Tasting (Around) Thomasville: Old South Days & the Bleu Pub (with bonus antiquing)

Nibbles

In scrolling through pictures, trying to figure out where we left off as far as far as restaurant recaps, I have a couple of out-of-town experiences that are worth mentioning. Hopefully you’ll agree with me!

Old South Days, Ochlockonee, Georgia

Ochlockonee is a little (and I mean little–less than 1,000 people) town just north of us, and every November they host Old South Days–a festival of the usual small-town type celebrating, among other things, their status as one of the largest cane syrup producers in the nation (or they used to be, at least). I was hoping for the small-town festivals I remembered from back home in Louisiana. It wasn’t, but it was cute in its own way.

jvanderbeek_friedgatortail_oldsouthdays

We did eat some fair food, though, in the form of fried gator tail on a stick. And while I couldn’t tell you the name of the stand we bought it from, I can tell you it was some of the best gator tail I’ve had in my life. And if you’ve ever heard “it tastes like chicken” well, no, it tastes like gator. And sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s not, just like anything else from the water.

I thought I took more pictures this day, but apparently my phone flaked on me. But I do have some snaps from what we did with the rest of our day.

Relics and Town and Country Antiques, Thomasville, Georgia

Since Old South Days didn’t take up nearly as much time as we expected, we decided to take advantage of not having things we needed to do and checked out some of the antique shops downtown.

Relics is a vintage and salvage shop that I could happily plunder for days. Huge pieces of furniture, a haven for chippy painted metal, all sorts of curiosities. I did more wishing than anything in this store, but if I were to have a sudden windfall, I could see Relics getting a chunk of it.

This old cash drawer cabinet is just begging to be filled with craft supplies.

This old cash drawer cabinet is just begging to be filled with craft supplies.

A wreath made of old sewing pattern tissue--brilliant! (and I could totally make one for myself)

A wreath made of old sewing pattern tissue–brilliant! (and I could totally make one for myself)

At Town and Country (a “proper” antique store with lots and lots of pretty things), though, we found a few things that just had to come home with us.

Thankfully our Town & Country finds fit into Todd's car!

Thankfully our Town & Country finds fit into Todd’s car!

A chandelier to replace the broken one in the front hall (just so happens to match the one in the dining room, except this one had been painted black), a bamboo screen that needs some repair (the owner threw it in free) but with some touch-ups and a red lacquered finish will point our guest room in the direction of chinoiserie, and the biggest find: a round flip-top table that is just what I was wanting for the library.

I really liked the "original" fixture, but it was missing some globes and one arm fitting needed resoldering. This one will work better with the eventual wallpaper change.

I really liked the “original” fixture, but it was missing some globes and one arm fitting needed resoldering. This one will work better with the eventual wallpaper change.

Look at it with our thrifted barrel chairs--perfect!

Look at it with our thrifted barrel chairs–perfect!

The top shows a fair amount of wear around the edges, which the shop owner said she’d have to refinish or replace before putting it on the floor (we found this pawing around her back room), so we got it for an amazing price. Meanwhile, the wear is perfect for our cobbled-together library–anything too new would look just wrong!

But let’s get back to food!

Bleu Pub, Valdosta, Georgia

Still in November (apparently it was a busy month for us, starting with our anniversary dinner and I have two more after this one, too, for the next update) we headed out to The Bleu Pub in Valdosta to meetup with the Geek Society. Even though we still love our TNG group in Tallahassee and travel down there for meetups, we were hoping to meet some locals. Unfortunately, Thomasville to Valdosta is the same distance as Thomasville to Tallahassee, so not much of an improvement on the local front, but we’re working on it. Anyway, TGS meets up every Wednesday at the Bleu Pub for trivia, and we decided to give it a try.

It's a bit industrial inside, but in a good way.

It’s a bit industrial inside, but in a good way.

I ordered a Dirty Bird (bunless–yay, burger “salad”) with fries and Todd ordered the Cledus and a side of Pub Mac & Cheese. Todd wasn’t all that enamored of the mac and cheese, but both of our burgers were really good.

Dirty Bird: Smoked Gouda, fried egg, and bacon

Dirty Bird: Smoked Gouda, fried egg, and bacon

Cledus: Cheddar, onion straws, bacon, and bbq sauce on Texas toast

Cledus: Cheddar, onion straws, bacon, and bbq sauce on Texas toast

It was the first time I’d done pub trivia, too, but since it was a Wednesday night and an hour’s drive home, we only made it through the first round before we had to leave. It was fun, though! If I found out a local spot was hosting pub trivia

Tasting Thomasville: Sweet Grass Dairy and Fallin’s Barbeque

Nibbles

How about another peek into the local eatery options in our new hometown?

Cheese, Please!

One fall Friday night we walked downtown for dinner and found ourselves at Sweet Grass Dairy’s Cheese Shop. I’d purchased a Groupon for Blue Coop, their sister shop, but the coop had, er, flown by this point–first temporarily closed for renovations, then permanently as the Cheese Shop decided to relocate down Broad Street a bit for larger digs. The Cheese Shop was honoring the Coop’s offer, though, so we took advantage of some seats at the large central table and ordered up.

As the name implies, Sweet Grass Dairy is a local dairy creating delectable cheeses and sells cheese and charcuterie from their deli case as well as serving up sandwiches, salads, and tasting flights. (Check out their menu online.)

Sweet Grass Dairy | Taste of Thomasville

Sweet Grass Dairy | Taste of Thomasville

We started with the Taste of Thomasville cheese flight: 3 local cheeses (this time Lil’ Moo, Thomasville Tomme, and Asher Blue) paired with pecans, preserves, pickles, and crackers. Bonus points to Sweet Grass for having gluten-free crackers available. It was all delicious (I mean, really, it’s hard to go wrong with cheeses) but it’s hard to top the Lil’ Moo for a rich, creamy, spreadable cheese. If you enjoy Boursin, this would be right up your alley.

Sweet Grass Dairy | The Nola

Sweet Grass Dairy | The Nola

For dinner I ordered The Nola–Sweet Grass’s version of the classic New Orleans muffuletta–on a gluten free roll. Of the side options I chose the spinach, which came lightly dressed with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. It would certainly sate a craving for the original but in our informal game of who ordered better, I think Todd won this round.

Sweet Grass Dairy | The Pickled Pig

Sweet Grass Dairy | The Pickled Pig

Choosing the Pickled Pig was a bit of a surprise: it includes green tomato relish and Todd isn’t a big fan of anything pickled. Surprising both of us, the relish was sweet and went so well with the Tomme and Prosciutto! It’s a great combination and will be top of my list next time we stop in for a meal.

This was back at their older, smaller location and, while it was certainly charming, it tended to get very loud very fast, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the new space improves upon the ambiance of the shop.

Falling for Fallin’s 

It had been one of those days, a mid-week slump that led to a whole lotta ‘I’m-not-cooking’ setting in once we got home. A day where a bit of comfort food would not go amiss, and that’s how we ended up trying Fallin’s Barbeque for the first time. Their menu is fairly simple and straightforward, but it was a little lacking in combo plates or samplers. Call it a penchant for grazing or just the inability to make up my mind, but I like to try more than one offering, especially at a barbeque place.

Fallin's Barbeque | Baby Bear (the meats)

Fallin’s Barbeque | Baby Bear (the meats)

Fallin's Barbeque | Baby Bear (the sides)

Fallin’s Barbeque | Baby Bear (the sides)

So I ordered the Baby Bear (which is described as feeding 2-3) and asked for a to-go box immediately so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat too much. Because it was all so very good. The ribs were tender without being greasy, the chicken breast–frequently the driest of all the options on a bbq menu–was moist, practically succulent! The pulled pork is always a reliable option and when I say it was just okay, it’s not to say that it was lackluster in any way, just that it paled in comparison to the melt-in-your mouth beef brisket.

Fallin's Barbecue | THe Mama Bear

Fallin’s Barbecue | THe Mama Bear

Even though we got the next size up sampler (the Mama Bear) on our next visit (and had to convince the waitress that yes, we knew how much food it would be and that we were looking forward to bringing leftovers home), if I had to choose only one meat at Fallin’s it would be the brisket.

Fallin's Barbeque | The Big Joe with Brunswick Stew

Fallin’s Barbeque | The Big Joe with Brunswick Stew

Which brings us back to our first visit, where Todd ordered the Big Joe sandwich–that aforementioned amazing brisket topped with cheese and an onion ring. It looked fabulous, and Fallin’s seams to do a decent trade in a variety of sandwiches. And how can you not love a restaurant that list dog bones to go? And another plus for Fallin’s: you don’t smell like a bonfire when you leave, unlike the other place we tried a few months back.

Tasting Thomasville: Yoburst, George & Louie’s

Nibbles

Yoburst Frozen Yogurt

We love the toppings bar... perhaps a smidgen too much some visits.

We love the toppings bar… perhaps a smidgen too much some visits.

While we were still “camping out” at the Dollhouse before officially moving in, we gave into temptation and stopped by the frozen yogurt shop on E Pinetree Blvd (we passed it coming and going to Lowes, it was just a matter of time). It was not the last time.

While not a restaurant of the sort I’ve included in other Tasting Thomasville posts, the fact that we frequent this shop a couple times a month makes it definitely worth mentioning. From what I can tell they serve the Yocream brand of frozen yogurt (produced by Dannon) and they rotate flavors on a regular basis. Sometimes this is good (yay, variety!) and sometimes it’s bittersweet (like the amazing Rootbeer Float frozen yogurt they had on one trip).

I often opt for the Triple Chocolate paired with something else depending on the options. This last visit, after dinner Friday night, they had recently put out Pumpkin Pie, so I skipped the chocolate and paired it with Butter Pecan for a pie-flavored fro-yo-off. Both were delicious, especially topped with praline pecans and some cinnamon sauce! Todd’s favorites are the Country Vanilla and Cake Batter.

And, yes, we’re quite aware that frozen yogurt is only a half-step healthier (if that!) than going out for regular ice cream, but we also don’t care. Everything in moderation, including moderation!

George and Louie’s

Their options can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Their options can be a bit overwhelming at first.

Back into the realm of “real food” (as opposed to the imaginary sort, but you know what I mean) we ended up at George and Louie’s one evening after Todd saw they had gyros on the menu. It’s tucked back on Remington Ave (a street I’m just now getting my bearings on) and features self-seating and a walk-up counter for ordering. This threw me, at first, as we walked in about 30 minutes before closing that first time and I was a little overwhelmed by the series of chalkboards spanning the wall showcasing their southern-seafood-Greek offerings.

Crab Louie Special: obviously I made an exception to my Low-FODMAP lifestyle, but it's a saving grace that I can!

Crab Louie Special: obviously I made an exception to my Low-FODMAP lifestyle, but it’s a saving grace that I can!

That first night I went with the Crab Louie Special (when in doubt, I default to ordering the house special in a new place) which was a deviled crab cake, hushpuppies, Greek salad, and cheese grits, along with a glass of Merlot. The cheese grits were more like grits topped with cheese, so not what I think of when I order cheese grits, but other than that the meal was just perfect. The tartar sauce tasted homemade and, well, it’s hard to screw up a Greek salad but it can be done (they didn’t though). Todd got the gyro he went in craving along with an order of onion rings that he was quite over the moon about. Once we’d ordered I had a chance to look at the parts of the menu I skipped over. Items like the Greek salad topped with Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Oysters, or Tilapia sounded especially intriguing.

French fries and onion rings---it'd been that kind of week, folks!

French fries and onion rings—it’d been that kind of week, folks!

While it can get pretty loud in there when it’s busy (as we found out when we visited with a group of friends after the Taste of Greece event was rained out, a month or so after our first visit), there’s nice music playing in the background, plenty of seating of all configurations, and umbrella’d tables outside. There’s even a drive-through if you’re in a hurry. The music was of particular interest to us, though, as we were midway through our meal when a familiar song came on: “our” song, the one we danced to at our wedding, a song from 1955 that we don’t hear unless we play it intentionally, was playing on the sound system. One of the many reasons Thomasville continues to feel more like home every day are these little touches of awesome we run into in random places around here.

We also got to talking with the owner before we left and complimented him on his atmospheric choices. And we know we’ll be back because there are just so many great-sounding things left on the menu to try!

Tasting Thomasville: Chinese Buffets & Moonspin Pizza

Tuesday Revews-Day

Wherever you live, you probably have a list of favorite restaurants; places you go when you’re craving X, Y, or Z that can always count on. Relocation means finding new favorites, and can make for some truly tasty homework as you get to know your new town.

Obviously, that’s exactly what we’ve been working on, bit by bit, starting with the first evening we spent in Thomsaville as new home-owners.

I’m not a fan of buffets. If I wanted to fix my own plate, I’d have stayed home and cooked, okay? Plus, the “all you can/care to eat” feature is lost on me as I purposely try not to stuff myself. The one exception to trough-style places is Chinese buffets. For whatever reason these get a pass from me and I really do appreciate a good Chinese buffet, especially for nights where cooking is out but you want food in a hurry that didn’t come from a drive-thru window.

Since we were downtown for the local Rose Parade and Festival, we decided to test out the nearby Chinese place: Hong Yip. The food wasn’t anything spectacular (the buffet, at least, we haven’t tried them for take-out, yet) and it felt a little dive-ish, so we’ll just leave it at that (though the barefoot patrons at the next table could have contributed to that feeling a little more than usual). The Urban Spoon reviews are pretty good, though, so maybe we just caught them on a bad night, who knows? Another weekend, still on the hunt, we walked into and right back out of Yummi Express (it involved a walk-up counter, not what we were after; again, we might try them another time) and headed up the road to the Hibachi Buffet (not sure if it has another name).

The Hibachi Buffet looked like it used to be a Ryan’s or something similar from the layout inside, but the buffet was large and featured a fair amount of variety (including frog legs, for those so inclined). Nothing amazing, but passable. They even had basic sushi and, while I didn’t try it this time, a hibachi option that was actually manned. It got the job done and we’d probably go back, but it still wasn’t as good as our favorite buffet in Tallahassee.

Sadly, the best sushi in Thomasville appears to be at the Publix deli. But, hey, at least now we know!

Having explored our limited Asian-cuisine options close to our new home (we’ve seen a sign for a 4th option, but we’re not sure if it’s actually still in business), we moved onto another staple: Pizza!

Image via MoonspinPizza.com

Image via MoonspinPizza.com

If I recall correctly, Todd did some digging and found out that Moonspin Pizza offered a gluten-free crust, so giving them a shot was an easy yes. Turns out, Moonspin is quite the place to be on a Friday night: we managed to snag a table inside but just barely, and a considerable crowd was not too far behind us!

He ordered the large calzone. He also took some of it home!

He ordered the large calzone. He also took some of it home!

Todd ordered a calzone and I ordered a gluten-free, sauce-less, onion-less version of their Lucky Moon (chicken, arugula, and feta) with a bit of olive oil brushed on the crust.

They say they make everything in-house, but I didn't ask if everything included their gf crust.

They say they make everything in-house, but I didn’t ask if everything included their gf crust.

The pizza was fantastic, but I doubt they’ll be a last-minute take-out option. Moonspin bills itself (and rightly so) as gourmet pizza and their prices reflect that (His calzone, my pizza, and our drinks came to just over $30). Still, we now know where the good pizza is!

Next time, though, I think I’ll order their Salad Pizza. (Yes, a salad served on a 10″ pizza crust–someone next to us ordered that and it looked so good!)

These aren’t mean to be full-fledged reviews, just our impressions as we try out different places in our new town. Next time on Tasting Thomasville it’s time for Mexican and BBQ (though not on the same night, or even on the same weekend!).