For Review: Shux of Pensacola, FL

Food has been the primary language of our adventures for years now and we don't see that changing anytime soon. We've detoured on trips to try a restaurant, dropped plans on the spot if we were passing by an interesting establishment and recently, driven to New Orleans spur of the moment, just for a bite of lunch. We're food people.

Neither of us care much for the term "foodie", although its been applied to us by a few friends. We don't know why being interested in what you shove in your mouth makes you unapproachable or pretentious. If a foodie is someone who takes delight in discovering new (to them) tastes, sharing that news with others, and loves to eat, in general, then we might be foodies. But, there's no pretension, no fixation with exotica (or bone marrow for that matter) and no assumption that our palettes are vastly more developed than yours.

All that being said, we offer up our opinion on food readily and often, so here's the scoop on our recent visit to Shux Oyster Bar of Pensacola, FL.

Spring is Sprung

We're happy to live in a land of flora aplenty: shades of green, Day-glo colors and startling white delight the senses this time of year. Seen in our travels this week, proof that spring is here...

Magnolias blooming in every yard

Welcome Back

Cactus here. As you can see, Fuschia and I are back. We've spent some real time considering why we feel the need to add another blog to the Internet, but a few truths just can't be avoided. Mainly, you won't find two people more enthusiastic about Southern food: from the lowly fried pie to the sophisticated riffs on haute cuisine showing up all over this New South. Plus, we like adventure, but in a micro sense. We're foot people, car people, boat people and occasional train people. We wanna see the world up close. Add to that, like all good acolytes, we feel the need to spread the gospel of our one true religion: this region we call home. From the bluegrass of Kentucky, to the red clay of Georgia, the sugar sands of Florida to the mountains of Virginia: we can't get enough. We never tire of telling y'all everything we find. Its' really a win-win.

We hope that you'll find what you read here entertaining, but also useful. We'd like to help if we can. We're offering up all sorts of random info that we run across, restaurants we can't forget and scenery from a dream. Thanks for joining us on this newest trip. We'd love your feedback, so please comment on posts that interest you, share them with your friends if you like and feel free to suggest places, people or things you'd like to read more about.

Like any blog out there these days, you'll notice a few advertisements. We've tried to pick things that would appeal to us and leave off anything that wouldn't. If you find yourself shopping with our advertisers already, please help us out and click through our site. It costs you nothing extra and allows us to keep exploring and bringing you the good news: the New South has arrived and it's a spectacular place.

Cheap Eats on the Emerald Coast

Food, particularly yummy, delicious, Instagram worthy, food, is often the best part of a vacay. We, on occasion, have picked travel destinations simply because of restaurants or cuisine we'd been dying to try. With summer rapidly approaching, most of you are preparing for at least one little trip. Tourists typically head in one of two directions: the beach or the mountains.

If, like a majority of those that have spent the last six months snow-bound (or at least grey-skied in), you’re headed for the delicious heat of the Emerald Coast, here are some money saving ideas for eating well, without bankrupting yourself.

Top 10 Classic Southern Dishes

Photo by Rain

We could argue all day about the very best Southern food out there. No doubt your mema, grandpa, mama or daddy made the best grits, meatloaf, Brunswick stew, etc, etc, etc. Nearly all cultural groups, and certainly most regional areas share a common cuisine. The South is home to many subgroups, many niches, with an overarching theme: fresh ingredients, heavy focus on side dishes and a willingness to improvise. Here, in no particular order,  are the 10 Classic Southern Dishes that speak to our hearts: