I decided to take my chances on finding a free parking place in Merchants Square so I could have lunch at The Trellis in Williamsburg.

Someone was looking out for me because I found a parking space and I wandered into the restaurant. I had a nice enough table with a fairly decent waiter. I decided to shoot my budget all to whatever and then some because it has been a rotten couple of weeks. As luck would have it one of the soups of the day was Curried Apple & Onion (send me either a PM or an email & I'll write out the recipe for you. I have the recipe in a cookbook downstairs.). I ordered it for research so that I could see how it was supposed to look and taste; I will be making it for myself. I ordered iced tea and water to drink. For those of you who don't know me very well, I drink gallons of good iced tea when I'm out. Then I got the grilled entree which should've been good, but it wasn't. It featured a lovely mixed greens salad, roasted tomato wedges, a cheddar cheese sauce, mashed potatoes, and a boneless skinless chicken breast (it was cut into 2 pieces)that was grilled. The chicken was dry, tasteless, and tough. I got homemade bread with my soup. It was Irish Sooda bread and a really neat other bread. My waiter called the other bread sweet potato bread with jalepenoes (spelling). I think he was wrong about the bread. I think it was a cheddar bread with the hot peppers. For dessert I had an almond cookie with a dish of vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips.

I got my waiter to get me a copy of the almond cookie recipe. By now you know the drill, if you would like the recipe for the cookie (it makes 8 cookies) send me a PM or an email. I do not want to get in trouble for posting a copyrighted recipe.

I went out to Prime Outlets to the Seiko Factory Store. The asst. manager found me a stool so I could sit down while she showed me watches. I found a nice watch that was not way out of line in price. I would have paid $165 or more for my watch if I hadn't bought it at the factory store.

I drove to the drugstore and bought some Verizon payment cards for my cell phone. My last errand was going to the bank and cashing a check so that I can pay the phone bill tomorrow along with the DirecTV bill at the local pawn shop. My local pawn shop is a payment center.

I now have to find a new restaurant because The Trellis has gone downhill. In the days when I used to go out to eat a lot there were no holes in the clloth napkins. My napkin today had a hole. The food has gone downhill also. Don't get me wrong, it is still nice, but it used to be top notch in food, atmosphere, and service.

I did have a nice day, though.

Virginia Needlewoman:

I decided to take my chances on finding a free parking place in Merchants Square so I could have lunch at The Trellis in Williamsburg.

Is that resturant in colonial Williamsburg? I have't been there (Williamsburg) in years, but was wondering if Chowning's Tavern is still there. When my brother was in the Army he was stationed in "Newport News". After that he rented an apartment for several years right on the bay. He lived on, I believe it was Hampton Rd. and the house was an old sea captain's house that had been made into several apartments. There was an observation deck on the roof and everything. We would sit on his couch annd watch the ships going in and out of the aval base in Norfolk. I love that whole area of Virginia because I have such fond memories of my time spent there. (Sorry about being so long winded)

Sorry the resturant's in such bad shape. What a dissapointment.

Kathy

It's a lovely watch. I had gone in there wanting to purchase a watch like the one that broke. It was solar powered and never needed a new battery. They have stopped making them.

I had an open mind and I looked at different watches. I chose one that is very dainty and attractive. It's weird not to have a second hand, though.

Yes, that tavern is still operating. I don't go to the taverns to eat because the parking is bad and because the taverns are not very handicapped friendly. I use a cane to walk with and I have 5 screws and a metal plate in my left ankle.

If you had never eaten at The Trellis before you wouldn't know how much better everything used to be there. It is not just because the prices were lower in the past. Marcel Desaulniers is not there that often anymore. When Marcel was there it was wonderful because he was a terror and demanded perfection from the staff.

I think that I will try The Blue Talon the next time I decide to splurge on a meal in Williamsburg.

If you go to the Williamsburg Inn there is a good chance you will see Bruce Hornsby there. I was sitting close enough to touch him one day. He also goes to the Ben & Jerry's I like.

 I guess I should tell you I haven't been in Virginia in about 28 years. LOL My brother moved the year after we last visited him there and I haven't been there since that time.

It's funny the places you can see celebrities. Bruce Hornsby, that's impressive.

I've never actually met Bruce, but I do know his cousins. One of his cousins used to be really active in politics and she worked locally with Paul Trible back when he was a Senator. These days he is Christopher Newport University's president.

Yes, Bruce really does look like his pictures.

Over the years I have met or seen a lot of celebrities. I used to be friends with the sister of the  former CEO of General Foods. She was really active in the Republican Party stuff. Long story made short, I don't drink beer and the Republican functions always had lots of beer. I got roped into going to these things because I could drive her . Me?  Well I liked the baked beans, cole slaw, & barbeque at the Republican functions. Senator John Warner would show up there.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your day ...we all need a "run away " day every once in a while

I had a good time. Aurora got mad at me for leaving her for so long. She is very,very spoiled.