Anticipation - Followed By Disappointment?

We will see.  Tonight, continuing a new custom of dining together once a month, Mouton, "D" and we are, or will be, dining at Johnny Reb's Smoked Barbecue, 4663 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach.

A great fuss has been made about potential traffic from here to there.  We are to pick up "D" at 3 p.m. with an ETA at Mouton's Long Beach mansion of 5:15 p.m.  Frankly, I think this traffic nonsense is exaggeration and fully expect to be there by 4:15 p.m. if not sooner.  We are not talking here about having to be in San Francisco by 5:15.

We'll see.  Anyhow, the important part of dining at any place new to us is a pre-look at the menu.  It is 9:10 a.m. right now and I know exactly what I'm going to order for dinner .

First an order of "crispy" onion rings with barbecue dipping sauce with our drinks.  Never drink on an empty stomach.  And my drink will be a Bloody Mary which goes well with 'que and I doubt they have much of a champagne selection.  Although they should. 

Then fried green tomatoes dredged in seasoned cornmeal with bacon and smoky chipotle sauce.  $7.
I loved Fannie Flagg's book "Fried Green Tomatoes" and have never been ambitious enough to try to make my own or been lucky enough to be a guest of someone who did. 

Then my eye fell upon burnt ends of smoked crown of brisket, sautéed with brown sugar and whiskey over hot pepper cheese grits. $14.95 

 Just the words "burnt ends" took me back to my childhood in Kansas City, MO, when my Dad would occasionally stop off at the barbecue place and bring home a pound of burnt ends for dinner.  I loved them!  And despite having eaten my own weight (none of your business) in bbq since, have never been able to find burnt ends.   

Sometimes dreams do come true.