Caribbean restaurant to open soon!

 

Forsyth Mo. - The Caribbean Islands comprise a group of island nations situated off the southern tip of Florida. Many rich and different cultures reside there. So, it was with some interest that I learned that a restaurant that was going to serve Caribbean cuisine was due to open in Forsyth MO!

Caribbean cuisine (for those who don't know) is a fusion of African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, European, Latin American, Indian/South Asian, Middle Eastern, and even Chinese. These traditions were brought from many different countries, when people originally moved to the Caribbean.

Ingredients that are common in many of the dishes are rice, plantains, beans, cassava, cilantro, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork or fish. A characteristic seasoning for the region is a green herb-and-oil-based marinade which imparts a flavor profile which is quintessentially Caribbean in character. Ingredients may include garlic, onions, scotch bonnet peppers, celery, green onions, and herbs like cilantro, Mexican mint, chives, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon and thyme. That kind of fare sounded very interesting to me, so I stopped by the location that used to be the Long Horn on Highway 160 to investigate!

According to their FB site, the name of the restaurant will be called The Coqui! That is supposed to be a family style restaurant and is expected to open sometime in March. Breakfasts will be served from 8am to 11am, lunches from 11am to 1:30 pm and à la carte all day after 12:00 pm. No mention as to whether they plan to serve liquor. 

I'll try and post whenever I hear anything new! BTW. Amazon sucks!

LoveOurRoof serves the Forsyth Area!

I met Jason Wilburn, owner of LoveOurRoof recently, and it appears he does work in the Forsyth Missouri area on occasion. I understand they specialize in metal roofing and have a webpage at loveourroof.com!

They can be contacted by calling 417-527-0012.

The truth!

Assorted Forsyth area topics!

Area Parks

Over the past two years, Bull Shoals has flooded out a couple of area parks that I really like to frequent! Both Shadowrock Park (SRP) and River Run, spent the past two summers under the waves, with the most recent flood lake level clearly shown on the fence near a baseball field.

In both years, heavy rains in early and late March began the flood cycle in earnest. Cleanups that generally occurred in October have been costly with Forsyth losing any potential for income from their 99 year lease on SRP. Sadly, this situation is very likely to repeat itself in the future.

On a beautiful day in early October, I stopped to enjoy a lunch while watching a few boaters try their luck at catching fish. I was surprised to not see many others in similar pursuits either on the shore or on the water. I would encourage local residents to take advantage of a run of pleasant temps that should hold out through at least mid month. Yes, the parks are a bit dirty and dusty and will have to await the next good rain to get washed off, but overall most every thing was in good shape.

I did talk briefly with a representative of Forsyth concerning the cleanup of the roads and was told that 'nature would take care of that'. So, at least one park should be available for use (River Run was closed) for those who might want to take advantage on through the fall and coming winter months. Then, in March of 2021, we will see what happens...

New TCAD building!

Reducing area response times for ambulance services was the driving force behind the new building being erected at the former location of the Park Place convenience store. A site near the round-about on Highway 160/76. Construction was moving along at a rapid pace, it seemed to me and I was guessing that the building would be realdy by December.

I apologise for the terrible formating that this Goole owned site, which used to be excellent, has devolved into...

Kar Lot in Forsyth is a full service establishment!

Forsyth MO - I've had my oil changed for quited some time at the Kar Lot with David Scobee as the man in charge. The shop is locaqted at 16099 Hwy 160 and can be reached by calling 417-546-8484, during regular business hours.

Right about now, in October, would be a great time to schedule service on your personal vehicle before the cold of winter really sets in!

Local grocery store looking a bit bare!

 Forsyth MO. - I've shopped at Country Mart since it opened some decades ago in Forsyth Missouri and so, I've grown pretty use to knowing what to expect to see on the shelves. Yet, over the past number of months, I've witnessed a marked change to fewer and fewer items to select from. 

When I've asked why some of the shelves have been mostly bare, in the past, I've been informed that it was to to 'supply chain disruptions'... Whatever that actually means. I had assumed they (they being management) were referring to disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, currently in its 9th month! Disruptions that I had assumed would have worked themselves by now. But, they really haven't. As a matter of fact, they seemed to have gotten worse, at least at the Forsyth location. I found this strange, as the one other local market named Save A Lot didn't seem to  be suffering shortages quite as much!

So, I decided to investigate a bit more. One relevant article that I viewed back in March stated 'Supermarkets are rationing grocery-store staples and trying to restock more quickly to deal with surging demand, while planning new ways to feed a rising number of self-isolating consumers as coronavirus spreads across the U.S. and Europe.' I approached the owner of Save A Lot and asked him if this was still the case. Was increased hording still causing the shortages and why was his store so well stocked?

I was informed by a spokesperson for SAL that they too were have supply chain disruptions due to the impact that Covid-19 was having. She told me that right at that moment, obtaining canned vegetables was a challengs.

I expect shortages to remain a problem well into 2021.

Taney County Covid deaths rising!

Taney County MO. - The above graphic details the numbers of deaths due to Covid-19 day to day for much of the month of September 2020.Through the first half of the month there was a slow, yet steady increase. In the later part (thus far), there has been a more dramatic upturn. If true, this is somewhat troubling.. If the numbers are false, then that would be very troubling!

The thing is, we are in our ninth month of social distancing, washing of hands and wearing of masks. As I've been out an about, all that time, I've noticed a high degree of compliance. And yet, the numbers continue in an upward spiral! What's with that? Something is fishy in the State of Missouri and I now find myself trusting government authorities even less than before.

Perhaps there's little logic to trying to defeat something that is so contagious, that it has managed to not only defeat these physical deterrence's, but also even the heat of summer. That's something not even the seasonal flu can do...

Perhaps we can all go back to living our lives, as 95% of us will weather this viral storm, and still continue to live...

Liberty Utilities to add new attractions to area park!

 

Forsyth MO. - Canadian based Liberty Utilities is planning some fun new additions to their park located near Forsyth Missouri by the Powersite Dam. After seeing a drone image (above, supplied by Marcus McClamrock) I called the utility and talked to an employee named Junior. He informed me that the field with all the lines was going to contain three new areas;

1) A pickle ball playing field (see https://youtu.be/kqLRRNOpe8U). A game that is a cross between ping pong and tennis...

2) A one kilometer walking trail....

3) Special plants that will attract Monarch butterflies... 

To state that I was a bit awestruck would be to put it mildly. I'm looking forward to watching this project come to fruition over the coming months.

Jim's Auto Body, a really great shop!

 

Dylan Jones - Operations Mgr. - Jim's Auto Body

Forsyth MO. - After having an unwanted close encounter with a deer on highway 76 near MM highway on 911, I found myself standing outside in a light rain with a mostly imploded windshield along with some structural damage. And while I was very troubled, to say the least, the deer very likely got the worst part of that deal!

After calling my State Farm agent, they arranged a tow truck to take my (now somewhat battered) vehicle to Jim's Auto Body located at 160 Jessi Road. I submitted the estimate to the owner, James Burns, and got the repairs done in short order.

To me, any damage to a vehicle can be a traumatic event. That's why have a good auto body repair shop can become very important. Dylan Jones, along with James Burns, took very good care of my jeep, got the repairs done in

good time and were very professional. They even sent a very nice woman, Debra, over to my place to pick me up. That's the kind of service that I really appreciate.

Forsyth Local Harvest on Aug 22!

Forsyth MO. - Perhaps it was due to the time I arrive when compared to last time, but the Forsyth Local Harvest Market appeared to be doing an even more robust business!

It was a Saturday and it was time to visit a local Farmers Market that was located about 2 miles past the Hwy 76 bridge as you headed towards Hollister. The weather was picture perfect at 80 degrees under light and variable winds.

I arrived at about 10:30 AM and wandered around a bit taking some pictures while talking to some of the people manning the stands displaying produce and more! I understood that the Market is currently open each Saturday from 8AM to 2PM, from now until December. This offers area residents a great opportunity to buy items with no tax!

And, as it was sorta close to the lunch hour, I made sure to pick up a pulled pork sandwich and chips for only $5! Some friends of mine also ordered what appeared to be a nacho plate. Yum.

I will be posting a separate post introducing one of the main women behind this great effort. In the meantime, I'd encourage everyone to come visit if you get a chance.

Spaghetti special at the Mug!

Forsyth MO. - Every once in a while, the chef at John's Frosted Mug decides to add a spaghetti dish as a one day special. This meal (recreated here using leftovers and plain toast) was quite tasty and I would love to see it offered on a more regular basis! If you tried it, and liked it, please mention the fact to Tim Evans...

Forsyth Local Harvest Market!

Forsyth MO. - A trend, that's here to stay, is buying locally grown fruits and vegetables instead of produce that's been trucked cross-country. While many people have gotten on board, I was wondering if the hype over the health benefits of locally grown food is all it’s cracked up to be.... Yes, it was!

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farmers markets in the U.S. has increased in recent years. There were fewer than 2000 in 1994 and, today, there are more than 8,800 markets listed in the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory. Restaurants that cook with local meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables also are a growing trend, according to the National Restaurant Association.

The main health benefit of locally grown food is that it’s much fresher. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients within 24 hours of being picked, so fresher produce is more nutritious produce. In addition, locally grown food is picked at its peak ripeness, when it’s most dense with nutrients, and that's a good thing!

Eating local also means you can meet the people who grow your food. You can ask them questions about their farming methods and pesticide use (if any). Local farmers typically focus on soil health and safe growing practices, especially if they’re farming organically. Better quality soil and more sustainable farming practices typically mean better tasting, more nutritious produce. 

That's why, when I heard about a local market that is open every Saturday from 8AM to 2PM, I jumped in my car and went across the Bull Shoals bridge and up Manly Hill (Hwy 76) top the top of the curve where I saw a group of booths. After parking, I walked over to find not only a wide  array of veggies, but also a wide choice of bric-a-brac! In addition, there is a food stand with beverages and an assortment of sandwiches!

So be sure to mark your calendar for every Saturday, from now until mid December, and grab up some farm fresh produce!