tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91042107221455032362024-03-14T12:47:14.231-04:00EAT! EAT! GOOD!We're two food fanatics on a mission to discover incredibly good food and the absolute best fried chicken to be found. We like to eat, we like to eat well and we like what we eat to be good! So join us as we eat, eat, good!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-48416880771259355142018-11-04T01:57:00.000-04:002018-11-04T01:58:10.950-05:00VIVA MEXICAN KITCHEN - RALEIGH, NC<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have mixed feelings about this review and mostly because at the moment our meal isn't sitting well with either of us. It seems to be an apropos ending to a dining experience that did not start off well. Our favorite little Mexican spot recently underwent a renovation and a name change. The widely popular El Rodeo Restaurant at 4112 Pleasant Valley Road in Raleigh, NC has now transitioned to <a href="http://raleigh.vivamexicankitchen.com/" target="_blank">VIVA MEXICAN KITCHEN</a>. We're told that it's the same family-owned business but with new, younger management. There is also a second location in Morrisville that has gotten rave reviews for the staff, the food, and the atmosphere.</div>
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El Rodeo was my favorite go-to spot for Mexican cuisine. And I always ordered the same thing - the vegetarian sincronizado. It was spinach, mushrooms, and cheese between two flour tortillas and it was so good! Whenever I wanted Mexican, I wanted that. The Big Guy was far more adventurous with the menu, trying everything from the tacos to the quesadillas. Also there were many times when he would try the chef's special of the day and we would both be pleasantly surprised.</div>
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The interior has undergone a renovation with a newly added bar, neon lights, and pink walls the color of Pepto Bismol. There's a lot going on but it has a happy, bubbly atmosphere conducive to multiple margaritas and a good time with friends. The <a href="http://raleigh.vivamexicankitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/VIVAmenunew-Dinner-Raleigh-optimized.pdf" target="_blank">MENU</a> has been streamlined but we were assured the recipes were still the same.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkNrFXi31qjZox24fpcQT6ufEzP9gYLbPko9pISpoX5VSnhdDWieQMVYwuyn7snAstR631r4b3txXGeoRufy2PufI_fIt2pSHMA1JevnzbkfnQ5Mgk001U-UPsYUpG6XA6vyoNMoQoPgO/s1600/IMG_3026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkNrFXi31qjZox24fpcQT6ufEzP9gYLbPko9pISpoX5VSnhdDWieQMVYwuyn7snAstR631r4b3txXGeoRufy2PufI_fIt2pSHMA1JevnzbkfnQ5Mgk001U-UPsYUpG6XA6vyoNMoQoPgO/s320/IMG_3026.jpg" width="240" /></a>Previously, service was exceptional. Today, we were seated and then forgotten/ignored. Big Daddy pushed the timer as soon as we were shown to our table. It took less than a minute before a young woman dropped a bowl of nachos and salsa in front of us. She never spoke and barely smiled, moving so swiftly that she felt like an apparition. Ten minutes passed and a second table was seated on one side of us. At the fifteen minute mark a third table on the other side was seated. We then sat and watched as tables two and three were promptly greeted by waiters and their orders taken.</div>
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Now, usually at this point, we would have walked out, but it was my favorite little Mexican spot and I wasn't ready to give up on them. Thank goodness they had two Pokémon Stops to entertain us. At the twenty-two minute mark, a waiter noticed our scowls and asked if we'd been helped. When we told him no he became immediately apologetic and asked what we wanted to drink. Apparently there was a staff meeting of sorts and miscommunication between the host and the server. After ordering two sweet teas we asked to speak with the manager. Minutes later a message was relayed back that they would comp an appetizer and the manager would be with us shortly. Shortly happened as we were finishing up the meal we finally did order.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7tqUqJlWR9dgGG9C1OIqJPDcp1qdgAOGXz2FPY5myHOriQ9ymGbRPfyeqxfupPhA2nJ58MysGVdLpwpO9FMqtezulb_PODIcpci4r2G2Y2CTGpl7Ixd42keoL4jqU_3Gu27_KjPPlIc-/s1600/IMG_3030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7tqUqJlWR9dgGG9C1OIqJPDcp1qdgAOGXz2FPY5myHOriQ9ymGbRPfyeqxfupPhA2nJ58MysGVdLpwpO9FMqtezulb_PODIcpci4r2G2Y2CTGpl7Ixd42keoL4jqU_3Gu27_KjPPlIc-/s320/IMG_3030.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkNrFXi31qjZox24fpcQT6ufEzP9gYLbPko9pISpoX5VSnhdDWieQMVYwuyn7snAstR631r4b3txXGeoRufy2PufI_fIt2pSHMA1JevnzbkfnQ5Mgk001U-UPsYUpG6XA6vyoNMoQoPgO/s1600/IMG_3026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a>But let's talk about the food. By the time we ordered we had practically memorized the menu, having had enough time to study every item. My sincronizado was no longer available so I decided to give something else a try. We started with CHICKEN ROLLS. They were fried flour tortillas filled with shredded chicken, pico de gallo, cheese,and lettuce, served with a creamy chipotle dip. The chipotle dip was very nice! We really liked these and would definitely order then again.</div>
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Together, we decided to order the PARRADILLA for Two. It was a meat lovers platter with chicken, </div>
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steak, carnitas, chorizo, shrimp, grilled vegetables, and onions, served with rice, beans, salsa and tortillas.We will never order this again. The steak was tough. The chicken was dry. The chorizo was laden with grease, and the vegetables were two roasted poblano peppers and three onions. It presented pretty on the plate and the shrimp were very good, but there's not much else that can be said about it. It's also sitting very heavy on our stomachs and two doses of antacid have yet to help.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm8Gfg3StsA4gdmIBX5O8bBgdhmTGeCq06VZEzwfxN1UkbZ_kRYxbeomfqRtCWxHX4ajtOZqV0qi6R6M3nYYY6suf_c2AZRtF1Jgf6tW4Niaz2p_fn-zeDjiND28qQRwaEN4xoGpwZZj7/s1600/IMG_3031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm8Gfg3StsA4gdmIBX5O8bBgdhmTGeCq06VZEzwfxN1UkbZ_kRYxbeomfqRtCWxHX4ajtOZqV0qi6R6M3nYYY6suf_c2AZRtF1Jgf6tW4Niaz2p_fn-zeDjiND28qQRwaEN4xoGpwZZj7/s320/IMG_3031.jpg" width="240" /></a>As we were finishing the meal the Managing Partner came to apologize for the snafu. He was extremely kind. He offered us dessert on the house, but we passed. At that point we had filled up on the really great iced tea and couldn't have eaten another bite if we wanted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog8k3Xcr7ckvEq__Ujbnxl3DIPOewE0iHECRvyc5iqWtb75YWujE698A_IFwer8gus8se2-hcozieKqdwXJ9HYxGOwVhsbuBxfUtlxWkZQzv_ZCcJS0R_TSYLMoNK0WqrTzuJS5GVDj6M/s1600/IMG_3032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog8k3Xcr7ckvEq__Ujbnxl3DIPOewE0iHECRvyc5iqWtb75YWujE698A_IFwer8gus8se2-hcozieKqdwXJ9HYxGOwVhsbuBxfUtlxWkZQzv_ZCcJS0R_TSYLMoNK0WqrTzuJS5GVDj6M/s200/IMG_3032.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog8k3Xcr7ckvEq__Ujbnxl3DIPOewE0iHECRvyc5iqWtb75YWujE698A_IFwer8gus8se2-hcozieKqdwXJ9HYxGOwVhsbuBxfUtlxWkZQzv_ZCcJS0R_TSYLMoNK0WqrTzuJS5GVDj6M/s1600/IMG_3032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>have to commend our server. His name was Alex/Alejandro and he went above and beyond to make up for the initial oversight. He was attentive and genuinely co<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike>ncerned about out enjoying our experience. We liked Alejandro! </div>
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I had one other issue that took away from the meal and it bothered me far more than it bothered my favorite guy. We were seated right below an open window space that bordered the lobby and reception desk. The constantly ringing phone and chatter from the staff was distracting and made holding a conversation difficult. The host and manager peeking through to observe the dining room was also a bit off-putting. On any other day it might not have bothered me, but on this day I was irritated by it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That window over my shoulder!</td></tr>
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Will we go back? Probably, but not with the same regularity.</div>
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Will it continue to be my favorite spot? Highly doubtful, but I never say never. </div>
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Do we recommend it? Ask for Alex and have a drink. They have a great bar!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-59836474586746258422018-04-09T03:14:00.002-04:002018-04-09T14:29:53.668-04:00SWEET TEA'S SOUTHERN CUISINE - RICHMOND, VA<a href="http://www.sweetteascuisine.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Tea's Southern Cuisine</a> is located one block away from the previously reviewed <a href="https://eateatgood.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-southen-kitchen-richmond-va.html" target="_blank">Southern Kitchen</a>. We discovered Sweet Tea's as we were leaving Southern Kitchen. A couple was entering the restaurant and we stopped to ask their opinion. They told us Sweet Tea's was much better and advised us to give them a try the next time we were in town. So we did!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We arrived before opening on a Sunday afternoon and were quickly ushered out and told to come back. The hostess was pleasant enough although it was obvious she was irritated that someone had left the door unlocked. But after a brief walk to take in the neighborhood, we returned. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Our waitress was very sweet and despite still trying to get things rolling for the day, she was extremely attentive and very friendly.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdl8d20MzNK5DUZdvy2h2NXoINbI6tPPkaGil0gpY9gQAJmZPO2GYjqh65I9n6kV8ZMFbktOtJuJYGenf1LEba9kaIaJu9TfQTk2pNwNrx8vTblhi5C4r820VE7u19ahT3BxHh5AC6qSz/s1600/IMG_1493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdl8d20MzNK5DUZdvy2h2NXoINbI6tPPkaGil0gpY9gQAJmZPO2GYjqh65I9n6kV8ZMFbktOtJuJYGenf1LEba9kaIaJu9TfQTk2pNwNrx8vTblhi5C4r820VE7u19ahT3BxHh5AC6qSz/s320/IMG_1493.jpg" width="240" /></a>Sweet Tea's is family owned and operated and little less formal that it's competitor up the street. The atmosphere is as pleasant. The décor was simple and slightly homey. From the start, my only major complaint was that someone really needs to give the menus a good wipe down. Menus covered in food and fingerprints was a turn off and these were foul.<br />
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Now, like their competitor, they started the meal with bread. But corn muffins instead of corn bread. The muffins were basic and not at all exceptional. They were slightly dry and could have come out of a box. We could have done without the muffins.<br />
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Now one of the highlights of the meal for both of us was the sweet tea! They have the monopoly on sweet tea and I hate that I can't get it every day. We both started with basic sweet tea which was the perfect blend of strong and sweet. It was great sweet tea! Our server then convinced us to give the flavored tea a try. She'd just made it and was very excited to share. The day's flavor was peach sweet tea. With real, fresh peaches. The presentation in a Mason jar with the fresh fruit spilling over the top was absolutely divine! This just made me smile! It was liquid sunshine in a glass and it tasted like heaven!</div>
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This time I ordered the Big Easy's Chops, two pork chops perfectly seasoned and fried. They were mouth-watering and tender. They were good! I partnered my pork chops with macaroni and cheese and candied yams. Now I was slightly disappointed with the macaroni and cheese. It was just okay. It was slightly dry, with burnt edges and I wondered if we'd gotten the previous night's leftovers. The flavor was great mac and cheese goodness but it missed the mark on creamy and cheesy. Now, the candied yams were exceptional. I actually wish I had a bowl of them right now. Th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iArUHvY89ea5uC7kHkGFebzCb4X5u1qiK2itwu-mwqyjFGgo21QZ_LXwA-I055m-mgqRV8GgcbftT3r-Z5Ag8ThOldEwcHXFMtOVDQsGgq775qm9WlHtxIOHCKcCUbDFsmVfTCqEeKYq/s1600/IMG_1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iArUHvY89ea5uC7kHkGFebzCb4X5u1qiK2itwu-mwqyjFGgo21QZ_LXwA-I055m-mgqRV8GgcbftT3r-Z5Ag8ThOldEwcHXFMtOVDQsGgq775qm9WlHtxIOHCKcCUbDFsmVfTCqEeKYq/s1600/IMG_1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>ey were the perfect blend of sweet with a hint of citrus. They were cooked perfectly and made up for what was lacking in the mac and cheese.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWh-YXM22VMJsB2hvJo88nhkjpfEI4-x9KfPHqDRXbnQFoiO5o_pYHHMfNTgMrU5rMAYe7b8W5sOg0cUfd9FeuPZHA2KUMg5xTWLcxcwZ9-rjXe8SEHjSvyZOFnfrmBEJm6j9uu4ci0O2X/s1600/IMG_1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWh-YXM22VMJsB2hvJo88nhkjpfEI4-x9KfPHqDRXbnQFoiO5o_pYHHMfNTgMrU5rMAYe7b8W5sOg0cUfd9FeuPZHA2KUMg5xTWLcxcwZ9-rjXe8SEHjSvyZOFnfrmBEJm6j9uu4ci0O2X/s320/IMG_1497.jpg" width="320" /></a>He ordered the chicken wings. Big Daddy is usually a breast man but the waitress insisted they were delicious and well worth trying. He got four large whole chicken wings and they passed the test. Nicely fried, perfectly seasoned and good! He also ordered the macaroni and cheese but did the mashed potatoes and gravy instead. He's a big mashed potato fan and although he enjoyed them, he wished he had known they were garlic potatoes which would have been better paired with beef and not chicken. They were just okay.</div>
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What we both agreed on is that Sweet Tea's and Southern Kitchen both have their own high notes and low points. Depending on what we wanted to eat would dictate which restaurant we would choose. Both had items on their menus that we hope to one day try and look forward to visiting and experiencing again.</div>
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Would we eat at Sweet Tea's again? Most definitely yes! My only regret was that we didn't try the banana pudding cake for dessert because it looked absolutely sublime!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-21387306352406332352018-04-09T02:16:00.000-04:002018-04-09T02:17:51.896-04:00THE SOUTHEN KITCHEN - RICHMOND, VA<div style="text-align: justify;">
We're never quite sure what to expect when down home Southern cuisine is billed as FINE dining. When we search out down home Southern cuisine we're looking for comfort food that feels like it came out of our ancestor's kitchens. We're usually not wanting fine china and linens. Recently we dined at <a href="http://southernkitchenrva.com/index.html" target="_blank">SOUTHEN KITCHEN</a> in Richmond, Virginia. It came highly recommended so we had high hopes.<br />
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<a href="http://southernkitchenrva.com/index.html" target="_blank">SOUTHERN KITCHEN</a> is a busy little spot at 1726 East Main Street and within minutes of the doors opening, a party of twenty was in full swing in a rear party space and a good many of the tables were occupied. The atmosphere was pleasant and although simplistic, there was an underlying warmth that was still reminiscent of home. Service was okay. Nothing exceptional. Our waitress was pleasant but didn't go out of her way to stand out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxZVJT1rlEaPq9-NL2F6JrQwLdEWsvLf-jzZ1WDw0RK2xTqlZpoqf2fHzcPHoD40MqiUlb2pt8sCHQdKw6Jld6i-9rLaJky85FNQ31hC6VF69QWI0eArbbJwi9-a7KnmL4Nb7Y8M4n5tb/s1600/IMG_1460+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxZVJT1rlEaPq9-NL2F6JrQwLdEWsvLf-jzZ1WDw0RK2xTqlZpoqf2fHzcPHoD40MqiUlb2pt8sCHQdKw6Jld6i-9rLaJky85FNQ31hC6VF69QWI0eArbbJwi9-a7KnmL4Nb7Y8M4n5tb/s320/IMG_1460+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>They started the meal with corn bread. Hot from the oven, buttered corn bread! This was, by far, some of the best corn bread I've ever eaten. It was an explosion of texture and flavor that left me wanting more. I ate my piece, his piece, and ordered another piece it was so good. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture of it! I could eat the cornbread every day and be very happy. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMgvndM14E2twoJCEkSgPYwMh9On03ATowq8biPXnJ35j7-tbPeCWnAm3n0MY06kluBePG77pOXNi1MCLdHuqJDZ7Q5pFw2izFW8qVAakJoxe7_Ej9bVEvnFv4ZcT6jvf0R23tiaYykZc/s1600/IMG_1461+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMgvndM14E2twoJCEkSgPYwMh9On03ATowq8biPXnJ35j7-tbPeCWnAm3n0MY06kluBePG77pOXNi1MCLdHuqJDZ7Q5pFw2izFW8qVAakJoxe7_Ej9bVEvnFv4ZcT6jvf0R23tiaYykZc/s320/IMG_1461+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>My guy ordered the Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, and the Collards. I opted for the Fried Catfish, Macaroni and Cheese and the Collards. The macaroni and cheese was really good. It reminded me of my grandmother's cheesy perfection. We both also enjoyed the greens. The chicken was well seasoned with a nice crust. It did not however win the award for Best Fried Chicken. I thought the fish, however, was exceptional. You could order one or two pieces and I definitely needed two. It came with a slice of a slice of Texas Toast which I could have easily done without. Cornbread would have been so much better. The greens and the mashed potatoes were basic; tasty but nothing overly special.</div>
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The sweet tea was blah! Definitely not sweet enough so that was a miss for us both, but all it all we would definitely eat here again. It was a good meal with nice portions. It's a bit pricey but since you have to pay for that FINE dining and the food wasn't bad, we really couldn't complain but so much.</div>
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It was two thumbs up for the both of us!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-48231953936593399572018-04-04T01:57:00.002-04:002018-04-09T01:31:54.506-04:00Q BARBECUE - GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ek3mbNkiWL_0U7hNpsBQWOXhNnWb35MQGKLwfqsT5kX_lgY7C5cJ4RW8PBWJ8mhCZ5Ot_EE1gJuAHvLhHtiQOPHVTTIfkCBw61KyRBhxAPL-_EqslWi-P-V5h8aZic3n7T0TswKDDC2/s1600/IMG_1458+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ek3mbNkiWL_0U7hNpsBQWOXhNnWb35MQGKLwfqsT5kX_lgY7C5cJ4RW8PBWJ8mhCZ5Ot_EE1gJuAHvLhHtiQOPHVTTIfkCBw61KyRBhxAPL-_EqslWi-P-V5h8aZic3n7T0TswKDDC2/s320/IMG_1458+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was by sheer accident that we found <a href="http://www.qbarbeque.com/index.html" target="_blank">Q BARBECUE.</a> We were in Glen Allen, Virginia working on a film. After an exceptionally long day we were exhausted and hungry! The staff at the Marriott hotel had recommended a restaurant that was closed and as we headed back, thinking we were going to have to settle for a vending machine meal, my favorite guy made an abrupt turn into a parking lot to do a Google search and lo and behold, parked directly in front of the restaurant's door!</div>
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<a href="http://www.qbarbeque.com/the-q-story.html" target="_blank">Q Barbecue</a> was the brainchild of Tuffy Stone, a chef and caterer who perfected his barbecue techniques on the competition circuit, eventually becoming a judge on the hit show BBQ Pitmasters. There are three locations and the food is marvelous.<br />
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The moment we stepped through the door we were greeted by the most adorable young woman. Her bubbly personality was a breath of fresh air and she was simply engaging. She went through the menu, offered us tastes to help us make a decision, shared what on the menu were her favorites and she was positively a delight. She is a business goldmine and I hope they know what a true gem they have in this young lady!</div>
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We both ordered the half rack of ribs with macaroni and cheese and collard greens. So let me start with the macaroni and cheese. I could eat this stuff all day long it was so good. It was creamy, cheesy goodness that just made us want more. We both agreed that the next time we're there we would order double mac and cheese. The greens were vinegar based and had a hint of sugar. I don't do sweet collards. Big Daddy didn't mind them. I still don't understand why people put sugar in greens! It completely baffles me. What I loved about the greens was that they had a nice bite and chew. They were cooked to perfection and would have been great if they hadn't been so sweet. Again, he liked them just as they were! It all came with a little corn muffin on the side. There was nothing special about the bread and we could have taken it or not and still been okay.<br />
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Now 'dem ribs was GOOD! Not quite a dry rub and not overly doused in sauce, they were melt in your mouth tender and quite tasty. There were three additional sauces at the table ranging from mild to find me water hose for those who needed more, but we both didn't think they needed anything else. We can't wait to go back, already planning to try the smoked wings and the brisket, both of which came highly recommended by other diners who were excited to share their opinions.<br />
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A delightful surprise that we got a taste of was something called Pineapple Hot Dish. I knew instantly that this was an old family recipe and the manager confirmed that it was Tuffy Stone's grandmother who perfected the dish. It reminded us both of warm bread pudding with pineapple. It had the right balance of crunch and sweeet and it was some sort of great!<br />
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We would definitely give <a href="http://www.qbarbeque.com/" target="_blank">Q Barbecue</a> two thumbs up, double high-fives and roaring round of applause.<br /><br />UPDATED 4/9/2018<br /><br />Back in the area a few days ago, we went back to give the brisket and chicken a try. Big Daddy ordered the ribs, again. I ordered a Double Meat Tray with slices of brisket and chicken wings. Although I stand by my previous review, I would not, however, order the brisket again. The brisket was DRY. Not enough extra sauce in the world to save it DRY. The wings were good. Not great, but good. The ribs continued to be divine. Had we tried the brisket and chicken on our first visit we probably would not have given it as glowing a review. I believe there was a reason for us trying the ribs first! Will we go back? Yes, definitely. And we will only order the ribs!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-41667155797997987552018-04-04T01:22:00.000-04:002018-04-04T01:24:22.221-04:00O'MALLEY'S PUB & RESTAURANT - RALEIGH, NC<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRdCj-BGAf2LDcQ0_o2ldlWBUxFoa91AjbHyLkYF61NcO75HOWDxKx90ch7ILGy9Yui45ZblDOoRo2gJ17IygmQzzL5STkT3KyoN2_twqZAC4bD66G4cgxIjaFilHg_db8e29JxbV9jb9/s1600/IMG_1391+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRdCj-BGAf2LDcQ0_o2ldlWBUxFoa91AjbHyLkYF61NcO75HOWDxKx90ch7ILGy9Yui45ZblDOoRo2gJ17IygmQzzL5STkT3KyoN2_twqZAC4bD66G4cgxIjaFilHg_db8e29JxbV9jb9/s320/IMG_1391+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Nothing makes our hearts sing more than a great neighborhood bar with a regularly cliental and great service. I don't know why we've never tried <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/omalleys.raleigh/about/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">O'Malley's Pub & Restaurant</a>. It's clearly a fan favorite, a crowd often gathered on the front patio. We drive by it every day and finally decided to stop in for a beer and a bite to eat.<br />
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From start to finish the service was exceptional. Staff was attentive and friendly. There's no better way to experience an Irish bar than to start with the Fish and Chips and bottle of Guinness. Now, they have an extensive menu that surprised me. There was more selection than I anticipated and it could easily be my go-to spot for a quick sandwich or a nice lunch. They also serve breakfast!</div>
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Haven't been to an Irish bar yet where the Guinness wasn't on point and this was no exception. I love me some Guinness and the big guy is warming up to it. The Fish and Chips was good. We've had better and we've also had worse. But we would definitely order theirs again. It was crisp on the outside and the fish was moist and tender on the inside. It was served with a side salad that was basic but simply divine.<br />
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We would recommend them to friends. It has a comfortable vibe, they make you feel at home and the food is tasty and filling!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-72105980037591097062018-02-05T17:29:00.000-05:002018-02-05T17:29:15.160-05:00BEANSPROUT CHINESE RESTAURANT<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEJvH0ZaD6NqyfYGE9x2N3R1B6AdmsLpqcxqEgQjTmPlSThEkzGIAntjkhQAivoOu_u5T13VLlyoQr6ZU77297KX6XREs4d7djTQuVuzKqdXr1SnuQ5ZKIh1MMghntpD2It9yts1JAd7S/s1600/IMG_1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEJvH0ZaD6NqyfYGE9x2N3R1B6AdmsLpqcxqEgQjTmPlSThEkzGIAntjkhQAivoOu_u5T13VLlyoQr6ZU77297KX6XREs4d7djTQuVuzKqdXr1SnuQ5ZKIh1MMghntpD2It9yts1JAd7S/s320/IMG_1207.jpg" width="240" /></a>For years, we have frequented the same Chinese restaurant. It had taken us a minute to find them, others either missing miserably over one dish as they might have hit big on another. Lately, our favorite joint has been a disappointment more times than not. Recently, we tried a new restaurant that we've driven past numerous times. The exterior is slightly off-putting. The building is old and not much to brag on. But it was take-out so we figured, why not. We know those hole-in-the-wall joints can be unpolished gems. And this diamond in the rough was spectacular!</div>
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<a href="http://beansproutchinese.com/" target="_blank">BEANSPROUT CHINESE RESTAURANT</a> is now our new favorite Chinese joint! The menu is your typical take-out fare, but the food quality was exceptional. The lunch prices were reasonable and the portions were overly generous. </div>
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We ordered the General Tso's chicken with Rice. It also came with an egg roll. The chicken was freshly fried and tossed in your standard sauce. But the sauce was good, just the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. The rice wasn't anything to get excited over, just perfectly cooked and seasoned with soy sauce. We asked and were told that they would gladly substitute perfectly steamed broccoli if you requested it. </div>
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I loved the egg roll. I ate mine and his. It was crispy on the outside with just the perfect blend of shredded cabbage, carrots, and pork. It was so good! The restaurant is family-owned and the customer service was great. The husband and wife team working were kind about tailoring the dish to meet our needs. We actually ate our meal there instead of doing takeout. They have limited seating and it's not overly comfortable, but the food was well worth the experience.</div>
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Will we go back? Headed there as soon as I post the review. Can't wait to try the Wonton Soup and the Tofu, which I'm told is absolutely divine!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-4140880786978363932018-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:002018-02-03T08:00:47.527-05:00FREDDY'S FROZEN CUSTARD & STEAKBURGERS - USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had just attended an art event in Chapel Hill, NC when my guy announced he wanted a burger. Now let me preface this by saying when he is craving a burger, he's craving an all beef burger with no filler, seasoned with salt and pepper, slapped on a great bun with lettuce, tomato, mayo and cheese. Should be easy, right? Wrong!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMz5Bvx0ecOk0sw5yfE5fBQxKYz_3NjF4iE9GUHNbJsCBbyvhaFqLzq8VJqjMQcopXrtXMiZubhSsCsDewULQAVjHDbGx-pxw5UGwfKLah8UQLkFQ82-IZ1KrQTsP-kVugFjdfnJ-CttW/s1600/IMG_1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMz5Bvx0ecOk0sw5yfE5fBQxKYz_3NjF4iE9GUHNbJsCBbyvhaFqLzq8VJqjMQcopXrtXMiZubhSsCsDewULQAVjHDbGx-pxw5UGwfKLah8UQLkFQ82-IZ1KrQTsP-kVugFjdfnJ-CttW/s320/IMG_1158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On our way to the event he spied <a href="https://freddysusa.com/" target="_blank">Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers</a>. He got excited. Me, not so much. But for reasons unbeknownst to me he could not get Freddy's out of his head and so that is where we stopped before heading home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHfXL4O5Z07F9nEstAmhYhRnyqjxtVQBn1tX-O7Q3pnq2vcnmfEW8uVIJ2rVFleAN04AhKq5poUKCcFiWAlSoPAns7025-Zf_bycnm7p-8txJY1KooTP58fS_Ihi761Oe70bEh9nrYv2H/s1600/IMG_1160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The ambiance was an old-school, 1950's vibe, It was bright and inviting and the staff was almost <i>too </i>cheery for the late night hour. The customer service was exceptional and when they discovered we were newbies, they seemed to rev it up a notch. But the minute we saw the menu I knew Big Daddy wasn't going to get the burger he'd been dreaming of. Freddy's steakburgers are those paper-thin pressed burgers reminiscent of Steak and Shake burgers which I am not a fan of.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHfXL4O5Z07F9nEstAmhYhRnyqjxtVQBn1tX-O7Q3pnq2vcnmfEW8uVIJ2rVFleAN04AhKq5poUKCcFiWAlSoPAns7025-Zf_bycnm7p-8txJY1KooTP58fS_Ihi761Oe70bEh9nrYv2H/s1600/IMG_1160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHfXL4O5Z07F9nEstAmhYhRnyqjxtVQBn1tX-O7Q3pnq2vcnmfEW8uVIJ2rVFleAN04AhKq5poUKCcFiWAlSoPAns7025-Zf_bycnm7p-8txJY1KooTP58fS_Ihi761Oe70bEh9nrYv2H/s320/IMG_1160.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eZOznj-T4j7WZjiIJNYnJt62YNkogtKixZ4wgiDMNvBJp_tVkKQuBgswIcWHq9PdmkhseXtTUDCiS4EGC8FGLJB5K6ET8zqbZ_3W47VSRQOfJalK01Qc-PhmuG_F9-9vK9_DeEM5Ez4d/s1600/IMG_1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eZOznj-T4j7WZjiIJNYnJt62YNkogtKixZ4wgiDMNvBJp_tVkKQuBgswIcWHq9PdmkhseXtTUDCiS4EGC8FGLJB5K6ET8zqbZ_3W47VSRQOfJalK01Qc-PhmuG_F9-9vK9_DeEM5Ez4d/s320/IMG_1159.jpg" width="320" /></a>He ordered Freddy's Original Double. I went rogue and ordered the Original Double Patty Melt. We made them combos and both came with shoestring fries and a drink. The Patty Melt was okay. Nothing spectacular and nothing I'll crave again. He was disappointed with his Original Double. The meat was slightly tough and it wasn't the true burger he'd been hoping for. We capped off the meal with two cups of their vanilla custard.</div>
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Will we eat here again? Maybe. It was fast and quick and would satisfy in a pinch. We would definitely come back for the custard. That was some good stuff. Rich, creamy and immensely satisfying. I'd go out of my way to get the custard again. Big Daddy wasn't feeling any of it, good custard or not. He's still wanting that burger!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-19505610993492421872018-02-02T11:34:00.001-05:002018-04-04T00:57:40.296-04:00DOHERTY'S IRISH PUB RESTAURANT - CARY, NCI love an Irish pub! I have very fond memories of Irish pubs, Guinness and good friends. Finding <a href="http://www.dohertysirishpubnc.com/" target="_blank">DOHERTY'S IRISH PUB</a> in Cary, North Carolina was icing on some very sweet cake. The big guy scoped this place out as we caught the last day of Restaurant Week here in the Triangle. He knew my passion for all things Irish and thought he would surprise me. Best darn surprise in a good little while!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCt37QqDPSQ_SYfnN2NfhRxRmabSnaBR9i1h-k4BJpnwc8AEkq0B_-zPYx_yLllGwerccm-o_F-QX3BTX_JfppoCaDtnA2a-aUXvR5YtPnlBvnTAWo2lL-Ev1IKLCVgFggx-qEJ3dIG6D/s1600/IMG_1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCt37QqDPSQ_SYfnN2NfhRxRmabSnaBR9i1h-k4BJpnwc8AEkq0B_-zPYx_yLllGwerccm-o_F-QX3BTX_JfppoCaDtnA2a-aUXvR5YtPnlBvnTAWo2lL-Ev1IKLCVgFggx-qEJ3dIG6D/s320/IMG_1201.jpg" width="240" /></a>Doherty's feels like that perfect neighborhood bar. When you walk in the staff is pleasant and welcoming. I was even more excited at the hello! Our waiter was attentive and delightful and at the moment I'm feeling bad because for the life of me I can't remember his name. It was Jeremy or Jacob, definitely a J-name! I extend an apology to him because he was a sheer delight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Syt-yxORTD326r46qpNGldX1yvgYVqEXHE8xN5EyeQkLunWzXS3bitgegYRKXG4E6vgAaD7S9r3K_UXbWVVjcbVJnaRZ_1kITwqHp5iNL6hQCG3UbISWahR0CvIk3CuADSpu_kpQV7vf/s1600/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Syt-yxORTD326r46qpNGldX1yvgYVqEXHE8xN5EyeQkLunWzXS3bitgegYRKXG4E6vgAaD7S9r3K_UXbWVVjcbVJnaRZ_1kITwqHp5iNL6hQCG3UbISWahR0CvIk3CuADSpu_kpQV7vf/s200/IMG_1200.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><br />
Irish pubs are nothing without the Guinness and because I'm on meds I wasn't allowed to have one. Big Daddy isn't a fan of Guinness so he ordered a Budweiser and I did the proverbial sweet tea. Y'all know that's my go-to, non-alcoholic beverage! And it was good tea.<br />
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Now they have a very nice <a href="http://www.dohertysirishpubnc.com/all-food-menus-" target="_blank">MENU</a>! It was actually hard to decide what we wanted because we wanted to try everything. We started with an appetizer both selecting the Irish Boxty. Now a Boxty is a traditional Irish potato pancake with your choice of fillings. We ordered the The Mullingar which was Guinness braised brisket laced with fresh mushrooms, caramelized onions, and topped with a creamy horseradish sauce. It was superb! The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! The next time we go I plan to try the Brisket Nachos. I can just imagine this Irish twist to nachos and I'm salivating just thinking about it!<br />
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For the entrée it was all about the Fish and Chips!!! Light, flaky, batter-fried whitefish served with hand-cut fries. This was so good I don't know if I'll eat anything else on our next visit. You notice I keep saying 'our next visit'. We are definitely going back!<br />
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We even ordered dessert. I ordered the chocolate mousse and he ordered the bread pudding. After our first bites we traded plates. The mousse was good, great chocolate flavor and sweet. Too sweet for me. The bread pudding was perfection. Great texture and wonderful blend off raisins and spices but not at all sweet enough for him. Neither of us was disappointed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tUrDGOCmhwaSK20MK38Pl4h5D46rZ8CrC9RE5iM_nQ-3aoISAz9mishiha-z7wyMdIuIaRheAgtsjrndst0E2_Qh_F-Yhrspc_6pTOO16yzVDleqYPv5JN-BA9ghPLo52mirnjeiTPGD/s1600/IMG_1206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tUrDGOCmhwaSK20MK38Pl4h5D46rZ8CrC9RE5iM_nQ-3aoISAz9mishiha-z7wyMdIuIaRheAgtsjrndst0E2_Qh_F-Yhrspc_6pTOO16yzVDleqYPv5JN-BA9ghPLo52mirnjeiTPGD/s200/IMG_1206.jpg" width="200" /></a>My only complaint is that the restaurant is so far from us. If it were closer we would be regulars. It was just that good! Two thumbs up and five stars good!<br /><br />Revised: I just had to add more food pictures. I've been back twice now. Of course, I had the fish and chips again, and just like the first time it was sheer perfection. I have also tried the Grilled Ruben which was a healthy portion of corned beef between grilled rye with melted Swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. It was GOOD! But the most outstanding dish for me was the Brisket Poutine, crispy hand-cut French fries topped with Guiness braised brisket, melted white cheddar, brown gravy and green onions. This was so divine I could eat it every darn day and not get tired of it. It was spectacular!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-11974362460862101882018-01-08T01:46:00.000-05:002018-01-08T01:46:02.638-05:00THE BIG EASY - RALEIGH, NCHappy New Year! It's been a few minutes since we were last here, but we're back. We probably have a half-dozen reviews to post, and that many second restaurant visits to make, but it's all good. With the <i>extremely</i> cold weather I've been cooking a lot. Healthy eating is a top priority for both of us for the new year. So much so that it will probably influence where we do and more importantly, don't eat! But nothing will deter us from finding GOOD food when we do eat out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzmofr5QLMoxVDkQuvjvAk4lfEXNLABjeiS6kuDJJSvUTx6ixk4vw9tS6fwnTAU_lwngnE4jmdZsCSMyfh0cQg7Di67vsQsb5TLKevDd9wsFnih-qqxqE6sjXu9U3EzglKwYiTxxIRSP/s1600/Paradise+in+Malibu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzmofr5QLMoxVDkQuvjvAk4lfEXNLABjeiS6kuDJJSvUTx6ixk4vw9tS6fwnTAU_lwngnE4jmdZsCSMyfh0cQg7Di67vsQsb5TLKevDd9wsFnih-qqxqE6sjXu9U3EzglKwYiTxxIRSP/s320/Paradise+in+Malibu.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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I don't know what has taken me so long to post a review of <a href="https://www.bigeasync.com/" target="_blank">The Big Easy</a> in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. They also have a location in Cary, NC. I have mixed emotions about my experiences here. The first time we visited was the night before Valentine's Day last year. It was late night, about two hours before closing. The crowd had thinned out and the atmosphere was pleasant. They have a nice late night menu of salads and sandwiches. They also had a wonderful cocktail menu of assorted bar specials. </div>
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We ordered drinks and two Half & Half Po' Boys. The meal was exceptional! The Po' Boy featured a full-sized catfish fillet and a sizeable serving of fried shrimp. It was served on a warm baguette and dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickles and the most incredible remoulade sauce. My cocktail of choice was Paradise in Malibu, a combination of vodka, coconut, rum, Hypnotiq, and pineapple juice. It was absolutely divine! When we walked out we were in food heaven. It was that good.</div>
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It was a few weeks later when we finally made it back. It was a Wednesday evening and there was a group performing live jazz. It was a very pleasant experience. We both ordered the Fried Fish Platter and for the most part, were very pleased with the meal. The fish was fresh, the portion was not overly generous, but sizeable and the atmosphere was extremely pleasant. I only had one complaint. Someone was exceptionally heavy-handed with the salt. I was more sensitive to it than Big Daddy but it did not spoil the meal or the experience.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzmofr5QLMoxVDkQuvjvAk4lfEXNLABjeiS6kuDJJSvUTx6ixk4vw9tS6fwnTAU_lwngnE4jmdZsCSMyfh0cQg7Di67vsQsb5TLKevDd9wsFnih-qqxqE6sjXu9U3EzglKwYiTxxIRSP/s1600/Paradise+in+Malibu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>It was probably a month or so later that we were headed home from a book event and wanted a good takeout meal that wasn't fast food. Big Daddy called ahead and ordered two shrimp Po' Boys. And this was the beginning of their downhill descent. My first complaint was the portion size. Somewhere along the way, the shrimp fell out of our sandwiches. It was no way comparable to that first sandwich and I honestly felt cheated. But we chalked it up to a bad day because we'd had such great experiences prior.</div>
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Our next visit was Mother's Day! It was early on a Sunday afternoon and they had a sizeable crowd and tables were turning over quickly. We were seated upstairs next to a party with five young kids. Now what I have thoroughly enjoyed about The Big Easy is it's grown-up atmosphere. They do an adult's preferred thing very well, especially in the evening and late night. But it was Mother's Day! The group had apparently been seated for a good little while. The kids were restless and their parents didn't look like they were having a great time.</div>
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I ordered the Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta and Big Daddy ordered the tried and true Fish Platter. Although the broccoli was overcooked and mushy, my only complaint was the salt. When our food arrived, the table next to us were still waiting for theirs. This family was not happy and I wasn't thrilled that little Timmy kept coming to look in my plate, despite his mother's efforts to contain him. But the food was okay, not good, not great, and didn't inspire us to want to come back.</div>
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But being downtown tonight we thought we'd give them another try. We have been wanting Po' Boys and the memory of that first one was lingering. Our waiter was very nice and we have always found the staff extremely pleasant but he <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzmofr5QLMoxVDkQuvjvAk4lfEXNLABjeiS6kuDJJSvUTx6ixk4vw9tS6fwnTAU_lwngnE4jmdZsCSMyfh0cQg7Di67vsQsb5TLKevDd9wsFnih-qqxqE6sjXu9U3EzglKwYiTxxIRSP/s1600/Paradise+in+Malibu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>didn't have clue when we ordered the fish and shrimp Po' Boy. In fact, he told us they had never had a half fish, half shrimp Po' Boy on the menu and he'd been there some eleven months. However he did offer a half oyster, half shrimp sandwich. He also offered a fried catfish Po' Boy with a side order of shrimp for an extra fee. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8H8T4xqun2HogowDC3Sxq0PccvikDh_8zB708n5H8OR2mhhHkoEwyfmXFe0ABOnH-QqvUXKl2rSEv8tmq2-SwYiZiigSUQF4u2VvCj-MjUVWrHR___UxEHFZlOAbETtfoI1gcNkjv2db/s1600/IMG_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8H8T4xqun2HogowDC3Sxq0PccvikDh_8zB708n5H8OR2mhhHkoEwyfmXFe0ABOnH-QqvUXKl2rSEv8tmq2-SwYiZiigSUQF4u2VvCj-MjUVWrHR___UxEHFZlOAbETtfoI1gcNkjv2db/s320/IMG_0972.jpg" width="320" /></a>The ordering process declined swiftly because I'm not a happy woman when I can't have the food I want my way. I blame the big guy who has spoiled me immensely. Because we were hungry Big Daddy finally ordered the half shrimp, half oyster sandwich and I ordered the fried catfish with the side of shrimp. Sadly, I wish we'd just gone someplace else to eat.</div>
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Big Daddy liked the oysters and shrimp. They were seasoned nicely. He and I had both ordered our Po' Boys with extra sauce on the side. We both got sandwiches with ALL the sauce on the side and it was not the remoulade sauce we remembered with such delight. This tasted rancid, the color was off and looked like it had been left out and turned. The bread was cold, hard, and crumbled between our fingers. The tomatoes were overripe and the lettuce was wilted. My sandwich had five shrimp and two very small pieces of fish fillet. The French fries were plentiful though. For some reason the waiter changed my order without asking and was able to give me that half-fish, half-shrimp sandwich I'd ordered in the beginning. But from start to finish the meal was a huge disappointment. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYr_xUFnSF3N4uAAHp-kPvRf_pVGeBUoLlmsphz62IWmLbNPvyyjJt8JcpVQ5A0P22mFEQetKE2pWccCLCna8XQbsD7opyDx-oB7DnGlJIi7lf3JLEPygTKhU233hyphenhyphenU3qsMIeIhYz4CaN/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYr_xUFnSF3N4uAAHp-kPvRf_pVGeBUoLlmsphz62IWmLbNPvyyjJt8JcpVQ5A0P22mFEQetKE2pWccCLCna8XQbsD7opyDx-oB7DnGlJIi7lf3JLEPygTKhU233hyphenhyphenU3qsMIeIhYz4CaN/s320/IMG_0971.JPG" width="320" /></a>The highlight of the evening was the cocktail menu. Once again they had a nice assortment of specialty beverages. The music was also on point. But we don't know if we'll go back again. We never judge one bad experience without going back a second and sometimes a third time. We understand off nights. But we also look for consistency in presentation and taste. We're not sure what we'll get the next go round. We don't trust that what we order will stand up to what we experienced that very first time. They had set a very high bar and haven't measured up to it since. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-28063426197004644722017-05-07T06:00:00.000-04:002017-05-07T06:00:08.374-04:00ELEVATION BURGER - MARYLAND HOUSE, MARYLAND<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a road trip from hell. The traffic was insufferable, we were both car weary, famished for something good to eat and the GPS was offering us nothing exciting to detour toward. When we reached the Maryland House, one of the I-95 Travel Plazas, I was determined to find something other than chips and soda pop for us to eat. </div>
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Recently renovated, the new 42,000 square-foot facility features food from Deli & Co., Wendy's, Phillips Seafood, Dunkin' Donuts, Jerry's Subs & Pizza, Currito, Nathan's Famous, Auntie Anne's and Carvel. There's also a new 5,700 square-foot A-Plus convenience store at the Sunoco high-speed fueling station which features food from <a href="http://elevationburger.com/" target="_blank">Elevation Burger</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN47DShw-EvMnteb3o7gjVRGzIvEngthUUDXytV3Ijpmh0UlnTEMl5Go_3WOJ3kaKhyox4vbvSfsTs7dO8y0YicLnQXw4YdNpflHaANhInPN5wSk4Q0jd72sAlzqkdF1EtTiqP6giRRks2/s1600/IMG_20170421_153932026_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="http://elevationburger.com/" target="_blank">Elevation Burger</a> is an <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN47DShw-EvMnteb3o7gjVRGzIvEngthUUDXytV3Ijpmh0UlnTEMl5Go_3WOJ3kaKhyox4vbvSfsTs7dO8y0YicLnQXw4YdNpflHaANhInPN5wSk4Q0jd72sAlzqkdF1EtTiqP6giRRks2/s1600/IMG_20170421_153932026_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN47DShw-EvMnteb3o7gjVRGzIvEngthUUDXytV3Ijpmh0UlnTEMl5Go_3WOJ3kaKhyox4vbvSfsTs7dO8y0YicLnQXw4YdNpflHaANhInPN5wSk4Q0jd72sAlzqkdF1EtTiqP6giRRks2/s320/IMG_20170421_153932026_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>American fast casual restaurant chain which features burgers made of organic meat, fresh cut French fries cooked in olive oil, a burger that can be made with as many as ten patties - a vertigo burger, two kinds of veggie burger and hand-blended milkshakes made from hand-scooped ice cream. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN47DShw-EvMnteb3o7gjVRGzIvEngthUUDXytV3Ijpmh0UlnTEMl5Go_3WOJ3kaKhyox4vbvSfsTs7dO8y0YicLnQXw4YdNpflHaANhInPN5wSk4Q0jd72sAlzqkdF1EtTiqP6giRRks2/s1600/IMG_20170421_153932026_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>So, this was not bad. We both ordered the elevation burger which was two patties, lettuce, tomato, and their special elevation sauce. There wasn't enough special sauce for Big Daddy so he added mayo to his. But the burger was really quite tasty and had great flavor. I found the fries slightly greasy and it surprised me because they're supposed to be fried in olive oil, but I think it was because they needed to drain a minute or two longer but their was a crowd and lengthy line and the two young men working were trying hard to keep up and keep the customers happy.</div>
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We both know that it will never be our go-to burger place but we would stop again if we needed to. I've heard that reviews are mixed about the food chain but it would seem that most of this has to do with the service and necessarily the quality of the food. We had a great experience, excellent service for a rest stop and no complaints. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-27729664959050954322017-05-05T19:55:00.002-04:002017-05-05T19:55:47.591-04:00JOHN'S PIZZA - STAMFORD, CT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C36-avluewhWivXkSFtxlwne-JaBHEVkFe3wGX-wM7hQ_jdMB8OTA06oxvP-SedPEAuwNLECRGLh1W6nTDev3T82zfISiQTYPpuuyFs0wBICc4hbKjK7BFzS-mWW2Km5OYZYiv76U8SU/s1600/IMG_20170421_211134135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C36-avluewhWivXkSFtxlwne-JaBHEVkFe3wGX-wM7hQ_jdMB8OTA06oxvP-SedPEAuwNLECRGLh1W6nTDev3T82zfISiQTYPpuuyFs0wBICc4hbKjK7BFzS-mWW2Km5OYZYiv76U8SU/s400/IMG_20170421_211134135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A literary event took me back to my hometown recently. I was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut a quaint, sleepy little town located some thirty miles from Manhattan. Time has transformed the landscape from a quaint, sleepy little town into a bustling metropolis that holds much less charm. But a continued staple that made the three day trip well worth it was a much beloved pizza shop that still sits at the intersection of Grove Street and Strawberry Hill.</div>
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I grew up on <a href="http://www.johnspizzastamford.com/index.html" target="_blank">John's Pizza</a>. It was a weekly staple that my parents never waivered from. <a href="http://www.johnspizzastamford.com/index.html" target="_blank">John's Pizza</a> is a family-owned business that has been around since 1968. Theirs is a Greek-styled pan pizza and I'm told that they recipe has never been changed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiepUsLzSpckSq8Xlqx3-WSsfONwT5nHRUVLvPfKuAyQ0hEdpuyO5Z4JAcQ16bMGA2SpAicC_GbqQrW_SwaD8knZWGwS0owkhgBkGAZGZzskwLYKNzAmPZF2TKHm3w1mQdIafyePfW3Hwe/s1600/IMG_20170421_211131440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiepUsLzSpckSq8Xlqx3-WSsfONwT5nHRUVLvPfKuAyQ0hEdpuyO5Z4JAcQ16bMGA2SpAicC_GbqQrW_SwaD8knZWGwS0owkhgBkGAZGZzskwLYKNzAmPZF2TKHm3w1mQdIafyePfW3Hwe/s320/IMG_20170421_211131440.jpg" width="320" /></a>Friday nights my father would come through the door with pizza boxes stacked five high and it was sheer heaven! I was so excited to share that memory and that experience with the big guy so <a href="http://www.johnspizzastamford.com/index.html" target="_blank">John's Pizza</a> was one of our first stops after arriving in the city.</div>
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Everything about the meal screamed home and comfort. The crust was still as flavorful with just the right about of crisp that I remembered. The sauce was precision, the medley of tomatoes and seasonings sheer bliss. We ordered pepperoni and days later I regretted not ordering a sausage pie, and maybe two or three others to take back home with us. It was just that good.</div>
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After savoring the delight I was excited to hear what the big guy had to say and with two thumbs up he said he'd definitely eat there again. I didn't need to say that I would do so also without a moments hesitation. </div>
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I did, however, have one complaint. The pies seemed amazingly smaller than I remembered. But as both my parents noted, back then, I had been much smaller as well, so of course, back then, they seemed humongous in my mind!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-27710725863028566972017-04-07T00:26:00.000-04:002017-04-07T00:26:00.287-04:00SKIPPER'S FISH FRY - APEX, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQIOrOVvE1Ywg1wFgsS-kCaL-CHvWbfITxbhudKxZaZjJdcaC57InqzsOj_iRwoFPK9oAV1qVj6O9kZmfIDFk5hPoi3_8mjG5rf-0Rj31dZD20uZX7ABinq-Z17do8UiRlGkHtMYrzaZj/s1600/IMG_20170227_125938805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQIOrOVvE1Ywg1wFgsS-kCaL-CHvWbfITxbhudKxZaZjJdcaC57InqzsOj_iRwoFPK9oAV1qVj6O9kZmfIDFk5hPoi3_8mjG5rf-0Rj31dZD20uZX7ABinq-Z17do8UiRlGkHtMYrzaZj/s200/IMG_20170227_125938805.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQIOrOVvE1Ywg1wFgsS-kCaL-CHvWbfITxbhudKxZaZjJdcaC57InqzsOj_iRwoFPK9oAV1qVj6O9kZmfIDFk5hPoi3_8mjG5rf-0Rj31dZD20uZX7ABinq-Z17do8UiRlGkHtMYrzaZj/s1600/IMG_20170227_125938805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So, there is this cute little joint in Apex, North Carolina called <a href="http://www.skippersfish.com/" target="_blank">Skipper's Fish Fry</a>. It was highly recommended and when we found ourselves in the area we figured we'd stop and give it a try. The atmosphere was quaint and friendly. The space was exceptionally clean and had a light, airy vibe. The spot reminded me of fish joints you find close to the coast. Where you can get a good fish dinner while wearing your swim suit and sandals!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH1kS-G9uiWutmBhATOufJIyPOIc7lLUVuyq4roRXO_NPO7cStxAQabyYIcGoea4TCXxbBBvkHH2skhWNZc_sMxM2KDIpjMZ7l-A65vsr2Nl0tMWJkCN8vNwtSyA9YQYMwm32yslJnfzq/s1600/IMG_20170227_125929465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH1kS-G9uiWutmBhATOufJIyPOIc7lLUVuyq4roRXO_NPO7cStxAQabyYIcGoea4TCXxbBBvkHH2skhWNZc_sMxM2KDIpjMZ7l-A65vsr2Nl0tMWJkCN8vNwtSyA9YQYMwm32yslJnfzq/s200/IMG_20170227_125929465.jpg" width="200" /></a>I ordered the catfish platter which consisted of one piece of catfish with fries and coleslaw. I also added the clam chowder because when I saw it on the menu I immediately missed my favorite New England chowder. Big Daddy ordered the fish sandwich with fries and a hotdog. Yes. A hotdog. Because there was a sign on the wall that said their hotdog was voted the best. It wasn't. Not even close. </div>
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The fish was okay. Nothing to get overly excited about but if you wanted a quick fish dinner, this would be an okay go-to spot. Big Daddy gave the whole meal a shrug. He didn't get excited and said even if he was in the area he didn't know if he'd go out of his way to eat their again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0C4HataO4GxBQHrhtStlkKWXnxbu7J8XSkTzNjvx2Pq5bvV4po3MgO0LU-n3VDHfR270FH2WCrBNSyrRSAI5QZtdwT-27nn0977zJibAR8GB8iQvmOiRkGaFIjxxcQ7626c8bL1qAl98/s1600/IMG_20170227_125933337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0C4HataO4GxBQHrhtStlkKWXnxbu7J8XSkTzNjvx2Pq5bvV4po3MgO0LU-n3VDHfR270FH2WCrBNSyrRSAI5QZtdwT-27nn0977zJibAR8GB8iQvmOiRkGaFIjxxcQ7626c8bL1qAl98/s200/IMG_20170227_125933337.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj5h5agbtDYQpjnPWI_upbsw7Jk4kHDfXJvcmnpzrMV2skBeAuBraO9TUlGk5PkIDhD5UuKWg09pPXesEzboJ2_480mziVXMsnQNQimodYFfukypcoLItlh2yk8D0E7atZZKd1vM8X6WY/s1600/IMG_20170227_130123680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj5h5agbtDYQpjnPWI_upbsw7Jk4kHDfXJvcmnpzrMV2skBeAuBraO9TUlGk5PkIDhD5UuKWg09pPXesEzboJ2_480mziVXMsnQNQimodYFfukypcoLItlh2yk8D0E7atZZKd1vM8X6WY/s200/IMG_20170227_130123680.jpg" width="200" /></a>And that chowder? It was a waste of our money, tasting overly fishy with the texture of paste. It ruined the moment and now I'm still missing my favorite clam chowder.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-13657162403889065752017-04-05T06:00:00.000-04:002017-05-05T21:40:44.626-04:00LYNNWOOD GRILL - RALEIGH, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoca2ScCzHkCrCfnYE-rN9Tf677ZXbIquIWdbeUWbxV6DzaqbhsQ4fbmsdWg9HdJyw6NwNeVjs3LF_oJbGMcRFtt-ai3hCNF-KRZU6h0j6ZZvRc2QYT3oDEaYKPAOD5Nah4AveQtG3Wtg/s1600/IMG_20170403_202257538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoca2ScCzHkCrCfnYE-rN9Tf677ZXbIquIWdbeUWbxV6DzaqbhsQ4fbmsdWg9HdJyw6NwNeVjs3LF_oJbGMcRFtt-ai3hCNF-KRZU6h0j6ZZvRc2QYT3oDEaYKPAOD5Nah4AveQtG3Wtg/s1600/IMG_20170403_202257538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoca2ScCzHkCrCfnYE-rN9Tf677ZXbIquIWdbeUWbxV6DzaqbhsQ4fbmsdWg9HdJyw6NwNeVjs3LF_oJbGMcRFtt-ai3hCNF-KRZU6h0j6ZZvRc2QYT3oDEaYKPAOD5Nah4AveQtG3Wtg/s320/IMG_20170403_202257538.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nothing in the world beats a great neighborhood sports bar and <a href="http://www.lynnwoodgrill.com/" target="_blank">Lynnwood Grill</a> on Grove Barton Road in Raleigh is a great neighborhood spot to hang out, mingle with friends, and watch the game of the moment. It's been a staple in the area for ten-plus years and we've watched it grow into a something really spectacular for casual dining. We've gotten to know the staff and have seen many earn tips for school before moving on in their young lives. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXGwhLk9UpGTO7JKAlfeRjg-C8DJX7Vyuz_g4hmkix5Jl6Y_SArJl_GS82KfKXU30JZlz8MsGSk7u2E7xQAvvPqpwlKbtpUhIgJGhCZVJkUldA-gkv-gBBdtMSxDhrvcUB1CdpnfrdLZ0/s1600/IMG_20170403_202303046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXGwhLk9UpGTO7JKAlfeRjg-C8DJX7Vyuz_g4hmkix5Jl6Y_SArJl_GS82KfKXU30JZlz8MsGSk7u2E7xQAvvPqpwlKbtpUhIgJGhCZVJkUldA-gkv-gBBdtMSxDhrvcUB1CdpnfrdLZ0/s1600/IMG_20170403_202303046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXGwhLk9UpGTO7JKAlfeRjg-C8DJX7Vyuz_g4hmkix5Jl6Y_SArJl_GS82KfKXU30JZlz8MsGSk7u2E7xQAvvPqpwlKbtpUhIgJGhCZVJkUldA-gkv-gBBdtMSxDhrvcUB1CdpnfrdLZ0/s320/IMG_20170403_202303046.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o2wwQWc5li2fDC-wTWieBBqw0lRAJEZEL_jfE3uD7AgMdigm7ThBplw50rYM435PqK18_Fkztc8JdKE-bb7ain16xJ39CFe91SFcrbEw1xKonMXv3Tn_xEQnp2Iyit5Dkk_AX3qUhOBk/s1600/IMG_20170403_202312447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o2wwQWc5li2fDC-wTWieBBqw0lRAJEZEL_jfE3uD7AgMdigm7ThBplw50rYM435PqK18_Fkztc8JdKE-bb7ain16xJ39CFe91SFcrbEw1xKonMXv3Tn_xEQnp2Iyit5Dkk_AX3qUhOBk/s320/IMG_20170403_202312447.jpg" width="320" /></a>Monday night is wing night and when we usually find our way there. Wings are .50 each and select beers are $4. Weekly specials abound and they have a better than average menu of wraps, sandwiches, pizza and bar food.</div>
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<a href="http://www.lynnwoodgrill.com/" target="_blank">Lynnwood Grill</a> is also a brewery with a very nice selection of craft beers. The Lynnwood Light is one Big Daddy orders every time we're there and I really enjoy it as well.<br />
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If by chance you are ever in the neighborhood, stop in and say hey! And order yourself some wings! You have to order a minimum of six at a time and there is an assortment of flavors. The garlic pepper parmesan and mild barbecue are really good!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o2wwQWc5li2fDC-wTWieBBqw0lRAJEZEL_jfE3uD7AgMdigm7ThBplw50rYM435PqK18_Fkztc8JdKE-bb7ain16xJ39CFe91SFcrbEw1xKonMXv3Tn_xEQnp2Iyit5Dkk_AX3qUhOBk/s1600/IMG_20170403_202312447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-4995723323818295132017-04-03T23:27:00.000-04:002017-05-05T19:56:08.518-04:00DAME'S CHICKEN AND WAFFLE - DURHAM, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tpSM_abZE0cOR1_w1scfQUmLLKai5njozLwedL_dQy7GWUKHqvzwg9yYMCoQPQ8olJ0CjPq6G9yAEfsIQGC_onWXVudrfhYUWVAubdy-j5beuk6yfs8_dE7O47JDp6SHw6sVVSgUEeNd/s1600/IMG_20170324_174712954_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tpSM_abZE0cOR1_w1scfQUmLLKai5njozLwedL_dQy7GWUKHqvzwg9yYMCoQPQ8olJ0CjPq6G9yAEfsIQGC_onWXVudrfhYUWVAubdy-j5beuk6yfs8_dE7O47JDp6SHw6sVVSgUEeNd/s320/IMG_20170324_174712954_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>A recent family celebration took us to <a href="http://dameschickenwaffles.com/web/" target="_blank">DAME'S CHICKEN AND WAFFLES</a> in downtown Durham, North Carolina. For obvious reasons we were excited to order the Chicken and Waffles, but were not at all prepared for the many choices that were available to us. It was the list of <i>SHMEARS</i> and <i>DRIZZLES</i> that had us both shaking our heads!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ7SaM8KQoiIPoJqO7I_Rnb2VHACNMAAelMZdUNDoqKH_PhE9yVKnjp6dFgLlaRzfGl0Wc3dtwjNXuvFOFyY3n6E5OT56at_vIgeMQGlOaGoc-Sh5M52-9mKIlp1l14jf06GZ_MHxqnQG/s1600/IMG_20170324_174754484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ7SaM8KQoiIPoJqO7I_Rnb2VHACNMAAelMZdUNDoqKH_PhE9yVKnjp6dFgLlaRzfGl0Wc3dtwjNXuvFOFyY3n6E5OT56at_vIgeMQGlOaGoc-Sh5M52-9mKIlp1l14jf06GZ_MHxqnQG/s320/IMG_20170324_174754484.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>Now a<i> shmear</i> is a sweet crème butter delicately whipped with the freshest, natural ingredients. The list of flavors included strawberry-crème, chocolate hazelnut, maple-pecan, baby-blueberry, vanilla-almond, peach apricot, and orange-honeycomb. The list of drizzles, flavored nuts and syrups, is as lengthy, and then of course, there are the waffle choices which include classic, sweet potato, gingerbread, blueberry and vegan. It's a lot, but thankfully they have a number of "inspirations" or combinations of flavors paired for you. </div>
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Big Daddy ordered the <i>Carolina Cockerel</i> which was three large wings, a blueberry waffle with the peach and apricot shmear. I ordered the <i>Light Brown Leghorns</i>, four drumsticks with a classic waffle and chocolate hazelnut shmear drizzled with caramel and cashews. We added sides of southern potato salad, mean collard greens and Ceci's mac and cheese. </div>
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From start to finish we both enjoyed our meals. The chicken was really good! Not great, but good. It was tender with a nicely crisped outside. Now, they are definitely heavy handed with the seasonings! Everything was highly <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tpSM_abZE0cOR1_w1scfQUmLLKai5njozLwedL_dQy7GWUKHqvzwg9yYMCoQPQ8olJ0CjPq6G9yAEfsIQGC_onWXVudrfhYUWVAubdy-j5beuk6yfs8_dE7O47JDp6SHw6sVVSgUEeNd/s1600/IMG_20170324_174712954_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tpSM_abZE0cOR1_w1scfQUmLLKai5njozLwedL_dQy7GWUKHqvzwg9yYMCoQPQ8olJ0CjPq6G9yAEfsIQGC_onWXVudrfhYUWVAubdy-j5beuk6yfs8_dE7O47JDp6SHw6sVVSgUEeNd/s1600/IMG_20170324_174712954_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>flavored. The greens were cooked to perfection with just the right amount of bite but for me, the red pepper had it too hot to truly be enjoyable. We both enjoyed the potato salad and neither one of us is a fan of the macaroni and cheese. There was nothing cheesy about the mac and it was seasoned with something that tasted very "green" and "earthy". I got a basil taste but Big Daddy thought it might be something else. We would order the potato salad and the greens again, but would pass on the macaroni.</div>
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And I have to talk about the SHMEAR! That was some sort of good and slathered on the fluffiest, perfectly cooked waffle made it the highlight of the meal for me. I liked my chocolate-hazelnut and I liked Big Daddy's peach and apricot. I could have done without the caramel and cashew drizzle. I found that too sweet for my palate but he enjoyed it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEr5ZT0VsMg4F_PKhv2S47uU9TNL79gEikFT_EiZ2qLBZEdK8letnmo4prYf8zo1wK36_znU4D4x1ZkMqk9Zd1YfeJqQGi-WC37epk2edQ84SEIm6pKAGz-M_rCGRY4ulcDcOg-kyDKtN/s1600/IMG_20170324_174808962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEr5ZT0VsMg4F_PKhv2S47uU9TNL79gEikFT_EiZ2qLBZEdK8letnmo4prYf8zo1wK36_znU4D4x1ZkMqk9Zd1YfeJqQGi-WC37epk2edQ84SEIm6pKAGz-M_rCGRY4ulcDcOg-kyDKtN/s320/IMG_20170324_174808962.jpg" width="320" /></a> Our favorite uncle joined us for this meal and he was excited to share his impressions of our dinner. Like Big Daddy he had the Carolina Cockerel. He scored the greens highly, giving them an 8. He enjoyed the spicy heat. We all agreed the potato salad was a solid 10 and he found the chicken fair, feeling the pieces were a little too large for his tastes and seasoned with an herb he thought took away from the overall flavor. </div>
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The portions were generous and everyone walked out with leftovers for a late night snack. And I have to rave about the sweet tea. I drank three extremely large glasses and could have guzzled a gallon more.</div>
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Dame's Chicken and Waffle won't take the title for best fried chicken but they were a good time and the meal was enjoyable. We'll definitely visit them again.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-37963358990613634922016-11-30T02:49:00.000-05:002016-11-30T02:49:12.965-05:00ORIENT GARDEN and STEAK-N-SHAKE!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4KF9QgpZDlHcoMlwAd6U6jo69JBoADcNK3FJZHGuXqcEX3-MmrxNwx65Qm0j_1OqetHQRsVDB166KBA0czsYrkkwiYu7svLuibtlXPjXSxe2xZGJjg7J2tLHWT2f35bfagi8fKMkTdlt/s1600/IMG_20160829_121052810_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Ugh! The past few months have just been mind-boggling. An unexpected death in the family, illness in the family, and family, have had our schedules all off kilter. With havoc reigning in our lives we've been seesawing between fast food and my ever trusty crockpot. The cooling weather has had my soup recipes in serious rotation!<br />
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The fast food has been the usual fare; McDonald's - grilled chicken ranch salad for me, double fish sandwiches for him; Taco Bell - soft tacos for us both; and Bojangles - all things fried chicken! We did, however, manage to throw in two new fast food joints into the mix.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kjdia4CtgRrWlG_XJ_NyJPbyu0dl5zhoyZHPKTzG4g0W7ZkIqw29w3H6cdxgnZC9vAO4aHp6hUhsZHgQm26572Emo60VjsR3xA_wJPS5gNIdv4PKMM-sSPLFTNwJAJfhIxaxFLP_NJ9v/s1600/IMG_20160829_121044806_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kjdia4CtgRrWlG_XJ_NyJPbyu0dl5zhoyZHPKTzG4g0W7ZkIqw29w3H6cdxgnZC9vAO4aHp6hUhsZHgQm26572Emo60VjsR3xA_wJPS5gNIdv4PKMM-sSPLFTNwJAJfhIxaxFLP_NJ9v/s320/IMG_20160829_121044806_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The first was recommended to us. <a href="http://www.orientgardenrestaurant.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Orient Garden</a> is located in Durham, North Carolina. They do quick Chinese and have a decent lunch menu. We've eaten here a few times and 60% of the time Big Daddy has always gotten the better meal. His usual order is the General Tso's Chicken. I tend to mix it up, Orange Beef, Chicken with Broccoli, Pepper Steak, etc. On average, his chicken is always good. When I order it, not so much. The first time the sauce was burnt and the second time it tasted like the chicken had been recycled. I think they just like him more than they like me. I've taken to letting him order the chicken for me if that's what I want to eat.</div>
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Is it our favorite Chinese joint? Not even close. Will we eat there again? Yeah, I'm fairly certain we will. Do we recommend it? Without a doubt. Fast, great portions, decent atmosphere and when necessary, it just works. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cRMCP90Et31f3PE4sMONApv744Z4ALIMIeJbofAe917ZyluTnCUYFWaG0Ng82hpcjRzF2z8AEsjOkxlLRK_hKP-NpNRt5MECoQvrDBFzDAvxf8IINZdTPdNsPmjEWn5bpq6vQ3lMLeCz/s1600/IMG_20160830_015921777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cRMCP90Et31f3PE4sMONApv744Z4ALIMIeJbofAe917ZyluTnCUYFWaG0Ng82hpcjRzF2z8AEsjOkxlLRK_hKP-NpNRt5MECoQvrDBFzDAvxf8IINZdTPdNsPmjEWn5bpq6vQ3lMLeCz/s320/IMG_20160830_015921777.jpg" width="180" /></a>The second fast food place we tried for the first time was<a href="http://www.steaknshake.com/" target="_blank"> Steak N Shake</a>. I'll be honest, after the first time I only went back for the milkshakes. They make a mean milkshake and I like the fries. I am not a fan of their burgers or their hotdogs. They are open 24-hours but they need to stress that it's only the drive-through that's actually open. They'll let you inside, but more times than not there is no staff. Usually there is just one manager playing server, cook, sous chef, and drive-through window guy by his lonesome. Sadly, he's not very good at either. </div>
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The meat tastes overly processed to me, the texture more filler than beef. I've now tried two different burgers and one hotdog and if I ever find need to go back again I'll just stick to the milkshake and fries. Big Daddy's tastes are not as discerning as mine. Ignore the side eye he's giving me! But he didn't mind the food. For him it works if you're in a pinch and hungry. I need to lose weight anyway so I'd sooner pass than eat here again. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKxOlBBcc44vNvvR4fLwMmq5TcaIeUY_t6-Wb5tsZqsAWlj_iUEDfoc14SH3vm87RsQa-LTOpppHeBjYB_6HknUTrEVXk6i2oLd-cqZz774ow646z7bbsxudCqkD-7ZHBHNRbQXkaeN96/s1600/IMG_20160829_121044806_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKxOlBBcc44vNvvR4fLwMmq5TcaIeUY_t6-Wb5tsZqsAWlj_iUEDfoc14SH3vm87RsQa-LTOpppHeBjYB_6HknUTrEVXk6i2oLd-cqZz774ow646z7bbsxudCqkD-7ZHBHNRbQXkaeN96/s1600/IMG_20160829_121044806_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-36555916374509290672016-05-10T01:58:00.000-04:002016-05-10T12:36:11.194-04:00BEASLEY'S CHICKEN AND HONEY - RALEIGH, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN4kZVL6y5sliYogOOKv4VKPQk7yfHVkX6S_s7D6U_2Kn_frWl_pi76yLo64st0NYPiQMvGJI41U9WzldgJ6UKmDgEKSD976qtxz322VtdyEF6i3Qy6AanaCF312JuVbcYQ-eMfuaw5Rg/s1600/IMG_20160408_142400271_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN4kZVL6y5sliYogOOKv4VKPQk7yfHVkX6S_s7D6U_2Kn_frWl_pi76yLo64st0NYPiQMvGJI41U9WzldgJ6UKmDgEKSD976qtxz322VtdyEF6i3Qy6AanaCF312JuVbcYQ-eMfuaw5Rg/s320/IMG_20160408_142400271_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>We recently visited<a href="http://ac-restaurants.com/beasleys/" target="_blank"> BEASLEY'S CHICKEN AND HONEY</a> here in Raleigh, NC. And I'm not going to lie. I totally expected to be disappointed. We've been hearing the hype about this restaurant since the day it opened. People have been raving about the food and the atmosphere and it all just sounded too good to be true. There were many times we stopped but continued on by, put off by the large crowds and lengthy lines to get inside. It was hard to believe that it was<i> that</i> good. We both believed that it being new and trendy was keeping the buzz about it going.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN4kZVL6y5sliYogOOKv4VKPQk7yfHVkX6S_s7D6U_2Kn_frWl_pi76yLo64st0NYPiQMvGJI41U9WzldgJ6UKmDgEKSD976qtxz322VtdyEF6i3Qy6AanaCF312JuVbcYQ-eMfuaw5Rg/s1600/IMG_20160408_142400271_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr6z-nfQO3F0-4TmBCkEkUmVTr4JV3wXFOu1vdRptCrqYiRo0OqElXnxb8TxposnvNELPY_ngATHEAz559-bUCg9qFSZq7i82dv32xK-Mi1tdfOzs8_haabB_k9Y328_RJsrzSfoRfQaC/s1600/o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr6z-nfQO3F0-4TmBCkEkUmVTr4JV3wXFOu1vdRptCrqYiRo0OqElXnxb8TxposnvNELPY_ngATHEAz559-bUCg9qFSZq7i82dv32xK-Mi1tdfOzs8_haabB_k9Y328_RJsrzSfoRfQaC/s320/o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr6z-nfQO3F0-4TmBCkEkUmVTr4JV3wXFOu1vdRptCrqYiRo0OqElXnxb8TxposnvNELPY_ngATHEAz559-bUCg9qFSZq7i82dv32xK-Mi1tdfOzs8_haabB_k9Y328_RJsrzSfoRfQaC/s1600/o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN4kZVL6y5sliYogOOKv4VKPQk7yfHVkX6S_s7D6U_2Kn_frWl_pi76yLo64st0NYPiQMvGJI41U9WzldgJ6UKmDgEKSD976qtxz322VtdyEF6i3Qy6AanaCF312JuVbcYQ-eMfuaw5Rg/s1600/IMG_20160408_142400271_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>This particular afternoon, after finishing some business downtown, we figured we'd take the plunge and give it a try. It <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN4kZVL6y5sliYogOOKv4VKPQk7yfHVkX6S_s7D6U_2Kn_frWl_pi76yLo64st0NYPiQMvGJI41U9WzldgJ6UKmDgEKSD976qtxz322VtdyEF6i3Qy6AanaCF312JuVbcYQ-eMfuaw5Rg/s1600/IMG_20160408_142400271_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>was well after the lunch hour and there were actual seats available. So let's start with the seats. The interior design is minimalistic and slightly industrial. The seats are metal stools. Nothing spectacular and slightly uncomfortable. They do not motivate leisurely dining, more like hit and run eating. I imagine they don't have a real problem with tables turning over when there is a crowd because once we were done we were ready to get up and go. Now granted, we both have much backside cushion so I can only imagine how those with no extra butt padding manage!</div>
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Menus on chalkboard walls would seem to be a thing. Theirs was posted on the back wall with nice, large print. But twisting around on those damn seats to read it proved to be my downfall. My ass and my neck have not been forgiving since!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5YZ8O3LutgCIMoeXPDDC_XDGLrRbnEbq8GLivhlobTxtYqkWxfiBvsuZeVdtTtWAICs9wtxToXBjRZ09pnzYgQyWfPCgB_QSxs4Is9IJYkka_XQVqbWZrTFN1gV2wGOZrZl-IEW8Vozw/s1600/IMG_20160408_143952513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5YZ8O3LutgCIMoeXPDDC_XDGLrRbnEbq8GLivhlobTxtYqkWxfiBvsuZeVdtTtWAICs9wtxToXBjRZ09pnzYgQyWfPCgB_QSxs4Is9IJYkka_XQVqbWZrTFN1gV2wGOZrZl-IEW8Vozw/s320/IMG_20160408_143952513.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5YZ8O3LutgCIMoeXPDDC_XDGLrRbnEbq8GLivhlobTxtYqkWxfiBvsuZeVdtTtWAICs9wtxToXBjRZ09pnzYgQyWfPCgB_QSxs4Is9IJYkka_XQVqbWZrTFN1gV2wGOZrZl-IEW8Vozw/s1600/IMG_20160408_143952513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>We both ordered the same thing this time: fried chicken and waffles with sides of creamed collard greens and the pimento mac-n-cheese custard. From the first bite to the last, I was in food heaven. The fried chicken was just the right amount of crispy with a tender, moist interior. The outside crunch was just divine with a wonderful, savory flavor. It was a very nice complement to the waffle which was light and fluffy perfection. Both were drizzled with their honey sauce which I found to be just fine on the waffle but a little off-putting on the chicken. I just can't wrap my mind around sweet meat. They were a little more generous with the drizzle on my chicken and not so much on my favorite guy's. He didn't bother him as much as it bothered me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillRa3-Vw8K-lSqFPK70b5QLozgipCTGwZdqioZsklkqeggDQjSAoSE51ud8BpSJoTo3TenS2dlBTjYP823qARusL3iiLtQK88sZJOZrUonlVpnd_dGYQYLhH-w8ToPZx-wIyVchxcR57l/s1600/IMG_20160408_144000182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYp0kgy1cTjLIEnxcPUrWvTa8orPHfAxWSQGGiQOSKZ7xPm3QwZlH4FNNqVGnk3_oC4EAgp8uPPXvEspoXPsio1ssxdOtyc5w9UDrKRcxYaXgP39QoAVx-uzDK4bYyk7MJXGs6COIdmPBu/s1600/IMG_20160408_144006813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYp0kgy1cTjLIEnxcPUrWvTa8orPHfAxWSQGGiQOSKZ7xPm3QwZlH4FNNqVGnk3_oC4EAgp8uPPXvEspoXPsio1ssxdOtyc5w9UDrKRcxYaXgP39QoAVx-uzDK4bYyk7MJXGs6COIdmPBu/s320/IMG_20160408_144006813.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYp0kgy1cTjLIEnxcPUrWvTa8orPHfAxWSQGGiQOSKZ7xPm3QwZlH4FNNqVGnk3_oC4EAgp8uPPXvEspoXPsio1ssxdOtyc5w9UDrKRcxYaXgP39QoAVx-uzDK4bYyk7MJXGs6COIdmPBu/s1600/IMG_20160408_144006813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The creamed collard greens were orgasmic! I could eat this every day and still want more. The greens had the perfect amount of bite and chew and the cream sauce was just too darn good! The mac-n-cheese was also a very nice surprise. I detest pimento cheese. Big Daddy loves it. I just knew he was going to have to eat both servings after I took that first bite but boy, was I wrong. I loved the mac-n-cheese! Big Daddy took issue with the texture but once he got past that we both enjoyed the flavor. <br />
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The least favorite part of the meal for both of us was the sweet tea. Which w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillRa3-Vw8K-lSqFPK70b5QLozgipCTGwZdqioZsklkqeggDQjSAoSE51ud8BpSJoTo3TenS2dlBTjYP823qARusL3iiLtQK88sZJOZrUonlVpnd_dGYQYLhH-w8ToPZx-wIyVchxcR57l/s1600/IMG_20160408_144000182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillRa3-Vw8K-lSqFPK70b5QLozgipCTGwZdqioZsklkqeggDQjSAoSE51ud8BpSJoTo3TenS2dlBTjYP823qARusL3iiLtQK88sZJOZrUonlVpnd_dGYQYLhH-w8ToPZx-wIyVchxcR57l/s320/IMG_20160408_144000182.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>asn't sweet and came in too small glasses. Getting a refill was challenging, the waiter not overly eager to swing by the table a time or two to even see if refills were needed. I hate when restaurants are stingy with the tea. It's a tea bag and some sugar for goodness sake! Next time I'll have to try one of their signature drinks instead. <br />
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We passed on dessert and we ate and ran, neither of us overly comfortable with those seats. But we definitely fell for the hype! Or at least I did! I was not at all disappointed. I loved this place. Big Daddy says it was just okay for him. I'd kick and scream to go back again. He wouldn't exert that much effort. But Beasley's is definitely at the top of my good meal list. Big Daddy put them midway on his.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-74973049936051533172016-05-09T00:56:00.000-04:002016-05-10T12:38:51.301-04:00THE CRAB DUMP - CHESTER, VIRGINIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Although it's been a while since I last posted, we have definitely been eating! With back to back deadlines I am just now able to catch up on our posts! </div>
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During our recent travels up the east coast we stopped at a little spot called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Crab-Dump-261591930621810/" target="_blank">THE CRAB DUMP</a>, located at 4412 W. Hundred Road in Chester, Virginia. Finding The Crab Dump was purely accidental. We had gone searching for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Bs/394018087402983" target="_blank">Mr. B's</a>, a soul food restaurant just a few blocks from The Crab Dump, but Mr. B's was unexpectedly closed, a note of apology on the door. Hungry, and ready for a car break, our Google Map search led us to The Crab Dump.</div>
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First impression - it was a cute little spot. There was nothing overly fancy about the space but it was exceptionally clean with a little country flair. It was early evening and there wasn't a large crowd but it seemed that everyone there was thoroughly enjoying their meals.</div>
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The menu is located on an oversized chalk board on the wall behind the counter. It was a cute touch but you need to be sure to have your glasses if distance reading is an issue! Their specialties are crab boils which they affectionately call dumps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqCyZqzCPj8C-5BSuwhc_QM-xRbR1zwGtMCMiobU2wTT9YaSdtskvf_OJNa5E2ysr5KIiSn0Gk2KgS3QJupdjxQKrzkOXkeyYJWCfpyuqtJ9zNx5FtbVqpZCtcP58A8UHyPaoT__aI6Lz/s1600/IMG_20160404_193244340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqCyZqzCPj8C-5BSuwhc_QM-xRbR1zwGtMCMiobU2wTT9YaSdtskvf_OJNa5E2ysr5KIiSn0Gk2KgS3QJupdjxQKrzkOXkeyYJWCfpyuqtJ9zNx5FtbVqpZCtcP58A8UHyPaoT__aI6Lz/s320/IMG_20160404_193244340.jpg" width="320" /></a>I was disappointed a second time because they were out of the crabs I wanted and the assortment they advertised was very lengthy: blue crabs, Alaskan king crab, snow crab legs, dungeness crabs. Instead, I ordered bacon-wrapped oysters, sweet potato pudding, onion rings, and lobster mac & cheese. The sweet potato and mac & cheese were really, really good. The pudding was just the perfect blend of sweet potato with a hint of vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar. The texture was exceptionally creamy and absolutely divine! The mac and cheese had nice chunks of lobster meat mixed in but I thought it would have been even better with a mild white cheddar and Gruyere cheese mix. The sharp yellow cheddar made it look a little like Kraft macaroni. With lobster tossed in I wanted it to be a bit more elegant, but that was me being me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73lzpPqBXnzUI6qK45v9X38yUGFLMapas1ymWHbXJqn13QgU6Y3cZ6NiuBkzmhy9m2hBVaJZw0I3waez5Z-ego3G5WcEcUeYUgTSAApLzz7xWWZNVoldn00Wve-5c7V7D8m7mQOPlOgQy/s1600/IMG_20160404_193314739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73lzpPqBXnzUI6qK45v9X38yUGFLMapas1ymWHbXJqn13QgU6Y3cZ6NiuBkzmhy9m2hBVaJZw0I3waez5Z-ego3G5WcEcUeYUgTSAApLzz7xWWZNVoldn00Wve-5c7V7D8m7mQOPlOgQy/s320/IMG_20160404_193314739.jpg" width="320" /></a> The big guy ordered the fried fish plate with catfish, sweet potato pudding, French fries and hushpuppies. The catfish was fried to perfection but the seasoning wasn't anything special. The fries were fries, much like the onion rings were onion rings. Nothing at all special about either. He also enjoyed the hushpuppies. They were fine but I really like my cornbread and hushpuppies with a touch of sugar and these had none. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS3VqL07vBWsOtufhy3nMtz0ztWRCzTmLAt2X0lGueSk9oFidXQ_sQu-C9cvI6GGHL9wiRa8h85rZEPY_o9Opa_6EtUZiA_xWRmZ2T7NdjiurCgLJ4Z1dKS1tTHpLCaeFm9Cn5z9FqTYB/s1600/IMG_20160404_193256023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS3VqL07vBWsOtufhy3nMtz0ztWRCzTmLAt2X0lGueSk9oFidXQ_sQu-C9cvI6GGHL9wiRa8h85rZEPY_o9Opa_6EtUZiA_xWRmZ2T7NdjiurCgLJ4Z1dKS1tTHpLCaeFm9Cn5z9FqTYB/s320/IMG_20160404_193256023.jpg" width="320" /></a>We had family with us this trip and she ordered the crab leg dump. Her crab legs came with corn on the cob and boiled potatos. The seasoning was good, the crab legs meaty and she had no complaints about her meal. Crazy enough, I love a good crab boil but this one was served on a pretty platter which just made it feel a little too formal to me, especially since they were calling it a dump. I thought brown or wax paper would have been far more suitable!</div>
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Overall, on a scale of 1 - 10, I would rate them a 7. Big Daddy gave them an 8. I'd give the sweet potato pudding a 10 all on its own! We would eat here again. We wouldn't go out of our way to go back but if we're ever driving through and Mr. B's is closed, we'd definitely find our way back.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-91497765273379912212016-03-19T03:00:00.000-04:002016-03-19T03:00:32.749-04:00CROAKER'S SPOT RESTAURANT - RICHMOND, VIRGINIA<div style="text-align: justify;">
During our recent trip to Richmond, Virginia a friend recommended we visit the <a href="http://www.croakersspot.com/" target="_blank">Croaker's Spot Restaurant</a>. What we heard as they described how wonderful this restaurant was "soul" food. What we found was the "soul of seafood". </div>
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We were told to go early and we did. Best advice ever! Croaker's lines were out the door and wrapped around the building and it wasn't one 'clock in the afternoon! Once again, the building was small. Too small for the clientele they serve. It was crazy at best! We waited some forty minutes before we were finally taken to a table. And then the wait times got down right ridiculous!</div>
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The atmosphere was extremely pleasant and the service was good. The staff was personable and friendly and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. Our server introduced herself fairly quickly and took our<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ_qP71zesit6GNEoemJ2R8yCuE5FejkvLB_eXavMbYO1RpLfLPHDXljV7w1eo3QOlOCJEC-S2OasgD4cbubL5-9im1oUlLzHdWXV5Rxtd99uJp8FAY9ro8bIavVYSqsLoHa31BLIGxF-/s1600/IMG_20160312_143312209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ_qP71zesit6GNEoemJ2R8yCuE5FejkvLB_eXavMbYO1RpLfLPHDXljV7w1eo3QOlOCJEC-S2OasgD4cbubL5-9im1oUlLzHdWXV5Rxtd99uJp8FAY9ro8bIavVYSqsLoHa31BLIGxF-/s320/IMG_20160312_143312209.jpg" width="320" /></a> drink orders. Twelve minutes later we were still waiting for those two sweet teas to come to the table. But we didn't fret. It gave us time to study the menu.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgMgvUDyprbxscnBEiquFjfoT_qxTqpxOHDU9Wbllo-PzmorKzr5-zBfK0AYSq6wIAecNFLtDZfOVMmmYZjbsy9zHNYI7zSooYabWtt2MUPcn4W2300mgzZWtuj6VvY6Cc0D0oU8fCGEQ/s1600/IMG_20160312_143305988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Clearly, there was some misunderstanding in the translation that we were looking for "soul" food. This is not your fried chicken and collard greens kind of establishment. It's heavy seafood with a <i>soulful</i> spin.</div>
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When the waitress finally returned after that twelve minutes I ordered the Shrimp and Grits. It was shrimp sautéed western style with peppers, onions, and mushrooms served with cheddar ranch grits and a block of cornbread. Big Daddy ordered the <a href="http://www.croakersspot.com/#!menu/c1moz" target="_blank">Eggleston's Fried Fish Boat</a>. It was two fillets of fried fish adorned with a "secret" sauce of bell peppers and onions with house potatoes and cornbread. Big Daddy requested that sauce be put on the side since he wasn't feeling secret sauce with his fried fish.</div>
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And this is where the experience nose dived for me. We sat for exactly 48 minutes to get our meal. 48 MINUTES! It was fish and seafood! They cook faster than anything else and it took 48 minutes to get ours to the table. Big Daddy joked that the cook drove to the coast, pulled the shrimp traps, dropped his fishing line, caught our dinner, drove back and<i> then</i> cooked the meal! He joked but I was hungry and it wasn't funny.</div>
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To say that we were disappointed is putting it mildly. My shrimp were tough and I am not a fan of their cheese grits. I didn't like them and I love cheese grits. The cornbread looked good. It was oversized and heavy. But it tasted of too much backing soda/powder and not cornmeal. I also like a sweet cornbread and this was neither sweet nor cornbreadish. It was not good to me. </div>
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He was okay with his fried whiting. It wasn't bad but it wasn't spectacular. The potatoes were okay as well. I did like the "secret" sauce. It reminded me of chow chow or mango chutney. It had a very nice flavor and I would eat it again.</div>
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I won't count out this place. I wish I'd ordered the crab stuffed salmon. The man at the table beside us did and it looked spectacular. He seemd to be enjoying it as well. We both agree that our expectations were too high. As well, the lengthy wait time made us, or me, testy. Then when the meal was just mediocre it was a formula for disaster. But I would definitely give them another try and I would do it within minutes of them opening the front door!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-77430325996957571932016-03-18T21:49:00.000-04:002016-03-18T21:52:56.562-04:00MAMA J's - RICHMOND, VIRGINIA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I love when we travel! I get very excited when I start Googling restaurants for us to try. Admittedly, I'm food-obsessed, so it's like finding a new vein of drug to explore and try. I probably need an intervention or some form of rehab but as I often say to Big Daddy, if food is my only vice, it's an addiction I can live with. Recently we were in Richmond, Virginia for the season two premiere of author <a href="http://www.irisbolling.net/" target="_blank">Iris Bolling's</a> The Heart TV series.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNwSuO-YKvmHzWD0aiqho5fUohZ5TRgu7j_fshnb34kiSJ-dfMSRDsS4homLjjsPYknAKxw3goK39SPVnVpuWj1edUbGtB1_UbK_Ri8ONUQU39pEjyuZ03EZIhifePdZgenPcWfEKm0hn/s1600/IMG_20160311_185819813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNwSuO-YKvmHzWD0aiqho5fUohZ5TRgu7j_fshnb34kiSJ-dfMSRDsS4homLjjsPYknAKxw3goK39SPVnVpuWj1edUbGtB1_UbK_Ri8ONUQU39pEjyuZ03EZIhifePdZgenPcWfEKm0hn/s320/IMG_20160311_185819813.jpg" width="180" /></a>Our first night a friend gave us two suggestions to try. My Google search put them at number one and number two on the best places to eat in Richmond. We both got very excited! Our first choice was <a href="http://www.mamajskitchen.com/" target="_blank">Mama J's Kitchen</a> which promised authentic soul food. When we arrived, there was a line waiting to get inside. We took that as a good sign. The building is exceptionally small. There is enough table seating for maybe twenty-five to thirty people with an additional eight seats at the bar. Business is brisk as they also do take out and that was a whole other line! The wait wasn't as lengthy as we initially predicted and we were seated in under thirty minutes. <br />
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There were only two servers and a third person who seemed to do nothing but deliver food and plates to the tables. The two servers were hustling about taking orders. The young man who was delivering the food didn't move with any sense of urgency. I'm thinking that if he had hustled a little harder, the lines might not have been that long. The young woman who took our initial order was very pleasant. Then the tide turned as she stood huddled with one group of young men and then another, someone or something souring her mood. Service went downhill from there.</div>
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One of the servers had recommended the pork chops, promising Big Daddy that he would not be disappointed. I chose the fried catfish. The portions were large so I traded the big guy one of mine for one of his. Sides are a la carte. He opted for the mashed potatoes and gravy and I selected the macaroni and cheese. A single dinner roll came with our plates. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPSbFwz_0IwTD6kYZ6y8OUvLORo66ORK9SQehiNAoDyrbyaSIMHsetTsE6Pe98YXs6zfzpPMMRL6VK0VyX1TBwzQxVFc3O_2vSRud20wSizYSz9JGAyLb9NMZfPm7naRh_OloWJquB183/s1600/IMG_20160311_191721177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPSbFwz_0IwTD6kYZ6y8OUvLORo66ORK9SQehiNAoDyrbyaSIMHsetTsE6Pe98YXs6zfzpPMMRL6VK0VyX1TBwzQxVFc3O_2vSRud20wSizYSz9JGAyLb9NMZfPm7naRh_OloWJquB183/s320/IMG_20160311_191721177.jpg" width="180" /></a>Now, I'm not a fan of a la carte menus. I believe they only serve to run up the bill in order for you to get a full meal. I tend not to order much when all of the sides are a la carte but that's just me and Big Daddy doesn't always agree with me. <br />
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The fish was my favorite part of the meal. It was nicely breaded, the cornmeal coating absolutely divine. It was seasoned nicely and fried to sheer perfection. We have had better pork chops. They were just okay. Half the flour coating had fallen off so part was crispy and part wasn't. It was also exceptionally greasy, indicating that the oil might not have been hot enough when it was put into the fryer. And don't even get me started on that one cold dinner roll! It was really bad. The sides were nothing to write home about. I enjoyed the macaroni and cheese but I was also hungry. It wasn't the best I've ever had but it also wasn't the worse. The same can be said about mashed potatoes. The sweet tea was just okay and since getting our server to handle refills seemed to be a challenge, it wasn't anything special either. <br />
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Since we'd heard much about their desserts we ordered a slice of their chocolate chocolate cake to share. Hands down that was the best part of the whole meal. We devoured it before I could get a picture! The cake was rich, decadent with the creamiest icing. If we hadn't been full we would have ordered another slice!<br />
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We weren't disappointed with our meal but we weren't as thrilled as we had hoped to be. On a scale of one through ten I'd give it a seven. He gave it a six. We'd both try them again and we'd order the fish.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-57557581764419429962016-03-07T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-07T06:00:09.850-05:00JOYCE & FAMILY RESTAURANT and CATERING - FUQUAY VARINA, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xBQ2xO64uDHk1xQzY0L2YT2fZ1JzhOj5nN4gZM2A6fpoMq209V3abhqvRmG42g_HeW13BynFK095RwkOKaZW4FuhPMAZfzzE5tGGS6RizUeLbW180s1_hKoamAhUGCDtuOrjpUt68I_/s1600/JOYCE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xBQ2xO64uDHk1xQzY0L2YT2fZ1JzhOj5nN4gZM2A6fpoMq209V3abhqvRmG42g_HeW13BynFK095RwkOKaZW4FuhPMAZfzzE5tGGS6RizUeLbW180s1_hKoamAhUGCDtuOrjpUt68I_/s320/JOYCE.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xBQ2xO64uDHk1xQzY0L2YT2fZ1JzhOj5nN4gZM2A6fpoMq209V3abhqvRmG42g_HeW13BynFK095RwkOKaZW4FuhPMAZfzzE5tGGS6RizUeLbW180s1_hKoamAhUGCDtuOrjpUt68I_/s1600/JOYCE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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We live for an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet! Especially a really good one!. I don't know how Big Daddy found this little hidden gem but when he suggested we go give it a try I beat him to the car. Now I love buffets not because I can eat until I'm sick but because I can taste everything without people giving me the side eye!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOE9keDmMc-bkDRicq2Fct_Fu4lCrTJHcWYaFiTP86GGHVe72Vb-cv1iqN64dKxzKF4Y2MA32tZnorqaBxz0nc0wGmw7fIBe-VaRGID1BRLZy13E4MuT2J2OKIWVkLynXxTG5Eu0kROa3/s1600/IMG_20160126_130514120_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOE9keDmMc-bkDRicq2Fct_Fu4lCrTJHcWYaFiTP86GGHVe72Vb-cv1iqN64dKxzKF4Y2MA32tZnorqaBxz0nc0wGmw7fIBe-VaRGID1BRLZy13E4MuT2J2OKIWVkLynXxTG5Eu0kROa3/s320/IMG_20160126_130514120_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOE9keDmMc-bkDRicq2Fct_Fu4lCrTJHcWYaFiTP86GGHVe72Vb-cv1iqN64dKxzKF4Y2MA32tZnorqaBxz0nc0wGmw7fIBe-VaRGID1BRLZy13E4MuT2J2OKIWVkLynXxTG5Eu0kROa3/s1600/IMG_20160126_130514120_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Located in cutest little town with one of the best <a href="http://ashleyart.com/#" target="_blank">art galleries</a> I've visited in a good long while, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Joyce-Family-Restaurant-and-Catering-182452648439144/" target="_blank">Joyce and Family Restaurant and Catering</a> is family owned and operated and Miss Joyce is there to greet you at the door!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT0CcU_xDcAGUFU5is3NQlIH64pj8_H7a56vKQNH3nSqVYMuQTFUFFAWsyOdA2TVAarifupr00wd0hZzxpvqysS68aJV5kBF17zg6qqXSXd7LfeQYxTmcKGRPda6f_aeIKKXu-JCBIwk/s1600/JOYCWE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT0CcU_xDcAGUFU5is3NQlIH64pj8_H7a56vKQNH3nSqVYMuQTFUFFAWsyOdA2TVAarifupr00wd0hZzxpvqysS68aJV5kBF17zg6qqXSXd7LfeQYxTmcKGRPda6f_aeIKKXu-JCBIwk/s1600/JOYCWE.jpg" /></a>Everything about this space screams comfort! From the food to the staff it all simply feels like <i>HOME</i>! There is an abundance of love within those walls and that love has spilled into the food. The buffet is a smorgasbord of comfort food. There's fried chicken, BBQ ribs, pork chops, vegetables galore and some of the best lemon meringue pie that I've ever add. And what was truly a delight was the cooked-to-order fried flounder! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT0CcU_xDcAGUFU5is3NQlIH64pj8_H7a56vKQNH3nSqVYMuQTFUFFAWsyOdA2TVAarifupr00wd0hZzxpvqysS68aJV5kBF17zg6qqXSXd7LfeQYxTmcKGRPda6f_aeIKKXu-JCBIwk/s1600/JOYCWE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I could detail each individual ite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub16GEsHP4iNNvbgBOszC7ddKtlq_7PRaIbmecQLc1uJ91HU1DJknhyphenhyphenenesNAU3e31wiwwltplO4ljUnGV6KhQ9YMCJ4-jQQnRGxzeAssevpkdSk0Gqv54mQaEcEk1_m6lwKDVOjdlnDC/s1600/IMG_20160126_130929515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub16GEsHP4iNNvbgBOszC7ddKtlq_7PRaIbmecQLc1uJ91HU1DJknhyphenhyphenenesNAU3e31wiwwltplO4ljUnGV6KhQ9YMCJ4-jQQnRGxzeAssevpkdSk0Gqv54mQaEcEk1_m6lwKDVOjdlnDC/s320/IMG_20160126_130929515.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>m but I won't. There's just not enough time. I'll just say that all the food was exceptionally good. Big Daddy has put them in his Top Five for fried chicken. It was that good! And the fish was simply divine!</div>
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We will definitely visit Ms. Joyce again and I, personally, can't wait!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-42398222708568323712016-03-06T03:23:00.000-05:002016-03-06T03:27:28.243-05:00HOMETOWN CAFE - FRANKLINTON, NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We stumbled upon <a href="http://hometowncafeus1.com/" target="_blank">Hometown Café</a> quite by accident. We were traveling back home after visiting with family and a Google search for restaurants landed us in their parking lot. Now I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. The café was empty and it was close to five o'clock in the afternoon. Late afternoon in the South is dinner time so I was thinking maybe we should eat some place else. But Big Daddy never backs down from a challenge so we picked out a table in the center of the room and ordered!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zq7pgqHNq8gX5TUfrLWNebjon4kLvm1QqhOalukF7ctQ_1RSUJyePTW93BIqfma6B37BMgvl8lyceVDnwk-zF7_9-fzCpVIv0hPaShyphenhyphentHC4HKkWjudcQl1zbUMUgxmOh7pzXhn9ESZdC/s1600/IMG_20160227_171008291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zq7pgqHNq8gX5TUfrLWNebjon4kLvm1QqhOalukF7ctQ_1RSUJyePTW93BIqfma6B37BMgvl8lyceVDnwk-zF7_9-fzCpVIv0hPaShyphenhyphentHC4HKkWjudcQl1zbUMUgxmOh7pzXhn9ESZdC/s320/IMG_20160227_171008291.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://hometowncafeus1.com/" target="_blank">Hometown Café</a> was basic and <i>country</i>. Everything about the place felt <i>down home</i>. The staff was pleasant and our waitress was friendly. Big Daddy asked a ton of questions about the menu. How were the pork chops? Did you get one or two? Were the potatoes real or out of a box? She was patient and pleasant and answered each one as if her tip was dependent on giving the right answer. It wasn't but her enthusiasm about the food was encouraging.</div>
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He went right for the fried chicken with string beans and mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. I ordered the catfish with collard greens and macaroni and cheese. We both asked for sweet tea. Right out the box the tea wasn't the best we've ever had. It wasn't fresh brewed and there wasn't nearly enough sugar sweetening it. It was just okay at best and didn't invite any refills.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi116ZJMqAZUTCNU1KplSek-RnW9jJn1ghrVeITIHwovZmA8u3Zu72CSyl0ko-dzpJR7wSeTcG_VQZe0cWRW6tCU0G7-72uk4655bz-XZ83MPuDpl1bHC7rMwSHIXZxOgiusLdGbYN3Vd-2/s1600/IMG_20160227_171017900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi116ZJMqAZUTCNU1KplSek-RnW9jJn1ghrVeITIHwovZmA8u3Zu72CSyl0ko-dzpJR7wSeTcG_VQZe0cWRW6tCU0G7-72uk4655bz-XZ83MPuDpl1bHC7rMwSHIXZxOgiusLdGbYN3Vd-2/s320/IMG_20160227_171017900.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi116ZJMqAZUTCNU1KplSek-RnW9jJn1ghrVeITIHwovZmA8u3Zu72CSyl0ko-dzpJR7wSeTcG_VQZe0cWRW6tCU0G7-72uk4655bz-XZ83MPuDpl1bHC7rMwSHIXZxOgiusLdGbYN3Vd-2/s1600/IMG_20160227_171017900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The fried chicken was exceptionally generous. The exterior was nicely seasoned and crispy and the interior was tender and moist. It wasn't exceptional but it was very good and we both agreed that we would eat the chicken again. the string beans were nicely seasoned and not boiled to mush. They had just enough bite to be perfect. He enjoyed the mashed potatoes and gravy. I didn't taste them so I'll take his word that they were creamy and the gravy flavorful. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKNE8l0vjGJ49o-Z-8S2L-CzcX7Xd556LZQDkjk3f8WeR9QE_0knubbQgGOfL0Rn7dLupx28mivoBgfCk_Id4hGZ-Wb4BQHwps2lFSuu3XkZnq4Dxo9-wt0OA4dxbEFSdJdUNzb68FPVO/s1600/IMG_20160227_171002817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKNE8l0vjGJ49o-Z-8S2L-CzcX7Xd556LZQDkjk3f8WeR9QE_0knubbQgGOfL0Rn7dLupx28mivoBgfCk_Id4hGZ-Wb4BQHwps2lFSuu3XkZnq4Dxo9-wt0OA4dxbEFSdJdUNzb68FPVO/s320/IMG_20160227_171002817.jpg" width="320" /></a>The fried catfish was very good. It was seasoned well, cooked just so and left me licking my fingers. But there wasn't enough. The single fillet left you wanting more. I liked the macaroni and cheese and although it looked like it was out of a box, it tasted homemade. There was a hint of something I didn't recognize that flavored it in a good way but no one could tell me what the secret ingredient was. The collard greens were on point. Seasoned nicely and cooked to perfection. I'd go back just for the vegetables because both were done exceptionally well. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKNE8l0vjGJ49o-Z-8S2L-CzcX7Xd556LZQDkjk3f8WeR9QE_0knubbQgGOfL0Rn7dLupx28mivoBgfCk_Id4hGZ-Wb4BQHwps2lFSuu3XkZnq4Dxo9-wt0OA4dxbEFSdJdUNzb68FPVO/s1600/IMG_20160227_171002817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Their hidden gem was the dessert case. Individually sliced cakes and pies sit behind the counter for you to select from. We took two slices of the chocolate cake with chocolate icing to go and once home I regretted not getting a whole cake! Moist, just sweet enough with the creamiest icing! The dessert was definitely a highlight for me.</div>
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Would we go back? I don't see us making any special trips but if we ever find ourselves in the area we would definitely eat there again. Two thumbs up!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-78045534856058877642016-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:002016-03-06T03:23:49.188-05:00MR. WONDERFULS CHICKEN AND WAFFLES - RALEIGH, NC<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">We were out and about, finishing a day of shopping, when the hunger pangs set in! A Google search led us to <a href="http://www.mrwonderfuls.com/" target="_blank">Mr. Wonderfuls Chicken and Waffles</a>. They had a GREAT website and the menu looked interesting so we thought we'd give them a try. They claimed to offer down-home Southern food in a casual, family-friendly environment which was right up our alley.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16.12px;">Our first impression was exceptionally positive. The space was clean and the simple decor was impressive. The walls are covered in some impressive local artwork. I was disappointed when the waitress knew nothing about the artists! We arrived about seven o'clock on a Saturday evening and the place was empty. We had our pick of tables!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3EM0fczWOywsX-3nXIr1Ir-ReaErZyLHfbiK37CIKRF54XXZNzxCJHsmlb4QqtSjI-r7-OPCGR8T4qrfYlk2Ajh3P49liLgZZck7zHuDXph25crWdkcVZnZZvdh_KPVc18LXyI5hJJlV/s1600/IMG_20151211_195123490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3EM0fczWOywsX-3nXIr1Ir-ReaErZyLHfbiK37CIKRF54XXZNzxCJHsmlb4QqtSjI-r7-OPCGR8T4qrfYlk2Ajh3P49liLgZZck7zHuDXph25crWdkcVZnZZvdh_KPVc18LXyI5hJJlV/s320/IMG_20151211_195123490.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">The waitress was extremely friendly. And attentive, but when you only have one table to cover that's probably not hard to do!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">They were doing a brisk take-out business as we sat studying the menu and we took that as a positive sign. I ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles. It seemed like a no-brainer considering the name of the restaurant. Big Daddy ordered the Fried Catfish. Once again Big Daddy got the better meal. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MUNvC3z_Wzp2q5Q8_45vU3zczWwUQta9exsG9nd97ZUob03j5SOIFNzWDF6RduKoEmcDspamN6mbp_f-_Wo1v6NJYduOTy2cVaefOAlxOVcV4ZqQH2P9gAdqb70U2AMaAhdf1CmQdNxx/s1600/IMG_20151211_195130532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MUNvC3z_Wzp2q5Q8_45vU3zczWwUQta9exsG9nd97ZUob03j5SOIFNzWDF6RduKoEmcDspamN6mbp_f-_Wo1v6NJYduOTy2cVaefOAlxOVcV4ZqQH2P9gAdqb70U2AMaAhdf1CmQdNxx/s320/IMG_20151211_195130532.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">The waffle was good. Light, fluffy, with a nice hint of vanilla flavoring. What it lacked was warm syrup but they don't do that there. The chicken was HORRIBLE! It was cold on the inside and tasted as if it had been refried more than once, maybe even two or three times before it had been served. I also ordered the collards which were not good either. They were bland, tasting like they'd been heated up right out of a can. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">Big Daddy's fried fish was very good and well, the fries were fries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">Now, in their defense, they are not unwilling to make good on a meal you are not pleased with. A couple who came in after us sent back their spare ribs. The wife ordered the fried chicken wings her husband had ordered. Apparently chicken wings are fried to order. Both said they enjoyed their meals after the ribs were taken away. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXInNaeixXJZDa7R0pk_sDJgL7fxvvvGlhJUYG_0grsUoJLoZLD9gXazcEsHxl_d8w7RiAMasR3oIl0gpPhX_TQlnqYJGhHw4NaX72zHhNjXniX2SdhKIFbJZVG20d95Gu6tila-rfPwR/s1600/IMG_20151211_195146035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXInNaeixXJZDa7R0pk_sDJgL7fxvvvGlhJUYG_0grsUoJLoZLD9gXazcEsHxl_d8w7RiAMasR3oIl0gpPhX_TQlnqYJGhHw4NaX72zHhNjXniX2SdhKIFbJZVG20d95Gu6tila-rfPwR/s320/IMG_20151211_195146035.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;">I didn't bother to send my chicken back to the kitchen and our waitress seemed a little distressed that I didn't. But when tasting a new restaurant for the first time we review on first impressions and first tastes. This first taste just didn't cut it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.12px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-14532958004066260342016-01-04T23:44:00.002-05:002016-03-06T03:25:26.381-05:00LARRY'S SOUTHERN KITCHEN - GARNER, NC<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">HAPPY NEW YEAR! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">We're so excited to welcome in another year of good eats and food finds. 2015 gave us new favorite places and a host of delicious foods to enjoy. Despite our best efforts though we are still searching for that elusive best friend chicken joint!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">We kicked off the new year paying a visit to an old favorite that had closed its doors permanently. Imagine our surprise when Larry's Southern Kitchen announced their reopening in a new location. Taking over the old Mayflower Restaurant, they are now located at 4205 Fayetteville Road in Garner, NC.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 16.08px;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 16.08px;">Larry's Southern Kitchen</b><span style="line-height: 16.08px;"> was a Raleigh staple, renowned for their down home cooking. It was one of only a few places where you could get pig's feet and chitterlings on the buffet. And they had good, not great, but good fried chicken! Family owned and operated they welcomed diners from all walks of life and the line to get in the old building was usually lengthy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">The new building is bigger. It's a definite upgrade to the old establishment. Unfortunately the food hasn't caught up yet. We went at lunch time. There were only a handful of people inside, their regular clientele not finding them yet. It took a minute for the waitress to bring us our beverages. Their good sweet tea was only okay, not quite sweet enough for my liking but Big Daddy said he was okay with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">There were some really good things on the buffet and some things that were sub par. I enjoyed the pig's feet and ordered a bowl of chitlin's. The chitlin's never came out, something amiss in the kitchen that never got resolved by the time we were ready to leave. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">The fried chicken tasted old to me, the crisp on the skin slightly soggy. It was edible but it wasn't their best. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">I have high hopes for Larry's. I know it's going to take some time for them to get their rhythm back. I'll try them again. I'm not yet willing to give up on one of my favorite places. It's a New Year and I see some good things coming us all.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-72055962818062828772015-08-17T15:43:00.004-04:002015-08-17T15:43:51.794-04:00BLUE APRON - NATIONWIDE<div style="text-align: justify;">
We love food. I also love to cook. Big Daddy loves when I cook too! But I don't cook nearly as much as I did when the kids were still living at home. Reason being, cooking for two has never been an easy feat for me to accomplish. When I cook, I cook for an army with a weeks worth of left overs. Trimming that down hasn't been easy. I was bemoaning this fact when I happened upon <a href="https://www.blueapron.com/" target="_blank">BLUE APRON</a>. A friend was posting these amazing images on Instagram of meals she'd prepared and I was pretty impressed. So I did a little research but I was still not convinced. Then that friend offered me a coupon to test out their services for free. Free and food was a no brainer!</div>
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<a href="https://www.blueapron.com/" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> is a weekly subscription service where fresh ingredients and great recipes are delivered to your front door. You can opt out of a week or cancel easily and there is no obligation that renders you stuck with anything you don't want.</div>
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As their website boasts, each week you get exciting, seasonal recipes created by their culinary team and renowned guest chefs. Ingredients are perfectly pre-measured. No recipe is ever repeated in the same year, meals are 500-700 calories per serving and they take thirty-five minutes to prepare. You choose your free delivery date and the refrigerated box arrives when expected. There are interactive recipe cards and how-to videos to take all the guess-work out of the experience.</div>
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Our first box featured everything we needed for Spiced Meatballs with Garlic Toasts and Summer Squash Salad, Stir-Fried Ginger-Basil Chicken, and Seared Salmon and Panzanella with Corn, Shishito Peppers and Thai Basil. </div>
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Now, I'm going to be honest. I've been cooking since I was eight-years old but this had me slightly intimidated until Big Daddy started dicing and slicing vegetables to help me get started. Then I had a blast<i> </i>preparing restaurant quality meals like I was a professionally trained chef! It was fun, but it was also work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDrhc4JmX9JhvAtFfx6f-s5yHyrt2-hVoF-7Jp0M7zzWGjbgvAV11gm3J35TyxgbMrKf1K3uB6Cvh4ZqVledmIHncDzo-VeQFeGyhEVlC1reLoIWSdWfzwI5O2GnRy2ojBMz-2-L1GzbL/s1600/IMG_20150813_192152536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDrhc4JmX9JhvAtFfx6f-s5yHyrt2-hVoF-7Jp0M7zzWGjbgvAV11gm3J35TyxgbMrKf1K3uB6Cvh4ZqVledmIHncDzo-VeQFeGyhEVlC1reLoIWSdWfzwI5O2GnRy2ojBMz-2-L1GzbL/s320/IMG_20150813_192152536.jpg" width="320" /></a>We cooked the Seared Salmon that first day and it was really good! My favorite part was the panzanella, a traditional Tuscan salad made with homemade garlic croutons. It was a delightful blend of corn, plum tomatoes, heirloom cucumber, Shishito peppers, Thai basil and those croutons. I will cook this again without hesitation, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYReJXJ_8gERVlErXpbhGauwTG7d20FQIi-iRHL5EyWpQpTSewsRklqK-Il3J5e4AFdTb1LXKXIqQfxODjAfvp6KRu5hXT7fOOW7yg9pSQcc7cg_EZbKDL2H0sg8d7QTR8J49Xh3Go1Ouc/s1600/IMG_20150814_134204672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYReJXJ_8gERVlErXpbhGauwTG7d20FQIi-iRHL5EyWpQpTSewsRklqK-Il3J5e4AFdTb1LXKXIqQfxODjAfvp6KRu5hXT7fOOW7yg9pSQcc7cg_EZbKDL2H0sg8d7QTR8J49Xh3Go1Ouc/s320/IMG_20150814_134204672.jpg" width="320" /></a>The second day we prepared the Spiced Meatballs which I thought would have been our favorite. I was surprised when I really didn't like it much at all. To our disadvantage they forgot to include the spice blend. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this faux pas. Fortunately, I have a fully stocked kitchen and spice cabinets so blending the dried thyme, garlic powder, mustard powder, lemon peel and crushed pepper wasn't a challenge. But the entire meal, a North African specialty, was just too citrusy for my taste buds. The sauce was just okay, not special, and it left me wishing I'd doctored it up a bit more. This one didn't work for either of us. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvBDQbtIfu1dtnuU28eazaHAh8jRK3q480PwmswxX_ogLnAwivjIPKdEyxaXqrf04ewBH1lowHyxylhZfLZoXohZm7o9-3ji5FXtDwA-vGsDWhHPeo-oUQntS3b0oZa9cNgNDtoP0ns70/s1600/IMG_20150816_011015928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvBDQbtIfu1dtnuU28eazaHAh8jRK3q480PwmswxX_ogLnAwivjIPKdEyxaXqrf04ewBH1lowHyxylhZfLZoXohZm7o9-3ji5FXtDwA-vGsDWhHPeo-oUQntS3b0oZa9cNgNDtoP0ns70/s320/IMG_20150816_011015928.jpg" width="180" /></a>The third day we cooked the Stir-fried Chicken and it was a definite winner! Big Daddy and I both loved everything about this meal from the lightly flavored coconut jasmine rice to the Thai-themed stir-fry with the thick, flavorful, sweet chili sauce. The Japanese eggplant was sheer perfection and a nice addition that I would never have thought to try on my own.</div>
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Will we use <a href="https://www.blueapron.com/" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> again? Most definitely. Will we recommend it to others? Without a doubt. On the two-person plan the cost of each meal is only $9.99 and you get three meals per person per week. The family plan which serves four is $8.74 per person and you have the option of getting two meals or four meals per week. The portions are generous and filling and you would not be disappointed.</div>
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Personally, <a href="https://www.blueapron.com/" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> was everything I was hoping it would be and more!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104210722145503236.post-54494009665954116012015-08-10T02:15:00.002-04:002015-08-10T02:15:11.550-04:00ANGIE'S RESTAURANT - GARNER, NC<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoYxkkiuu3u3spOYSKQV9j26isRWSVEnQ_Lz1jrQQyASMAVCad-GS3n6MnH5_KD6ztb3IJBm28zvY5cngor42p0SRiwjkuqGP_RatuHENjkt0OIaC9HJ7p3OkkMIkvNjSYxtjhExlWKqS/s1600/IMG_20150806_141007415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoYxkkiuu3u3spOYSKQV9j26isRWSVEnQ_Lz1jrQQyASMAVCad-GS3n6MnH5_KD6ztb3IJBm28zvY5cngor42p0SRiwjkuqGP_RatuHENjkt0OIaC9HJ7p3OkkMIkvNjSYxtjhExlWKqS/s320/IMG_20150806_141007415.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiesgarner" target="_blank">Angie's Restaurant</a> in Garner, NC has become one of our new favorite places for breakfast and lunch. It's a no frills establishment that caters to a crowd of regulars with great, home cooked meals. Established in a renovated old farm house, it's plain, not at all fancy nor pretty. Inside you're greeted by a loyal, enthusiastic staff that put the friend in friendly. By nature, they are all huggers and there isn't a customer yet that isn't considered a friend.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EEkbXokHYG7UKk8YTIryfILqqISeJQ4n5pwvuwwhAo2oi7rTa5cclk5Ul_40yMCNTyVux5bCyBQzMJalB_BETEkasmiI445qas4UxGuMHE4X4wjjBJkEF2uj6ZJ8ZU6SzvfaSMGnvMGU/s1600/IMG_20150806_140953174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EEkbXokHYG7UKk8YTIryfILqqISeJQ4n5pwvuwwhAo2oi7rTa5cclk5Ul_40yMCNTyVux5bCyBQzMJalB_BETEkasmiI445qas4UxGuMHE4X4wjjBJkEF2uj6ZJ8ZU6SzvfaSMGnvMGU/s320/IMG_20150806_140953174.jpg" width="320" /></a>Since our first visit we've been a few times, eager to try the specials of the day. Fried chicken is on Thursdays and Friday's is fish day.</div>
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The fried chicken is a contender for the best in NC. It was tender, crispy, moist and seasoned to perfection. We'll try it again to insure the experience wasn't a fluke. Mashed potatoes are real potatoes, creamy with the perfect touch of butter flavor. The gravy was thick and rich and just like grandma use to make it. </div>
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We've enjoyed perfectly fried okra, the most scrumptious hush puppies, macaroni and cheese that rivaled my own, and Big Daddy's meal of choice, perfectly fried pork chops. The fried shrimp and oysters was top notch as well. </div>
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The list of everything that is picture perfect about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiesgarner" target="_blank">Angie's</a> is long and lengthy. We have yet to experience a meal that has been a disappointment and they cap each dish off with the dessert of the day. </div>
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Now, the desserts have been interesting, but not spectacular. There was peach cobbler that was good not great. Chocolate cobbler which Big Daddy really liked but I would pass on the next time. And pineapple pudding, a kind of banana pudding with pineapple instead of bananas.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiesgarner" target="_blank">Angie's</a> has a loyal following and it's because their customer service is exceptional. The staff go above and beyond to satisfy. And the entire atmosphere just feels like home. It's warm and welcoming and immensely comfortable. We would eat at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angiesgarner" target="_blank">Angie's Restaurant</a> every day of the week if such a thing were possible!</div>
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