch before Marie sent us all home









this sign above the bar pretty much sums up any experience on the bluff
Hunter's Cafe on Urbanspoon




my room with a view at Anna's house







shirt and shoes required



...but panties appear to be optional.


You've driven past it trekking from Savannah through Bluffton to Hilton Head; but you could easily overlook the small white building there on the left side of the road.  We had planned on outlet mall shopping followed by a trip to the infamous taco bus at the base of the bridge to the expressway across Hilton Head.  Sadly, I have to report that the taco bus has disappeared from its long-time location in the parking lot of a convenience store.  Because our time was limited, we decided on the La Tienda Mexican Restaurant back near Bluffton...but when we arrived, it did not open until 5 pm that day.  We headed on through Bluffton and there it was just waiting to be discovered...the Squat 'n' Gobble Restaurant.


Next to this explanation of the naming of the restaurant is a framed newspaper article picturing Jay Leno who declares this as "the worst name ever for a restaurant."

Honestly I was so in awe of every other element of this restaurant, I can't remember much about the food except that it offered a meat and three for lunch.  I just kept repeating, "I can't believe we've never stopped here before!"  It's just the type of homey place I do love.  

As we were seated, I glanced at the drink dispenser and was disappointed to learn that this restaurant sold Evil Pepsi instead of Coke.  When I commented on this fatal flaw to Jennifer, one of the waitresses yelled at the other one, "She don't want no Pepsi, but I betcha she dranks tea."  Jennifer was laughing so hard at this that she forgot to warn me not to begin my rant that usually accompanies my discovery of a restaurant's lack of devotion to Coke products.  

The two waitresses reminded me of Flo at Mel's Diner and like Flo, they were quick to inset their opinions into conversations throughout the restaurant.  They were able to do this because this restaurant is so small and filled with locals and traveling salesmen.  The tiny nook in which we were seated also is home to the drink dispenser, a glass case of souvenir tee-shirts, a refrigerator case, the largest homemade $1 chocolate chip cookies ever, the cash register, and the full menu on the wall.  The Squat 'n' Gobble purports to be open 24/7, but we'll see the next time we are making the journey back from Hilton Head or Haig Point to Savannah via Bluffton.  

Definitely my kind of place...even if they do not serve Diet Coke!

Other reviews of Squat 'n' Gobble

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g54146-d437039-r13530183-Squat_Gobble-Bluffton_South_Carolina.html


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Monday, July 19, 2010

everything should taste like bacon

but what about baby formula, lip balm, and #10 envelopes?

quotes



Justin and Dave seem to think so, but you'll have to decide for yourself.



http://store.baconsalt.com/

I do love bacon and can eat a half pound at a sitting, but I don't think EVERYTHING should taste like it.