The Kat N Harri's Phenomenon and Connection to Cafe Thirty-A

I set out last Friday on a heading 180 degrees (due South) from the Gump traveling a secret shortcut (which involves passing through the Kinston) until the last road I crossed before splashing headlong into the Gulf of Mexico was the famous 30-A of South Walton County, Florida a/k/a SoWal. I admit, it was not the first time I had ventured to those little slices of beach heaven called Grayton, Blue Mountain, Watercolor, Seaside or Seagrove. Indeed, there is a strong connection between the Gump and the SoWal beaches that lie along 30-A exactly due South from Montgomery, Alabama.

Here's my proof:

Where is Kat N Harri's? If you know the answer to that question you are officially a Gumper. But think about it, is it listed in the phone book? No. Is there a sign anywhere showing its location. No. Is there any business in Montgomery by that name? No. Yet, Montgomerians still send out invitations to parties with the location stated to be Kat N Harri's and everyone knows what they mean. Why? Because 20 years ago (or so) there was a bar called Kat N Harri's in Old Cloverdale where all kinds of Brombergian escapades took place and marriages by the score destroyed. It was a happening place where mischief abounded. Now it is a overflow party room used by Jublilee Seafood's Bud Skinner but it is still called Kat N Harri's by Gumpers.

Who is the owner of Cafe Thirty-A in SoWal? Again, Gumpers can name her and know that she was a co-owner of Kat N Harri's. She is none other than the now famous Harriet Cromelin whose restaurant has been named one of the finest in Florida. It is one of my favorites also.  I never miss an opportunity to enjoy a martini there.  The wine list is also impressive.  The Wood Oven Roasted Grouper is to die for.

 

SoWal is almost overrun by Gumpers in season. Not only do many Gump Ex-Pats reside there for tax purposes (I hear there may be no income taxes in Florida) but many others have either owned homes there or regularly visited since they were tiny tots. The water is clearer and the beaches nicer than just about anywhere in the upper Gulf (sorry Orange Beach but it is true).

The view from a Watercolor suite.

One of the benefits of living in the Gump is its proximity to the Gulf, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Highlands, N.C. But for me, nothing much beats a meal at Cafe Thirty-A or sitting at Bud & Alley's in Seaside Saturday morning reading a good book (they have no televisions you know) and only having to raise a finger for the bar tender to know I desired another Bloody Mary. Yes, I have been there many times.  It feels like home to me.

And that also speaks volumes about the city we affectionately call "The Gump."

Parts* if By Land, Nuggets by Sea: The Chicken Shack Keeps 'Em Guessing

Some of you may know that DNA testing of entrees in Mobile by a television station resulted in embarrassing some well-know seafood restaurants found to be serving "Grouper" that was not actually Grouper. You may have noticed since the DNA testing of fish became available to even teenagers, that something fishy has been going on with restaurant menus regarding references to specific species of fish. We Gump Guinea Pigs can confirm that references to specific species of fish are now gone from most menus (except our favorite Jubilee where they know the species because they purchase their fish whole and carve them into portions in-house). For example, the "Grouper Bites" at Sinclairs at Kowliga are now called "Kowliga Bites" described as "Fried White Fish." It seems that a Vietnamese fish called "Basa" is often mistaken or misrepresented as Tilapia or Grouper. Baumhower's restaurants tout "Caribbean Fish" on their menus. But, you probably knew all this.

What really makes this interesting is that on the way back from some Rest and Relaxation at the beach in South Walton County I passed what looked like a popular local joint in Luverne (on US 331) called "The Chicken Shack." When I entered and noticed the spartan decor, my Gump Guinea Pig training kicked in and I thought to myself, since everyone probably gets the chicken here perhaps I should go off the reservation and test them by ordering something other than fried chicken.

So, I perused the menu and guess what I saw?

Not Grouper Bites, not Basa Fingers, not Fish Nuggets. I saw listed under the $5 lunch specials for the day something I swear I have never, ever, seen on a menu before:

"Sea Nuggets."

I have the menu to prove it:




 Forget your first impulse that you can't order by the number when the selections are (A), (B) & (C).  Forget your second impulse to admire the logic of listing the "Sea" Nuggets as item "C."

Think of the concept of "Sea Nuggets." "SEA Nuggets."Sea nuhGETS."  Nuggets from the Sea....What kind of fish are they made from?  Then it hits you: The purveyors of this entree are not confident enough in the world of cheap DNA testing to even call these nuggets "fish."  All they are comfortable representing to their patrons is that these "nuggets" came from the sea as, I suppose, opposed to a lake, bay, lagoon, pond or drainage ditch. When you think about it, a lot of nugget shaped items can be found in the sea or washed up on the beach. The description "sea nuggets" leaves a large margin of error. After all, tar balls are nuggets from the sea. So are those pieces of crab you see washed up at high tide along with those squishy things that look like kelp pods.

What's next in a world of cheap DNA testing of entrees and restaurants afraid to identify even whether their meat is fish or fowl? Land Bites? Meat Nuggets? "Country Fried Fingers"? Just what would they consist of? Anything fried you could digest? There is a wide universe of potential components of digestible things that, for example, a guy like Tojo® would put in his mouth. I mean, are we digressing to menu items such as "Chewy Morsels" like they market dog treats that are not really meat at all?

Why not just "Mystery Meat"? Wait, darn. That implies it is really "meat."  Let's try: "Mystery Morsels." Yeah. That works. They could be anything that qualifies as a 'morsel.'

Anyway, the truth is that I passed on the "Sea Nuggets," because, after all, I was on vacation and out of my jurisdiction. The silver lining is that I learned what you probably already knew: The fried chicken (white meat) at a place called "The Chicken Shack" is going to be very good. I also enjoyed the three sides and 'nanner puddin'. They were all up to our generally high standards for a "meat and three" in the Gump. But the price, $5, was amazing considering the portions and a basket of pretty decent hush puppies. In other words, despite the distracting name of the one seafood (and I am only assuming it is seafood) entry on the menu, "The Chicken Shack" is, in my opinion as a fearless and expendable member of the Gump Guinea Pigs,a much better choice for lunch on the way to/from the Beach than the McDonald's "Chicken Nuggets" across the street.

And by the way, where do you find the nuggets on a chicken?

They must be next to the sea nuggets in the frozen foods section.

So, at the Chicken Shack, I recommend sticking with the land bird because that's an entree they are not afraid to designate by species.





(Urbanspoon does not recognize Luverne as a separate city from Troy)

®Tojo is a registered trademark of the American Federation of Fake Wrestling.

[*Ed. Note: This blog post was originally titled "Chick if by Land, Nuggets by Sea."  The name was changed to its current iteration upon the suggestion of a Doodah Man comment below.  Yes. We occasionally pay attention to our readers.]

En Jolla La Jolla

We love our friends even when they live on the wrong side of town.  Monday night, our friends from East Shorter held a birthday dinner for a member of our gang at La Jolla.  Accordingly, we held our breath and somehow got past the cameras at the Vaughn Road/East Boulevard intersection and snuck through the rear entrance of East Chase to meet for cocktails and dinner with 16 of our closest friends--one of whom just turned [CENSORED].  Because some in the group turn into pumpkins at 9 p.m., we met at 6:30 p.m. and had the only big table in the bar to ourselves until the "beautiful people" filled the bar stools.  Before the meal we enjoyed martinis with Ketel One at $8 a pop. Mine was not "straight up" as I ordered but the other ingredients requested were present so I went with the ice flow. A minor inconvenience.

Among our crowd are some fairly finicky eaters known to send back entrees at the drop of a hat for the slightest variation from expectations.  However, except for one "so-so" rating, most of the entrees were rated very good to excellent.  I ordered the wedge salad ($7) and the Grouper Yvonne with crab, scrimp, shrooms, 'chokes in a Hollandaise sauce ($23). The salad was better than most wedge salads you get in the area.  I liked the blue cheese dressing.  The fish tasted fresh and the sauce made the dish. My friend next to me loved the Blackened Elk Chops ($32) and, knowing they have a place in Jackson Hole and eat Elk, Red Deer, Buffalo and other western meats often, that rating registered as probably solid. The Grilled Beef Ribeye ($32) to my left was so large it survived the rather large appetite of another friend who said it was well prepared and a good piece of meat. At that price it definitely should be. A friend that does not like seafood although she grew up in St. Pete, ordered the Pork Scaloppini with lemon soy butter on a house-made pasta ($21) and declared it delicious.  So the verdict was 15-1 in favor of a high rating for the food.  The service was very good for a large group with 8 checks.  Our check was correct the first time and the 20% gratuity was clearly already added although you could add a tip to the check if you wished.

Some of our "outside the Gump" friends confided that La Jolla was their favorite restaurant and I could not argue the point.  If it were located closer to town I would no doubt visit more often.

Some fine desserts are available but the staff kindly let us bring in a birthday cake (prepared by one of our male members who loves to bake). I do not know if they charged a "corkage fee" for the cake but they did kindly cut and serve the cake for every one at the table after the [CENSORED] candles were blown out.

This was actually about the fifth-sixth time I had eaten there and I cannot remember a bad meal or experience.  A little pricey, but arguably one of the top five places to eat in the area.  If you are ready to spend about $100 per couple (with drinks), you will probably be pleased with your experience.  Actually, I am a little surprised that La Jolla has a rather low rating on Urban Spoon.  It must be the expense that turns some people off as the food, at least Monday night, was darn good.

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