Priorities and Being Prepared

Back several years ago, as I was going through the process of buying my house, I made a decision that my house would be a place where people felt comfortable, where people could feel at home hanging out and where one of my favorite things could easily occur: cookouts.  I love grilling.  I love the atmosphere of cookouts.  I love friends being at my house and I love hosting them. They are laid back, easy-going and people don't have high expectations of the food...yet grilled food is some of the best tasting food out there.

This may seem to go against the whole theme of my blog, but I love good food and I love sharing meals with friends.  Cookouts truly create one of the best times to simply enjoy peoples company.

Before I even moved into my house, I shopped around for a good quality grill.  I wanted quality, I wanted something that would last, and I wanted something permanent. I found just the right grill!

My grill is cemented into the ground just under the overhang of my patio/carport.  When it's raining, or when it's snowing, or when it's sunny... I can grill out.  And yes, I do this often!  I had purchased the grill before I even hired a moving company to help me move... I had my priorities straight!

The weather the past few days has me itching for a big cookout.  Not just 3 or 4 friends over, but a BIG cookout for lots of people.  I'm sure I'll be scheduling and inviting soon because the anticipation has now grown even larger.   I recently ordered and received a few of my favorite grilling sauces.  I am preparing for the upcoming grilling season!

After I had bought my grill, but before I had moved in my house, I was at one of the stores in Cool Springs that sold grills...and they also sold marinades and grilling sauces too.  The shop owner had suggested this steak marinade called "Hukilau Hannah" from Hoboken Eddies.  I bought a bottle of this...and after using it I went back and bought three bottles of it.  It immediately became my steak marinade of choice.

Hukilau Hannah is a sweet blend of teriyaki, apricot, wasabi and ginger.  I am typically not a big fan of teriyaki, so trust me when I say that this is not a strong teriyaki taste.  It's very citrissee and sweet. My steak of choice is a thick cut rib-eye from Sam's Club.  After allowing the steaks to marinade for at least 24 hours they are ready for the grill.  This blend of marinade tastes Polynesian or Hawaiian to me, so I also like to throw some pineapple on the grill too.  I've had some incredible steaks before, but this is truly one of the best steaks to me.  I hope I'm not biased!

That particular grill shop closed so now I have to buy the marinade from online.  For a while they even stopped selling it direct and only sold to wholesalers....so when I buy it, I typically buy several bottles at once.  But oh my word, it is so worth it!

The other grilling sauce is a relatively new flavor for me, it's called JohnBoy & Billy's Grilling Sauce.  My sister introduced it to me over Thanksgiving. ...it's just one more reason to love my incredible sister!  If you like pork chops on the grill, then this sauce needs to be sampled.  I like baking chicken with it, but I've yet to grill chicken on the grill with it...because I have a favorite for chicken too, Carolina Treet.

There is an original version of JohnBoy & Billy's, but the spicy version is better to me.  It's got a little vinegar tang to it (it's based in Eastern NC) and the pork chops it produces are simply YUMMY!  Carolina Treet has a much strong vinegar base, and is perfect for wings.  I've discovered vinegar based BBQ sauces are definitely regionally acquired taste.  But I do believe the JohnBoy & Billy's Grilling Sauce will be loved by anyone who has it with pork.  Ask me to prove it!

So I have planned ahead and bought the marinades, the weather is warming up, and now it's just time for the crowd to be invited.  Grilling season is upon us!

The local Sports Grill

I always meet Sara Jo at El Palenque in Green Hills, I always meet Brooke at Las Palmas, for Mike it's Buffalo Wild Wings, and before Sanctuary it's Pei Wei with some of my favorites.  For Tim & Jessica, it's Cracker Barrel on Sunday evening. With Bryan, it's always Jonathan's Grille in Cool Springs.

Do you have those people in your life you always meet at the same place each time you get together.  I figure it's because there is such a comfort and it just becomes "your thing."  I'm cool with that.  Matter of fact, I'm very cool with that and don't like shaking up good chemistry.

A few weeks ago Bryan and I got together to go to Jonathan's, but honestly I wasn't too excited about this trip to Jonathan's with Bryan.  I did not want to go. Even with our good friend Kendall joining, I just didn't want to go.

Bryan is as good as gold. Literally.  He truly is one of the best friends I have in my life.  He's a "good 'ol boy" from Arkansas who hunts, fishes, drives a truck and is more loyal to his friends than most people you will ever meet in your life.  Bryan has witnessed the ugly side of my life, and was just as good of a friend on those days as when he saw me at my kindest and best.  I'm not sure he has a judgmental bone in his body, and he totally has a servants heart.  He has heard me go on and on and on about stuff happening in my life without flinching or making me feel like I have over stayed my welcome.  When my boat was broken down, he came to help.  He has always made himself available when needed.  He let me cheer for Georgia when he was cheering for Arkansas.  True friends, long lasting friends like Bryan are very hard to come across.  I first met Bryan in college and have had an incredible friend in him ever since.  We've roomed together, traveled together, and lived in the same town together.  And we always eat at Jonathan's Grille.

Jonathan's is a good place for two single guys to hang out.  The food is always good and they have a rather wide menu selection - typical sports bar kind of food, but they also have one of the best Ribeye's in Cool Springs.  They have TV's at every angle, making it a spectacular place to watch games.  They have cute servers who show class.  In recent years, it's even upgraded its feel to seem like a somewhat "upper class joint."  Their pizzas are fantastic, Cheeseburgers are impressive and their wings are pretty dang good.  Several years ago I actually went to a Titans game in Cincinnati with a group they put together. ....but that's a whole other experience to share!

So why didn't I want to go to Jonathan's this last time with Bryan?  It was a "going away" dinner for Bryan.  Bryan had decided to move back home to Arkansas and this was our last meal together with him living in Nashville.  To say the least, he'll be missed.  I'm not losing a friend, just losing a local friend.  I hated to see him go - and I simply didn't want to go to Jonathan's to say "goodbye."

I miss you Bryan, and wish you all the luck and Godspeed possible!!  When you're back in town, let's head to Jonathan's!

Jonathan's Grille in Cool Springs