Beignets, Parasailing, And What Was On The Menu in 1912!

We checked urbanspoon for some local top picks and with a 90% "Like It" rating Cafe' Beignet was an easy choice!

Cafe' Beignet Store Front. The sign to the left of the door reads: "Open 6:30 am until 12 noonish."

The menu is simple: 1 Order (3 beignets), 1/2 dozen, or 1 dozen. Coffee, Cafe'au lait, hot chocolate, water, coke products.

The have regular beignets and filled beignets. The filled beignets come 2 ways: filled with vanilla pudding and covered in chocolate or filled with lemon pudding and covered in strawberry.

We did try the lemon covered in strawberry. They are good, but very sweet, so pace yourself. 

But our favorites are the regulars- not too sweet:

An order of regular beignets and coffee. The little stick is used to let the steam escape.

We can tell the owners have a sense of  humor- the suggestion box is conveniently located on a shelf near the ceiling...

Yea, they don't need any suggestions...just beignets and coffee. No need to mess with the recipe.

After a leisurely breakfast we headed down the road to Fort Morgan. Fort Morgan is a masonry star shaped fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay, AL. It was named for the Revolutionary War Hero Daniel Morgan, and was a key location during the Civil War at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. Learn more here:  Fort Morgan, AL

In the museum the Hubs and I located 3 menus from 1912. We were able to take pictures and what you will discover is pretty interesting!

Thanksgiving Menu: Olives, Sweet Pickles, Oyster Soup, Roast Turkey, Oyster Dressing, Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Celery, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Peas, English Plum Pudding, Brandy Sauce, Coconut Cream Pie, Mixed Candies, Assorted Nuts, Claret Punch, Cigars, Cigarettes, Cocoa.

Christmas Menu: Olives, Sweet Pickles, Celery, Roast Turkey, Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Chestnut Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Creamed Asparagus, Early June Peas, Fruit Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Coconut Cake, Cherry Pie, Assorted Candies, Assorted Nuts, Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Cigars, Coffee, Cigarettes.

Fourth of July Menu: Olives, Lettuce, Sweet Pickles, Iced Fruit Salad, Deviled Crabs, Cold Ham, Chicken with Sage Dressing, Giblet Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, French Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Asparagus Vinaigrette, Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Old Glory Cake, Lemon Custard Pie, Coconut Layer Cake, Cherry Pie, Pineapple Ice Cream, Assorted Nuts, Assorted Candies, Ice Tea, Lemonade, Budweiser, Cigars, Cigarettes 

I thought this was very interesting. Cigars and Cigarettes were on all 3 menus...with the rest of the edible items! I also wonder what asparagus vinaigrette is? Do you know? And Budweiser on the 4th of July menu!

After our trek through Fort Morgan we decided parasailing would be the way to go. Here are a few pics of our adventure:

No Hands!

Yep- we're up there with that Ad plane in the background.

Dipped in the Gulf!

More adventures to come...

The Gulf Oasis, Seaside Brunch, and a Beach-worthy cocktail...La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere...

Gulf Island National Seashore.

"Cause now I'm...
Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky, breeze blowin wind through my hair
Only worry in the world
Is tide gonna reach my chair?"
- Zac Brown Band
"Knee Deep"

Is the tide going to reach my chair???

I have always heard, and truly believe, that time at the beach works like a balm to your soul. There is something about hearing those waves and feeling the sun on your skin that seems to bring peace and renewed outlook on life.

Last week, the Hubs and I made our way to the Gulf. This trip could not have come at a better time. Life got really stressful all at once: the loss of Mason, stuff at work, etc. So, off we went in search of that sweet peace that comes when one is near the sea!

We spent our week eating, drinking & cooking through Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL and Perdido Key, FL. On our way we found this great little brochure...So we HAD to try it!

The first stop on our journey was, in fact, Bates House of Turkey. When I was little my family always took vacations to the Gulf and we ALWAYS stopped at Bates for lunch on the way down. And who am I to break with tradition???

Yes- I have a Bates House of Turkey Shirt. It says, "Eat Turkey, Feel Perky!" on the back.

Their turkey is good! Really good! A lot of people traveling to the beach use it as a lunch stop and then like the turkey so much that they buy extra for sandwiches at the beach. Bates packs it up for the journey and off you go. They also ship. Check them out: Bates House of Turkey

The next spot to try from the brochure was Cosmos: Cosmos Restaurant and Bar

One word: GO! These guys won the Wine Spectator Award in 2013, and the dish that makes the top 100 in AL is a #1 in our book- Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish!

A glass of Lagaria Pinot Grigio (their house white- it is bright and citrusy..wonderful for summer!), and Firecracker Shrimp (think Bonefish Bang Bang Shrimp...its very similar- delicious).

Me and the Hubs enjoying wine at Cosmos.

This is a WIN! Banana Leaf Wrapped Sea Bass with Cosmo's Grits (Creamy Polenta) and Fresh Veggies. 

The fish is tender and delicious! Cosmos uses a house-made rub that is out of the world good!

As a start to this week's look at Gulf Coast Eating, Drinking & Cooking...well, this is a great way to start!

Coming up this week...

Beignets and Parasailing (we think its a great combo!)

The Gulf Restaurant...it, no kidding, looks like an Oasis

And a peak at Fort Morgan Menus from 1912...the stuff that's on these menus might surprise you...

It's La Bonne Vie Y'all!