Key West Odds and Ends

We saw lots of these neat trees!

We went out on a boat to see dolphins and snorkel. The snorkeling wasn't too good but the dolphin sighting was awesome!

Sloppy Joe's - apparently a Key West institution. We had a drink at the bar and heard a family band play some bluegrass classics. The bar has been open since 1933.

They sell lots of these huge cookies all over Key West. My favorite are inside the little mall near the sunset pier.

The fudge was great too - and the fudge master took time to talk with us.

The famous Key West sunset.

Hot sauce store and tasting bar - a fun diversion!

Six toed cat from Ernest Hemingway's House. He had tons of cats!

Twin Tops Fish Camp: Belmont, NC

Shrimp scampi and fried clam strips.

On one of our many trips to Charlotte we stopped for dinner at Twin Tops Fish Camp in Belmont. In addition to very tasty seafood - the fish and fried oysters were my favorite, this place also has a neat candy shop that will make you nostalgic for your favorite treats. I got a Charleston Chew.

Included with all meals is a generous portion of hush puppies and a salad bar. I was impressed that they even had gourmet toppings like Craisins (which, as an aside, are apparently extremely difficult to find in countries like Chile, where my cousin is currently studying; we got her a bag at Costco when she came to be in the wedding!) for the salad bar. The food is plentiful - next time we decided we only needed one plate! Fish camps are abundant in some parts of the NC Piedmont. There are several on the way to this place from the highway. I'm really glad this authentic kind of local food still exists.

Platter that included everything - deviled crab, flounder, catfish and oysters with hush puppies.

Chay J's New Orleans Candies

Creole Popcorn and best-seller Creole Pretzels.

Entrepreneur Chay Powell sells delicious New Orleans-inspired goodies from her website, with delivery available in the metro Atlanta area. Some products are also available in local stores and restaurants including at one of my favorites: Crawfish Shack on Buford Highway.

I received complimentary samples of the popcorn and pretzels and definitely think the Creole Pretzels are worthy of the sugar shock. Others I shared my samples with preferred the popcorn, but I really liked the salty/sweet contrast that the pretzels provide and I love that pecans are part of the Creole Pretzels - yum! Chay J's also sells pies, chocolate covered strawberries and pralines. Special orders for holidays, weddings or other occasions are also available.