Foodie

I consider myself a foodie- what is a foodie you may ask??

           According to Wikipedia, a foodie is a person who has an ardent

                  or refined interest in food. Further, a foodie seeks new

                                  food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out for 

convenience or hunger. 

I absolutely love trying new foods-from origin of the food to a quirky menu, or just a neat looking place from the outside...I also love the idea of mixing flavors that may not otherwise be the "norm". I have discovered some new favorites on this journey. Being southern I learned to cook or basically bake from my grandmother, as life would have it, I don't have her recipes-my sister-in-law has them?? What the heck is up with that....anyway...more about the art of being a foodie....I am not scared to try just about anything...

While traveling with my husband, who is an archaeologist, it allows me the freedom of exploring foods, restaurants, farmer's market and other local cuisines I would never have the chance to explore. This gives me a sense of purpose but it really feeds my soul....

Local eateries...

                             Michael's

Yum yum yum every time! I frequent Michael's and I have never had a bad meal... I do, however, have my favs... Salmon ginger salad and crab cakes (either a sandwich or by themselves)... 

                                     Amici

Amazing Italian food in Rock Hill... Lunch specials are only 6.95.... I haven't tried their Sunday brunch buffet, but my mom says its country cooking and very very good... I think it's 9.95 and includes a tea... One regret--- I waited so long to try this amazing restaurant two miles from my home.... 

                            Seafood Hut

                           Calabash, NC

This restaurant has been featured on the foodnetwork, in southern living magazine, etc....and I have never eaten there because the line is always wrapped around the building... Finally, I was able to get in... It was January but nonetheless I was able to try their seafood- very good!! Everything tasted fresh and the grease it was cooked in seemed clean- sometimes seafood can make my tummy hurt because of the heavy grease- not this place it was worth the wait...

Maryland Fried Chicken

Lemongrass-Thai Food

Thai food is now my favorite ethnic food.. LOVE IT!!!!!!!! If you have never tried it- ya gotta try it... Try the coconut soup- light and creamy... Amazing!!  

The Farmhouse 

Dawson, GA

This restaurant is on the side of the road in Dawson, GA. It looks like a shed that has a facade of a red barn. All of a person's senses will be stimulated as you drive past; you can see the smokers and grills, smell the amazing aroma, and hear the yummmms from the customers. I have never been a big fan of roadside food or BBQ, but The Farmhouse has forever changed my opinion....YUM!

Sable Chicago (American Gastro Lounge)

Palomar Hotel

Downtown Chicago restaurants can be intimidating, to say the least-they can be expensive, fancy to the point of stuffy, or just so out there you may not know what you are eating or want to know what you are eating...while searching for an interesting, reasonably priced, with great food restaurant I kept going back to Sable while scouring the Internet... The pictures on the net showed a restaurant that is beautiful, contemporary, with fresh looking food with the words, "farm to table". The concept of farm to table is when a restaurant purchases fresh local foods to serve to customers in a restaurant.

After taking a relatively short cab ride from the Navy Pier with just enough time to reapply my make up and change shoes all the while swerving in and out of traffic with one of the more sane cab drivers, Ed and I arrive at North State Street-we make our way across the street to this restaurant that I have been oohing and ahhing over for the past couple of weeks.

I finally found the door (I  actually had to be shown the door by the bellman of the Palomar Hotel because it was poorly marked). Leave it to Ed to get stuck in a revolving door carrying my hastily purchased Izod canvas bag from Marshalls. I still laugh to this day thinking about him stuck in that door and me pushing with all my might to get in the restaurant-looking I am sure more than confused. 

When we first walked in the door on N. State Street it was very crowded and appeared to be the bar area-the bar was beautiful, with furnishings that were nice and very modern-the further we walked the more I knew I had to try what they were serving. Before we made our way to the matredee we saw these amazing, leather, over sized chairs separated by a shorter dark wooden table. ohhh how I wanted to sit there...but it looked like many people were eyeing that convented spot, so I kept walking just hoping and praying to find THE SEAT where I could enjoy these yummy creations. All of the other seats were taken too. We were informed that the dining room was full with reservations and a table would not be open for some time, subsequently, we were offered the bar area or outside seating. We opted for the less crowded prestigious seating, outside, which faced some interesting sights. We were greeted at our table by blase waiter-kinda interested kinda not...anyway.....let's talk about the chef and the food....

Have you ever seen Bravo's Top Chef? How about Top Chef Texas? I watch everything Bravo and never thought I would ever meet someone who appeared on one of their shows-Ed is also relegated to watch the fantastic BRAVO channel as well...Heather Terhune was a contestant on Top Chef Texas season 9.  She may be considered a reality show celebrity but she is so humble and very interested in her customer's needs. Her personal eye for detail and kindness showed through when she was wiling to talk to customers and have her photo taken.  Now let's talk about the food...omg the food...

The idea behind Sable is to share your food-love this new concept (or at least it's a new idea for Ed and me)-Ed believes it is  a transference from the Asian or Middle Eastern traditions not to mention getting Ed to share his food is a very new concept. The menu is small just like I like it with daily specials on a separate. The

Ed and I were so in love with the menu we truly wanted to try as much as we could-we settled for two unusual appetizers, two meat selections, one terrific sounding vegetable. Oh yes we did...we were like two little pigs...I ordered the bacon wrapped figs and stuffed quail, Ed ordered the Veal meatballs and Chicken and waffles, lastly, we settled on corn creme brulle. I paired my appetizers with a dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives and dinner with a glass of Italian Pinot Grigio. Ed was banished from fully enjoying his meal because this restaurant did not offer anything nonalcoholic on their drink menu-however, the waiter was able find one non-alcoholic beer in the very back of the cooler halfway through the meal.

The food was spectacular-the two bacon covered figs were chewy and filled with ewe's blue cheese...I don't really know how to describe the taste-other than out of this world. The veal meatballs were brought to our table first-they came in a little dish with probably 4-6 meatballs; they were gray and in a grayish sauce...we both just kinda looked at them and said, "hmmm do I really want to eat that?" They are described on the menu as: veal meatballs: gorgonzola-walnut cream sauce- So I was the brave one-I went first...OOOOOOOHHHH DELISH!! creamy and cheesey with the slight hint of "wild" meat....very nice!! ok so we made it through the appetizers....now onto the main course- Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles with Bourbon maple syrup. The plate was a long white rectangled plate with two little waffles and two nice size breast strips on the top, smothered with bourbon maple syrup. The breast were moist and fried perfectly golden brown-the waffles were little and also golden brown...but the best thing was the maple syrup they used....I have never had bourbon maple syrup and wow...it was good-sweet but not overly sweet just perfect. One of the specials was stuffed quail-If I am not mistaken my brother and his wife fix quail around Christmas time....I hate to admit Sable knocked it out of the park...The goat cheese was so creamy and the quail, which imagine is not an easy dish to cook, was cooked perfectly. Not dry at all...very moist and very good!! Last, the sweet corn creme brûlée-is it a vegetable or is it a dessert??? it is suppose to serve as a vegetable, but it could be a dessert-YUM YUM YUM...I can not imagine anything you order not being GREAT....a lot of attention and care is put into each and every dish...the next best thing is the price...$11.00 chicken/waffles....$13.00 quail....$7.00 bacon wrapped dates....$8.00 veal meatballs, and $10.00 sweet corn creme brûlée. You can pay more than this at an average Mexican restaurant....

Executive Chef, Heather Turhune posing with customers

Nancy's Pizza

Who doesn't enjoy a slice of pizza from time to time or everyday? Pizza comes in many forms and is called different things across the USA...for example, pizza, pie, and slice. How to make a pizza and which pizza is the best also differs. Well one thing is for sure-the pizza I have had in the Midwest (Illinois) has been the absolute best!! I went to New York and Boston in the 90s but I don't remember their pizza to be anything that great!! I have tried two specific places since being here from April 8th-today (May 11th)- and Nancy's beats Tucci's hands down...Nancy's Pizza puts a ton of cheese on the crust, then toppings, and last sauce....Holy Moly HEAVEN-

I am not a fan of deep dish pizza so I was a little concerned when I saw pictures online of Nancy's pizza-I put my fears to rest and ordered one anyway...when it came I kid you not the thing must've weighed 5 pounds-it looked like a cheesecake-the way the crest thinly rose up on the sides and the odd appearance of tomato sauce on the top...Once it cooled enough for me to try-OMG what an experience-THE BEST PIZZA EVER!!! it was not deep dish in the sense the crust was so thick you could make five pizza out of it, but the cheese was the thick part-oh and getting back to the crust-delicious-thin and tasted homemade-the ingredients appeared to be fresh and nothing but the best.

These pictures don't look the best but I am telling ya---aahhhh-- oh and the green glob is spinach-fresh spinach!!

I mentioned Tucci's-please don't misunderstand their pizza is good too. Similar to what we have in the south-but better than any chain pizza place!! Their ingredients are fresh and their crust homemade-I have had their margherita pizza twice and it is GOOD! I've also tried their meat pizza-too much sausage for me, but I am not a fan of a lot sausage so I am not really the person to comment on that. I have ordered delivery once-fast and hot!! I have eaten at the restaurant twice on half price Wednesdays and received great service and really good food both times. 

Tucci's pizza is traditional with crust, sauce, ingredients, and cheese on top...

DeSha's

Rustic and Refined...

Ed and I ventured out to see the sights and the beautiful downtown of Lexington, Ky. My goal was to see horses and the famous Kentucky Theater, which we saw both...we also found a downtown that was contemporary yet rustic. While most of the stores and restaurants were closed on Sunday (thought I was back home in the Bible belt) we lucked up and found a great restaurant named DeSha's. Located right downtown on North Broadway we went in to see what type of food they serve. What we found was a beautiful building with woodwork and an upscale dining and bar area. The Sunday lunch menu was limited, which I like-I hate flipping through a novel to find something to eat- I overheard from patrons that the tavern chips were homemade and out of this world-we opted on the Southwest-pepper jack cheese, spicy ranch, and pico de gallo---OMG- If you go there try the tavern chips!!! They have two other flavors-BBQ and Bacon & Blue Cheese.

The recommendation by the waiter was the fried chicken plate which came with one or two breasts. Of course Ed chose two breasts, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a green vegetable. I on the other hand still trying to lose this weight ordered a salmon salad-it was fabulous, all of it...of course I had to try Ed's yummy looking chicken--IT WAS GOOOODDD! 

They had an extensive wine list and great beers-I tried the Pinot Grigio-very nice.

  

Downtown Grill and Brewery
Knoxville, TN

What a fun place...First of all, they are dog friendly, however, they are not allowed to give anything to animals-such as water, bowls...anything....They did allow Frankie to sit on the patio and get all the love he wanted from staff, customers, and people passing by. Their food is somewhat creative but mostly what you would think of from a brewery. Ed and I tried the nachos as a starter-loved what they did with their chips-they appeared to be either homemade or jazzed up typical chips-anyway they were really good! the salsa was GREAT!! free refills on chips and salsa!!! YUM! The salad was very average-nothing special at all...no extra steps taken...even a little bland! Ed got a cheeseburger and it was good...it was huge and messy but good nonetheless!! This place brewed their own beer-I love to try different beers as much as I like trying new foods!! I got an amber ale and it was nice!!!

The patrons made this a special place...They were all friendly and inviting, which, is what made me want to stay the evening in Knoxville!!  http://www.downtownbrewery.com

                                                             

Namo Sushi Bar
Knoxville, TN

After a night out of live music, roof top bar, and a strange conversation with someone a little nutty-Ed and I were hungry. We decided to try the late night sushi place we saw earlier in the day. I was not sure what to expect with a late night place. I was pleasantly surprised- The restaurant was beautiful-We were seated quickly and our drink ordered filled just as quick. Ample time was given to examine the menu-which had your typical sushi-however, there were dishes and sushi not so typical. We chose three different types of sushi:  Philly-smoked salmon, cream cheese, and avocado topped with green onions, Crunchy Shrimp-tempura shrimp, avocado, and spicy mayo, and I have to admit I don't remember the third. but that is no fault of Nama's...its the fault of several beers at a rooftop bar!!

http://www.namasushibar.com