Oh, how I adore cheese. You could melt it on a cardboard pizza top and I’d probably eat it. These dishes are my favorite cheesy dishes at restaurants I’ve tried.
Pimiento Cheese Spread from Boschamp’s in Destin, FL
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese at Safari Miles in Denver
Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza at Tony’s in Hickory, NC
Seafood dishes remind me of vacation. We always go somewhere near a beach and the first thing we do is hit our favorite seafood places. Here are my favorite dishes, some are even inland!
The Back Porch has been become somewhat of an icon for most people visiting the beach. Each night throngs of people stroll up from the beach to get a picture in the oversized beach chair and let their children play on the sand while they wait for a table. And it won’t take long, not really. It just seems long because you are hot. And sandy.
Forget your troubles. If you are a tourist, there’s no getting around it. You have to go to the Back Porch. The restaurant itself is basically outdoor seating inside. All of the windows open up to allow the beach air to flow through. Hope to sit by a window with a cross breeze. On my last 2 visits, I have not and have nearly died from heat exhaustion. A bit of an exaggeration, but my teenage son really did get sick to his stomach because he was so hot in an interior room.
We started our dinner with an order of raw oysters and an order of fried calamari. The Oysters were fresh and plump and absolutely perfect. My only complaint is that I wish they were served on a bed of ice, because they’d begun to warm up before we finished them. The calamari was crispy and tender, served with a tart marinara sauce. My kids loved them.
The crab stuffed shrimp (pictured above, blurry) were really delicious. Stuffed with crabmeat and topped with a lemony butter sauce, then broiled to a crispy perfection. The stuffed potato was creamy and cheesy and needed just a touch of salt. The Southern corn medley is studded with peppers and beans and was a flavorful accompaniment to the seafood.
My husband ordered the blackened ahi, rare. He reported that though the seasoning was delicious, his tuna was overcooked.
It’s never perfect, but it’s always good. My favorite times at the Back Porch are coming in from the beach in the afternoon for a late lunch in flip flops and a cover up. Smoked tuna dip never tasted so good.
barenakedchefsaidso.com 