SOS Daiquiri Bar and Grill

Where can you go in Ocean Springs when you want a frosty daiquiri, a great hamburger and fried dill pickles
and dine alfresco?  That would be SOS Daiquiri Bar and Grill on Government Street next to Government Street Grocery.  I was pleasantly surprised when I visited recently.....

The outside area has several tables and is shaded quite nicely from the afternoon heat....The fountain out front adds to the cooling effect.  Nothing like mermaids and dolphins to make you think of the sea....

My party chose to sit inside, which is also spacious and by sitting at a table by the window, we had the feeling of  "al fresco"  without the heat and humidity. While I did not try the daiquiri, our efficient waitress provided a nice glass of chardonnay to begin with while we looked over the menu

 
Wings, wraps, fries, burgers and salads round out the menu.......I chose the mahi salad.....

Lots of fresh greens, roasted red bell peppers, crunchy cucumbers, boiled egg, cheese and peppers, topped with a nice piece of well seasoned mahi... I added bleu cheese dressing....great meal for around 10 dollars.
My daughter opted for the wrap version of the mahi salad and it was a great choice as well

SOS has a great bar area and is decorated with fun artwork.....

Service was quick and friendly......stop by and enjoy one of the newest restaurants in town....

1699 Landing on Front Beach

In April 1699, Explorer Pierre Lemoyne Sieur d'Iberville founded Ft. Maurepas, the first capital of the Louisiana colony in what is today known as Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Each year a re-enactment is celebrated on a Sunday in April. on Front Beach. This year's celebration including a City Birthday block party on the Saturday night before and ended with fireworks on Sunday night after the re-enactment.

I began the afternoon with a refreshment stop at my friend's beautiful family home on the beach

The view from the porch of the beach and Biloxi Bay was relaxing and the sea breezes were blowing!

My husband and I took a stroll down the beach toward the new Ft. Maurepas Park and Pavilion.  Lots of people were out enjoying the sun and a local band, "The Unexpected"

 Young ladies representing the "cassette girls"  (prospective brides for new world settlers) were providing brochures about the Landing festivities.

Lots of children were playing on the new children's playground............

A snow cone vendor provided a cool treat and if you were lucky you had the opportunity to try one of the new "pedicabs".  Free ride down the beach......FUN!!!

Bye Suzie....what a way to enjoy the beach!!!

Wait, with all the fun stuff to see............I almost forgot to tell you about the Landing.....

The crowd awaits

I see Indians.................

The Landing Party approaches the local natives for a meeting

The natives prepare to meet the newcomers

The meeting is peaceful, as is the crowd and the explorers claim the land for France!!!! For more information click here.  The Landing.   

Cavalier Circle Crawfish Festival

What do you get when you take boiled crawfish, good friends, and cold beverages?  You get the 16th Annual Cavalier Circle Crawfish Festival!!  Marsha, Drew, Rosie and Mike have been sponsoring this neighborhood event for 16 years now and each year it gets better and better. 

Start with lots of pots and and cookers...........

Add lots of knowledgeable  helpers and great seasoning.......

                                                                     YUMMY!!!
400 POUNDS OF CRAWFISH, CORN, POTATOES, SAUSAGE, ARTICHOKES AND OTHER EDIBLE GOODIES

My mouth is just watering from the memory!!!!!

Thoughtful hosts had a tequila station to cool down all those spicy mudbugs

What?   oh yes...........great live music under the tent!!!!!!!!!!

Dancing shoes for the festival!!

Another great Cavalier Circle Crawfish Festival!!!  If you are in the neighborhood next year and you hear the music, stop by and belly up to the table and join the fun!!!!  See you there!!!

Himalayan Salt Block Cooking at the Mary C. O'Keefe

 What is Himalayan Salt Block Cooking?  That is what I said, when I received an invitation to view a demonstration  at The Cafe at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center www.themaryc.org. Before I continue I must give you a little background on this wonderful Ocean Springs gem.  As a former public school building it has been transformed into a lively arts center for everyone.  You can take a pottery, painting, or music class.  You can attend live musical or theatrical performances.  My favorite part of the Mary C. as it is fondly called, is The Cafe.

The Cafe is used for cooking classes and various public and private events.  It is outfitted with Viking appliances and decorated with local art work that is for sale. 

Here they are.......giant blocks of Himalayan salt, placed on top of a gas stove.  The idea is that the salt imparts flavor to whatever you are cooking.  A grill or electric stove can also be used, but with the electric stove it requires a device to elevate it slightly above the electric coil. The blocks are gradually heated until they are sizzling hot!

What can be cooked on the salt blocks?  Chef J from the Island View Casino showed us a number of different tasty items cold and hot, appetizer to dessert!

A delicious Caprese salad was assembled on a cold salt block.  Tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil were delicately flavored with a delicate salty taste.

Watermelon and Salt?  Why, of course........watermelon topped with goat cheese, pineapple salsa and micro greens.........A refreshing summery taste...

The main course........shrimp, chicken, flank steak, portabello mushrooms...............no need to add salt....

Ingredients for dessert......rum, bananas, brown sugar, oranges........SURPRISE!!!

Bananas Foster on Himalayan Salt Blocks!!!!! What a great end to an interesting and novel way to prepare a meal!!!  Want more information about Himalayan Salt Blocks?....try the following websites, www.saltrox.com
www.atthemeadow.com,  www.himalasalt.com,  www.saltnews.com.

Want to learn more about The Mary C?.................stop by the Center at 1600 Government Street, Ocean Springs.....or check out their website for a complete listing of upcoming classes and activities.....

Foggy Day Mediterraneo Lunch Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Looking forward to a relaxing lunch!!

Preparing for the onslaught of new students at the high school tomorrow, a fellow teacher and I decided to treat ourselves to a real restaurant lunch.  After today ,we will be faced with the usual school lunch fare....pizza, hamburgers, and something scary called John Wayne Casserole. We decided that Mediterraneo in Ocean Springs would provide a very relaxing and special meal to end our last teacher workday before second semester begins.

The setting is warm and evokes a feeling of being in a middle eastern bazaar.  Check out the cool light fixtures                                                                                                                                

Warm and Cozy

As always, bread is a welcome starter.  In this case, it is a small, warm variety filled with salty olives.  Dipped in a seasoned olive oil.............yumm

This great little restaurant is located on Government Street in Ocean Springs and has a very interesting menu.

Erin Go Bragh according to Ocean Springs

Yes, it is true, Ocean Springs, Mississippi celebrates St. Patricks Day!!!  We started our day early (before 10:30) at the Ocean Springs Yacht Club on Front Beach... It was a beautiful crisp, cool morning and the Club was decorated for the occasion and Bloody Marys started off the day!!

A local business gets everybody excited at the beginning of the parade.....God Bless America!!!

Anxiously awaiting the Budweiser Clydesdales!!!

We are still waiting!!

Here they Come!!!!

There they go!!!!

Only in America will you see Lady Liberty and the Budweiser Clydesdales side by side!!!

Yes, they are throwing green beads!!!! 

Ocean Springs Yacht Club Members enjoy a great view of the parade

 Our journey carried us from the Yacht Club to downtown Ocean Springs and behold....after the parade the St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl had begun...............woo hoo.....Party on Wayne, Party on Garth!!  Kwitzky's was rockin'

 If you needed a little extra parade goody for the kids, or a frivolous piece of plastic to carry around, the cart guy was there!!!  YAY!!!

 How about a quick snack?......nothing like good ole' boiled peanuts to go!!!

Good friends and Green Beer go great together!!!

We were happy to end the night with great pizza at Leo's and watching the Irish Dancers perform!!  Can't wait until the leprechauns return to Ocean Springs next year.....I am booking a room at the new hotel so I don't have to go home!!!