Hey guys! I am going to start something new here on the blog: JG’s “Places You Oughta Know.” Each week I will post about a couple of local places I have visited here in the area that I feel are cool spots you should check out. None of these places know that I am writing about them—its just my personal faves and definitely ones you should visit.

If you live in the Greenville area then you probably know about Table 301 and their wonderful restaurants: Lazy Goat, Soby’s, Soby’s On the Side, Deveraux’s, and Nose Dive. (pardon me if I am missing some) I have recently fallen in love with Nose Dive, if you have ever had their bacon candied brownie then you know whats up! While i love their dessert selection—- I want to brag about their grits bar available only on Saturday mornings for brunch. It is absolutely the best thing ever invented! Think local grits Aduluh Mills (columbia, sc) with sauces ranging from cheese and sausage fondue, tomato and herbs, and they have even been known to have an oaxtail sauce that was ahhhhmazing!! They also have extra toppings like bacon, cheese, onions etc!!!

Nose Dive Grits Bar: Cheese and sausage fondue with bacon.

Not many people know about this Saturday sensation and part of me wants to keep it that way..but I guess I will share! I wish they would increase the grits bar to a couple more days! I know many of you are thinking that its probably expensive. Nope! The grits bar is about $6 on its own and only $4 if you want to add it as a side to their other great menu items: French toast, steak and cheese omelet, and the granola and fruit parfait to name a few. Its worth a trip downtown Greenville to experience the gastro pub’s grits bar! It dont get more southern than some grits! Yeee hawwww!
Want to see the menu?

http://www.thenosedive.com/

The second place you outta know about is on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I frequently run the Swamp Rabbit Trail around the Furman/ Travelers Rest area–but recently I ventured towards downtown Greenville and stopped in the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. This place is awesome—filled with the spirit of local consumerism and flavor. They sell everything from organic produce, meats, to a muffins made from ingredients you will feel good about eating. Its great to see how Greenville is embracing the love for the trail by creating places that support local products and encouraging even more people to have a reason to use the trail. Great stuff. It is a great spot to stop off with a friend to enjoy a dessert or maybe a tasty piece of local produce before hopping back on the trail. Goooooood Stuff!
Note: You can also drive to the cafe if the running/walking/ biking thing isnt your forte.

http://swamprabbitcafe.com/

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As a child of the arts and a lover of music, I am a strong believer in not only the power of playing an instrument, but the ability of notes to transform lives. Tuesday night on Scene on 7 I am taking you on a visit to a local place where music knows no boundaries and no age— You have all probably seen the movie “School of Rock” with Jack Black—and the founder of this academy got the inspiration from that story. You guys wont believe how well spoken and thoughtful these young musicians are—-and wait until you hear how well they play!!! Here is a taste! See you Tuesday at 7:30 on CBS Channel 7.

If you have ever been the the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus you have seen the biggest stars of the show, the Asian elephants. They are remarkable creatures and their involvement in the circus act has been met with plenty of criticism from animal activists, so when I was invited by Feld Entertainment and the Ringling Brothers Center for Elephant Conservation to come and learn more about where these animals come from I was thrilled.

Friday night on Scene on 7, you will see where some of these Asian elephants are born, cared for, trained, and retire. The Center for Elephant conservation is located in Central Florida in an undisclosed location–it is rare for cameras to be allowed on the compound.

You will also find out how the CEC is playing a role in saving the Asian elephants. I hope you will watch—-I also get up close and personal to some of my new friends. See you guys Friday night at 7:30 only on channel 7- Scene on 7

I am working on a pretty cool story for Scene on 7 coming up in a couple of weeks–I know many of you have heard about the “Body Worlds” exhibit. The part art installation part science lesson has 14 actual human bodies, known as plastinates, which were donated to show the intricacies of the human form. They also serve as a lesson on what the good, bad, and ugly of what we put into our bodies. Here are some photos taken at the South Carolina State Museum to promote the upcoming story. Be sure to stay tuned to my facebook and twitter pages to get more information on when the story will air.

This is a visualization of a healthy body versus one with excess fat. Powerful image.

Warhorse

The Help

Hugo

The Descendants

The Ides of March

Moneyball

( Source: The Huffington Post)

Think of these dishes as the food that stars will almost choke on when they get an earful of Ricky Gervais’ edgy monologue during the Golden Globes.

Executive chef Suki Sugiura and pastry chef Thomas Henzi of the Beverly Hilton Hotel unveiled the 2012 Golden Globe Awards menu on Thursday to a kitchen packed with cameras and journalists. According to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the dishes took six months to conceptualize are centered on the theme of “Global Food Harmony” to reflect the “global nature” of the awards.

On the day of the event, it’ll take 40 chefs and 110 kitchen staffers to prepare dinner for 1,300 guests, according to BizBash. That’s a lot of blowtorches.

The 2012 Golden Globe Awards Menu

Appetizer: Pistachio crusted pistou ravioli with wild arugula served with smoked tomato, kabocha compote and burrata

Entree: Miso and sake lees marinated pacific sea bass with grilled king oyster mushroom and braised prime short rib of beef. To be served with porcini pine nut herb ragout in a light cream of sherry wine ginger tamari sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes, candy striped beets, baby bok choy and yellow baby carrots.

Dessert: A trio: chocolate delice almond crunch terrine and acacia honey, caramel and fresh berries, paired with a Moet & Changdon Grand Vintage 2002 magnum specially created for the event.

Consider the bar set for ambitious homecooks hosting an awards show viewing party. Here’s where to buy the edible gold flakes in Los Angeles.

For pictures of the dishes–visit:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/golden-globes-2012-menu-preview_n_1190812.html?ref=los-angeles

Here is a photo journal of some of my favorite cars at the show for those that aren’t able to make it to the TD Convention Center. Enjoy.

There was a time in my life when I didn’t understand all of the fuss over foliage. Maybe its because when you are younger its harder to be appreciative for such things as the simplicity of color and God’s grace. Perhaps someone with a terminal degree in the field of ‘the way young people think’ would be more equipped to elaborate on such an issue. What I do know is that you cant step foot out of the door here in the Upstate of South Carolina/ Western North Carolina, during fall, and not experience the superb grace of a Divine palette. The brightness of each hue–resonating to the core of feeling. From the dullesst of dulls to the most stunning twinkles of happy–the foliage has a way of making you truly take in the moment and be grateful. Glad.  Glad that the world is amazing place and that even with its problems–there is beauty, its our charge to pay attention  to it. I hope you guys enjoy these shots I took  several weeks ago at Whitewater Falls and Table Rock.

The last time I checked in I was all a java over the caffeinated highs of Seattle and Vancouver. I have since returned from the highs of that experience, but just as I got grounded—-the opportunity to go to Boston to visit a friend arose.  Beentown wasn’t the only destination actually; also included in the excursion was New Hampshire and Vermont. I hope you enjoy the highlights of this tremendous trip.