ashe

Yes, I grew up here, went away for a couple of decades to go to school and make a living and then came back to take care of my aging parents. Not so uncommon a story is it?

I honestly love living here as my home base. The Charlotte climate doesn't suit me but it was the closest place where I could make money so I spent some years there. It was always my plan to return to Ashe when I could afford to do so.

Yet you are living in hillbilly Ashe county.

Jack, I don't mean to brag but you guys do quite a bit of that here yourselves. I'm just trying to go with the general vibe of this board and contribute something that might be of interest to people.

I have the passport stamps to prove my travel adventures (which I've barely touched on, btw). If I really wanted to brag, I would tell you about the month I spent living in Paris or about my experiences while traveling around the Kathmandu region.

And pappy, for the record, I was simply typing the name of the restaurant the way it's pronounced. The last r is silent. Spell check on here often fails me - so I don't like using it. Incorrect spelling ok - but same great meals.

Ok pot kettle black. I give on that one fins and regret the "principle" of the whole thing. I just couldn't resist!

So now the Pot is offended by the spelling police...

Pappy - I really went 3 times, believe it or not. I don't really care. I don't know you so it's not a big deal to me if you doubt me.

I do however get slightly annoyed and really bored with people who resort to picking at spelling and grammar errors to try and discredit a person's truthful re-telling of a real life experience. Grammar police are not entertaining to a wider audience either.

And the amuse-bouches were always fab, btw.

Surely after 3 visits anyone would have noticed that it's spelled ''Le Bernardin''. You omitted the second 'r' every time that you mentioned it. I'm still not convinced. Amuse-bouche, indeed...

Yeah, it's suckers that put distance between the cruise ships and weekend slobs.

I am willing to bet with all your bragging the only sand you know is from the river or your cat box.

And fins, I don't think Jamaica is just for breakers and swingers. I'm not going to that sk*nky Hedonism resort or anywhere near Montego Bay (although I did a work trip a few years ago to the Ritz there and it was nice).

Port Antonio is where I am headed. Look it up, it's a little different than the rest of the island. I don't have unlimited time since I care for my elderly mother every day and have to call in help while I am gone. It wouldn't have made sense to jet off to the Thai beaches where the plane ride alone is more than 24 hours each way.

Btw, St Barth's and the other "classy" islands are for suckers and Real Housewives.

Pappy, I don't think I gave any details but I've been to Le Bernadin on 3 occasions. It's been a couple of years back & I honestly don't remember the whole individual meals but I know that once we had the tasting menu and the other times ala carte. They change their menu seasonally.

First the waiter brings an amuse-bouche, then excellent bread, then the courses start coming. They do a concept thing where the first course is raw or almost raw, then the next one more cooked and so on. The Dover sole was a standout. I did have wine & asked some questions about their largely not available elsewhere wine list - but I don't need a sommelier to make recommendations (I used to BE a sommelier a long time ago). I didn't meet the chef (Eric Ripert) but saw him circulating around the dining room on one visit.

The tip? We left a little more than 20% of the check as we always do if the service is good and it was excellent. Total bill: north of $500 each time. We took my mother once and that bill was more naturally.

Any other questions?

Do yourself a favor and spit it right on out. Do you think I am not being truthful in some way?

I'd never be jealous of Jamaica. And so far, from what I have seen, your choice of wordings deceive your claims.

Been to the Cayman Islands plus all of the south Islands as well fins. I am the classy girl you could only dream of being with and could go anywhere in the entire world I want, but this year I want to go to the far side of Jamaica. Don't be jealous, I wouldn't be if that's where you wanted to go. I would say, Yay fins, enjoy your vacation!

Anyone with class goes to the south Caribbean. Or at the very least, the Caymans. Jamaica is for spring breakers and swingers.

Yeah jack - I can afford all of that, insurance and medicine and even a hassle free winter vacation. Can you even imagine such a world? Maybe not. I worked hard to have it, so I'm going to enjoy it.

But you cant afford insurance and your medicine yet you are eating at over 5 star eating joints and going on winter vacations overseas and a driver is not a problem.

Oh c'mon really? I think I can book a destination where I'm not threatened by the locals. I've been to Jamaica before, just not this side of it. Yeah, so I may need a local driver, I can afford that.