Booths with iPads, waiting area of MSP

Traveling acquaints us with what’s up and coming, so we were fascinated with the new (well, about a year and a half old) Terminal G in the Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport (MSP).  Filled with booths and tables rather than rows of seating, the waiting areas are outfitted with iPads for travel convenience – already downloaded with today’s edition of USA Today, numerous gaming apps, and reports on everything from weather to airline delays.

We checked one of the screens to make sure we had ample time for breakfast before departing for Spokane.

iPads at counters in Terminal G of MSP let you check on flight status, weather, etc.

We seated ourselves on barstools at Twinburger only to be faced with more iPads, this time loaded with menus offering everything from beer to burgers and then some.  Ordering from an iPad was a new experience for us, but we took to it rapidly.

Twinburger counter at MSP with big screen TVs overhead, iPads for ordering on the counter

Most people were involved with more than one device be it iPad, iPhone, laptop, or something else.  And then there were Hoda and Kathie Lee on the big screen!  A real techie morning!

Surrounded by tech — breakfast at MSP!

If you want to order breakfast, you swoosh the screen side to side to see what’s available.  Then tap your choice.  It all collects in a “cart” similar to the ones we use with online ordering at Amazon or J. Jill or Eddie Bauer.  It even adds a tip — a convenience that may cost you more than you had intended giving, but nevertheless an expedient operation.

Ordering from an iPad at MSP — Yes, you can order beer, if you want! Just swipe and tally!

And then you swipe your card.  Just like that, the whole process is done.  Complete.  Breakfast is on its way.

Just swipe card here, and breakfast is served!

With a long layover, we lingered at the bar and watched the chef cook more dishes ordered from iPads:  egg white omelets, stuffed French toast, doughnut burgers.  You read that correctly: doughnut burgers – a red meat concoction between two slices of a glazed doughnut.  Heart attack on a plate, I thought.

One doughnut burger comin’ right up!

I asked the chef if he sold many of these.  He smiled at me and said, Yes.  Yes, we do.  I don’t eat them myself.  But a lot of people, I guess, want to try something new.

Chef preparing orders of the day with big screen TVs overhead: Twinburger at MSP

And so that’s breakfast in Minneapolis.  At the airport.  Terminal G.  We ordered from an iPad, watched a chef prepare a doughnut burger, and then settled in at a booth to read the news from USA Today – on a mobile device.  Are we The Jetsons?  Close enough.

Techie breakfast at MSP

P. S.  Just in case you have this vision of an obese blogger sitting on a barstool pigging out on a doughnut burger, I did NOT order nor did I eat one of those!

Have you ordered a meal on an iPad?  (It’s probably an ordinary occurrence for many readers.)  Well, if you have, let us know where and when!  We’re just now moving into the future!

Erin Donovan, Biscuit Festival Queen

Not ones to let a little rain dampen the day at Knoxville’s International Biscuit Festival (May 18, 2013), we grabbed our umbrellas and headed to Biscuit Boulevard alongside a handful of hungry folks milling around waiting for the 9:00 serving of the best biscuits in town! (After all, even if we did get wet, we’d be attending the top-ranked of the Top 10 Food Festivals in America named by Livability.com!)

We passed the Cruze Farm Milk Truck on our way to get coffee and then checked out the booths as they prepared for the onslaught of 20,000 festival goers — ready to dig in to the doughy delights.

The crew from Plaid Apron stopped a minute for a picture but quickly got to work setting up their chalkboard with what had to be the longest name in the best biscuit competition: Candied Benton’s Bacon, Clabbered Cream, Honey & Balsamic Reduction Buttermilk Biscuit!

Sapphire‘s was ready early on, so this blueberry specialty was one of my first of five samples I could get with a $10.00 ticket.  Delicious!

By this time, the crowd packed the boulevard and long lines were ahead of us.

We waited about 15 minutes for a Green-Eyed Monster Pimento Cheese Buttermilk Biscuit from Tupelo Honey Cafe. Later, we learned this fab concoction tied for runner-up in the Best Biscuit category, but it garnered (deservedly so) the award for Best Biscuit Name.  It wasn’t the name, however, that won us over:  These biscuits were hearty yet light, creamy rich, and HUGE! (I knew I had to pace myself with more walking, waiting, and coffee sipping!)

The Pillsbury Dough-Boy stood ready with his newly acquired friend Rather from Crested Butte, Colorado.  Husband Bert grabbed a Grilled Biscuit Sloppy Joe from their tent!

Flourhead Bakery and Tomato Head offered another cheesy delight: Sweetwater Valley Smoked Cheddar and Onion Biscuit that tied for runner-up with Tupelo Honey. All that yellow goodness on top really is that fabulous smoked cheddar you get from Sweetwater Valley Farm in Philadelphia, Tennessee. (Visitors welcomed!)

After spying another long line, we knew something good was waiting where the man in a red shirt from Applewood Farmhouse greeted everyone with a smile.  Sure ‘nough.  Winning the People’s Choice Award with the most guest votes was their Andouille Shrimp and Grits Biscuit — hot, spicy, and not on anyone’s diet, for sure.  No wonder they took home the Biscuit Sunsphere Trophy!

But not to be outdone, RT Lodge now has bragging rights from the critics with their Deep Fried Biscuit with Braised Short Rib and Pickled Onion.  Mmmm. A mixture of savory, spicy, and vinegary all in one. Deserved that Critic’s Choice Award!

We saved our last biscuit on the ticket for a sweet treat — the Strawberry Shortcake Biscuit from the Southern Living booth served to us by Whitney from Birmingham, Alabama.  (Bet the whole staff wishes they’d had this assignment.)

If biscuits alone weren’t enough, there was even our favorite East Tennessee syrupy goodness from the Guenther family in a booth down the street: Muddy Pond Sorghum!

At the Biscuit Festival, even little kids get into biscuit eatin’ — like this happy fella who likes packin’ it in while strolling . . .

and these rather cooperative brothers in the children’s tent patting and rolling and cutting biscuits just like the chefs do!

Since we were stuffed from more carbs than we usually eat in a month, we were glad to take a break and enjoy the lively lyrics and thumping, hand-raising sounds of Jimmy Brown Johnson and the Band of Awesome on the Flatbed Music Stage.  No one stood still — or even wanted to!

Click here to watch this YouTube video of “Biscuits in the Front, Party in the Back” as seen and heard on WBIR’s “Live at Five at Four.”

We stopped to talk to our friends Kathy and Dan Hamilton who were on their way to the Blackberry Farm Biscuit Brunch in Krutch Park Tent.  From all accounts, this is the culinary route to a great Saturday, so we may have to try it next year.

Harry and David set up a booth for the first time this year . . .

and B97.5 motioned us over for more freebies on a plate.

We almost did a double-take when we saw the Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams booth with the owner himself, Allan Benton, serving his nationally-famous smoked country ham and bacon.

I said to him, It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Benton.  And you’re still smiling after being on your feet all morning?

He politely replied in his Southern gentleman way: Any time I’m holding Benton’s bacon, there’s gonna be a smile on my face!  (Sure enough.  He was still smiling when we passed by a little later in the morning, too.)

We mozied back around to Market Square to take in some of the crafts and farm-fresh foods brought in for the day.  We found Biscuit Festival mugs . . .

and Blackberry Farm products you can purchase online or from their catalog.  (No surprise: They have blackberry jam!) Click here for more information.

And wouldn’t you know, we’d find something never seen by us before. Thrifty Girl brought something every biscuit lover needs to wear: biscuit head bands — I kid you not!  One of kind, wouldn’t you say?

In fact, it’s just the sort of thing Erin Donovan, broadcaster for WBIR, might like to add to her growing wardrobe of must-have wearables with a biscuit theme!  She’s the Biscuit Queen for a reason!

If you haven’t been to the International Biscuit Festival, make plans for next year: May 14-16, 2014.  It’s a feast.  It’s a fun day.  And as organizer John Craig says, Who doesn’t love a biscuit?

International Biscuit Festival

www.biscuitfest.com

Click here for another blog on the International Biscuit Festival from Stuck Inside of Knoxville with that Urban Blues Again.

Barbacoa Grill

276 Bobwhite Ct.; www.barbacoa-boise.com

Go for the art, stay for the fabulous food, but arrive before sundown to catch the view from the windows.  Chef Enrique Martinez orchestrates dazzling cuisine in this artsy, eclectic, over-the-top gallery/dining room/museum of a restaurant. From the tableside-prepared guacamole to the sweet corn bisque to the Certified Angus Beef, you’ll think you won’t have room for the creations they call dessert, but force yourself!  It’s all good, and the evening will be way too short to take in the art (even in the bathrooms!) AND the gourmet dining experience.

Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery

610 Grove Street; www.bardenay.com

A distillery in a restaurant?  You got it!  On April 25, 2000, Bardenay’s served the first cocktail made in a U. S. restaurant with spirits distilled on site at its Historic Basque Block location — and still does!  Even the name Bardenay was a term loosely used by sailors for the word cocktail.  Watch distilling right near your table, and then sip away as you order from the creative menu with something for everyone.  Pair a chicken, beef, salmon, or shrimp satay (grilled skewer) with soup or salad, and with a Bardenay London Dry. Won’t find this dinner anywhere else.

Bar Gernika

202 S. Capitol Blvd.; www.bargernika.com

Standing on the corner of the Basque Block of downtown Boise, Bar Gernika has served authentic Basque food, wine, and desserts for almost 20 years.  In the tiny L-shaped space,  folks gather in tiny groups or power up computers or, like us, hang out at the bar and chat with the bartender. You can even watch ‘em cook those legendary fries — crisp, flavorful hand-cut Idaho spuds — that you don’t want to pass up.  But then what do you do about the Basque food?  It’s what you came for.  So you order a Double Solomo Sandwich of piled-high marinated pork loin and pimientos and a side order of melt-in-your-mouth Croquetas,  (little balls of butter, chicken, onion, and milk) deep fried and golden.  And if it’s Saturday, you hope you get there before the beef tongue sells out so you can really get into that Basque thing in Boise.  Yep.  Boise.

Boise Fry Company

111 Broadway, Suite 111; www.boisefrycompany.com

We’ve written about this one, but what’s good bears repeating.  This fry place that serves burgers on the side takes Idaho’s best crops of the day, posts them on chalkboards, tells you how they’ll be prepared, and you choose.  If you want a side-order burger, they’ve got ‘em:  free range, grass-fed beef or bison burgers or veggie burgers made with black beans and high protein quinoa.  Head over to the Seasoning Station for any combination of sea salts (flavored or unflavored), and then squirt some toppings like chipotle aioli or malt vinegar or seasoned sauce into little white cups and have at it.  It ain’t fancy — bar stools and shared spaces — but it is some good.  If you think a pile of fries can be a meal — and we do! — get there.  Burgers optional.

Cucina di Paolo

1504 Vista Avenue; www.cucinadipaolo.com

Look for the washer woman on Vista Avenue (Click here for more info.) as she scrub-a-dub-dubs, and you’ve found this intimate, seasonally decorated little gem of a shop owned by the gregarious and talented husband/wife team of Paul and Mary Jean Wegner.  Known for their take-out gourmet lasagnas (12 or more kinds) and chicken pot pies, the Wegners prepare on Sunday and Monday and then open for in-house dining or take-home orders Tuesday through Saturday.  Entrees and sides change daily, so check the board for what’s in, but you’ll definitely eat well on Chicken Fiori (chicken breast stuffed with proscuitto, spinach, and mozarella served over noodles) or Chipotle Meatloaf with Potatoes au Gratin or Chicken Penne Gorgonzola.  Whatever you do is really a don’t:  don’t skip dessert.  Get Paul to wax poetic on the virtues of peach pie made with hand-picked peaches from a farm in Emmett or peanut butter pie drizzled with chocolate or fresh rhubarb pie.  And that’s just shelf number one!

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro

108 S. Capitol Blvd.; www.goldysbreakfastbistro.com

As you may have read in a previous post, finding Goldy’s was happenstance.  As we walked through snowy Boise in search of hot coffee and anything substantial one morning, we asked a well-dressed businessman where to find breakfast.  What ended up being a short recommendation (Goldy’s is the best breakfast in town!) became our morning home for three days of gluttonous start-the-day sustenance.  It’s hard to beat my first order of hash browns and basted eggs or my husband’s three-egg omelette, but when you get the chance to return, you also get to try the specials like a Cajun Omelette or the generously loaded blueberry pancakes.  Swift service, steaming mugs of coffee, and walls lined with awards from Boise Weekly make this restaurant a go-to for morning goodness.  Thanks, Randy and Wanda Martinat, for breakfasts that hold you ’til suppertime and hospitality Boise-style!

If you’ve got a favorite place to dine in Boise, Idaho, leave us a comment.  We hope to get back and try more great places to eat in the City of Trees!

For more on our travels in Idaho and Washington, check out the Page at the top of this post labeled Inland Northwest.

For more information:

Vista Washer Woman: http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/12/04/weekly-photo-challenge-let-there-be-light/

Snowy day in downtown Boise

Some people would hate to be snowed in, especially if they’re staying in a hotel in an unfamiliar city. But for us, it was part of the dream we shared on our About page:  We’d love to spend a month downtown in various cities and be tourists all day every day!  (We can dream, right?)

So, when an unexpected snowstorm covered Boise, Idaho, closing schools (where I work) and some businesses, we just looked at each other and grinned.  It was our chance! Donning all the warm clothing we’d packed, we went in search of adventure.  First up, breakfast.

Sculptures in the snow, downtown Boise

A gentleman dressed in business attire braving the elements to get to the office answered our query about where locals would eat: Oh, you’ve got to go to Goldy’s.  It’s the best breakfast anywhere downtown.  Little did we know how right he was.

On this snowy day, Goldy’s was packed!  Owner Wanda Martinat, who with her husband Randy opened the restaurant in 1999, spread open the draperies blocking the cold from the front door and welcomed us to the warmth, comfort, and eclectic close-knit interior of Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro.

Goldy’s warm, welcoming interior. Check out that chandelier!

After a brief wait, we were directed upstairs to the balcony section where our table for two offered us a front-row seat to the action downstairs.

Balcony view: Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro

We have no idea what the ratio of waiters to customers is, but it seemed two to one. Coffee flowed, menus arrived, and orders were taken in record time.

“Been workin’ at Goldy’s for 13 years,” our waiter told us!

And then the food rushed in!  Bountiful breakfasts any way you like it.  In fact, the Create Your Own Breakfast page offers three columns of choices: Meat, Potatoes, and Bread. Eggs, too, any way you like ‘em:  Soft Boiled, Poached, or Basted.  And meats we’d never heard of — Basque Chorizo (large Basque community in Boise), Turkey Apple Sausage, and Maple Sausage — and specials like PEPS (Goldy’s cheese, peppers, and onions) and Bread Pudding Muffins filled the menu.  Another whole page offered Hollandaise Specialties like this new-to-us item: Spicy Chicken Benny with English muffin, chicken, spicy Hollandaise sauce, and bacon!!! Round all this out with entrees like Spinach and Italian Cheese Frittata or Smoked Salmon Hash, and you have a diner unparalleled in all of Boise — not just downtown!

Bert couldn’t resist the three-egg omelet with hash browns and sausage.

Goldy’s three-egg omelet with sausage and hash browns

And I dug into a huge stack of Blueberry Pancakes with blueberries all the way through.

Big blueberry pancakes with syrup

We even returned the next day and ordered the special:  Cajun Sausage Omelet . . .

Cajun sausage omelet at Goldy’s

And Corned Beef Hash with Basted Eggs.

Goldy’s corned beef hash with basted eggs

Awards pour in for Goldy’s (Click here to read awards/reviews), and it’s no wonder.  With great service and unique menu, Goldy’s is a hit with locals and tourists like us.

Stumbling onto Goldy’s was our good luck. And now we say If Guy Fieri returns to Boise, he’d want to share the place on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives! In fact, Goldy’s can make anyone’s day.

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro

108 S. Capitol Blvd.

Boise, ID 83702

208.345.4100

http://www.goldysbreakfastbistro.com/

To see all the food places in Boise featured in Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, click here.

For more posts on our travels in Idaho and Washington, click on the Inland Northwest page at the top of this blog.

Boats at the Pier, St. Petersburg, FL

Of course, we all want ample time to explore a city lined with mature, moss-filled trees. A city where world-class art museums, shops sporting local crafts, and hotels with beckoning porches await us.  A city like St. Petersburg, Florida.

But that’s not always the case.  With only one day to explore and hit the high spots, you can be hard pressed to see it all and do it all. But you CAN see a lot . . . if you have a plan.

Here are our top five “must-see’s” and “must-do’s” for a day in St. Pete.

1. Central Avenue

After breakfast, but still early, head to Central Avenue to do a little junkin’.  Stop in at Paper Street Market (915 Central) for industrial finds like sewing machines, architectural drawings, and metal signs. Or pick up a re-purposed desk and chair for your office.  Want to do it yourself? Iron Pelican (2452 Central) just may have the lowboy of your dreams. But sometimes you’re looking for a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. And if you are, you might get lucky at Haslam’s Book Store (2025 Central), Florida’s largest for new and used books — or that’s what the website says!

Come on in. There’s more inside at Paper Street Market on Central Avenue, St. Pete.

Whatever you do, don’t miss Florida Craftsmen (501 Central) where emerging and seasoned artists display their finest work  — like fiber art shoulder bags, hand-thrown pots, baskets woven of mixed grasses, and creative jewelry from fine, fine metals.

Adorned with a bold graphic, this mug catches your attention in the window of Florida Craftsmen.

Hungry yet?  Duck into Ricky P’s (1113 Central) for the Ultimate Shrimp Po-Boy or the Best BLFnT (Bacon, Lettuce, Fish — that’s Fried Tilapia — and Tomato) with remoulade sauce for an extra kick.  Too much sandwich?  Then dig in to Creole Jambalaya (crushed tomatoes, andouille sausage, chicken, and rice, of course).

Ricky P’s on Central, St. Petersburg, FL

2. Dali Museum

Even if you’ve seen the original Dali Museum, you’ve gotta go back to see this newly designed, architectural gem.  Emerging from this rectangular building designed by Yann Weymouth, the “eclipse” — a 75-foot tall curved window of 1062 triangular panes — offers a glimpse into the signature art collection of Salvador Dali.  (For more pictures, click here.) Take the helical staircase (Dali was obsessed with spirals) to the third floor where docents stand ready to share tidbits of the artist’s life and inspiration.  They’ll even shine flashlights on those hard-to-find illusions and symbols you might miss on your own!

The “eclipse” at the Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Want a cup of tea after touring? There’s not a prettier spot than the gardens facing Tampa Bay.  Adorned with Dali touches (spiral design, drippy watch bench, and a labyrinth made of hedge), the fanciful gardens just might have you looking for the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland — or Dali himself!

3. North and South Straub Park and the Marina

A stroll along the bay might be in order after viewing all that symbolic art, so drive out to The Pier and admire the boats just waiting for a good wind and a savvy sailor.

Boats at The Pier, St. Petersburg, FL

Park your car and stroll the parks while admiring the outdoor sculptures . . .

Newsboy, St. Petersburg

or the magnificent banyon trees standing like puddled drapery in an aristocrat’s home.

4. The Vinoy

After staring at art, strolling the park, and wishing you owned one of those lovely boats in the bay, head over to the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club (501 5th Ave., NE) to take a load off.  Order a drink, find a rocking chair on the porch, and watch the people go by!

An afternoon on the porch at The Vinoy

You may even be lucky to be there when a big event comes to town.  Like the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.  And then you’ll see a sand sculpture greeting the fans and maybe even the team passing by on their way to the buses.

Sand Sculpture, The Vinoy

Or maybe you’ll just see folks like us hanging out, capturing the breeze, and watching the sun go down.

5.  Beach Drive

With one last push (OK,  you can do it!), you’ll leave The Vinoy and move down Beach Drive where you can take in the Chihuly Collection (400 Beach Drive NE) and the sweet little shops and restaurants along the way.  With a vast selection of contemporary crafts, you’ll surely find a souvenir or a special, one-of-a-kind item in Shapiro’s (300 Beach Drive).

At the end of the day, treat yourself to one of the specialties at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House.  Like Lobster Mac & Cheese, Tandoori Spiced Mahi Mahi, or Florida Grouper Oscar. Be sure to ask if you can eat outside. On the sidewalk!

Not up for that?  Well, you can always tool it on down to St. Pete Beach where sunsets are free and Happy Hours are plentiful!

Sundown at St. Pete Beach

Walking the beach at sunset

Whatever you choose to do, it’ll be a great day in St. Petersburg!

For more information:

Map of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront: http://www.stpete.org/downtown_waterfront_master_plan/docs/Waterfront_Facilities_Parks.pdf

Betty, the Vista Washer Woman, never catches a break!  By day, she rub-a-dub-dubs, moving her body with the rhythms of washing, washing, washing atop the Cucina di Paolo! sign on Vista Street in Boise, Idaho!

Created by Andy Teague in the 1950s, Betty originally drew attention to the Maytag Laundry, whose sign she topped. After the laundry closed, Betty was rebuilt (after a hiatus of 15 years) by Bruce Whittig, at the request of the building’s new owners, Gregory Kaslo and Kay Hardy.  The iconic plywood, foam, and chicken-wire scrub lady stands five feet tall if placed on the ground and has become a beloved fixture on the busy street where passers-by are reminded that woman’s work is never done!  She gets new clothes periodically, thanks to the Boise State University theater department. And she now draws people in to the restaurant Cucina di Paolo! owned by Paul and Mary Jean Wegner.

Alas, poor Betty works into the darkness of night now that Daylight Savings Time is in effect.

Which just means, I guess, that the ever-scrubbing Betty, the Vista Washer Woman, rarely sees the light at the end of the tunnel!

Source note:  Betty, the Vista Washer Woman, is listed in the new book 150 Boise Icons celebrating Boise’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. (Click here for more information and how to order the book.)

Boise 150 Sesquicentennial — www.boise150.org

Cucina di Paolo! 1504 Vista Avenue, Boise, ID, 208.345.7150; www.cucinadipaolo.com

For more posts on the Inland Northwest, click the Page at the top of this blog labeled Inland Northwest.

For more entries to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light!, click here.

For 35 years, we’ve treated ourselves and our family with some of the best baked goods in West Knoxville — at Ham ‘n Goodys!  As our go-to stop for tea cakes, fresh-baked cakes, and lemon cookies, we just naturally think of the little shop on Northshore that’s won awards for years.

In 1978, Ham ‘n Goodys opened, and it was Leroy Shoemaker who served us our first tea cakes.  Made the old-fashioned way with the richness of fresh ingredients (yes, real butter!), tea cakes have caused us to steer into the parking lot and head into the turn-of-the-century house with the maroon awning many times.  Tea cakes come glazed or unglazed, but I can’t for the life of me tell you which is my favorite.  With a cup of hot tea or coffee, a tea cake brings a whole new meaning to “morning pick-up!” But I’ve also found that they’re good anytime.

Steve Shoemaker reaches into the rows of tea cakes to fill an eager customer’s order.

It’s the specialty cakes, however, that brought me in this week.  Our daughter-in-law’s birthday coincided with an early Thanksgiving dinner (to accommodate travel schedules), so we asked Steve Shoemaker to recommend a best-seller for us.  He hesitated.  All of our cakes sell well.  You just have to think about what kind you like, and we probably have it.

Rows of Special Cakes greet you as you enter Ham ‘n Goodys.

And they probably do.  The choices include Red Velvet, Carrot, Chocolate Cream, German Chocolate, Fresh Strawberry, Fresh Coconut, and Italian Cream — rich, delicious, and pretty, too!

Steve helps a customer select a Special Cake.

We ordered a German Chocolate since that fulfills a number of favorite items:  rich chocolate, pecans, and coconut!  (My favorite food groups and hopefully those of the Birthday Girl!)

When I went to pick up the cake, Mike and Vickie Price (dressed in Big Orange clothing for the UT/Vandy match) were dining in for lunch.  You can’t beat their sandwiches that come with chips and your choice of cheese, Mike told me. We eat here a lot.

Mike and Vickie Price having lunch at Ham ‘n Goodys!

Sandwiches include Ham with Honey Glaze, Basted Turkey Breast, Smoked Turkey Breast, EyeRound Roast Beef, and Corned Beef, but there are also salad sandwiches, too, like Chunky Chicken, Ham, Tuna, and Turkey.

The owners call this establishment “The Business That Faith Built,” and I’ve always appreciated the little chalkboard bearing a Bible verse right above the menu.

When I asked if they’d be busy for the Thanksgiving holidays, Steve replied, Ohhhh, yessss. And they will be.  Orders are already in for spiral sliced hams and one of their best sellers — Lemon Cookies — that they keep boxed and stacked by dozens, ready to hand to lined-up customers.

Betsy fills an order for tea cakes and cookies.

If you need a smaller cake, don’t hesitate to ask for one of the creamy, dreamy pound cakes that come in loaf size: Sour Cream, Cream Cheese, Lemon, Five Flavor, or Chocolate.  All are great sliced and topped with a scoop of ice cream or fresh berries.

So, whether you have a craving for a Glazed Tea Cake or you need a special birthday celebration German Chocolate Cake, you can head to Ham ‘n Goodys with confidence. No matter what you buy, your take-home purchase will make anyone (especially you!) beam with pride.  After all, you’re eating somethin’ special from Ham ‘n Goodys!

Wishing our daughter-in-law a Happy Birthday with a German Chocolate Cake from Ham ‘n Goodys!

Ham ‘n Goodys

314 Northshore Drive

Knoxville, TN 37919

Phone: 865.584.2246

Fax: 865.584.1574

www.hamngoodys.com

This is post #22 for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) 2013.

The marina at The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Whenever I think of Coeur d’Alene now, I think of the color blue, a color that defines this lovely town built on a dreamy blue lake in the middle of Idaho, a state known for its forest greens and soft brown fields of grain.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Looming large over the downtown area is The Coeur d’Alene, a classy resort and marina where boats rest easy on the lake while vacationers and residents dine in the restaurants, enjoy recreational facilities, and walk the world’s longest floating boardwalk.

The world’s longest floating boardwalk!

So surprised was I to see a sand beach in Idaho that I snapped this picture and quickly posted it on Facebook for my Tennessee friends to see!

Imagine — a beach in Idaho!

This fall, I brought my husband Bert to see the city on the lake where we just happened upon an adventure.  While strolling City Dock at Independence Point, we spied a poster advertising Brooks Sea Plane.  The owner said he had just had a cancellation, and we could go up, up and away, if we were ready to fly right then.  We jumped at the chance.

Bert, on right, boards the plane for a flight over Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The 40-mile, 20-minute flight took us over 125 miles of Lake Coeur d’Alene’s shoreline where some of the city’s residents and a few of America’s well-known stars maintain homes we could only dream of seeing — like John Elway of the Denver Broncos, Dennis Franz from NYPD Blue, and Wayne Gretzky of National Hockey League fame. A bird’s eye view of paradise, Idaho-style!

At the end of the flight, we dined at Dockside in the Coeur d’Alene Resort while watching the sun set on the marina.  Coeur d’Alene looks good from the air AND by the sea!

A sunset view from Dockside restaurant

For more information:

Brooks Sea Plane: 208.664.2842; http://www.brooks-seaplane.com

Coeur d’Alene Resort: 800.688.5253; http://www.cdaresort.com/

For more posts on the Inland Northwest, click on the Page at the top of this blog.

This post is #20 for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) 2013.

Make Grandma Proud!!!

We first took note of Buttermilk Sky this past week.  Their newly launched Facebook page already had requests for additional help to prepare for their opening this Thursday, November 14th.  Then we drove past, noting that the parking lot was full, and lines were forming outside the shop!  (And they’re not even officially open.)  Top that with ads that say, We open at 11:00 on Saturday and will sell ’til the pies are gone! That’s when we knew: There’s a hit in the making in the Bearden area.

At 11:00 Saturday, we were on their doorstep talking to the owners, Scott and Meredith Layton.  Scott’s a farmboy from Missouri married to Meredith, a Memphis girl whose grandmother made homemade ice cream for family get-togethers on Sunday. They’ve combined their love of fresh ingredients, natural flavors, and Southern cooking to bring made-from-scratch pies and ice cream to Knoxville.

Owners Meredith and Scott Layton of Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop

You’re not even open, I said to Scott, and you’re selling out already. 

He wiped his hands on his apron and replied, We thought last Saturday would be just a slow test run, so we made 200 pies.  By the end of the day, we had sold 800!  We just kept cooking and cooking all day long!

As busy as they were, Store Manager Morgan welcomed us in to see the new place.

The store has a clean, yet comfortable vibe with white walls, black signage, kraft paper boxes tied with twine, and the store’s blue ribbon logo affixed to take-out orders.

Looking is part of the fun — and that’s OK since you may be in line for a while, depending on when you arrive.  We noted boxes of seasonal favorite pumpkin pies ready for take-out, but, hopefully, their other best-sellers will be there, too:  Nanny’s Pecan, Southern Buttermilk, and Chocolate Meringue.

Notable are the little four-inch pies that sell for $4.25 or four for $16.00 that you can purchase as a four-pack sampler.  (Which we did!) By the way, Bert loves the buttermilk pies; I prefer chocolate meringue.

Also for sale is good coffee . . .

and that homemade ice cream Meredith grew up loving.

Our friend, Wayne Christensen, came for pies but did a little impulse buying when he heard about the homemade ice cream!

In the not-overly-big-but-hardworking kitchen, Jenna was rolling out the dough for thumbprints which Meredith said would be ready in about an hour.

Most every customer on Saturday took their orders home, but you can eat at the picnic table outside or on a stool inside.  Maybe.  If there’s room.  But if the lines are any indication of what’s gonna happen this Thursday, there just might not be any room to breathe!

A long line — and the store’s not officially open yet!

If you click here to their website, you’ll see the names of the mainstay pies:  Granny’s Apple, Southern Buttermilk, Chocolate Meringue, and Nanny’s Pecan.  But there are seasonal offerings in the works.  This fall will bring on Spiced Pumpkin and Caramel followed by the winter delights of Kentucky Derby and Coconut Cream.

Their phrase (and mine, too):  Pie oh my!

You can even vote for next month’s Pie of the Month.

Something we couldn’t see yet are the Scratch Made Buttermilk Biscuits, Whipped Butters, and Biscuit Toppings like Warm Chocolate Gravy and Sweetwater Valley Farm Buttermilk Cheddar Cheese.  But what we did see made us realize that this place will be busy from Grand Opening Day ’til Christmas, for sure.

So, if homemade pie is on your list of favorite desserts, or you crave cookies, biscuits and such, you just may want to head to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop.  It really is a Sweet Spot!

Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop

5402 Kingston Pike

Knoxville, TN 37919

865.330.3694

www.buttermilk-sky.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buttermilk-Sky-Pie-Shop/210533802332348

Twitter: @buttermilkskypi

Grand Opening:  November 14, 2013

Click here for Knoxville News-Sentinel article “Bearden to get a new pie shop.”

This post is #10 for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) 2013.

out a mound of hashbrowns on the griddle.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1287.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> A cook at Frank’s spreads
out a mound of hashbrowns on the griddle.

Frank’s Diner” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1297.jpg?w=500″ width=”500″ height=”375″ /> Corned Beef Hash and Eggs,
Frank’s Diner

Omelette with a side of hashbrowns” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1296.jpg?w=500″ width=”500″ height=”375″ /> Meat & Cheese
Omelette with a side of hashbrowns

Frank’s gives you a front row seat for the cooking frenzy.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1284.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> Eating at the counter at
Frank’s gives you a front row seat for the cooking
frenzy.

orders at Frank’s.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1298.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> A waitress takes breakfast
orders at Frank’s.

waitresses never missed a beat.” src=”http://ohtheplaceswesee.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_1288.jpg?w=375″ width=”375″ height=”500″ /> Friendly, organized
waitresses never missed a beat.

Great #hashbrowns at
Frank’s Diner.  You betcha!

Frank’s
Diner

1516 West 2nd Avenue Spokane, WA 509-747-8798
http://franksdiner.com
“Voted Best Breakfast 14 Years
Running!” And where have you eaten great hashbrowns?
 Would love to hear from you.  Just leave us a comment at
the end of this post. For more posts on our trip to Idaho,
Washington, and Montana, click on the page labeled Inland
Northwest located at the top of this
post.