Festivals, Food and Fun in Florida - Mother's Day Weekend 2013

So my girls in Florida have probably been wondering if I would include some posts from Mother's Day weekend, wondering what I would say about what a good time I had with them. The memories and images and tastes are already fading, but I have photos to remind me. Since my computer remained crashed (BSOD) for awhile, I wondered whether I would even be able to save the photos, which had not been backed up. But here I am.

I will start with some of the good food I enjoyed. I did manage to enjoy at least three notable restaurants and one cool bar and I have way more photos than I should include here!

The first day (Friday) I went to lunch with Erica at Hawkers--a new (2011) place that was new to both of us. https://www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare

Erica loves Asian fare and we ordered and shared some tasty stuff. She also consumes liquids like a fish and had several beverages in addition to ice water, including some Vietnamese beer and this Thai iced tea:

Pad Thai

Fried green beans 

That evening was my bacon-burger night, but the next day, on Saturday afternoon we drove to New Smyrna Beach and shopped a little before dinner. I had never seen this section of the coast before, including the drive-on beach. I took this photo of succulents for Marissa, thinking of her obsession with them and wishing she could have been included on this mostly "girls weekend."

We dined at The Garlic, arriving early on this Saturday evening so we would not have to wait in the long line that had formed by the time we left.

It would not be a good place for vampires. There are sacks of garlic hanging everywhere! But my entree could have been mistaken for something a vampire would enjoy. It was a giant meatball, set in a rich red sauce. Hmm. No wonder my blood was good to go last week when I donated to the Red Cross! The entree was the size of a bocce ball and could not have been finished in one sitting. I shared a taste here:

My Bocce Ball entree
Sadly, I see my still missing glasses on the table

One more closeup!

Click on this and drool!

I photographed the other entrees as well:

something ducky

something fishy?

I understand that the kids had taken the husband there when he last visited. It is a unique place with an old country indoor/outdoor ambiance. It was late-afternoon hot but there are warmers and a fireplace available. The restaurant is very popular; in fact, there was some annoying construction going on, as they are expanding the facility to accommodate more guests.

I waddled out with a box of  left-over Bocce Ball and ate it again for Monday lunch. It was not drop-dead-to-die-for-delicious. It was pretty good Italian country fare, but the presentation and the big-ball concept was unique and worth trying once. I am saving all foodie expletives for the French food we ate on Sunday night in France at Epcot. The Asian, the Bacon-burger, the Italian--nothing compared.

Next: Eating and drinking our way through the countries at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.