Friday with Friends and Moi

Friday with Friends.

Today you get ME.

Tidbits about moi. Let’s chat.

The sun is just barely cresting the horizon. The alarm shocks you awake. What’s your morning beverage of choice? Coffee or Tea?

I drink both. Mostly, I drink coffee from a paper cup made by a smiling barista. On the rare occasion I make coffee at home, I like Peets http://www.peets.com/ but since I only drink decaf beverages, (caffeine is to me what LSD was to Timothy Leary in the ’60’s) I prefer tea. My ‘go-to’ hot a.m. drink is Rishi Earl Grey Rooibos…and I still don’t know how to pronounce “rooibos.” What language is that from?

For a southern girl who doesn’t drink sweet tea—I prefer lemonade—and the Hafu-Japanese in me who never pollutes her green tea with any additional flavors, on any given morning, I sip Earl Grey only with cream and sugar.

What side of the fence are you on about food?

I am a foodie. Are you?

Not only to I seek out farm-to-table restaurants, but also I want a wonderful dining experience. There is nothing worse than awful service and awful food. Now that may sound as though I’m extremely picky, and the truth is, I am. However, I don’t go into a waterfront bar and expect haute cuisine. I do expect good beer and any seafood on the menu to be cooked properly. Nothing worse than rubbery shrimp.

One of my favorite local places is Chicken and the Egg I lifted this photo from their website: Fried Green Tomatoes with Country Ham, Pimento Cheese Fondue and Tomato Jam. YUM!!

Recently, I was in Biloxi, Mississippi, (yes, the city where I was born) and looked forward to breakfast at a local cafe. I ordered: Grits, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Toast. The grits were crusty, and I swear I was eating sand. Scrambled eggs? No, hard-boiled eggs chopped up and dumped into a small bowl. The grease on the bacon was so thick I could scrape off and use it like butter on the biscuit. When I questioned the waitress about the unusual consistency of the eggs, she shrugged and said, “I didn’t cook them.” At that point, after only one taste of the food, I went to the register, and offered to pay only for my hot tea and left.

How do you find good eats when you’re traveling?



Coming from New Orleans, where food is sensual, sumptuous, and abundant, I find that Urban Spoon and Yelp assist me in locating eateries. I also use Open Table. Sadly, I don’t often leave reviews…maybe that’s a resolution for next year?

Dogs or Cats?

It’s always the $64,000 question in a new relationship.

When I first met my husband, my menagerie contained two cats, Mercedes and Prissy.

Then, I added a dog. Taji was an elegant trotting Afghan hound. His coat flowed when we pranced. He was always quick to show affection, and since he joined the household as a puppy, the cats adopted him. He mistakenly thought he was one of them.

Taji didn’t take to another man in my life. He always joined us when we sat on the floor and watched TV. He’d lay down, face us, then creep until he’d wedged his long hound nose between us, then he’d rise up on all fours, do a ballet turn, and wiggle his butt between us.

Unfortunately, hubby is very allergic to cats, so we are a canine family.

At this moment, Beau and Jack have their noses pressed to the windows and are staring down the squirrels burying nuts in the backyard. Reni is napping in the living room. Quiet dogs are a gift from heaven.

Adult Beverages. What’s your signature drink?



Recently, I discovered Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider. That’s my go-to in the fridge, though honestly, I rarely drink. When I do, I believe an adult beverage must provide an uplifting quality to life, therefore, I prefer Prosecco to Champagne. Here’s a website about the wine, however, fair warning, you must understand Italian. http://www.ruggeri.it/

The Wine Enthusiast reviews the beverage here: http://buyingguide.winemag.com/catalo...

Over the weekend, I tasted Moscato for the first time, a sweet sparkling wine. I also enjoy various martinis, and I’m quite partial to a Bloody Mary. Thick with tomato juice with a splash of clam juice and beef broth. I like a buffet with my drink: olives, celery, lime and lemon. Even pickled okra.

What’s your good news today?

Depending on my good news, my husband is the first to know…or maybe the dogs since there with me 24/7. Then, I take to Facebook and Twitter.

The good news I’m sharing now: I’ve seen the long awaited cover of Bayou Bound! And hopefully, as early as next week, I’ll be sharing it with the world. I’m very excited. I think’s its beautiful! I hope you’ll agree.

Now tell me about you. Together we’ll lift our cups and salute the coming weekend. TGIF!

Happy Reading,

Linda Joyce

www.linda-joyce.com