Dinglewood Pharmacy, Columbus, Georgia

Dinglewood Pharmacy is your typical small town pharmacy, half retail and half restaurant. If you come during the noon time hour be ready to stand around, because there is always a crowd. If there are no open tables feel free to stand around and wait or you can always get a to-go order. The day Poncho and Lefty visited they only had to wait 10-15 minutes, though a much longer wait is not uncommon.

Once they found an open table it took the waitress a while to find them. After about 30 minutes Poncho was ready to leave, so Lefty flagged the waitress down and was able to get the process started. Poncho was bit indecisive as to what she would have and settled with a grilled ham and cheese on wheat. Lefty came ready to try the world famous “Scrambled Dog.”

Scramble Dog: Chopped up hot dog on a bun served in an oval bowl with lots of fixings. Fixings included but are not limited to the following: mustard, ketchup, cole slaw, thinly diced onions, pickles, secret recipe chili and oyster crackers. When ordering the “Scramble Dog” make sure you have utensils ready and plenty of napkins.

Dinglewood’s Pharmacy is the kind of place where major business deals take place next to the stories of the big fish that eluded the homegrown angler. The fair was not determined to be blue ribbon, but Lefty says the experience of the “Scramble dog” is not to be missed. The next time you are in Columbus stop in, enjoy a “Scramble Dog,” and listen to the stories of neighbors.

Dinglewood Pharmacy can be found at:
1939 Wynnton Rd
Columbus, GA 31906
706-322-0616

Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, Historic District

Poncho and Lefty love the backroads, and it was on some very backroads that the pair found themselves arriving in Leiper’s Fork, TN. Leiper’s Fork is outside of Franklin, which is outside of Nashville, and Poncho and Lefty felt like they were way outside of anywhere by the time they saw the Leiper’s Fork historic district sign at the edge of town.

The drive to Leiper’s Fork took Poncho and Lefty through picturesque Tennessee countryside. There were hay fields, stone fences, rolling hills and plenty of beauty to be seen along the way.

Leiper’s Fork may be off the beaten path, but it is certainly not undiscovered. A newspaper clipping in the window of one of the stores recorded a visit to the small town from England’s Prince William. Still, despite a well-known reputation, the town seems small, quiet, and even forgotten – just the sort of place that Poncho and Lefty enjoy.

There are several unique shops worth poking your heads into. One offered an extensive collection of architectural antiques: mantels, doors, windows, and hardware all looking for a new home in an old home. This was right up Poncho’s historic preservation alley, although she did find herself a bit saddened by the thought of the loss of the wonderful homes that these treasures must have originated from.

There are also art galleries, furniture shops, and a grocery store to be explored.

One highlight of the town was the Lawn Chair Theatre. Poncho and Lefty were not lucky enough to catch a show at the open air stage at the foot of a grassy green lawn. Still after looking over the unique line-up of regional entertainment (many with a flare of the local heritage) they plan to fit the Lawn Chair Theatre into their travel schedule the next time around.

http://www.leipersforkvillage.com/

(615) 972-2708

Sgt. White's Diner, Beaufort, South Carolina

Sometimes there are vacations where everything seems to go awry. There are times when impending vacation doom is only hours away, but the travelers move on with their plans blissfully unaware of the misfortune that the travel gods will throw upon them just around the next corner.

Such was the case with Poncho and Lefty's trip to Beaufort, South Carolina for a camping trip at Hunting Island State Park. Thanks to Tropical Storm Barry, which hit the South Carolina coast on the first official day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, eating at a few favorite restaurant picks was the only good part about the trip!

On the way into Beaufort on Boundary Street sits Sgt. White's Diner; just in front of the local Piggly Wiggly. The story goes that Sgt, White was a drill sergeant at nearby Parris Island and cut his culinary chops preparing meals for the thousands of Marines who train at Parris Island each year.

The meat and three menu at Sgt. White's is heavy on the Bar-b-Que. There are BBQ ribs covered in a tangy sauce, smoked chicken, and pork. The Bar-b-Que is notable, but the side dishes were what really impressed Poncho and Lefty. We shared a remarkable yellow squash casserole that wasn't really like a casserole at all. The macaroni and cheese was one of our favorites, and the greens and butter beans were enough to make any home cooking connoisseur smile. These were the big, creamy beige butter beans; not to be confused with its little green butter pea cousin. The cornbread was star of the show. The bread has just the right amount of sweetness and a light texture. After just one bite, Poncho thought to herself, "This must be what Jiffy mix was shooting for?"

Sgt. White's is a good stop in Beaufort. If you have some extra time, visit beautiful Hunting Island State Park just over a few rivers and a couple of barrier islands. It's a wonderful place with beautiful beaches, a cool light house, and a charming history. Just be sure to check the tropics before you book your campsite!

If you're headed to the Beaufort area, be sure to check out our review of Barbara Jean's restaurant. The original Barbara Jean's is in St. Simons Island, Georgia but they have a new location in Beaufort as well.

Sgt. White's Diner
1908 Boundary Street
Beaufort, SC 29901
(843) 522-2029