Several weeks ago, I was up near Boston for a couple of days. The second day ended with an event that included food, so the first night was the one where I get to do my travel-meal-thing. Which is, eat at the bar.
That’s always where I eat when I travel.
“Table for one?” – no, not for me. And, no, that’s not the one-liner. I know, I see it too, that would make a good one. But that’s not it.
I’ve been to this hotel often enough to know some of the bartenders. We have a little back and forth about sports and traffic and weather. Weather was a big topic that night, because Boston was in experiencing some very nasty weather. Heavy rain, that was working hard on turning to snow, and high enough winds that later that night, I would be woken up by sleet smacking the windows.
I had some clam chowder, ‘cuz Boston and this hotel has really good clam chowder. The serve it with tiny little pieces of cornbread, excuse me, Mini Corn Muffins, that look like they were cooked in a Suzy-Bake Oven. Cornbread, in case you aren’t aware, should be served in a thick enough slice to stand up to somewhat firm – not fresh from the fridge – butter, without going to crumbs. These pieces muffins were too small to butter…which is sad.
After the chowder and a hunk of something with some grilled asparagus on the side, I was full.
Then this happened:
“Do you want dessert?”
“No, I’m good.”
“You sure? You want to look at the menu?”
“No, maybe if I hadn’t had the chowder, but I’m kinda full.”
“OK, but we have cheesecake, carrot cake, Crème Brûlée, and ice cream…vanilla, chocolate and Baileys.”
“Wait, did you say you have Baileys ice cream?”
“Yes, made fresh at a local dairy farm.”
How could I not try that?
The ice cream was the color of Baileys. It tasted like Baileys. It was sooooooo good. The consistency was somewhere between hard ice cream and soft-serve, and, despite being full, I ate – all – of – it.
Oh yeah, I’m eating this.
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday.
Sounds like a great dinner. One of the things I miss about being up north ! Glad to see you included Maddie!!
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Thanks. Wherever you are, you have to take advantage of the menu. When I was in Florida, I had a Gruper Taco – That would be heresy in the land of Lobster Rolls, but it was so good.
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I’m not big on tacos, but then again I never had one with grouper. When I eat lobster – I just want the lobster, no sauces or anything else to distract from the flavor!!
You are so right about trying different cuisines though. Dad always said to try different food, but you have to take at least 3 bites before making an opinion. That advice has led me to many an unusual, but usually great meal.
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“take three bite before…” that sounds familiar. I almost always try local seafood, especially any attempt at chowder. I first discovered Grouper about 10 years ago while at a training class in Tampa. This was easy though, the bartender recommended it.
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Here’s to good eatin’ ! Cheers! >-I
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I had myself a good chuckle with your description of the ‘corn muffin.’ We ate some chowder on the trip down and chose the size that had the corn muffin. When it came, it looked exactly like you describe – some kind of pill form. I’d never seen that before and hope to never again. Corn bread is big and warm with plenty of space to slather good, soft butter on – that’s the rule. :-) That ice cream looks delicious, and I would have eaten the whole thing too. Extra steps tomorrow. Does Maddie know she has a fan club? :-)
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Thanks for the cornbread confirmation, Judy. If it isn’t big enough to hold a bunch of butter, it isn’t cornbread.
Maddie seems to know that she has fans out there. Don;t be surprised if she calls you some night and says: “Apparently, I’ve been a jerk here today. I may have to move…” She can be a frustrating dog. It’s a good thing she’s pretty.
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Okay… post-storm pic, check. Weird scaffolding pic, gotcha. Enticing food pics, obligatory. Then, the most important and anticipated photo…. MADDIE!!!!
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Thanks. She appreciates her fans :)
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That’s a lot of ice cream for one serving–but, oh, cookie! Maddie looks so cute–must be good to be home.
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Three scoops is a lot, maybe, but I persevered. It is good to be home, even in the snow.
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THREE scoops? Or are they little mini scoops like the cornbread?
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Normal scoops, Maggie. And, yes, three.
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Food AND Maddie, in one post? I’m in heaven! Hey, have you ever had honey ice cream? I had some once, at a state fair, and I’ve been hoping to find some somewhere else ever since. SO GOOD!
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Thanks Marian. I have never had honey ice cream. I’m not a huge fan of honey (but I’d try it).
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Who could resist? Thanks for the food and Maddie photos 💛
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I couldn’t , that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Val.
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Yum! I love corn muffins, now I’ll have to eat them with chowder. Throw me into that briar patch, along with Bailey’s ice cream.
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I love corn muffins, too, but they have to be big enough to butter. See you in the briar patch.
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Hehe, love the way she (right? not he?) got to you. And it reminds me of that time when we all held our bellies after a heavy meal in a Slovenian inn and the proprietor was taking away the dishes and started to discuss dessert and we all shushed her moaning how full we were, and as she was leaving she turned half-way around and said barely audibly:
“We have strawberries.”
It was early June. Guess what happened.
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This was a male bartender, but he zeroed in on my weakness pretty fast. Fresh strawberries? Oh yeah.
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Dan, I so admire you for going that extra dessert mile, even when you didn’t want to (at least initially.) Thanks for your determination! My husband always like a scoop of ice cream at the end of a restaurant meal, too, although I don’t know if he’d do Bailey’s. I’m with you all the way on the cornbread/muffins: big and butter-ready takes the day, if not the cake.
janet
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Thanks Janet. I wasn’t expecting 3 scoops, but I didn’t send any back. Thanks for the cornbread support. It has to be big enough to butter. Otherwise, what’s the point?
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LOL…I’m laughing at the inclusion of Maddie. Who’s a good snow-covered girl?
That ice cream sounds delicious and they served it with a cookie. What more could you ask for? I bet you were really full after that, but didn’t care. Am I right?
It’s a shame about the mini cornbread chunks. I agree that cornbread requires butter (and honey), unless it’s in the corn fritter casserole that I make for special occasions. Well, I suppose you could still add butter, but…
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/healthy-casseroles/corn-fritter-healthy-casserole-recipe
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The Maddie photo was next to the others on my phone, so I put it out here for her fans. I was full and I did NOT care after that ice cream. And, I finished my wine, ‘cuz you can’t waste wine…right?
Corn fritter casserole? Mmmmmmmmmmmm
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Wine. I need wine. Stat.
You’ll enjoy the corn fritter dish. It’s one of my faves that I can’t eat very often due to my lactose intolerance. But I could live vicariously through you and your editor.
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My editor makes a mean corn fritter. We do have to be careful with how often we eat such things, but…
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My wife makes fantastic chili and cheese cornbread muffins which I’m seriously hooked on.
As for Bailey’s ice cream; just, No.
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Chili and cheese cornbread muffins? Oh my, those sound good. I’ll eat your portion of ice cream, don’t worry..
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Glad you treated yourself, Dan. And that Maddie got her two cents’ worth in the post. Hugs.
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Thanks Teagan. Maddie thinks every post should be about her, or at least include her photo. I don’t always give in, but…
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“Chowder. Cuz Boston!” Oh yeah! That would be on my dining wish list while in Boston. Bailey’s ice cream does sound good. I love Baileys. 3 scoops! That was a serving for one person? You must have really been stuffed when you left the bar. :)
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I always get chowder if it’s on the menu. 3 scoops would have been enough to share, if the other person only wanted one scoop. I was stuffed, but it was worth a little discomfort.
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Dan, ice cream (usually vanilla) is a staple after dinner dessert in Greece. Something about helps the digestion. Even though I’m not a Bailey’s person, I’d have a spoonful. It looks so good! As for Maddie’s sweet face included. Love it! Yep, she has a dog lover 🐶 fan base! 🎶💛 Christine
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Thanks Christine. I will remember the good effects of ice cream the next time I’m up there. Maddie’s fans always seem happy to see her. She’s a mixed bag around the house, but she knows how to look cute for the base.
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Way to power through, Man! :D I’d wanna try it, too.
Maddie, Aw!
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No job to hard. I would have been happy with two scoops, Of course, I would have been happy with two cookies for the three scoops. I figure, if I ate all the asparagus, I should eat all the ice cream.
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Who could resist ice cream? I nominated you for an award on my blog if you want to check it out!
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Thanks! I can’t resist ice cream.
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Remember the old Alka-Seltzer commercial? “I can’t believe I ate the WHOOOOLE thing!”
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I do remember that commercial and I did eat the whole thing.
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Oooch, can’t believe you fell for that!! (crooked smile) Besides, it’s cold weather there, right?
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Cold weather, but warm hotel. Besides, if anything really bad is going to happen, wouldn’t you want to have ice cream first?
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Always love seeing Maddie. Silly dogs love the snow. I want that ice cream. You may keep the sleet.
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Thanks, but that’s not an even trade…just sayin
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It works for me!
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Bailey Ice Cream? Oh yes, I’d be trying that too … and eating all of it, plus the cookie.
I have issues.
… and at first glance, I thought Maddie was covered in sugar.
Clearly I have issues.
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It was very good ice cream and the cookie added the right amount of crunch. Sugar-coated Irish Setter? You might have issues, or you need ice cream and a cookie :)
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Yum. I could not imagine how good that was. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it John, I’ll send you an email with your share of the calories :)
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Ha ha ha. Thanks. :-D
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Bailey’s ice cream?!? *goes to Boston*
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Ha ha – Yes!
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I love ice cream, any kind of ice cream so I don’t buy it often because I’d gain 200 pounds.
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We don’t buy it often. I don’t order it often, but I couldn’t resist.
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Glad you included another shot of Maddie. I know how she feels…
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Cant wait to get back out there? She comes in, chews the snow out of her feet and goes back to the door.
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Yup. Having bit of big city blues… Time to go play in the woods again.
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I love corn muffins, it’s flavour is amazing. Love your version of muffins!
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Thanks
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You cheered me again with this one — and I agree, when on the road, I’d find a good bar with great food.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this, Kate.
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Oooh, Bailey’s tastes good over the top of ice cream, in coffee or over bread pudding. Bailey’s inside ice cream!? Yummy!
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Oh, it was so good, Robin. So good.
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Cute post…
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Thanks
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