Exploring the simple pleasures in life.
After many years of effort, I have found that the key to true happiness comes with learning to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. It’s in the awesome feeling that you have when the garden is full of beautiful banana peppers. It comes from spending time with the people you love and sharing fantastic adventures with them. This Uncomplicated Life is my way of sharing my journey into finding and enjoying the simple pleasures.
Barrier Jack’s Review
While in Cocoa Beach, FL we stopped at Barrier Jack's for breakfast. It is a small place with indoor and outdoor seating and they were busy. We walked in and waited at the counter for a table. We didn't mind waiting as we could see everyone was working at a feverish pace to take care of everybody. We were, however, put off by the extremely rude server who made it very clear that we were in her way when she told us to move. Almost immediately the server behind the counter came to our rescue. She was very friendly as she cleaned a table for us. There was art from local artists on display on the walls. Some of the fluorescent light covers were also painted to depict sky scenes. Chris ordered Two Eggs with Chicken Fried Steak. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The grits were creamy and delicious. The sausage gravy had the perfect amount of spice, flavorful but not overwhelming. I had the Veggie Lover's Omelette with cheddar, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes. The omelet was very good, but the hash browns were definitely the star of the plate. Beautifully crispy on the outside and creamy inside, they were [...]
Fish Lips Waterfront Bar & Grill Review
While in Cocoa Beach, FL we met up with our dear friends Jenn and Phil at Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill in Port Canaveral to catch up and have dinner. We started off with cocktails at the bar before moving to a table for dinner. My Tropical Punch, also available in a souvenir cup, was yummy. Once at our table, overlooking the water, we ordered the Calamari. It was good, but nothing special. Phil and Jenn shared an entree, which the kitchen was kind enough to split up for them. Chris ordered a ribeye with blue cheese butter, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli and topped with crispy fried onions. He added grilled shrimp to create a surf & turf. The onions had too much breading, but the steak was beautifully cooked to a perfect mid-rare. I ordered the Sesame Seared Tuna, seared rare tuna crusted in black and white sesame seeds, with rice, a seaweed salad, and a soy sriracha sauce. Of course, there was also wasabi and ginger on the plate. The tuna was delicious. I was pleasantly surprised that the sauce was as well. I am not normally a fan of sriracha. The only disappointment of the meal was when [...]
Maple Street Biscuit Company Review
While in St. Augustine we enjoyed a nice morning walk through the historic area to have breakfast at the Maple Street Biscuit Company, a Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives discovery. The spring flowers were in bloom and were lovely against the beautiful Spanish architecture of the area. Maple Street Biscuit Company is a counter service restaurant with some inside seating as well as several patio tables. As we were looking over the menu a large group of people walked in. Chris waited in line while I secured a patio table for us. It was a gorgeous Spring morning and we wanted to enjoy the historic street ambiance. He placed our order and then joined me outside. Realizing that he had forgotten to order my coffee, I went inside to get some. As I stood in line I heard them call "Pigeons Playing Ping Pong" and started to laugh as that is a band that our son, Joe, loves. Then I realized that is the name Chris gave for our order. I thought that was peculiar but amusing. It made much more sense when he explained that they had asked for the name of the first rock album he ever bought. Being [...]
A1A Ale Works Review
After settling into our hotel in the historic area of St. Augustine, FL we took a walk to A1A Ale Works for dinner. When we walked in they had a guitar player so we sat at the bar to enjoy the music. We ordered drinks and an appetizer and the bartender informed us that dinner service would be finished in 5 minutes, but that there would be a late-night menu available after that. We went ahead and put in our dinner order before the kitchen closed. Chris ordered the Calamari as an appetizer and I ordered the A1A Beer Cheese Soup. The fried calamari came with banana peppers, which added a nice acidic element to the dish. Marinara and a wasabi aioli accompanied the dish as well. The soup, made with a red ale, cheddar and pepper jack, caramelized onions and roasted barley, was delicious. The ale and onions gave the soup a deep, rich flavor and the barley added a pleasant texture. It was disappointing that our entrees came before we were close to finishing our appetizers. For dinner, Chris ordered the Chef-Selected Seafood Piccata, a haddock filet sautéed in a white wine butter sauce with lemon juice and [...]
Our Putt-Putt Adventure
A while back we came across a YouTube video of a putt-putt golf course that looked like it would be a lot of fun. I looked them up on Facebook and saved the link in the event that the opportunity to go was to arise. Fast forward many months and we found that opportunity. As we planned our annual road trip to Florida, we were able to arrange a stop in Myrtle Beach to visit Mount Atlanticus Minotaur Golf. Mount Atlanticus has two 18-hole courses on four levels with indoor holes, outdoor holes, caves and plenty of water. It is only a few blocks from the beach and there is a spectacular view of the ocean from the top levels. Pricing options include one course for $12, with an option to add the second course for $5.50, all-day play til 4 for $14, or night play from 4 to close, one course for $12. We went with all-day play. The course starts out inside for two holes before you venture outside. We played the Conch course first. I would suggest that the Minotaur course be played first though. I did very well scoring 2 on the first five holes, putting [...]
13 Gypsies Review
We discovered a Jacksonville, FL restaurant on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a few years ago named 13 Gypsies. Somehow we have just not managed to time it right to visit as we drive through Jacksonville on our annual Florida road trip. That is, until this year. I found a new disc golf course and 13 Gypsies was not too far away, so of course, we had to stop in for lunch before we played. I am so happy that we finally made it there. It was well worth the wait. The tapas-style restaurant sits on a corner. They have seven tables and four counter stools. They serve beer and wine, but no cocktails. The staff was friendly when we entered and helpful with the menu. We were there a little later in the day so we had the place to ourselves. I ordered the Roman-Style Gnocchi, delectable brick-style gnocchi, with a beautiful sharpness from the pecorino cheese, topped with mushrooms as well as a beef and mushroom stock. The dish was flavorful and rich. Chris had the Brown Butter Haddock with blistered tomatoes and shaved brussels sprouts. The fish was beautifully cooked and the brown butter sauce was rich and [...]
Page’s Okra Grill Review
Two years ago while I was planning our vacation we saw a show on the Travel Channel featuring a Charleston restaurant named Page's Okra Grill. As we would be spending two days of our trip in Charleston, we decided we would have lunch there. We arrived at lunchtime on St. Patrick's Day. The restaurant was very busy so there was a wait, but the food was worth it. Last year we planned to have brunch there before we headed home, but Sunday brunch after St. Patrick's Day was just too crowded and we ended up at another restaurant, which was a horrible mistake. This year we were able to return to Page's Okra Grill. We went for lunch on a Monday. We arrived half an hour before lunch ended, so there was no wait. Our server, Donna, did not seem at all happy that we were there. I get it, there is nothing worse than a table that walks in last-minute and then sits there forever. I guess she didn't know we are not those people. Her attitude changed for the better once she realized that. I ordered Holy Water, a tasty cocktail with vodka, rum, peach schnapps, lemonade, and [...]
Sea Biscuit Cafe Review
One of the places we love for breakfast in Isle of Palms, SC is Sea Biscuit Cafe. It is within walking distance of the hotel that we normally stay in. It is in a small cottage, with small tables situated very close to each other. The atmosphere is friendly and homey. They do not take credit cards but do have an ATM out front for those that did not know ahead of time. This was our third visit, but this review will focus on our experience this time. I love that they decorate the tables with fresh flowers. Somehow we have always been lucky enough to get seated immediately. Every time we go a line forms while we are eating. As always service was great. Mark was attentive and willing to give us the time we needed to decide on our dishes. In addition to the regular menu, there is always a board with four or five specials for the day. I ordered Eggs Benedict. The eggs were a little overcooked, which was disappointing, but otherwise, the dish was really good. On previous visits, my eggs have always been spot on so I won't hold the miss against them. Chris [...]
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen Review
Last year, while in Isle of Palms, South Carolina (just outside of Charleston), we had plans to go into Charleston for dinner. Driving through Charleston is challenging. The roads are narrow and traffic is heavy. With it being St. Patrick's Day, we decided that it might be a better option to pick a restaurant within walking distance. We discovered Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. We liked the food so much that we were looking forward to having dinner there this year. Again we ended up there on St. Patrick's Day. When we arrived they were busy and there was a wait. We left our name with the hostess and went to the bar to wait for the text. Jasmine was quick to greet us. Even though she was busy, she made us feel welcome. Not long after we sat down we decided it would be nice to sit on the patio. I went to the hostess to see if we could ask for a table there and she told me that our table was ready. (And yes, it just happened that our table was on the patio.) Mytch greeted us quickly. He was friendly, informed us about the specials and skillfully answered [...]
River City Cafe Review
On a recent visit to Myrtle Beach, we stopped at River City Cafe on 21st Avenue for lunch. It is a busy, cozy spot with a lot of character. The decor consists of walls covered in license plates from all over (Canada too!), interesting artwork on the ceilings and light fixtures made from wire mesh trash cans. As they seat you, they cover the table in craft paper and leave a basket of peanuts. Peanut shells adorn the floor. I loved that they sat us in a corner with almost all Virginia plates. Michal was friendly and gave us prompt service despite the business of the restaurant. I ordered a Grape Ape, a delicious concoction of grape vodka, sours, and Sprite topped with grenadine, served in a souvenir cup. Chris ordered the Fork & Knife Burger, but with chicken. The grilled chicken, smothered with grilled mushrooms and onions, topped with gravy and served on Texas Toast, was a tasty dish. I opted for the Palmetto Burger, topped with pimento cheese, with tomato, onion, pickles, and mayo. The burger was well done, but I am not going to knock them for that as I did not think to see if they [...]
Folding Tables Review
Tables are essential to our camping experience. Not every campground provides picnic tables and when they do those tables are not necessarily conveniently located, easily moved or comfortable by the campfire. We found a nice round folding table before our first festival and it has become a part of our must-have camping gear. We purchased the Logo Brands Round Folding Table at Dick's Sporting Goods. The assembled table measures 28.5" x 28.5" x 24.25" high. It is a roomy table with two built-in cup holders. The poly fabric stretches tight enough to become a good tabletop. The top folds in half and the legs fold down for storage in the compact zip-up storage bag with handles. The roomy table takes up almost no room in the truck. We found ourselves moving the table into the tent at night. Our air mattress takes up most of the room in our tent. We could use the table, but it was not a great fit for the space we have. With a little research, I found another folding table on Amazon. This smaller rectangular table is by Outry. Assembled it measures 22" x 17" x 15" high. They do have a larger one [...]
La Herradura Review
On a recent trip to Virginia Beach, we found ourselves looking for a place to eat. Our son, Joe, suggested a Mexican cantina that he said had awesome tacos. Unfortunately for us, the place he had in mind was not open due to renovations. With tacos in mind, we found another Mexican restaurant, La Herradura. They have three locations; we went to the one on Shore Drive. When we walked in we were kindly greeted and immediately seated. There were four of us, but we were only given three menus. Chris found a cocktail menu on another table. When our server asked what we wanted to drink, we all settled on margaritas. The margaritas were huge (and a bit on the syrupy side). I did not realize until we were given the check that they had given us jumbo margaritas instead of the regular one (adding $15 to the bill). As I was driving, I ended up giving Joe half of mine. We ordered our entrees and an order of cheese dip as an appetizer. The cheese dip was lukewarm at best. Between the four of us, we had the Pollo Borracho (grilled chicken marinated with tequila-lime and topped with [...]
