restaurant – Oh, the Places We See . . .

Hashtag the #hashbrowns at Frank’s Diner, Spokane.

Oh, the Places We See — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 02:44:31 +0000

Just about any good diner
serves a bountiful breakfast, but mostly the tried-and-true menu
items look and taste the same wherever you go: scrambled eggs
are scrambled, pancakes are light and fluffy, and toast comes with
butter and jam. So when we try a new place, we hunt for
unique breakfast stand-outs as we scan the menu or gaze at other
customers’ orders before we tell the waiter what we want. It didn’t take long to
figure it out at Frank’s
Diner, located in a turn-of-the-century
presidential railway car in Spokane, Washington. Almost as
soon as we were seated at the counter where we had a front-row
position for the cooking action, we struck up a conversation with
the customer next to us — a chef from Seattle getting ready to
open his own restaurant. He was in Spokane to pick up some
custom-made sinks, but said he never misses a chance to eat at
Frank’s. We asked him what he was ordering.
Every time I come here, I think
I’ll order something else, but I get the same thing: Corned
Beef Hash and Eggs with the big side of hashbrowns, he
confessed. Sure ‘nough. About that time, the cook poured out
a stack of hashbrowns, flattening the pile with a turner.
(Sorry about the blurred picture, but it’s a candid of this
constant-motion cook moving from flipping omelettes to spreading
out the taters!)

A cook at Frank’s spreads
out a mound of hashbrowns on the griddle.

Right about
then, the waiter brought out the order for the chef seated next to
us: two cooked-to-perfection eggs atop a mound of corned beef hash
with almost a foot-long stack of golden hashbrowns snugged right
beside!

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs,
Frank’s Diner

I was pretty sure I wanted what the chef
was eating, but still felt compelled to check out the menu with an
eye toward what was unusual or unique at Frank’s. It wasn’t
hard to find. I even liked the name of
it: Gourmet Purple Oatmeal –
Snoqualmie Falls Oatmeal with huckleberries served with toast,
raisins, brown sugar, butter or milk. Tempting. But I decided
to duplicate the chef’s order, and husband Bert decided on a cheese
and bacon omelette. Both came with those toasty, hot hashbrowns!

Meat & Cheese
Omelette with a side of hashbrowns

While waiting for our
orders, we took a look around. The place has back-in-time ambiance.
To our left was a long counter where customers sipped good
strong coffee and watched as two quick-action cooks fired out
orders with an enviable rhythm known only to folks who work
together well.

Eating at the counter at
Frank’s gives you a front row seat for the cooking
frenzy.

And to our right were cozy booths filled with
eager diners and waitresses pacing up and down the classy
checkerboard floors.

A waitress takes breakfast
orders at Frank’s.

Two chatty, non-stop servers kept our
coffee mugs full and then handed over our
big-enough-for-two-but-we’re-not-sharing breakfasts with a smile!

Friendly, organized
waitresses never missed a beat.

We came. We
sat. We ordered and watched. Then we dined in style!
And if we ever come back, we just might try some of these other
interesting-sounding favorites:
Great Nana’s Meatloaf
Benedict, Hobo
Scramble, Grilled Banana Nut
Bread, or Frank’s Special French
Toast. But for now, I’m just tweeting what made us
sit up and take notice:

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.

Filed under: Restaurant, Travel, Washington Tagged: Breakfast, Frank's Diner, hashbrowns, NaBloPoMo, restaurant, Spokane, Washington

Father’s Day treats at Rue Beignet, Baton Rouge

Oh, the Places We See — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:58:30 +0000

If you live in Tennessee, your trips to a beignet shop are few and far between. We just don’t have those flash-fried little doughnut pillows sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar nearby — or even within a day’s drive, if you live in Knoxville!

But since we were visiting relatives in Baton Rouge on Father’s Day weekend, I checked Yelp (Click here) for a listing of beignet shops in the area, and then “kidnapped” my hubby for a surprise visit to the number-one rated shop: Rue Beignet.

It’s a clean little place — bright yellow walls, original artwork, a counter facing a wall of mirrors where folks sit on stools and may avoid (May, I said) covering themselves with a fine dusting of the white stuff that inevitably showers my lap whenever I take the first bite!

We lined up to order a plate of three sweet treats for each of us along with a café au lait.

We were handed mugs so we could serve ourselves from a contraption I wish we’d had when we were first introduced to strong Louisiana java laced with cream at the Cafe du Monde (Click here) in the New Orleans French Quarter: a self-stirring contraption that kept the creamy, light brown café au lait hot and all stirred up and handy if you wanted more!

I peered into the kitchen just in time to see owner Brent Sandrock rolling out mounds of light, cakey dough that he sliced and diced into squares and then plopped into the swirling oil. As you can see, I could hardly hold the camera still with that great smell wafting into the dining area making my mouth water for these rarely-gotten delicacies — so soft, so squishy, and so not beignets for very long!

My husband grabbed our favorite Louisiana read — Country Roads magazine. It’s part journalism with stories of people and happenings in the area and part annotated calendar — if you want to know where to take in the sights and sounds of Cajun country, you need to frequent this publication! (Click here for the online version.)

But before I could commence reading, a lady took out her very own apron, tied it around her waist, and got serious (very serious!) about the task at hand. A true beignet aficionado, Claire Landry — whose name I learned later after we hit it off immediately — dines here regularly with her husband Larry and friend Jeannette. Although they were displaced from their home in New Orleans after Katrina, Claire and Larry have come to enjoy Baton Rouge — and breakfast at Rue Beignet!

When the beignets arrived, we almost grabbed them from the waiter’s hands and then doused ’em with another liberal sprinkling of the white stuff.

Don’t breathe in, I’ve always heard it said. (I guess you’d get a cloud of sugar filling up your lungs.) But I was also pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to breathe out either — unless I wanted to make Father’s Day a white-out event!

We savored our morning delicacies, sipped our café au lait and then said our good-byes. I couldn’t resist asking this proud papa if I could take a picture of him and his adorable daughters. (It was Father’s Day, after all, and they were taking their dad out for beignets.) The man gladly pulled them around him and said something we’ll never forget: I don’t know how I could have ever wished for a boy when I am so happy to have these two lovely girls in my life.

So, if you’re in Baton Rouge, stop by Rue Beignet and tell Brent hello. Order the always-good beignets or what we’re having next time — a heaping plate of beignet fingers (loads of little sugary squiggles instead of square pillows).

But by all means, don’t forget your apron!

Rue Beignet

18135 E. Petroleum Drive, Suite H

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

225.448.3942

http://www.ruebeignet.com

Filed under: Food, Louisiana, Restaurant, Travel Tagged: Baton Rouge, beignets, cafe au lait, food, Louisiana, restaurant, Rue Beignet

It’s a Multi-cultural Experience in Downtown Silver Spring

Oh, the Places We See — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:17:51 +0000

Fountains under the night lights of downtown Silver Spring.

Although I’m no authority on Silver Spring, Maryland, or any big city for that matter, it was my good fortune to explore this progressive downtown area for a few days and get a feel for the people and places that make it unique. Yes, it had the usual national chain restaurants, stores we all know, and people doing the usual city things — waiting in line to cross the street, board buses, get a table, etc. But Silver Spring is different.

You only have to walk a few blocks to see the concentration of interesting venues undergirding the city’s strength: Silver Spring celebrates diversity in its people and places. . . and welcomes visitors to join in the celebration!

When I checked in at the Marriott Courtyard, this 1963 photo by Owen Duval greeted me as I stepped off the elevator onto my floor. Titled “Miss Silver Spring at Jesup Blair Park,” the photo of Barbara Chamberlin was a nostalgic reminder of the Silver Spring of yesteryear.

Miss Silver Spring at Jesup Blair Park — 1963

But what I found after tossing my bags into my room and then hitting the pavement was a new, classy, downtown area with international flair!

Discovery

It’s possible that downtown came to life after Discovery Communications moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to Silver Spring, but I have no idea. What it did do, however, was infuse the area (and now the nation — heck, the world, too) with creativity the likes of which we hadn’t seen before.

The world’s #1 nonfiction media company: Discovery Communications

My behind-the-scenes tour of Discovery uncovered not only the historic acquisitions positioned in the front hall — dinosaur bones, fossilized bambiraptor remains, a triceratops head — but also vestiges of creative genius behind the Discovery Channel and umpteen new series that have grabbed hold of American viewers: Yukon Men, Shark Week, Deadliest Catch, American Chopper, TLC, Animal Planet, and on and on and on.

No wonder we love ’em — they’re us on screen!

(Click here for more on Discovery Communications.)

A wall in corporate headquarters of Discovery Communications

When you get off the elevator on the 2nd floor, you can do as Tom Turner did and sit yourself down on the whoopie cushion bench — a fun way to start the tour!

Discovery doesn’t take itself too seriously — whoopee anyone?

Or you can rest a while on the shark couch. And check out the bite-out table, too.

Shark couch and surfer table at Discovery Communications

Creativity is everywhere — from cubicles decorated with Hello Kitty to life-size replicas of chopper dudes, aliens, chimps from Animal Planet, and a royal seat from TLC.

Discovery’s royal seat!

Shopping

Shopping, too, had that international flair — everything from ordinary to odd and then some. Since I’m from Knoxville and Whole Foods is coming soon, I went there first. Produce, coffee, even seaweed from around the world filled the waist-high tables.

Whole Trade produce at Whole Foods Market

And long bars boasting pans of prepared dishes catered to people of all ages and backgrounds who just wanted to try something new.

American, Mexican, Lebanese, you name it . . . at Whole Foods

DSW Shoe Warehouse is a shoe mecca. Filled with ballerina flats, stacked-heel boots, and running shoes, this store could outfit all the feet in Silver Spring and then some.

Boots lined two aisles from front to back at DSW Shoe Warehouse

I couldn’t resist asking this saleslady if I could snap a picture of her butterfly earrings, and she was happy to comply! After all, she enjoyed being the fashionplate behind the DSW counter.

Workin’ the register in style at DSW!

Other places to shop include Pacers Running Store for activewear and New York & Company. On its way is H &M which should do well in this fashion-conscious D. C. burb.

Entertainment

I crossed the street at Veterans Plaza mainly because I spotted a crowd of folks stopped at a street vendor’s stand and then others running/gathering/playing in this large open area. Two men seated at a chess board said it was OK with them if I took their picture, and I tried to capture kids on skateboards whizzing past these guys who can obviously concentrate in the midst of urban hubbub.

One of them looked up at me and said, You know this is an ice skating rink in the winter, don’t you?

And I replied that I didn’t, but it made sense. This downtown has a lot going for it in terms of bringing people together, and I’d love to come back and see a winter rink filled with skaters of all ages right in the heart of things.

Two chess players enjoy the warm air before this area becomes a downtown ice skating rink.

The AFI Silver Theatre was a find, for sure. The American Film Institute (AFI) opened the old Silver Theatre on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring in 2003. Since then it’s been an attraction for its quality renovation and events such as the Latin American Film Festival which was in full swing while I was there.

AFI Silver Theatre’s opening of Latin American Film Festival

A huge movie theatre, The Majestic, looms large on the corner at Ellsworth Drive near the skateboard park/ice skating rink. The IMAX theatre is bound to be a big hit with residents and visitors, too.

The Regal Majestic 20 and IMAX

But what intrigued me most was The Fillmore Silver Spring on Colesville Road near the Silver Theatre. It’s a live music venue for up-and-comings as well as already famous groups like Gov’t Mule playing there November 3rd. With a capacity of 2,000, The Fillmore serves as a cornerstone for entertainment in this community.

Concerts and private events fill the calendar at The Fillmore.

Food

Without a doubt, Silver Spring provides foodies of all ages and all tastes a wide range of choices. International offerings can be found at Asian Bistro, Lebanese Taverna Cafe, Nando’s Peri-Peri, Pho Hiep Hoa, and Thai at Silver Spring. Thumbnails on my favorites follow below.

Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe can seat you in a wine cellar atmosphere while serving you Mediterranean flatbreads, Adega Fries (sweet potato fries with mango-lime vinaigrette), or my favorite — Arugula, Pears, & Gorgonzola Salad. Gourmet food in a tucked-away atmosphere!

Order at the counter at Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe

Arugula, Pears & Gorgonzola Salad at Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe

Eggspectation won the Best Brunch Award in the 2012 Best of Silver Spring Winners, but you don’t have to go in the morning to load up on three-egg omelettes or the Eggstravaganza with two eggs, two slices of French toast, Canadian bacon, and grilled potatoes! It’s around-the-clock breakfast food that’s uneggspected!

Enter here for eggs benedict and three-egg omelettes — served any time!

You won’t leave Austin Grill hungry if you order a Texas Brisket Taco Plate with dry rubbed brisket, tomato, fried onion straws and BBQ sauce or The Willie Nelson with four tacos: skirt steak, grilled chicken, carnitas, and picadillo.

Austin Grill in downtown Silver Spring

Texas brisket tacos with fried onion straws at Austin Grill

For fine dining, head to 8407 Kitchen Bar and order the house made charcuterie board with Pastrami, Bison Salami, Chef’s Terrine, Smoked Bluefish, and House-Cured Virginia Ham for starters. Then add Moulard Duck Breast or Organic Scottish Salmon as an entree topped off with Caramelized Fig & Raspberry Tart for dessert! Oyster Reef Coffee, anyone?

House-made charcuterie and artisanal cheeses on the menu at 8407.

But if you’re just out strolling, stop in for a cold treat at FroZenYo where you fill a cup with your choice of flavors, add toppings to your heart’s content, and then pay based on weight — of the cup, of course. Not what you weigh after indulging!

Shannon Gaumer fills her cup to the brim with great frozen yogurt!

Maybe Next Time

If I’m lucky enough to return to Silver Spring on a weekend from April to October, I’ll head to the Fenton Street Market on the corner of Fenton & Ellsworth — a fun, multi-cultural street fair featuring local vendors set up on the sidewalks selling everything from glass beads to straw hats.

Silver Spring, Maryland, pulls people downtown — just for the fun of it!

A resident enjoying one of the many sculptures in the parks of Silver Spring!

Silver Spring, Maryland

http://www.silverspringcenter.com/

Filed under: Destination, Farmers Market, Festivals, Food, Restaurant, Retail Shops, Travel Tagged: Breakfast, entertainment, food, global, grocery, multi-cultural, music, restaurant, seafood, shopping, skating rink, street fair, travel, TV

Summer’s Last Sip: Chillin’ Good Cook-Out Milkshake

Oh, the Places We See — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:43:45 +0000

Hayley and Lilly enjoying milkshakes on a Sunday afternoon on the front porch of Cook-Out

Now, I don’t even pretend to be a Guy Fieri who knows every drive-in, diner, and dive across America and where to get the best milkshakes. But I do know a GOOD milkshake, if I say so myself.

I grew up in small towns where you drove up to a tiny little building and then walked up to the window (usually with screens) to order a cone, a hot dog, some fries, or a milkshake. Now you only see those little places in the movies, I guess, or at the Freezo right here in Knoxville. But they’re definitely vanishing from America’s landscape.

My dad loved milkshakes, so he would drive my mom and me to the Dairy Queen and place his order: Three milkshakes, please. Then he’d walk back to the car, and we’d sip away quietly. At least ’til we hit bottom. And then we all announced The End with that hollowed-out noise that only comes when you suck the last drops into an otherwise empty straw.

When the second daughter arrived, Dad announced that he would be ordering four milkshakes pretty soon. Later, he proudly said it would be five, then six, then seven, since I’m the oldest of five girls, all of whom like milkshakes — or at least they did when they were young. Best invention, according to my dad, was that cardboard 6-hole carrying container that transported all but one of the frothy shakes to our Chevy station wagon, leaving just one trip back to the window for my dad who said he was doing all this just for us. We knew better.

So I thought of my dad and those good family times when my husband said, You wanna try a milkshake at Cook-Out? There’s one on Cumberland. Now how could I refuse?

Cook-Out on Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville

Verdict: Cook-Out has delicious milkshakes. I can say that from my years of family indulgences and fully trained tastebuds. Of course, others nearby that I’ve written about like Bruster’s and Tic Toc do, too, but Cook-Out probably has everyone beat when it comes to choices.

Just look at this. More milkshake flavors than — well, just about anybody! But there’s another thing. If you can imagine it, they say they can blend it right up — your very own concoction.

Two servers, Jacob and Ashton filled us in on Cook-Out, a privately owned chain of restaurants in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Jacob and Ashton, servers at Cook-Out, admit they’re lovers of the milkshakes, too.

What we like, they said, is how fresh the milkshakes are.

They explained that the richest, best ice cream is blended, dated, and stored in cups for a only a brief time. There’s a time stamp handwritten on the bottom of each cup to guarantee freshness. Then they add refreshing ingredients like bananas, strawberries, pineapple — even watermelon in July and August — to the shakes when ordered. And, they added, if you don’t see what you want on the list, you can ask us to make a different combo!

Somehow this code is a freshness indicator, but you have to know the code, I guess.

Cook-Out serves food, too, “cooked outdoors style” — like char-grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken breasts — as well as barbecue, BLTs, and sides of slaw. And it’s one of the few places in Knoxville that has Cheerwine Floats on the menu!

At Ashton‘s suggestion, I ordered a Peanut Butter Shake — one of two best sellers: Peanut Butter and Oreo! Bert ordered Snickers. We agreed: rich ingredients, quality ice cream.

Jacob hands Bert my fresh-made peanut butter milkshake.

I have a technique down pat after all these years of “milkshaking.” First, I dig the spoon in for a medium bite of the creamy cold goodness. Then I squish it between my tongue and the roof of my mouth — ever so slowly — to avoid the inevitable brain freeze. I continue with bigger and bigger spoonfuls until I notice that at least some of the shake has started to melt. At that point, I poke in my straw and commence the sipping/slurping process. (Some things your dad teaches you, you never forget!)

So, check out this unofficial website (The company doesn’t have its own up and running yet) to find a Cook-Out in your area. You, too, can enjoy shakes from Labor Day all the way through football season.

And one more thing — you’ll only hear Christian music at Cook-Out: owner preference. Certainly didn’t make a difference to us — we enjoy milkshakes no matter what’s playing in the background!

So, what will it be? Chocolate malt . . . heath toffee . . . strawberry cheesecake . . . cappuccino . . . blueberry . . .

Cook-Out

Knoxville Locations: 2135 Cumberland Avenue and 6920 Kingston Pike

Corporate Office: 1-866-547-0011

Unofficial Website: http://www.cookoutnc.com

Been to Cook-Out? Got a favorite milkshake flavor? Leave us a comment. We may try yours next time! Or, if you’ve got another place you love, please share. What’s not to like about a great shake on a hot afternoon?!

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/68/1613353/restaurant/Fort-Sanders/Cook-Out-Knoxville”> alt=”Cook Out on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1613353/minilink.gif” style=”border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px” />

Filed under: Food, Restaurant Tagged: burgers, chocolate, dessert, drive-through, food, ice cream, Knoxville, milkshakes, North Carolina, peanut butter, restaurant, Tennessee, travel

Bluff View Art District: Chattanooga View Points

Oh, the Places We See — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:53:34 +0000

Even on the Fourth of July, Chattanooga’s Bluff View Art District was open for business! It’s a place unique unto itself — an artist colony of sorts, offering historic lodging, a noteworthy museum, artists’ renderings, and places to relax and eat inside or out. In fact, all of downtown Chattanooga is unique — an upscale city devoted to renovation, reclamation, and relaxation.

Bluff View Art District is the epitome of quiet elegance in the heart of the city.

My husband and I left Knoxville on July 3rd in time to position ourselves on the Walnut Street Bridge for Pops on the River in Coolidge Park and then watch colorful, dramatic fireworks burst and dance to the music of the night.

A view of the Tennessee River from Bluff View Art District

But the Fourth was ours for exploring on our own, so we headed to the District.

Near the Back Inn Cafe, a tall whirligig-like sculpture let us know this is no ordinary shopping area. This is as artsy a place in Tennessee as you can find.

This sculpture almost says “lift off”!

Our first stop? River Gallery, in the former Dr. Edward Newell home. We spotted suspended glass orbs beckoning us inside to take a closer look.

Hand-blown glass catching the sunlight from a window in River Gallery

Known for showcasing the creative art of some of the area’s finest craftsmen, the gallery offers variety in form, function, and medium.

Colorful scarves on display at River Gallery

Ceramist Kelly Jean Ohl created “11 Piece Wall Installation” — unique wall art.

We couldn’t resist touching these hand-turned, burled wood bowls.

We were pleasantly surprised to see this oil on canvas “House in Biltmore Village” by Knoxville artist Joe Parrott!

Wall hanging of colorful, contemporary quilting: “New Paths” by Marquetta Johnson

River Gallery is celebrating 20 years in business with a special exhibit, Collecting Thoughts. Although it runs from August 1 to 31 this year, we were privy to some of the art that day by Nancy Kubale, Roelna Louw, and Susan Parrish. (Here’s where the viewpoints part of this post comes in: It’s not just art . . . these pieces make statements!)

The sign with Nancy Kubale’s “Stand Still” reads “a reminder to stop and stand still and be fully present.”

Roelna Louw’s ceramic sculpture entitled “Us” features two people leaning in for conversation.

Susan Parrish’s mixed media pieces are a testament to her creativity as they express her views on people, politics, and the vagaries of life.

Parrish’s “Holy Man” uses metallic washers, a sink stopper, and a blue cleaning brush!

We left River Gallery and walked past other buildings like Renaissance Commons, a stately building now used for private events and the District’s holiday buffets. Originally this was a quadruplex, then a duplex, and now one of the area’s most tasteful examples of urban renewal.

Renaissance Commons

The Bluff View Inn is really a conglomerate of three turn-of-the-century homes repurposed as Bed & Breakfast Inns: the Maclellan House, the T. C. Thompson House, and the C. G. Martin House. An 1889 English Tudor, The Maclellan House offers seven guest rooms, a honeymoon suite, and several original furnishings.

Bluff View Inn: The Maclellan House

You can see a view of the river from the breakfast room at The Maclellan House.

Period furniture graces the sitting room.

The Bocce Court Terrace, named for the game of bocce brought to America by Italian immigrants, offers unparalleled views of the river and a place to relax.

Built with salvaged architectural elements on the site where another home previously stood, Rembrandt’s Coffee House sells paninis, soups, artfully packaged chocolates, and gourmet desserts. It was definitely abuzz with activity on the Fourth. We took time to relax, have lunch, and meet some of the people out and about that day.

Lili talked to us about the varieties of tea and coffee at Rembrandt’s.

We weren’t the only ones having trouble deciding what to order! Sandwiches, salads, desserts, fresh brewed coffees . . .

But Dava said my choice of chicken salad was a good one and tea would make a great, relaxing after-shopping drink!

I was tempted — very tempted — to take home this beautifully wrapped box of chocolates — just for myself!

We even struck up a conversation with Christina Neighbors who wants to be a teacher, if she can get a job in Chattanooga! Anyone hiring?

Listed in the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens, the River Gallery Sculpture Garden fascinates young and old with creative pieces that grace the courtyard and the bank below, leading to the river. It’s not unusual to see people looking closely at the sculptures or relaxing in this urban setting so removed from busy city life.

This sculptural figure seems suspended in flight on the banks below the garden.

A stack of heads seems as tall as the bridge from this perspective!

A walking, winged sculpture seems almost in motion.

The Bluff View Bakery occupies my favorite structure, the former Powers & Condon building. Even on the Fourth of July, workers baked fresh bread in Chattanooga’s oldest artisan bakery and hand twisted pretzels for the restaurants and B & B’s in the area.

My favorite building in the District houses the Bluff View Bakery.

Rolling and shaping pretzels by hand

We asked Sharon why they were working on the Fourth, and she replied, We have to get the bread ready to sell at Blue Cross, Blue Shield tomorrow. To the employees.

Sharon explained why they were working on the Fourth!

And so it was, that we, too, had fresh bread to take home that afternoon as one last souvenir from the Bluff View Art District.

It was hard not to pinch off a hunk of fresh bread on our way back to Knoxville!

You can see Bluff View Art District in a day, including a quick tour of the Hunter Museum, but you may want to spend more time than that. It’s easy to get caught up in the shops, open air sculptures, and the fascinating architecture of the district. So much to see. So many view points.

For a historical overview of the Bluff View Art District and a timeline of the district’s development, click here.

For more on the Hunter Museum of American Art, click here, and be sure to check out my next blog.

Bluff View Art District

411 East Second Street

Chattanooga, TN 37403

http://www.yelp.com/bling –>

http://embed.yelpcdn.com/bling_borders?color=C41200&width=200&BGcolor=CCCCCC&position=top&height=40) “>http://www.yelp.com”> src=”http://embed.yelpcdn.com/static/201206261522729853/img/p.gif” style=”height: 20px; width: 40px; margin-top: 2px; margin-left: 80px; margin-right: 80px; border:none; “/>

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=BGhBqE9I7FB6b09H9inpUA” style=”font-family:arial; color:#FFFFFF; font-size: 12px !important; “>Recent reviews by “Rusha S.”

http://embed.yelpcdn.com/bling_borders?color=C41200&width=200&BGcolor=CCCCCC&position=bottom&height=15) “>http://www.yelp.com/bling” style=”font-family:arial; color:#FFFFFF; font-size: 12px !important; “>What’s this?

http://www.yelp.com/bling –>

Filed under: Bed & Breakfast Inns, Destination, Restaurant, Retail Shops, Tennessee Tagged: art, Bed & Breakfast Inns, bread, Chattanooga, chocolate, dessert, gift shop, pottery, restaurant, Tennessee, travel

Cool Off 2012: Coolato Gelato

Oh, the Places We See — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:27:19 +0000

Isabella is lovin’ her Pistachio & Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato

Ready for the second in a series of Cool Off 2012? We’re in Downtown Knoxville for another favorite place where lines can get long on hot days: Coolato Gelato.

OK. So I said I would write about ice cream for this series, but if you just have one taste of gelato or sorbetto, you’ll be happy you did what your mom used to tell you to do: Try something new!

Gelato is called “Italian ice cream” — a cold, frozen treat with less than 50% of the butter fat and half the calories of premium ice cream since it’s made with milk instead of heavy cream.

Outside seating on Gay Street — downtown

Coolato Gelato’s on Gay Street is in the newly renovated WROL building — and the folks at Coolato make their refreshing gelato on site: 18-24 flavors each and every day! Manager Cherryl Meuret says they start pouring the milk into gelato machines around 8:00 AM and then “keep her going” throughout the day, adding traditional products from Italy for flavor and texture.

Speaking of flavors, take a look at these tempting names: Banana Puddin’, Pear & Feta, Almond Joy, Mascarpone Caramel & Pistachio, Root Beer Float, Moonpie, Fleur de Sel, Chocolate Raspberry, and Ooey Gooey — just to name a few! You stand in front of a case filled with metal tubs holding colorful, enticing gelato and try to make a decision! Someone creative dresses up these mountains of good stuff just to make it even harder to select the one you want. Take a look at these three beauties!

Birthday Cake Gelato

Peanut Butter & Jelly Gelato

Watermelon Sorbetto

Coolato’s has a Dog Friendly Patio! And here’s something fun: dogs get a free gelato when they bring their family!!! Dog Gelato is even on the menu!

This is one lucky dog: free Dog Gelato for bringing his owner!

Ordering can be tricky since there are so many choices, so many sizes. You can order gelato Piccolo, Mediano, or Grande (small, medium or large)! More choices await like Gelato Cake or Spaghetti Gelato — gelato “pasta” smothered with strawberry sauce and topped with coconut!

Abby takes your order with a smile!

Coolato Gelato is a ‘gelateria’ — sells gelato but also offers coffee, pastries, paninis, and other great treats . . . like sorbetto made with water and fresh fruit instead of milk. Still a cool-off treat, but lower in calories!

Inside or out, Coolato Gelato is a great place to gather!

If you’re thinking I’m so hot I’ll just dash into the store on Gay Street for a yummy gelato, you’d better hurry! Lines get long on hot summer days. But workers are patient and accommodating. Just ask for a little sample and ponder what you want this time. You’ll be back for another time when you can try something new.

Take our word for it: you won’t want to miss out on one of downtown Knoxville’s coolest treats!

What’s to Like: Coolato Gelato

Delicious gourmet flavors of cold, cold gelato served in cones or cups
Free tasting samples on tiny plastic spoons!
Live music on Friday nights
Outdoor tables so you can watch the people go by
Dog friendly patio
Award-winning restaurant — and not just for gelato!

2011: Metro Pulse Knoxville’s Best Frozen Dessert

2010: TripAdvisor #1 Restaurant in Knoxville

2010: Official Italian Ice Cream for the Cooking Channel Truck Tour

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/68/1473082/restaurant/Downtown/Coolato-Gelato-Knoxville”> alt=”Coolato Gelato on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1473082/minilink.gif” style=”border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px” />

Coolato Gelato

524 South Gay Street

Knoxville, TN 37902

865.971.5449

Filed under: Restaurant Tagged: chocolate, Cool Off, ice cream, Knoxville, restaurant, Tennessee

Curate: Spanish Flair in Downtown Asheville

Oh, the Places We See — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:49:05 +0000

: Tyler shows us Spanish ham at Curate

Now that I’ve seen the website for Curate and read about this rave-about place for fine dining, I don’t know how I could have almost walked past without even knowing about this unique new restaurant.

It was all quite accidental. My husband and I were meandering down Biltmore Avenue (Asheville, NC) in search of art galleries when we spied a pig in a window! And then an interesting name — Curate — with the pronunciation prominently displayed! I said, Let’s go in there for just a minute – OK? – to see if we want to eat here tonight.

And that’s when we saw Tyler (immediately, he introduced himself) carving Jamon Iberico!

Tyler began telling us about this delicacy — acorn fattened Spanish ham — and other menu items we could order from the restaurant he so obviously loves!

The finest Spanish ham served at Curate

He said Chef Katie Button (Cornell graduate, master’s from L’Ecole Centrale in Paris) abandoned her major (chemical and biomolecular engineering), followed her passion for cooking, and eventually became a service manager at Ferran Adria’s famous restaurant in Spain — El Bulli! With the support of her parents and fiancé, she opened this now award-winning restaurant in Asheville — naming it Curate, meaning “cure yourself.” You can come here and allow others to take care of you so that you, in turn, feel cared for. And it works. On all levels.

On the window at Curate

We immediately asked for a reservation only to be told that they were booked nights in advance. We could take a chance at getting seated at the bar — which is where we landed that very night — a front row seat watching masterful preparations in the open kitchen and listening to the banter between servers and customers!

Open kitchen at Curate as seen from the bar.

It’s a tapas bar — you order and share small plates. Brown paper menus greet you, accompanied by a sleeve of silverware and list of nuestros vinos (their selected Spanish wines).

Menu, silverware, and wine list

We made friends with people on either side. The couple to our right were sharing Ensalada de Tomate Yatun — a Kumato tomato salad with preserved Spanish Bonito del Norte tuna and black olives, topped with greens from Jolley Farms! Wow!

Kumato tomato salad with Bonito tuna and Jolley Farms greens

Mary Hill, to our left, suggested we start with what we came for: the Tabla de Jamon — a selection of three cured hams.

A Curate customer who knew what to order!

And yes, we could tell the difference once we tasted each one that this affable server, Daniel, presented. From left to right: Jamon Serrano Fermin (dry cured Spanish ham); Jamon Iberico Fermin (cured ham from black-footed Iberico pigs); and the one that brought us in as Tyler was shaving it at the counter — Jamon Iberico de Bellota (the top shoulder cut from acorn fattened free-range pigs).

Daniel knows ham – and how to talk to curious customers!

While we waited for our other plates, I snapped a picture of Tabla Dequesos (Spanish cheeses) ready to serve.

Two platters of Spanish cheeses

And that’s when I sighted my favorite “junker,” Mike Wolfe of American Pickers, one of the shows I watch on the History Channel! It was all I could do to leave him alone to enjoy his dinner at Curate without being hounded by a gushy fan! I resorted to snapping this picture from across the room.

Celebrity Sighting: Mike Wolfe from American Pickers!

He’s not the only famous person who’s visited Curate. You can read about Anthony Bourdain’s fall 2011 visit reported by the Asheville Citizen Times here.

Meanwhile, our small plates arrived, and I was able to focus on presentation AND interesting taste!

First, Berenjenas la Taberna (fried eggplant drizzled in Wild Mountain Apiaries honey) — fork tender with just a hint of sweetness . . .

Fried eggplant drizzled in Wild Mountain Apiaries honey!

followed by Setas al Jerez (mushrooms sauteed in olive oil with a hint of sherry) . . .

Selected mushrooms sauteed in olive oil!

and finally, according to the menu, the “number one tapa in Asheville”: Gambas al Ajillo (sauteed shrimp and sliced garlic)!

Sauteed shrimp and sliced garlic!

We had no room for Esparragos Blancos (white asparagus tossed in a lemon tarragon vinaigrette), but watching the preparation of this dish qualified as entertainment — several steps with a voila! ending.

Artful presentation: white asparagus tossed in lemon tarragon vinaigrette!

Carefully, chefs prepared desserts like these artfully drizzled beauties that we saw from our stools at the bar. (It’s fun looking over chef shoulders!)

Preparing fine desserts

Beautiful topping!

And, then . . . tah-dah! Tyler surprised us by showing off one of their most intensely prepared desserts — an almost-transparent Buenuelo to top anything we’d ever seen! By now, we were friends, you know, and he wanted to show us everything in this classy eatery!

We’re definitely not among the first to be enamoured of Curate‘s cuisine and service. This relatively new-to-Asheville restaurant has won the Best of WNC Top Chef Award and mention in Southern Living magazine as a go-to destination!

Top Chef Award for Katie Button in the Best of WNC

But for BIG TASTE on small plates, ya gotta go there yourself!

Eating Spanish tapas just may cure yourself!

Curate

11 Biltmore Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828.239.2946

www.curatetapasbar.com

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/82/1577446/restaurant/Curate-Asheville”> alt=”Cúrate on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1577446/minilink.gif” style=”border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px” />

If you want to read about another Asheville restaurant we loved, check out Tupelo’s a Honey at https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2012/05/30/tupelos-a-honey/

Filed under: Restaurant Tagged: Asheville, dessert, pork, restaurant, seafood, top chefs

Tupelo’s a Honey!

Oh, the Places We See — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:20:07 +0000

Tupelo Honey Cafe cookbook at Knoxville’s Biscuit Fest

We had seen the Tupelo Honey Cafe booth at both the Dogwood Arts Festival and the International Biscuit Festival. And we’d seen workmen gutting the old Soup Kitchen right around the corner from The Oliver Hotel in downtown Knoxville, getting ready for Tupelo to arrive. But we still didn’t know what all the hoopla was about.

The pimento cheese biscuits at Biscuit Fest looked mighty fine. So did the charming yellow cookbook. But still. What’s comin’ to Knoxville that has so many people (like us) signing up for a Shoo Mercy Club card at a festival booth in anticipation of a restaurant they don’t even know about?

So, we decided to do a little restaurant research. (Twist our arms!) On Memorial Day weekend, we lined up for Sunday Brunch at the Tupelo Honey Cafe in downtown Asheville, North Carolina — and it’s a good thing we arrived early . . . and hungry!

Lining up for the Sunday opening of Tupelo Honey Cafe

We worried that we would be the first folks for the second seating. But as luck would have it, we were seated at the bar — right where we could see the action and enjoy the first round. And action there was!

Right as we sat down, Claude, our waiter, brought out the fluffiest, soft-dough, crusty top biscuits we’ve had in a long time with Tupelo‘s signature honey and a little cup of blueberry preserves! Oh, my!

Claude reaches for hot biscuits and tupelo honey.

While we were filling up — and this was before we placed our order! — our bar mates Pat and Sonya Springer from Brazelton, Georgia, told us what they had ordered. Pat chose the Sweet Potato Pancake “flavored with cinnamon and sweet potatoes, topped with whipped peach butter and spiced pecans”! It covered the whole plate!

The Sweet Potato Pancake

Sonya ordered Eggs Betty — two medium-poached eggs atop a salt and pepper biscuit covered with a lemony hollandaise. It comes with a side order of Goat Cheese Grits! (And a cute little flower!)

Eggs Betty with Goat Cheese Grits

It’s what Tupelo is known for: traditional Southern cooking with farm fresh food from local vendors, but paired in non-traditional ways. Southern Surprise, I call it!

Claude went into the kitchen area to snap this picture of Nick flipping pancakes! A pizza peel might have been a better tool than a pancake turner — these are no ordinary pancakes! One’ll do you, for sure!

Nick, super Tupelo pancake flipper!

I ordered the same Eggs Betty that Sonya raved about, but husband Bert said he wanted the heartiest thing on the menu, and he got it: the Breakfast Bowl — seasoned salsa verde black-eyed peas and Goat Cheese Grits topped with two over-medium eggs, two maple peppered bacon strips topped with cheddar cheese and Sunshot Salsa! (Served in a deep bowl, I might add!)

The Breakfast Bowl

Bert liked the blend of flavors — black-eyed peas, eggs, salsa. Definitely not like breakfast at home! And he barely made it to the bottom. Sooooo much food! But sooooo good!

Seated next to Bert was Tim from Cleveland, Ohio, who ordered the Fried Egg BLT: two well-done eggs set over maple peppered bacon, lettuce, tomato, and smoked jalapeno aioli on sourdough wheat! His wife Betty had Eggs Betty. (Get the drift here? That’s one popular dish, for sure!)

Something else to praise about Tupelo Honey Cafe are the servers like Kenzie who wanted me to see her honey tattoo! She’s been there two years and still loves serving guests at Tupelo! We decided it would be of some benefit to be young if you worked there. Waiters were literally running to grab hot plates from under the lights . . .

Kenzie, the girl with the honey tattoo!

or ladle out heaps of simmerin’ black-eyed peas for the Breakfast Bowl. Quality production. Immediate service. With a little chatter and fun mixed in!

Nikita ladles black-eyed peas for the Breakfast Bowl!

Feeding an entire restaurant full of first-round diners was something akin to making a banquet happen, except that food was prepared one order at a time! When the rush subsided, I snapped a picture of Nikita and Nick high fivin’ each other — heck, they almost hugged! The breakfast whoosh went off without a hitch, and every guest we saw was leaning back, happy, as they took their final sips of well-brewed coffee. Ah, Southern satisfaction!

Made it through the rush!

And when you’ve had your fill, you can take something to the folks back home from Tupelo Honey — t-shirt, cookbook, raspberry preserves, or that golden, gooey, mighty tasty honey!

(Just so you’ll know, Tupelo Honey is harvested from the White Tupelo Gum Tree which grows mostly in Florida in the Apalachicola River basin. It’s the only honey that will never granulate! Click here for more information!)

The first Tupelo Honey Cafe is downtown Asheville on College Street, but there’s a second one in South Asheville. We’ll have to go back to check that one out!

If you go to their website, you can sign up for the Pimento Cheese of the Month Club, download a recipe, or link to their Facebook page!

And bumper stickers, too!

Meanwhile, we’re looking fondly at that Knoxville Market Square property. A long line out the door for Tupelo‘s new Southern comfort food — and not just breakfast — is gonna look mighty good in downtown Knoxville! As they say . . .

“New South Flavors. Scratch Made Fun.”

Tupelo‘s a honey, for sure!

Downtown Asheville

12 College Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828.255.4863

downtown@tupelohoneycafe.com

South Asheville

1829 Hendersonville Rd.

Asheville, NC 28803

828.505.7676

infosouthside@tupelohoneycafe.com

http://www.tupelohoneycafe.com

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/82/802502/restaurant/Tupelo-Honey-Cafe-Asheville”> alt=”Tupelo Honey Cafe on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/802502/minilink.gif” style=”border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px” />

Filed under: Restaurant Tagged: Asheville, restaurant, Southern food