Blog July 4

Back from 4th of July weekend and what an eclectic food weekend it was~~ going from a robo shopping trip through Fox and Obel (hummus, cheeses, Sancerre, Chianti, Moscato, bagels and double chocolate chip cookies) with friend Bridget in anticipation of car trip with Janna (directions anyone?) on the way to Michigan to see Tom and John (perhaps busy riding bikes and forgot to do the grocery shopping?). Bridget (fellow Jersey girl) and I so engaged with explaining(to Janna) the socio economic dynamics of Jersey shore communities that we missed the exit (hmmm) and ended up in another state. John, dear friend, did his best to get us oriented by calling every 10 minutes in an attempt to locate us on the highway (one more U turn),exasperated we pulled off at the nearest Shell Station and waited for the guys to rescue us (somehow the rescuing part doesn't sound PC, who cares?)and bring us to their most beautiful (would we expect anything less from these style mavens, especially Tom, uber designer?) Michigan house (sorry that they sold it the day before but we'll look forward to their next adventure in second house real estate).

Fast forward to neighboring friend John and Tim's acreage with lawns that don't end, formal gardens, and tree chandeliers(I'm in love) and black and white upholstered patio furniture with marvelous white Iron chairs overlooking the pond and then 11 acres or so of blueberry fields I immediately felt the need for a croquet mallet and a dozen or so white gowned and suited friends with frosty tall Tom Collins but, I digress....

Following an interlude of viewing the gorgeously green and manicured property and side splitting comments by John not to mention a patio solo dance set by other friend John (the one who rescued us from the endless highway) we felt the need to bring it "down" (culinary-wise)before being faced with all those size 2-4's in "The Devil Wore Prada"... Into the Range Rover we piled to tool over to Woody's Barbecue at 12620 Red Arrow Highway in Sawyer which was at least my FIND of the summer. Here our pressed group threw caloric caution out the window and dove into chocolate malted and butterscotch malteds (now, that's a first course I can believe in) followed by family style Rib Tips, Smoked Chicken, Ribs, handmade Tator Tot like handmade potatoes(yum) and juicy corn on the cob (from Georgia y'all, Michigan corn isn't out yet)...Okay, try Woody's when hungering for a "fundamental" (as my friend Richard calls this un-style kind of experience) restaurant...screened in porch, warm buns, walk through the kitchen to get to the seating and then there's Woody himself, a friendly and funny character.We hope to see Woody and his smoker at a future Entertaining Company Barbecue Event...don't forget the pick n' brush, thanks Janna.

More on that and the Italian West Virginia feast that followed...