Living in America's Europe

Category: Greetings From StA

Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – Kaiser’s Deli & Market

August 3rd, 2023
2023.7.18 / Kaiser’s Deli & Market

We have heard a lot of good things about Kaiser’s, so we had to check it out. We had to drive there as it is on A1A near Gypsy Cab. Kaiser’s is more than a deli with great sandwiches—walking in I was pleasantly surprised; it was so nice inside. Bright white walls, wine barrel tables, 2 leather sofas in a beautiful wine room with a great selection of wines. They also have a deck with outside seating. Phil had a Reuben with a beer and I had the traditional Italian with a glass of red. Both were delicious. They serve Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, and you can also purchase them by the pound. Check them out.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

Kaiser’s Deli and Market

Kaiser’s Facebook
Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – A Garden Stroll

June 13th, 2023
2023.6.11 / A Garden Stroll

Before we moved backed to StA, we had a house with a yard and a beautiful garden. My roses were gorgeous. Once things started blooming, I would take a Garden Stroll every morning with my iPhone.  I would send the pics to my mother and post them on Facebook. Mother never tired of seeing my flowers. My Facebook followers; not so sure of that.

Here we don’t have a yard. We don’t even have a balcony for a container herb garden.  I do have two plants in the apartment: a begonia varietal my niece gave me that is growing like mad and a snake plant.  I’m thinking about getting an AeroGarden for some herbs, but not sure where I would put it.  My niece loves hers.

Here, I don’t take a garden stroll every morning, but on my morning walks I do see beautiful flowers.  Early May, you couldn’t step outside without the scent of gardenias and Night Blooming Jasmine flooding your senses.  There were also the Magnolia blossoms and after the rain, the pink rain lilies.  If you look, there is an abundance of flowers in our beautiful city. I miss my flower garden, especially the roses—but living here is worth giving that up.  So, for now, I enjoy all the gardens, courtyards, window boxes, and containers around the city.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
A Garden Stroll in StA
My ‘old’ Rose Garden

Links:

AeroGarden
Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – Doors & Gates of StA

June 11th, 2023
2023.6.10 / Doors and Gates of StA

St. Augustine has so much beauty and history, and the doors and gates around town are perfect examples. There are so many different styles and periods of architecture. I never get tired of exploring our streets, and seeing the doors and gates of StA.

Sometimes I like to imagine those that lived there in the past and their lives. Sometimes I wish I could step thru a door or gate to see what beauty lies behind it.

Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment. – Carl Sandburg

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – Birthday Week, Day 4

June 5th, 2023
2023.6.2 / Birthday Week, Day 4

Celebrated today with a late lunch/early dinner at O.C. White’s. We felt like burgers! They are pretty much a seafood place, but they do have other options. What makes them special is the location. They are right on the bayfront offering beautiful views and they have a beautiful outdoor dining area with a pergola and live music. Didn’t get the name of the guy playing that day, but he was very good and had a nice mixed repertoire. He really enhanced the relaxed vibe. I believe he is there Friday and Saturday’s.

Later that day we headed down to Aviles Street for First Friday Artwalk—Phil is June’s Featured Artist at Jensen Pottery. It was a beautiful night with a balmy breeze, a good crowd, Ken Jensen and his band jamming on the street, free wine, and an almost full moon. What more could you ask for.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

O.C. White’s

O.C. White’s Facebook

O.C. White’s Menu

Jensen Pottery
Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – Birthday Week, Day 2

June 3rd, 2023
2023.5.31 / Birthday Week, Day 2

As mentioned previously we do Birthday Week. On day 2 of my celebration we had dinner at our favorite local trattoria, Nonna’s Trattoria on Aviles Street. When I say favorite, seriously we eat there once a week and the food is always good with great service, and tonight was no difference. We shared a bottle of Cab; we both had the grouper which was delicious and tender with a lemon caper sauce. Phil had a side of pasta with the same sauce and I had a Caesar Salad. And because it was my birthday Adamo sent over a piece of tiramisu which is always a treat!

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

Nonna’s Trattoria
Greetings from America’s Europe AKA StA! – Les Petits Plaisirs

May 29th, 2023
2023.5.26 / Les Petits Plaisirs

On Friday’s I like to take a ‘late lunch’ – around 3PM.  I eat lunch at my desk so I can clock out around 3:00 for what I call Le Petit Plaisir—borrowed from the French, it is taking the time to stop and enjoy the simple small pleasures of life.

Les Petits Plaisirs can be fully enjoying the aroma of a fresh baked baguette,  the sound of the birds in the morning, the sun on your face, the steam rising from your cup of tea, the smell of the sea…

One of my favorite ‘plaisirs’ is le macaron on Cathedral.  The ‘dining room’ is pretty and pink, with chandeliers and very ooh la la Parisienne; which is perfect for Le Petit Plaisir.  As the name suggests their specialty is authentic French macarons, but they also have French pastries like eclairs and Gâteau Opéra and beautiful chocolates, including one that looks like a tube of red lipstick—which would be great for a ‘favor’ at a bridal shower. Oh and they have gelato too!

My ’plaisir’ is to sit at one of their small tables with an espresso and one or two macarons—my personal choices are Sicilian Pistachio, Lavender White Chocolate, Basil White Chocolate and Rose.  No phone, no email, no social media.  A small moment in time to enjoy the taste and smell of the espresso which pairs so well with the macarons. And a lovely break at the end of the work week.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
PS: What is your Petit Plaisir? Share it in the comments!

Links:

le macaron – Cathedral Place

le macaron – St. Georges St.

le macaron
Greeting’s From America’s Europe AKA StA! – Morning Coffee

May 19th, 2023
2023.5.16 / Morning Coffee

Every morning Phil makes coffee. I know I’m a Queen! It’s either a French Press Pot or an Espresso or Cappuccino using our Gaggia Classic. Spontaneously this morning, Phil asked if I wanted to go have coffee at Kookaburra’s. Why not. It’s been a while since we did that. And having coffee out, sitting on Cathedral watching the town come alive is always nice. The weather was beautiful—sunny, still in the low 70’s, a nice breeze. We arrived in between crowds: after the 6AM rush but before the 8AM rush. We sat at a small table outside with our coffees and breakfast breads. I had a Piccolo served in the traditional Italian style and a slice of orange berry bread and Phil had a large drip coffee and a blackberry scone.

StA received a ‘special delivery’ while we were there—two busloads of ‘little monsters’ on a field trip and the next thing you know the line is out the door with chaperones in need of a caffeine fix and excited children running around the plaza.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

Kookaburra’s
Greetings From America’s Europe AKA StA! – Afternoon Music Crawl

May 16th, 2023
2023.5.13 / Saturday Afternoon “Music Crawl”

St. Augustine does not lack for live music options—there is always something going on. The weather this weekend was so beautiful we decided to go out for lunch and do a Music Crawl – similar to a bar crawl, but live music is involved…you knew that. Phil had a list of venues, performers, and times in his pocket. In theory we were going to listen to music from 2:00 in the afternoon until Midnight. First stop Meehan’s Backyard for lunch and Dewey Via. If you haven’t seen him—solo or with his band – check him out. The band is at the Dog Rose Brewery every Sunday. I had the Wedge Salad and Phil had the Fish and Chips (can’t go wrong with that choice). From there we walked to Casa de Vino 57 on Treasury. Phil had a beer, I had a glass of Italian Red. We sat under the pergola and listened to the band. Tray and Josh were the duo playing, drums and guitar; mostly country mixed with a bit of rock. They are there every other Sunday. During their break they sat with us, and they shared their cheese plate with us. The triple crème brie was amazing! After their set we went home; because a friend called saying he was in town; so, change of plans—Music Crawl cut short. But there are many weekends ahead for a future Music Crawl(s). Stay tuned…

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

Meehan’s Backyard

Dewey Via

Dog Rose Brewery

Casa de Vino 57

Other Live Music Options:

PK Kitchen

Colonial Oak
Greetings From America’s Europe AKA StA! – a Wine Tasting

May 14th, 2023
2023.5.12 / An Argentinian Wine Tasting

Another fun Friday Night in StA! Malbec Mania wine tasting at the Gifted Cork. 7 Malbec Wines from Argentina and one bonus surprise wine – Jeanne’s favorite Malbec and the first case of Malbec she and her husband bought together. We enjoyed great wines, a cheese plate, information on the grape, region, and each wine poured, met new wino’s—I mean fun, friendly, people in our neighborhood. We took 4 bottles home with us—3 featured in the wine tasting and a Provençal Rosé; because 1) the bottle was beautiful and 2) it was a delicious dry rose, perfect for the warmer days ahead. And bonus, as members of their wine club we got an additional 10% off. Who doesn’t love a wine discount!

So quickly on their wine club, $60 a quarter, 2 free wine tastings a month, 2 free bottles of wine a month, and 10% off on all purchases. If you are local and a wino you need to go see Jeanne and sign up for her wine club and start enjoying the perks! Tell her Phil and Dee sent you.

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

The Gifted Cork
Greetings From America’s Europe AKA StA! – an Art Opening

May 12th, 2023
2023.5.05 / An Art Opening

Friday was a busy day! It was our 16^th Wedding Anniversary, Cinco de Mayo, and Phil’s art opening at Jensen Pottery on Aviles Street. We started the celebrations with a late brunch at PK’s Roosevelt room. Switched it up today, rather than the Ham and Brie Omelet I had the Triple Mushroom Sandwich. Phil had a build your own breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuit and gravy – AND their famous confit potatoes. Then the Art Opening followed by a late dinner at Forgotten Tonic. It was a great turnout, Ken and his band were playing a good jam, the weather was gorgeous, dinner was delicious…

Having a wonderful time – wish you were here.

Phil and Dee
Links:

Jensen Pottery

PK’s Roosevelt Room

Forgotten Tonic