Head of the Hooch Regatta, Chattanooga, TN

This weekend, thousands of rowers descended upon Chattanooga for the Head of the Hooch Regatta. I happened to be in town for my volunteer gig at the TN Aquarium Saturday morning, so I got a preview of the event setup before the race. 

Per the Head of the Hooch website, 8,000 rowers and 20,000 spectators from around the country were expected to attend. I thought the crowd was a tad smaller than 2019, the last time I saw the rowing competition (a friend's son had participated).  Perhaps I was early; it was around 10:30 when I ambled around several vantage points to take pictures. It was very cold that year. This Saturday was cloudy with rain showers later, but unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the high 60s, low 70s. 

Spectators cheering on Walnut Street Bridge

TN Aquarium celebrates its 30th anniversary this year

Earlier Saturday morning before the race

If we didn't cruise up the Tennessee River, we would not have discovered this lovely river town. It has grown leaps and bounds in the last dozen years.  I'm sure the regatta has helped put Chattanooga on the map, since it moved its venue from the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta to Chattanooga twelve years ago.

If you haven't visited Chattanooga yet, perhaps this post will entice you to do so. It's a two hour's drive from the major airports in Atlanta and Nashville.

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Fall Colors and Chattajack

A long time ago, the Fall Color Cruise festival was a tradition on this part of the Tennessee River (Lake Nickajack). Boaters from other marinas would cruise over here for the festival and the legendary potluck parties. We were lucky to be here for those fun times. The festival is no more. But ...

We have Chattajack! The paddling race that navigates the twist and turns of the scenic Tennessee River, all 31 miles of it from downtown Chatanooga to our marina at the old dam at Lake Nickajack. The event was last Saturday. The foliage was not exactly spectacular, thanks to the dry and warm weather. But what a lovely day it was (74 degrees F)! We kayaked out to cheer them and take some pictures/videos.

View of the Chattajack paddlers from above, courtesy of local Channel 3. 

At the  finish line, courtesy of the mvmaithai crew.

this brilliant color caught my attention at the Arts Bluff's district 

Fall won't be the same without some bright cherry chrysanthemums (from my garden, I might add).

A Trader Joe's opened in Chattanooga last summer. I was in the store last week and was so delighted to find some apple cider donuts! According to their Fearless Flyer, they came from a family-owned bakery in Western Massachusetts. We used to go apple picking in Massachusetts, so we know how yummy those treats are :-) Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee.

How are the fall colors in your neck of the woods?

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On the Road Again: Gettysburg, PA

This is our second road trip from Chattanooga to Boston. We wanted to steer clear of traffic as much as we can, so avoiding I-95 was key. (To our dear friends in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, sorry for not visiting!) We took a more relaxing route that offered views of rolling hills and bucolic farmland. Passing near historic Gettysburg, how can we not stop to get a dose of American civil war history? 

That was how we found ourselves at the Gettysburg National Military Park on a Saturday morning. It was 10:30 am. The place was packed, and we had just missed the one and only tour of the day. Apparently only the entrance to the visitor center is free, everything else has a fee attached. We got a map and set out to explore on our own. We'll read about the history later. It was a good thing as we got to tour the grounds at our own pace, and don't have to cram into a bus full of people on a hot summer day.

The setting of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

President Lincoln

At the back of the visitor center, there is a trail that led us to Meades' headquarters and Cemetery Hill.

Meade's Headquarters on left

Soldiers' National Cemetery

We drove around to see other sights - the haunted Sachs Covered Bridge, crossed by both Union and Confederate armies; Devil's Den, where heavy fighting occurred; and observation towers at Culps Hill and near Peach Orchard.

Culp's Hill

Climbing up the observation tower to see

Eisenhower's farm in the distance

Gettysburg Titbits

The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1-3, 1863, with casualties of 51,000 (23,000 Union, 28,000 Confederate). On November 19, four and a half months after the Union armies won the battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln delivered his most famous speech at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery.

Did you know Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th president, had a farm adjacent to the battlefield? The farm served as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders during his presidency. Now part of the National Park Service, the Eisenhower Farm offers free tour, but there is a fee to take the shuttle from the visitor center. 

Back home away from home, we learned more about Gettysburg on YouTube.

Sources: History Channel

We managed to bypass I-95 altogether. Crossing the new Tappan Zee Bridge (built in 2017 and renamed Mario Cuomo Bridge) from Pennsylvania to New York was a breeze. No stop and go like the olden days to pay toll as no toll booth could be found. Ditto on the Massachusetts Turnpike. There is no doubt we have to pay. The bill is probably in the mail.

Happy Friday!

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Two quick pickled cucumber recipes, perfect for the summer

Today is officially the first day of summer, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  And it's super HOT! We've had a heat wave in Southeast Tennessee since last week, but the last two nights have been surprisingly cool, in the low 60s. The days are sunny and the mercury goes right back up to the 90s. Hard to keep up with the changing weather forecast, but we'll take the cool temperatures any time.

Our gracious neighbors have shared their harvests from their bountiful garden. We've received cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, yellow squash, bok choy, and broccoli. 

Over the years, I have posted some easy to make recipes that are great for summertime potlucks or alfresco dining. The most requested recipes are sesame noodles, avocado and roasted corn guacamole and blackeye pea salsa (links below.) And what would summer be without a refreshing mojito? 

These two quick pickled cucumber recipes are pickled Asian style, using the milder rice vinegar. You can get most of the Asian ingredients from your local Walmart. Here are the recipes:

Asian-style pickled cucumbers

4 cucumbers
2 jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced

1 cup rice vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp Kosher salt
½ cup water

Heat vinegar, sugar, salt and water in a small pot until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. 

Slice off about 1 inch from the rounded ends of cucumbers. Rub cut ends with sliced-off pieces to bring up the sap. Quarter lengthwise, then remove soft centers. Cut crosswise into pieces, about 3 or 4 inches long. Wash and pat dry.

Place the cucumbers and jalapeno peppers in a jar. Pour pickling liquid into the jar until the vegetables are submerged. Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. It's good after a few hours, but the best flavor is after a day or two. Keeps in the refrigerator for a month.

 

This following recipe - Ma La cucumber or Sesame Spicy Cucumbers - is from Easy Home Cooking, a Chinese cookbook I bought in Hong Kong years ago. I made it for the first time last month; it was so good I've made it a few more times. It's now our favorite pickled cucumber recipe.

Ma La cucumbers (麻辣黃瓜)

8 small cucumbers 
1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp garlic oil
2 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp each salt, sugar, doubanjang* (豆瓣醬)

dash of sesame oil

Cut cucumbers into wedges and into thirds. Add 1 tsp salt and let it sit in the fridge for 1 hour. Wash lightly and pat dry.

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and add the cucumber. Let it sit for at least 2 hours before serving.

Note: 

* LeeKumKee brand is very popular. If you cannot find doubanjang (豆瓣醬), you can substitute with crushed pepper or chili oil.

Did you make it? Let us know how it turned out via the comments. Thanks! 

Bon appetit, stay cool, and have a great summer! 

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Succotash, a new Cajun restaurant in town

Did you know Succotash is a Native American staple consisting primarily of corn and lima beans? It was probably one of the dishes served on the "first" Thanksgiving dinner in Pylmouth, Massachusetts. There is a Cajun restaurant by that name in our neighborhood. It opened in the summer of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic! 

Over the past 15 years, we've seen so many restaurants come and go at this locale we thought for sure the location was jinxed.  Along came Succotash. Not only did the owner do a fabulous job on the outside but also on the inside, making it look inviting and fun, with a New Orleans vibe.

We came here twice last year; the first time it was closed (Monday) and the second time, it was closing (Sunday). We finally made it a week ago. We had gator bites (tasted like chicken, in case you ask) and it was amazing. 

The bourbon blackened shrimp with shells on may looked charred, but they were tender and packed with flavor; the side of fried pickled okra perfect!

Po'boy with fried catfish; the catfish a tad skimpy, but the jambalaya was excellent! 

Overall, the food was good and spicy, which we love, but we also find it rather salty. Succotash serves up a fabulous New Orleans style meal, a nice option for the marina and neighboring small towns. We wish them luck and look forward to trying more dishes on their menu.

Succotash wasn't on the menu, but it was the first dish owner Chef Kenneth Richardson made when he was 8 years old. You can read more about him in the Chattanooga Times. Check Succotash's hours before you go. If you're looking for a recipe for succotash and its history, you can find one here.

Bon Appetit!

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