Where do I even start? Jake and Emily are the most generous, gracious, and caring hosts you'll ever have the privilege of spending time with. It was an honor to be a guest in their home and it the opportunity presents itself again in the future, I will be there.
From the minute I pulled up Thursday to pick Jake up for pre-dinner beers, there was a comfort level, a brotherhood, and an excitement for the upcoming event. It was so awesome to finally get together with him and knowing we had several days to enjoy it was amazing.
Emily is an absolute sweetheart!! I can certainly see why Jake is quite enamored with her. She's really easy to fall in love with
Seeing Johnny and Lyn again was off the hook. Still kinda interesting to have met up with them twice in a month and a half with the two meet-up places being a country apart. Pretty amazing stuff right there.
I can't say enough about the food. Jake's smoker is beyond words and that man knows his way around it!! I've never in my life seen such an abundance or variety of perfectly cooked food. Everything that came off the smoker, as well as the Weber, was mouth watering and cooked to perfection. No question that man can cook and Emily did a superb job on the stuff she put together for us.
I'm 100% convinced that "a power greater than us" was determined to see this event a success. I left Austin Thursday in pouring rain. Landed in Nashville in pouring rain and it rained all day. Friday dawned to clear skies, beautiful sunshine, and perfect temps. Saturday was the same as Friday only better. Sunday brought more nasty weather, clouds, rain and chilly temps. This morning as I was heading to the airport is was nothing but sever weather warnings on the radio and I was driving in monsoon conditions. Bottom line, right in the middle of a whole lot of nasty weather, that "power greater than us" worked in two picture perfect days for the gathering. No way can that be coincidence
Indications are that there WILL be another one of these next year. I'm thinking I might have to start stockpiling steaks pretty soon and maybe even get another freezer to make sure we have enough.
Of all the incredible food that was cooked and served, the one pic that really stands out in my mind is that shot of the beef ribs on the cutting board. Those look spectacular!! Just an awe inspiring pic of some ribs that were cooked to perfection and showcased Jake's abilities with the smoker. Not that I ever doubted him, but to be standing there when those came off the smoker, I got weak in the knees. Never in my life have I seen a rack of ribs that looked like those did...and I may never again butI'll take that memory to the grave with me
Well that's about it for now. Still kinda brain dead from getting up in the middle of the night and making the journey back to Austin.
Still basking in the glory of having been there,
Robert
