Braving The Conditions, tales from the Watt.

Home of the brave...to surf it is to experience the cold of 45F. Home break- 67th and Holidays, 3/30/2019.
"Innocence to experience. Human nature, baby. Grab it and growl." -Stephen King, The Shining

   Sprung...that's right, we are diving right into the season. No surf yet. Lady Atlantic is way too chilled at 45F. Surf is mellow, but building. Cold front moving in by the end of the weekend bringing better waves for those willing to brave the conditions. Which speaking of, brings me to this week's post. While the ocean's temps were being left to a hopeful future warming trend, we braved conditions of a land-locked nature.
   Alex's Italian Restaurant on west-bound Route 50 as you leave West OC. Built in 1989, for those who may (or may not) remember it, the location was originally Mulligans Sports Bar. Very popular back in the day. Supposedly had been renovated back in the 90's. Obviously, not much in the way of improvements since. Very dated, inside and out. But, this was on my list of new opportunities and we continued to slice our way through 'em. Now, we've passed this place a number of times in days gone by and there always seemed to be cars out front. Upon entering we concluded they must be the employees.

The scene: white pine woodwork, booths, and a lacquered bar covered in old sports trading cards (no doubt left from the Mulligans days), centered in the ceiling of the bar- a dusty fragmented (i.e missing a blade or two) ceiling fan (also from the Mulligan days), a couple of venerable Greys in the corner drinking house wine and munching a calzone...the owner(s), and our grizzled host/bartender who, I might add, was a very pleasant Johnny-on-the-spot with our drinks and orders. There was a young dude, we assumed the cook, who occasionally poked his head out from the back kitchen. And, finally J&J's Pizza next door, that added to the menu with wood-fired offerings. Oh...and us.

LWatt ordered a Spinach Salad that looked the freshest of our choices. Bacon and egg, big mushroom slices, and chunks of tomato. Nothing spectacular, but it tasted fresh. Target and I ordered Old Bay Wings and a BBQ Chicken Pizza. We received Mild Buffalo Wings, which we accepted, and though not crispy, were hot and well cooked. They tasted pretty good, and the sauce had a bit of tang. Still...not crispy. Target will tell you, we like our wings crispy. Even wood-fired should have somewhat of a crisp.

The pizza had BBQ chicken on it, but no BBQ in the sauce. Crust was good, but the base crust was undercooked. It was average at best. Our beer was cold, but my first...a Rolling Rock draft, tasted a bit old...like a skunky, souring taste. In fact, while we value a good dive, this place just felt old and tired. Even the bottles of liquor stacked in the center of the bar area, were covered in a layer of dust. Like a scene outta the Shining. Had to brave the conditions. Doubtful we will do a return visit. The Journey continues.

Alex's Italian Restaurant, 3/28/2019.
THE RATINGS-
Spinach Salad: C+

Mild Buffalo Wings: C+

BBQ Chicken Pizza: C

Beer: D+

Atmosphere: C-

Value: B

Overall Score = 2.08

Dinner Break, tales from the Watt.

"Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."
Morning fire over the Atlantic. Malibu beach pic, 3/9/2019.

   A dinner that is becoming annual. A break from the backbreaking hustle and bustle of surf travel (sound of a needle across a record). Not really backbreaking. We kinda enjoy it. Great way to observe hump day during the week, be it Wednesdays or Thursdays. We stick to Maryland's Eastern Shore, if one would classify that as "travel." Surf only our coast...sorta' kook-like. We are more about the lifestyle.

And, we spare no feelings in our critique of the establishments who's fares we sample. It's all part of the Journey. Plus, it provides the fodder for this blog. This evening too, subject to rating. However, once again I digress from rambling. Our annual lasagna dinner really is a meal enjoyed as family. On the weekend. No work the next day. Weather still chilled, in the upper 30s. Water below 40F. Sun was in and out during the day. Rain was expected in the evening. No matter. Daughter and Granddaughter joined us. Target brightened the atmosphere with sprouting bulbs; perennial shoots at the ready to announce the arrival of our season. Music provided the character of the evening. When it floundered, the selection was immediately upgraded upon request. Cold bottles of Longboard Island Lager were available to wet the palette. I indulged in a couple myself.

As to the Lasagna itself...my wife's touch to a family recipe exceeded expectations. Warm Italian bread accompanied a fresh Chopped Salad that added a cool side. For dessert, Iced Italian Ricotta Cookies. Perfect with a finishing coffee. Judging by Target's plate, he was quite satisfied. I thought it was fantastic. LWatt was pleased with her results. We ended the evening relaxing in the living room...fireplace, TV, the laughter of our grandchild. Everyone comfortable. Good friends, good conversation. Family. No wonder this is becoming annual.

THE RATINGS-
Lasagna: A+
Salad: B+
Ricotta Cookies: A
Beer: B
Atmosphere: A
Overall Score: 3.70

Winter Bruise, tales from the Watt

"Winter broke off, finally, a long ash crumbling at the end of a cigarette, burned out, weak and emptied." -G. Galloway
Don't get your hopes up! Brief sunrise over the St. Martin Rivermouth,  2/27/2019

   Winter on the Delmarva Shore. You can catch the sunrise. Sometimes the sunset. But, the inbetween is usually dreary, cloudy, cold. Not bone chilling Chicago cold, but miserable cold. We get some snow. Not Syracuse snow, but mostly annoying trifling snow. Two to four inches, if not just a dusting. Enough to fill our highway drainage ditches with a few vehicles here and there. Make driving just hazardous enough to force me to drive the speed limit. Got that going on now. That black ice cold. Too warm to snow. Too cold for comfort. Icy rain to close out February. Can't help but feel bruised if you spend any significant time outside. As we skid into March, the next few weeks call for a front that will continue to stave off Spring. Waters have been dangling around the 40F mark. Waves...chop to semi-clean. Even the Ocean flaunts the bruising mottled, blue-gray color of winter. Savings Time is around the corner. maybe it'll help.
   Enough whining. Our evening's trek led us to a house of warming, the first newbie of '19. Green Turtle West. Let's clarify. In Crew Times, myself and the Target have done the original Green Turtle in the OC. And, in our OCBZ days we had wandered through the Turtle West. However, it has been 'bout 15 years since those times and as the Crew, West is new.

View from the end.

Good to see they've remodelled and updated over the years. Typical sparse, winter crowd. Locals. We saddled up at the end of the bar and were promptly met by our bartender. Couple of drinks ordered and we proceeded to peruse the menu, while Target focused in on the Maryland basketball game. LWatt immediately eyed the Rockfish Bites, Target and I settled on the Bangin' BBQ Wings, and the Turtle Turkey Burger with cheddar. The wait wasn't long, which as far as the fish bites, was too bad.

Not good. Fishy taste. Guaranteed they were frozen. Like for a while. And the breading was less crunch more mealy. Not fresh at all. The burger met the mark. Good taste, cooked through. Not a standout, but worth ordering again in the next life. My favorite was the wings. The BBQ sauce had a bite, but was not overly spicy. Plump, juicy, well cooked. Among the best wings I've had in a while. LWatt and Target enjoyed 'em, but did not share my enthusiasm. It's a majority vote I suppose. Nice sports bar. Fair selection of cold beer. Plenty of flatscreens around. Pool tables, darts, and video games. Our service was good. Price was on point for the offseason. Would be worth a look in busier times. For now, a good stop to ease the bruises from fighting off Old Man Winter, and a nice start for our new year's Quest.

THE RATINGS-

Rockfish Bites: D+

Bangin' BBQ Wings: B+

Turkey Burger: B-

Beer: C+

Atmosphere: B

Value: B

Overall Score = 2.58