When I think about the word Hospitality, food inevitably is part of what comes to mind. I've always found this a tad bit unfortunate because while I love people and making them feel welcome, I'm by no means a chef. My friends and family will tell you that cooking not my strong suit and they would be right. BUT, I do enjoy creating meals or treats when I have a sure-fire recipe. I thought I'd share with you three of my all-time favorite cookbooks in case you too enjoy being in the kitchen as long as someone else has already figured out how to make a tasty meal and all you have to do is follow the instructions. ~ Bon Apetité Quick note: this blog post does contain Amazon.com affiliate links which means if you click on a link and purchase that item, I will receive a small commission (but it won't change the price for you at all.) I'm only sharing items with you that I personally own and wholeheartedly believe in - and think you will love as much as I do!
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One of my favorite parts about traveling is stumbling across unexpected fun things and seeing what is down the side roads. We headed about 3.5 hours up the road this past weekend to a friend’s wedding in Columbus, IN - a town I had never visited and knew nothing about. Saturday morning we woke up and did a Google search for “Best Brunch near Columbus, IN” (as one does in a new town). Several options popped up and the first on the list that seemed to meet our location & non-chain criteria was called Blackerby’s Hangar 5. We thought we were heading to a downtown storefront with an industrial vibe and aviation-themed decor. However, as we drove through cornfields and over cute bridges it became obvious that our predictions were wayyyyyy off, but what was waiting for us was much more fun than what we had pictured. The GPS took us straight to the parking lot of the Columbus, IN Municipal Airport - a tiny building that seemed to cater only to private planes and possibly small charter flights or regional airlines. A polite teenager clad in a “Flying Fords” tee-shirt flagged us down as we pulled in - they were having a free airshow that weekend; we could park in the field, the restaurant was straight ahead in the main building. Blackerby’s itself is actually inside the airport itself - through the front door and to the left. It has a fantastic retro-diner vibe and while the airshow had obviously brought a few extra customers with it, we were immediately seated at an empty booth with a great view of the runway and all the airplanes on display. The “Flying Ford” it turns out was the headliner of the weekend - an 1928 Ford Tri-Motor plane nicknamed the “Tin Goose.” 200 of these planes were originally built and only 5 are still in flying condition. Festival attendees could take a 20 minute ride on the antique aircraft for $77 per person and although we didn’t have time to take flight, we loved watching it take off and land while we ate. Bartleby’s food did not disappoint either. My husband ordered a classic breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast and I had a sausage and bacon omelette that was absolutely out of this world. Our waitress was quick and kind…all around a great dining experience. They were celebrating their 40th year in business and with food that delicious, it’s no surprise that they’ve been around that long. The rest of our weekend took us to Brown County State Park, home of the oldest covered bridge in the state of Indiana, which was beautiful and well equipped with hiking options, a swimming pool and camping/cabin/lodge accommodations to meet anyone’s needs. We also dined at Upland Brewery and attended an event at Factory 12 Event Loft - both fantastic spaces in downtown Columbus. We also passed a million adorable antique shops and coffee spots on the drive from Columbus to the state park (which was located in Nashville, IN) that we didn’t have time to check out but wish we had. If you find yourself in Southern Indiana, we’d definitely recommend checking out some of the places we had the opportunity to visit. You never know where the road may take you!
This weekend we took a quick trip to see my parents that live on the Tennessee/Alabama line. For lunch we decided to head a few miles down the road to Elkmont, AL and I thought I'd share a couple of great photos from three worth-the-stop local spots. Our first stop was for lunch at The Red Caboose Cafe and everything was delicious Southern cooking. Our waitress was very kind and helpful (dining with a 15-month-old is always an adventure, right?) and the sweet tea was just as it should be. The cafe itself was adorable, and kiddos will love being able to see an actual red caboose just across the street. You can check them out on their Facebook Page where they post daily specials and menus. Next we headed across the street to Fromagerie Belle Chevre, a goat-milk creamery. We stopped in their tasting room and picked up some fantastic goat-milk hand cream and were amazed at all the ice-cream & cheese products available to taste and purchase. While we didn't have time to do the tour (which includes getting to meet and pet some of their herd of goats), it's definitely on our list to go back and do that soon. (see more info in the yellow box below)
Hwy 65 Exit 361 - Elkmont, AL
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bETHANY, YOUR HOSTAirBnB Superhost Bethany has lived in Nashville since 2006 and loves finding fun things to do at home and on the road! Archives
February 2023
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