My granddaughter told her mom, (my daughter) that she needed Mhamó time. So we decided that we would all have lunch together and then I would take my sidekick for the night. (She finds she needs to sleep over a couple of times a month and has been since she was about 6 months old). I told my daughter that we needed a place that none of us had been to before or a type of cuisine we hadn’t eaten, or at least that I hadn’t eaten. My daughter started her search, and I think she is getting into my New Things journey. The choices were a seafood place or an Indian place. As neither of the cuisines were new to me, it was down to the restaurants themselves. So I went with my first love, seafood.

The restaurant we went to was, Big Mac and Little Lu’s. It’s in Westminster, Colorado a lovely community in the Denver Metro area.

Side Note: at Christmas my granddaughter and I happened by the city offices and they had a HUGE light display and many faith based and cultural displays. It was a so beautiful and very hands on for little ones.

Back to this adventure! Big Mac and Little Lu’s did not disappoint. Having lived in a coastal adjacent area for over twenty years, I didn’t have high expectations for seafood, because we are in a landlocked state but, when I walked in, I felt as if I were in one of those little seafood shops and restaurants at the beach. However, outside those windows, you saw mountains instead of seagulls swooping down and trying to steal food for outdoor diners. My son in love couldn’t get over the juxtaposition of the 2 sites, mountains outside, but mounted swordfish and marlin lining the window..

It was interesting to find out that this place has been featured on Fresh, Fried and Crispy on Netflix. I looked it up and watched the episode, it was fun to see where we were on this program.
While waiting for our food, we chatted about this and that, I was looking at the fish counter and I shared a tidbit that an old gulf coast fisherman once told me and my daughter joked that the counter behind us was probably for show. Then a man came up to it and scooped up a bunch of muscles (what she had ordered) and tossed a couple and walked off to do his magic with muscles and we all laughed.

We ordered crab cakes for an appetizer and they were fantastik! Better than those I had in Maryland. My daughter and son in love made Sponge Bob jokes about “Krabby Patties from the Krusty Krab“

As you can tell, they were delicious! And so was the cilantro lime sauce and the pineapple chutney. My granddaughter tried them too, well a bite of of bite. Crab cakes will not be on her rotation for a bit. Her mom said she could try it again in the future. My granddaughter’s look conveyed that it might be a long time in the future.

She did enjoy her mac and cheese and fries though, and the tomatoes from my catfish po’ boy. The food was beautiful and tasty. More than tasty, it was a hint of other places I have lived or visited. Bringing back fond memories of times with family and or friends.

One of those memories was a time I took my two kids to the Texas Gulf Coast and met up with my cousin and her daughter. We bought chicken necks and twine and cut the line to tie to the chicken necks. You then dangle the chicken neck into the water by a dock or pier and the crabs will swim to the meat and their claws grab at it and when they do, you pull up quickly and catch the crab with a net. You place them in a bucket of water until you are ready to go home and cook them. Well, I did not cut the twine long enough. The only one was able to use them was my teenage son. He was about 16 and 6’1″ so his arms were long enough. My daughter got creative and for her and their younger cousin, she untied the string from another chicken necks and tied it to her string to make it longer and her the younger cousin took turns. The little cousin caught a crab and pulled it up quickly and it was a crab tangled in the line of a rod and reel. A really nice rod and reel. The kind that are upwards of $400 USD. She was so excited that she got a crab and a new fishing pole for her grandpa. My son, not to be outdone by a little kid, picked up said kid, hanging her almost upside down over the water so she could catch a grab again, and he would get credit. However, she giggled and laughed so much he was afraid she would fall in and he would get in trouble. It was a fun family memory and the decor of the restaurant reminded us of that sweet time.

My journey of trying new things, 60 new things, before I turn 60 is so many things at once. I am actively looking for new places to explore, investigate, experience, or consume. I am having so much fun doing this and it appears my kids are too! I am looking forward to the all of the adventures that are lining up. This next 11 months are going to be packed to the gills with fun, memory making, and finding new favorites.

The goal is 60 new things before I turn 60 and I have 55 more to go! I can’t wait!