Super Saturday!

The whole thing started with a hat. I had been looking at hats online, but I really wanted to try them on in person. I wanted to make a trip to Bass Pro ! But to get my husband to go along with it, I was going to have to make a trip out of it! I was trying to talk him into the possibility of heading off to Charlotte. When he mentioned that he had been reading an article in Our State magazine about the best hamburger places in the state, the trip was on!

The very next day was a beautiful Saturday and perfect for the trip! Turning up the music, enjoying the weather, and settling in for the ride, we were officially on another food adventure! Headed south on I-85, we were off!

Before we hit Concord Mills, there was a side trip to the Harley store for Mike. And guess what's beside the Harley store? The Beef Jerky Outlet!! Oh yeah! That's all North Cakalakie for you! I had to check it! Hot sauces, barrels full of jerky, and a tasting bar! It was even better than I had even hoped!

An island in the center of the store served as the tasting station. Numbered and labeled, the samples were waiting for perusal. The form available for marking your selections reminded me of the one at the sushi bar. Complete with tiny pencils! Cherry Maple Turkey Jerky was my immediate fave! It tasted just like bacon! Mmmmm! Bacon as a snack food!

I tried several others, and, just so you know, blazin' really does mean super hot!! I made my final selection, purchased a coke in the bottle for washing down the dried meat treats, and made my way on to our next stop.

Concord Mills was our next stop and Part I of our mission was accomplished. Lots of people were watched, shoes were tried on, and pretzels were eaten. And finally, at Bass Pro, the perfect hat was found! I might add that there was an awesome fishing demonstration, and we even climbed on board a pontoon "party" boat in the middle of the store.

Hungry, we headed off to our next destination! We were off to check out South 21 Drive-In ! An old-school drive-in restaurant, this place is a throwback in all the best possible ways! Serving Charlotte since 1955, this place is the real thing! The menu, the location, and the curb service all combine to take you way back!

Pulling up to a spot under the cover of some shade, the first surprise was the variety on the menu. Golden fried chicken, chopped barbecue, and fish-o-burgers were options that we hadn't even considered. Cherry flavor to add to your soda and milkshakes were sweet treats to add indeed.

The specialty, the Super Boy hamburger, two beef patties, mustard, onions, lettuce and tomatoes, is described as a "meal in itself" and they're not kidding. Mike and I both opted for the Jumbo Cheeseburger, a Super Boy with two slices of cheese. Mike got the plate with fries and I went for the onion rings. We were ready to dig in!

His

Hers

Deeeeelicious! This burger delivered on every promise! Tender, juicy patties cooked to perfection... I was sold! And there wasn't a single misstep, my onion rings were perfectly crisp and Mike's cherry milkshake was especially tasty!

Fresh strawberry pie finished me off! Whipped cream, strawberry filling, whole strawberries, and a great crust, this pie seemed bottomless after the Jumbo Cheeseburger! Super sweet but very fresh, this was a treat to share with my sweetie!

With our bellies full, but not quite ready to head home, we decided to add another stop. Plaza Midwood was not too far to drive, so we headed out. We decided to go by Ace Custom Tattoo to see a friend, but were disappointed to find that he was out having dinner too! Since we were already there, we took a stroll through the neighborhood. There were several funky stores and restaurants nearby and soon we found ourselves at Rodney Raines' latest endeavor, Twenty-Two. "An art gallery with a retail wine shop and bar serving a wide selection of beverages," does not adequately describe this fabulous place! We got the chance to enjoy an outstanding exhibit of the photography of Chris Radok and we were thrilled to find ourselves there on a beautiful Saturday evening.

We still didn't get to see our friend, but we did get to see even more of what Charlotte had to offer.

A Super Saturday and definitely worth the trip!

Summer Lovin'!

Folks had been telling me all about the delights to be found at Chop's Deli (130 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401), but I hadn't had the opportunity to check them out for myself. The Wilmington area is one of my favorite stomping grounds, so when I had the chance to make a little field trip up the road from our Oak Island vacation spot, I jumped at the chance. Meeting a friend downtown for lunch, Chop's was the choice for this rainy Friday afternoon.

Surrounded by big sandwiches, fresh ingredients, and friendly folks, I am sold from the time we walk in the door! My friend, apparently a regular, recommends a number of sandwiches... the reality is, you can't go wrong! Sizing up my options, I go for the Tripoli! Just looking at the list of ingredients, I'm drooling! Pastrami, corned beef, rare roast beef, sharp picante provolone, muenster, baby Swiss, red onion, peppercorn gourmaise, deli mustard, and horseradish sauce on rye panino... all-in-one! I'm down!

A side of homemade macaroni and cheese and a big glass of Orangeade and we're ready to chow down! And it was everything I had hoped! Huge sandwich, delicious ingredients and great company! Definitely worth the trip!

Eat at Pete's!

Sometimes when you work in McLeansville, NC you get the opportunity to have lunch in Gibsonville. It's a small place and the railroad tracks run right through the middle of it. But just off the main drag is some really good down-home cooking. I found myself in Gibsonville one day for lunch and not sure what to get. It doesn't take but a minute to check out the options downtown, but on a little side street was where it was at for me!

Pete's Grill (137 Piedmont Avenue Gibsonville, NC 27249-2450) may seem like a little hole-in-the-wall place, and that may be a very accurate description. But boy, was I glad to find it!

There are booths on the left and a small serving area on the right. Beside the register is a tiny area for counter seating and the one four person table that's not attached to a wall. That table was filled with regulars and has been every time I've gone back.

Traditional southern-style, this is a meat-and-three operation. The fried chicken, which apparently the specialty, is tasty! Beef stew, country-style steak and other entree options are available on a rotating schedule. But I have generally gone for the vegetable plate. There are usually so many sides that I want to try that I have difficulty deciding which ones to get on any given day.

The plate lunch comes with a drink. Sweet tea, unless you ask for unsweet, and your choice of bread. My choice is definitely the cornbread. Served as little pancakes, the cornbread is light and delicious. Off the beaten path a little, this place is a treat!

Thanks, Mom!

For our fifth wedding anniversary, my mom gave us a very generous sum of money and told us "to do something nice for ourselves..." We decided to go to our favorite restaurant for a romantic dinner... Table 16 (600 S. Elm Street Greensboro, NC 27406). It has been our choice for recent Valentine's and birthday dinners. So, given the option, we decided to splurge!

And splurge we did! We tried everything!

While my sweetheart got the angus rib eye and sugar snaps with patty pan squash and garlic potato, I opted for the "careful, appreciative tasting of various foods!" The real splurge was my dinner! I had wondered every time we had been to the restaurant about the Table 16 tasting menu. It had always seemed extravagant and maybe a little beyond our means...

But Mom said "do something nice for yourself," so I did!

I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I couldn't wait! It was recommended that most customers took five courses. Our waitress inquired about any dietary restrictions or taste preferences and off she went!

We started with the Table 16 cheese service. A fabulous combination of local cheeses and pickled vegetables! This could be a meal by itself!

 

After enjoying our appetizer,  my first course arrived and the tasting adventure began! Sweet corn-yukon vichyssoise speck-cebollita salsa summer truffle was what they called it. Chilled and delicious, this was a wonderful summer soup with a prize inside! Candied bacon! Salty and sweet made this soup especially enjoyable!

And the good stuff was just getting started! Hilltop Farms Ostrich with a jicama-beet slaw and red curry sauce looked and tasted amazingly good!

Locally grown produce and multi-ethnic cuisine, there was reason to believe that each course was definitely going to be different! And they weren't kidding! Pork tenderloin and fava beans and a sauce with a kick! This course was both Southern and something out of this world!

Suspense was starting to build! There was one thing that I had noticed on the menu that I had thought about getting... but not knowing how this tasting thing worked, I didn't even know if there was the possibility...

I nearly cheered when the prawn corn dog with kim chee and chinese mustard was put down in front of me! In fact, I may have been so excited that I was actually clapping... But not loud enough to disrupt the place, I promise! And it was everything I could have hoped! The prawn was meaty, sweet and delicious! The kim chee was an excellent companion and the mustard was that extra kick in the butt! "Pow! You really like me!" and I did!

What could possibly be left up Chef Graham Heaton's sleeve? Another course? Why yes, I think I will!

Wow! And it just kept getting better! Currituck soft shell crab and lemon peel with watermelon-avocado terrine and arugula dressing was the best yet! So many tastes! So many sensations! An exclamation point on an outstanding dining experience! And we know I love exclamation points!

There was one thing left to do. Dinner was delicious, but now it was time for dessert! Yes, as a matter of fact, we do want to see the dessert menu!

White chocolate bread pudding, fresh berries and Chantilly cream... good gracious! Enjoying each other's company and an extraordinary meal, this was definitely a celebration of our anniversary and our marriage! 

Thanks again, Mom! We love you!

Raw fish?

Not everything I eat is deep-fried!

In fact, I'll eat some things that haven't even been cooked at all! On a recent Saturday I was invited by friends to try a local sushi eatery... Sushi Republic (329 Tate St, Greensboro, NC 27403)

Boy, was it good! The ultra clean decor was inviting. The waitress was super-familiar with the menu and willing to make helpful suggestions. This meal was off to a great start! After changing my mind a few times... the waitress was also super-patient... I decided to check out one of the lunch bowls. So many things on the menu sounded so good, I was looking forward to this! My bowl arrived and it was beautiful! Tuna and salmon!!
So fresh and so tasty!

Day-Glo Desserts



It's a sweet Saturday afternoon with my husband. We've got a to-do list and we're getting stuff done. I've got a gift certificate for a place I've never been, so we decide to check it out.

Maxie B's (2403-7 Battleground Ave., Greensboro, NC 27408)
It's kind of funky and kind of fancy and it all looks very delicious!

Cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream look really, really good. Lots of cakes... hummingbird, carrot, german chocolate, pineapple layer and oh, so many cupcakes... pink lemonade, red velvet, and key lime... and oh, so many more! We consider our options and go for the Day-Glo desserts... A slice of Orange Dreamsicle cake and that 7 Up cupcake and we're ready to dig in!



 
Mmmmm! Good Stuff! And there's still something left on the gift certificate! Can't wait!

Adventures in Eating

Ok, so maybe this won't be just about food. Sometimes it's about the experience. A trip to Mt. Airy, NC turns into a step back in time!





The unexpected pleasure of happening onto a cruise-in that you didn't even know was going to be taking place that day.

We wander in and out of the stores along Main Street. Tourists pass by checking out the sights from a mule-drawn wagon. Another option is to take the tour in Andy Griffith's cruiser. Looks like a lot of fun, but I'm not so sure that everybody wants to see the sights from the back of a police car! We stop and fill our bags with sweets at Opie's Candy Store! Enjoying the cool cars that line the street, we make our way to our destination.



Snappy Lunch! (125 N. Main St. Mt. Airy, NC) The only business in Mayberry... I mean, Mt. Airy... that is mentioned by its real name on the Andy Griffith show is definitely worth checking out! Small and often crowded, with regulars and tourists alike, the Snappy Lunch is still a popular spot.

Famous for the pork chop sandwich, this deep fried treat is memorable! And this thing is big!! It hangs out of the bun ready for you to wrap your face around it! Do take the suggestion of chili and slaw on it. Sounded weird to me but tasted darn good! With a bag of chips and a soda, this meal is cheap and tasty!