The way to my heart

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“Sounds like a column to me.” That’s what Wayne Allen said when the two of us were working on Saturday and I told him two delightful stories about food items I had enjoyed over the last week. My biggest dilemma was to try to find a way to combine the two experiences into a single column and have it make sense. Here goes.

There are about five things I look forward to every year at Christmas time. One is the honor of preaching the Christmas Eve candlelight service at First Christian Church; another is Dr. Jim Spinnati’s annual “Christmas Gift to Portsmouth,” extravaganza at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts; yet another is the Christmas village set up at Curt and Janice Shanks’ house (I missed it this year); my son Michael coming home for a couple of days and the ultimate chocolate treat – candy made by my good friend Liz Blevins at Shawnee State University.

I was home on vacation when Wayne called and said Liz’s chocolates were waiting for me at my desk. I jumped in my car and rushed into town. There was a jar with those delicious chocolates this creative woman pours her heart into every year. I couldn’t wait to even get off the parking lot. I had to have one. It was the most delicious treat I had throughout the entire holiday season. Thanks Liz for remembering I am your biggest fan.

On Saturday, my closest friend, Brian Setser and I went on a get-away. Ultimately we ended up at Rural King in Waverly where I could actually vacation. But prior to that he took me to the best kept secret in Scioto County – Barlow’s Country Kitchen in Lucasville. I must confess I had never been in that establishment before, but you can bet I’m going back.

I love the combination of great food in large portions at a reasonable price with smiling friendly service and Barlow’s has that. The women kept making sure we would never see the bottom of our coffee cup and there were so many fries with my delicious fish dinner, I could not finish them all.

This is the kind of restaurant I remember going to in my younger years – an yes – I did have younger years. There was an American motif, which showed great patriotism, and everyone visited with everyone else. It’s one of those places you like to go.

I thank my friend Brian for turning me on to it and I thank the people who operate Barlow’s Country Kitchen for bringing back good old fashioned friendly service.

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By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

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