The Chef, Cannon and Cookies

July 24, 2014

16  comments


chef's garden at the Grand Hotel in Fairhope ALThe Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa in Point Clear Alabama, has a chef’s garden where the ingredients are picked fresh daily. The strawberries, onions, carrots and herbs are harvested within hours, if not minutes of their use in the award winning restaurant.

 

 

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And don’t forget the fresh mint, still warm from the sun, crushed in your mint julep – served to you on the back porch overlooking Mobile Bay.

 

IMG_9096Just beyond the garden, a curious crowd gathers beneath the shade tree at 4pm every day. Within minutes, the sound of drums approach, and from the distance, an honor guard comes marching around the corner.

 

Cannon at the Grand Hotel, ALAfter pledging the flag, and a brief, but thorough lesson on the history of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay, everyone is warned to stand back.

 

Grand Hotel Cannon ceremony Fairhope

The shot is heard up and down the Bay, rattling windows up to Fairhope. While holding their summer novel with one hand, the locals calmly reach up with the other and straighten the vase on the shelf.  “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

 

Afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, ALAfter the boom has resonated off the last bay house, cookies and tea are served inside the historic main lobby. The sweets shown above, were shared by four of us. Not just me. Cross my heart.

 

Damn the torpedoes . . .  Admiral David Farragut in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Photo of cannon firing – by my youngest son. 

 

Leave a Reply

  1. Fantastic cannon shot (whoops – there is a pun there) To catch the actual moment was extremely skillful on your son’s part. Great photo.

  2. Wow, what a fabulous photo of the cannons — action — fire — smoke! Is this ritual for a limited time in commemoration of the Civil War?

  3. Y’all have the most interesting things going on down there! Love the gardens and your son’s photograph is stunning!

  4. Excellent capture of the cannon blast! When my husband worked there, he gave us a tour of the chef’s garden. Our daughter was so excited to see a pineapple growing there. The grounds are just beautiful at the hotel and many people work very very hard to keep it that way. BTW, I just loved your Flora-bama article!!

  5. Great shot by your son! Thanks for the history lesson…didn’t know there was a battle of Mobile Bay! 😉

  6. I have to save this for my cousin — great shot of the cannon fire! He is actually certified in the proper firing of a cannon (don’t ask…).

    1. I had no idea you had to be certified! I thought anyone who lived in the South could just go out in their yard and fire their cannon!

  7. Cool photo! My grandson was looking over my shoulder and when I read him your post, he said, “it’s good that we don’t live that close to that, we’d get our windows broken!” Do they really do this every day? That’s awesome!

  8. When we lived in Marblehead, MA you knew that the sun was “officially” setting because all of the yacht clubs fired their cannons. I miss the cannons but I don’t think my neighbors in NoVa would enjoy it if I started firing off a cannon in my backyard!

  9. What fun, and the cookies and tea make for the perfect ending. Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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