We had a wedding in Huntsville, Alabama last week and my husband Zeke and I decided to make a Road Trip out of it. First stop, Tallahassee, Florida to visit my son Christopher, daughter-in-law Courtney and grandchildren Liam (4) and Luke (2). We visited them in their new house in Foxcroft and they’d prepared a Spaghetti Sunday meal for us, with Pasta, Meatballs, Sausage, a Caesar Salad and homemade Garlic Bread. It was delicious and I brought some Pumpkin Cake with glaze for a dessert.

Off from there, we headed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Home to THE University of Alabama, where my husband went to school (Roll Tide!) and his best friend Doug and wife Heidi live. It was their son Zach who was getting married in Huntsville and we were supposed to stay with them originally, but her parents were staying with them, so we got a hotel.

We stopped in Montgomery, Alabama for lunch and ate at Winzell’s Oyster Bar, which is very old and famous and filled with funny signs all over the walls. They serve delicious Gulf oysters in a variety of ways and their Fried Green Tomatoes with Crawfish sauce was to die for.

Dinner that night was at Dreamland, a B-B-Que place known for their ribs. While the food was good (I got BBQ Chicken, Zeke got ribs) the service (for the first time) was not. The next day we went to City Cafe, home to a meat and three. I guess it’s a Southern thing, but this place was kickin’ it old school and filled with locals, so you know that it’s good!

Every day the main entrees (only open for breakfast and lunch) change, with about 6 options and the vegetables and sides change as well. Heidi recommended the hamburger with sauce, but I opted for chicken (again), sautéed cabbage, mashed potatoes and field peas. It also came with corn bread or rolls and was a bargain, at less than $10 for a meat and three. They had homemade pie, so we tried the Sweet Potato Pie.

Dinner that night was Jambalaya at Doug and Heidi’s house, as they prepared to leave for Huntsville and their son’s wedding. Then it was off to Birmingham for a couple days. Zeke has a friend from college that lives in Birmingham, so we had drinks with her husband one night, where they caught up on old times. Birmingham has quite a lively culinary scene and we had two delicious meals- at Hot and Hot Fish and Chez Fon Fon.

Then on to Huntsville and the main event of the wedding, but first a detour to Dothan, Alabama and Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue, home of the famous white sauce. This place was also super old school, littered with BBQ trophies of all kids, sweet waitresses, a smoky aroma and wooden tables.

Zeke got the Lil Bob Gibson Plate with Pulled Pork, Brisket, Baked Beans and Greens. It came with a soft roll, a pickle slice and three sauces- Regular, White and Spicy. I was very curious about the White, as I’d never had it before. It was thin, tart with vinegar and tasty. I got the quarter Chicken, with Mac-n-Cheese (delicious) and Green Beans (mushy). We got some sauces to take home, as well as a Coconut Cream pie for my friend Tami, who used to get it for her Mom.

The wedding was at The Lumberyard, a historic site that was turned into an Event Venue. My favorite part of the wedding, (besides seeing Aly and Zach get married and hanging out with friends) was the Cookie Table! It’s called a Pittsburg Cookie Table and since the Bride and the Groom’s family are both from Pittsburgh, it was a necessity.

Friends and family brought cookies from all across the country for the Cookie Table. There were Pizzelles, biscotti and Italian wedding cookies to represent the Mother-of-the-Groom’s heritage, Pittsburg cookies from a famous bakery, Buckeyes covered in chocolate, Lady Locks (another Pittsburgh thing) and shortbread cookies made in the shape of a wedding dress. There were Chocolates cookies with a kiss and sprinkles and White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut cookies (one of my favorites). There were little bags that said “Love is Sweet” and the cookies were gifts to the guests to take home and enjoy.

You can bet I took plenty home and sampled them later that night and on the long car ride home. I also saved some for my grandchildren to sample. Love (and life) really is sweet.

This is the song Aly danced to with her Dad.

I loved her first, I held her first, And a place in my heart will always be hers From the first breathe she breathed, When she first smiled at me I know the the love of a father funs deep, And I prayed that she’d find you someday But it’s still hard to give her away, I loved her first.

Heartland

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