I know that it has been unseasonably warm all around the country lately, but when the weather was over 90 degrees the first day of November, I gave up on the idea that we would soon be experiencing any type of real fall.
Though the weather today is a bit more promising and this week’s forecast seems much more appropriate for November, on Tuesday, when it was 91 degrees, I had accepted that it might as well still be summer here in Texas, turned down the AC, and reminisced on the best memories this summer had to offer. While France definitely tops the list (Road Trip Through France, Part 3 coming to the blog soon), it was my quick weekend trip to Savannah, GA that still has me laughing.
Ever since moving away from home, mother-daughter trips have become much anticipated events. While I love a good trip back to Arkansas or a weekend in Austin showing my mom and sister around, there’s nothing quite like getting the three of us together some place new. While yes, these trips can be quite stressful, we never fail to return home closer than ever and with a handful of memories we will never forget. This year’s trip to Savannah was one such occasion.
It’s my mom’s obsession with autographed cookbooks that brought us all together in Savannah. After hearing there would be a Paula Deen cookbook signing at her restaurant just a few days after my mom’s birthday, tickets were quickly purchased and that’s how this mother-daughter getaway began.
After meeting the queen of butter herself and eating a very forgettable meal at her restaurant, we moved on to spend our first day exploring the cuteness of Savannah firsthand. We shopped, drank cocktails while roaming the streets, ate fresh pralines still warm from the stove, argued, laughed, and just overall had a great time.
On Saturday, we started our day by browsing the stalls at the Forsyth Park farmer’s market with five new friends and a talented chef, as part of our Savannah market tour cooking class. After picking up provisions for our meal, we headed to the Forsyth Park Mansion where the real fun began. Together we made asiago polenta, braised kale, grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp, and for dessert, what else but some juicy, Georgia peaches.
Though the class was more of an informative, social gathering where we got to eat a lot of delicious, local food, than a true cooking class, it was still a wonderful way spend a Saturday morning with my mom and sister.
Following our class we spent some time walking through the park and browsing the boutiques in Savannah’s lovely historic district.
Growing tired from the heat and from such a gluttonous meal, we spent the rest of our Saturday relaxing poolside at our hotel and enjoying a massage in the comfort of our own hotel room.
A few massages and a couple of bottles of champagne later, we got dressed and headed out for one last evening together in Savannah.
For dinner that night we enjoyed an unforgettable meal at one of Savannah’s most acclaimed restaurants, The Grey. While it wasn’t my mom or sister’s first pick of places to eat, they both gave me two hours of pure bliss as I devoured each bite of my meal.
Occupying a renovated 1938 art deco Greyhound Bus Terminal, The Grey is the kind of place that makes you want to linger. Starting with my cocktail in the lounge, I knew right away that I was in for a treat. Over the course of the night I enjoyed raw oysters and champagne, a goat terrine and white pinot noir, roasted yardbird in a rich curry sauce, a chocolate parfait with peanut butter cream and spicy peanuts, and a Tawny port for dessert. Though my mom and sister likely grew impatient, I could hardly tell as I finished off each bite.
From there, we found ourselves at a hidden speakeasy where we embarrassingly won a game in front of far too many strangers, danced, sang, and laughed until it hurt. When I was 16 and someone told me that one day my mom and sister would become my best friends, I didn’t believe them for one second. Today, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
On Sunday, we hugged and cried and went our separate ways. My mom and sister headed back to Arkansas while I made my way to Tybee Island for some alone time before my early evening flight.
After a some fresh seafood and a few hours on the beach with a good book, I boarded the plane that night rested and full, and already looking forward to our next mother-daughter getaway. As I waited for my flight to leave, I spent my last few minutes in Savannah looking at pictures and texting my mom and sister about special moments from our trip. Three months later and I am still doing the same.
Thanks mom and sister for keeping life fun! I’m glad you’re not just my family, but also my closest friends.
Until next time!
The Daily Doss 