Food Junkee cooks for Girl Nosh!

August 20, 2016August 26, 2016 Suzanne Strength2 Comments

One of our Girl Nosh members is married to a chef. We kept saying when I got the house ready, we were going to hire Food Junkee (aka Joe Byrd) to cook dinner for us in-house (instead of our usual fancy restaurants) so we could linger and enjoy each other’s company for a little longer than normal without getting the side eye.

Joe arrived about an hour early to set up. He had most of the food prepared and ready to be served. He did prepare some dishes on site and they were so so amazing. Everything was. And at the end of the night, all of my guests retired into the dining room to play a raucous card game and not worry about clean up. Seriously best night of my life.

Dinner

Here’s the spread…all spread out. I wanted you to have a view of how lovely it all looks in the deep bowls, filled to the brim with goodness. Each dish is described below.

Appetizers
Homemade Lime Tortilla Chips served with Pineapple Mango Salsa is what we first sampled as Joe set up the spread for my friends. The crispy chips were freshly made, warm and dusted with salty lime flavors that were perfect against the sweet heat of the salsa. I think we ate a gallon. Seriously.

Joe also had some leftover Spinach and Artichoke Dip from stuffing our chicken, so he brought that along to serve with the extra tortilla chips. So creamy and tangy. I could live on it.

Filipino-style Pork Eggrolls with Spicy Apricot Dipping Sauce was the best-loved appetizer by the masses. Assembled and fried on site, these little nuggets were filled with a spicy pork mixture and finely chopped vegetables. Unlike your favorite take-out Chinese spot, these were FULL of meat, and not filler. The apricot dipping sauce was sweet with just enough bite to make you come back for more.

Two of my favorite dishes rolled into one: Pan-Fried Spinach-n-Artichoke Dip Stuffed Chicken. First, the chicken is stuffed with this creamy indulgence, then rolled in bread crumbs and delicately pan-fried. The chicken was so tender and juicy and let’s just be honest: you can put that dip on anything and it will make it 100% better. It’s my favorite thing in the world.

The most vibrant side dish we enjoyed was the Honey Ginger Glazed Carrots with Pistachios. These buttery little gems were fragrant and still had a little bite to them. As you can see by the slight char on them, they were roasted first, which caramelized their natural sugars and deepened their flavors, if possible. These were probably the most popular side of the night, not a single leftover!

You don’t like peas? You just haven’t tried Joe’s Indian Spiced Peas. Spiked with Indian spices, diced onions and minced garlic; just perfectly matched the sweet peas with a little bit of heat. How can I go back to Lesueur peas after this?

The Asian Glazed Mushrooms were so flavorful and substantial that we didn’t even need a starch. They were sautéed in butter and slowly allowed to simmer in that Asian glaze that was maddeningly delicious and just different enough to make you feel like you were experiencing this side for the first time. Can you tell they were my favorites?

Most people get one dessert. Not us. We got two. And I can’t even tell you which one was better, they were both amazing and rich. The first was a Chocolate Chip Kahlua Cheesecake. This is kind of Joe’s signature dessert. At least, the number of us who’d had it before requested (begged) him to bring it for Girl Nosh. He doesn’t disappoint. A chocolatey rich cake bottom topped with creamy and sweet cheesecake with tiny shards of chocolate chips, all accented by the Kahlua. And look how pretty:

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The Cast Iron Apple Brown Betty with Homemade Almond Ice Cream was a special treat for all of us. First of all, making a dessert in a cast iron skillet? Too rustic, too cool. We were all so enraptured. Then Megan sprang her homespun ice cream (made right in my kitchen while the cobbler baked!) on us and we all ate until we were sick. No regrets. And that was the end to our perfect evening.

Now, for the plug. Joe and Megan are my friends. BUT I cannot recommend their services more highly. Joe is a personal chef who not only caters events but also prepares meals for families on a weekly basis. Seriously, it isn’t much more than Blue Apron per meal to do this and you get to pick EXACTLY what you want. Just check them out. You won’t be sorry!

Restaurant Review: Aria Tuscan Grill

May 22, 2016May 22, 2016 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

May Girl Nosh was at Aria Tuscan Grill in Uptown Charlotte. We were a small group this time, but the restaurant was jammed with prom-goers. It made for some very interesting people watching. I saw a lot of first time high-heel wearers. Good times. Anyway, here’s the girls:
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Our waiter greeted us and brought us some chilled water in a bottle for the table. He gave us the option of sparkling water and Pellegrino (same thing?) and we all felt like cheapskates for saying that plain old tap water was fine. But gah. Who wants to splurge on water? Save your pennies, and order a cocktail.

With the free water (which was just fine, by the way) they brought out the free appetizers: White bean spread with fresh Italian bread. Some of the folks at our table didn’t really love the white beans, but I did. They were tangy with a splash of vinegar and minced onions and herbs and creamy when spread on the bread. Drizzle with olive oil and you have a winner.

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Here’s what you were saving those pennies for: D.S.L. No idea what it stands for, but lord was it good. It was a mix of Limoncello, Prosecco, Muddled Fresh Mint and Strawberry Purée. How I found this was by asking the waiter which drink was the least strong. Because I’m a wimp and I was driving. This is the answer. To lots of questions, I found out.

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For the paid appetizers, we all agreed to get something different so we could try each other’s. Anessa got the Calamari Fritti. This was a lightly fried mix of Calamari sticks and Scallions which were garnished with Peppadew Peppers. The two dipping sauces were Spicy Tomato Sauce and Lemon Aioli. I don’t know which I liked better. The spicy tomato sauce packed a flavorful punch, but the aioli was subtle and creamy. The calamari itself was lightly fried, not overcooked, but we missed those weird tentacle thingies. Still, a favorite at the table.

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Heirloom Tomato Caprese features Burrata, Basil Pesto and the freshest heirloom tomatoes. Skinny girl treat.

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Another skinny girl treat was the Asparagus + Prosciutto Tender braised asparagus served alongside a lightly dressed Spring Salad with a Roasted Lemon Vinaigrette with Prosciutto. A splash of balsamic vinegar adorned all. Laurie was pleased as punch with her choice. She said it was so fresh and light.

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Eggplant Parmigiana
You expect it to be fried, but just tryyyy it like this. Seriously. It was so good and fresh, and the Tomato Marinara that it swims in is so spicy and good. Sitting atop is Mozzarella, Olives, Peppadew Peppers, Basil and it all somehow works together amazingly. And look at the cool plate.

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Caramelized Gnocchi
I always ask the waiter what his favorite dish is. Very rarely am I steered wrong by the person who has tried everything on the menu and consistently brings food to patrons night after night. So, when he recommended this, no brainer. If you could get a bite with all 5 elements: Gnocchi, Prosciutto di Parma, Pear, Gorgonzola, Truffle Oil, you would hear the sound of angels and a light would emit from your mouth. Not even exaggerating.

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Tuscan Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib
If you’ve never had short rib, you might not realize that when braised it tastes just like pot roast. But really tender, and so flavorful. This one sat atop an English Pea Risotto, ringed with plops of Goat Cheese and garnished with Brussel Sprout Chips. It was so rich and hearty. I’ll get that next time.

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My choice for dinner was a special. It was Grilled beef tenderloin, Caesar style potatoes & Swiss chard. I had to send mine back because the steak was too rare for me (cold red center, blech) but they brought it back a few minutes later and it was perfect. OK, still pretty red on that far right one, so I didn’t eat it. But the rest was very delicious. The meat was so tender, and seasoned perfectly. I LOVED the small little potato coins and the parmesan sauce they were in. Also, I never knew I loved Swiss chard so much.
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Roasted Arctic Char
Anessa got this dish, and because it was cooked so rare I could not taste it to report to you. I will just tell you that it was perched upon Roasted Eggplant and topped with Shaved Fennel Citrus Salad with a Walnut Vinaigrette, She said it was cooked perfectly and delicious. But she left a lot of that eggplant on the plate, suspiciously.

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OK, so the polenta is a side dish, but I have to mention it because it is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Creamy, buttery goodness. I mean, just look at that lake of butter in this dish. Sinful. Amazing.

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Crispy Chicken Parmigiana
We all know what this is, and it might be an unimaginative choice. I can’t help it, it’s still an old favorite. And when done well, like it is here with fresh Mozzarella and the spicy Marinara you sincerely can’t go wrong. Simple and good. ariachickenparm

Spaghetti + Meatballs
Mimo’s Meatballs, Red Sauce, Parmigiano: Another classic that can’t miss. Honestly, this was from another visit, and I never tasted it, but my dining companion said it was fine.

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Pasta al Nero
King Crab, Scallops, Shrimp, Linguine, Spicy Marinara: This was another of our waiter’s recommendations. And was it spot on. The shrimp were huge and cooked perfectly. The crab was delicate as were the scallops, but the scallops were just on the undercooked side. I’m sure bay scallops are hard to get exactly right since so small, but there you go. The squid ink linguine was an unexpected surprise, but I didn’t taste any difference between it and regular pasta.
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Orecchiette with Sausage
Toasted Garlic, Broccoli Rabe, Roasted Red Peppers, Chiles: Another dish enjoyed on another visit. My dining companion said this one was simply “Ok”.

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Aria Tiramisù 6
Espresso, Lady Fingers, Mascarpone Crema: Is this not the most beautifully rustic dessert you’ve ever seen in your life? And guess what? It tasted just as good as it looked! The coffee soaked lady-fingers were perfect; not too strong and not too wet. The fresh cream was perfect and made for a light end to a delicious meal. 13221704_1723691334580311_1064938938907246289_n

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
White Chocolate Crema: And then there’s this. Dense. Chocolaty. Rich. Hazelnutty. If you like Nutella, you’ll love this.

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So, there you have it. Aria. It’s delicious. I will say that both visits we had an issue with service. Not a big big big deal, but our waiter was a little annoyed with us and was a little absent. The owner did come over and chat with us about his friends in Lincolnton, so that was a nice touch. Even with the snooty waiter, I’d go back. Everything we ate was delicious last night.

Charlotte · Restaurants

Restaurant Review: Mert’s Heart and Soul

March 9, 2016 Suzanne Strength1 Comment

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Mert’s Heart & Soul is located in downtown Charlotte. When you walk through the doors, however, you forget that fact. You feel like you are in an out-of-the-way hole in the wall establishment. I love it. The walls are filled with personal pictures and other interesting memorabilia.

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Some of the criticisms we’ve heard of Mert’s is that the service is lacking. We found that not to be a concern at all. Our waiter, DJ, took care of our large party perfectly. He even posed for a picture with me!

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Sincerely, I should put these cornbread cakes down there in the desserts. Especially when you slather them with this amazing honey butter. But, alas, they bring them before the appetizers, so I feel I must insert them here. This is what everyone talks about. These tender pones are just sweet enough to satisfy the Yankees, but still savory enough to tempt the Southerner. (I don’t know about your family, but my people call yellow, sweet cornbread “Yankee” cornbread.) Whatever you call it, it is glorious.
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Mert’s has a limited selection of appetizers. Everything we tried was delicious, but my favorites were Mert’s Soul Rolls. These egg rolls have a unique spin: they are filled with seasoned rice, black-eyed peas, collard greens and chicken. They are served with a spicy honey mustard sauce that has just enough punch to elevate this crunchy favorite.

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Every Southern/soul food place worth its salt has Fried Green Tomatoes on the menu and Mert’s is no different. The tomatoes themselves were sliced perfectly (not too thick) and fried crisply. The remoulade sauce that dressed them was tangy and a little spicy. It was a good dish. But honestly, it is one of those things, much like calamari, that is on every menu, and there isn’t enough variation in taste from one to the other to really justify getting it and forsaking the trying of a new dish. But hey, I understand cravings. If you are just jonesing for some FGT, then by all means, enjoy. But branch out!

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For dinner I got the Fried Chicken Wings with Winston-Salem Sauce. They were maybe the best pieces of fried chicken I’ve ever had. Crispy, not greasy, and seasoned perfectly. The sauce is merely hot sauce dowsing it, which was perfect. The macaroni and cheese was perfection and the black-eyed peas were creamy and well seasoned. I’d get that exact same plate if I went again. So good.

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Laurie got the Fried Whiting on the recommendation of our waiter, DJ. She said it was amazing! The fish was crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside. The macaroni and cheese was the best any of us had ever eaten. Cheesy and creamy with just enough crusty edges to add a little texture. The collard greens were braised perfectly, and topped with fresh tomato and onion: mixed together to make a perfect bite!

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Erika got the Salmon Patties with macaroni and cheese and greens. She said the patties were fine, but nothing special. Next time she’d try something else.

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Anessa got the Fried Catfish and Fried Chicken Combo with Yams and Macaroni and Cheese. The chicken and fish were fried and seasoned perfectly. The yams were slow cooked in brown sugar and butter…how can that be bad? And the macaroni. Yeah, we’ve already talked about how life altering that is.

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The lemon pound cake was tangy and had a good flavor. Anessa reported it was a little dry, so next time she might try another dessert.

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My peach cobbler came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It was decent cobbler, but my mom’s is better. Not overly sweet, but not overly flavorful either. The best dessert of the night was this:

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This is the banana pudding cake. It was moist, cakey and full of banana flavor. I never even thought I liked banana pudding all that much, but this cake…what a great twist on a classic.

Here’s the real deal: No matter where we go, or what we eat, we always ALWAYS have a blast together!

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Davidson · Restaurants

Restaurant Review: Kindred in Davidson

January 23, 2016August 20, 2017 Suzanne Strength2 Comments

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Girl Nosh goes to Kindred on Halloween! Not only were we adorable, but we were well fed. Kindred is the real deal, people. We decided to bump Kindred up on our list due to this article in Bon Appetit Magazine: Kindred, Davidson NC.

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I had a large group of ladies able to attend on this night. So large that I had to call the manager and arrange a special table (I think there were 10 of us) since the place is a bit small and seating is limited. I thought it worth the extra trouble.

kindredtoast The place was PACKED. When we arrived, we did have to be patient and waited around for nearly 30 minutes for our table to be set up and ready for us. They were gracious about the delay, and allowed us to sit at separate tables until the party beside us was ready to leave, allowing us to push these two tables together so our whole party could be together.

The Deal

This establishment serves small plates. Everything is a la carte, so the server recommended we each get 2 or 3 items, not including dessert. Some of us liked the small plate concept, and some of us did not. One of our party members thought that this concept should have been explained better, and felt that we were a bit condescended to when we didn’t quite know how to order.

We all agreed that people who post pictures of their food are the best people. As you can see from the photo at the right, we Googled dishes we wanted to try to see what they looked like. Wish I’d have Googled the crudo before I ordered.

The Food

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When we finally sat down (after standing in the bar for a bit) the server brought us this most amazing Milk Bread. It reminded me of the rolls we used to get at school (when they were homemade) only better. Lighter, fluffier and sprinkled on top with chips of kosher salt. Served with a side of REAL whipped creamy butter…I’d go back just for that bread. All of us are STILL talking about that darn bread. Be warned, they don’t serve it at lunch, only dinner.

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The Crispy Oysters were a favorite of the table. Lucky for me, Laurie thought they were too spicy and traded her oysters with my crudo. The oysters were perfectly fried in a light batter and they sat atop a puddle of dill aioli and Calabrian chili oil. I thought it was the perfect balance of heat and a nice cool down from the aioli. This dish is a hit! As good as the oysters were, I was just as charmed by the plate they served them on. I felt like I was at my grandmother’s house…my gourmet grandmother.

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The biggest disappointment of the night was the Matsutake Mushroom Crudo. Shaved Asian pear slices, Matsutake Mushrooms and Parmesan cheese, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Not one bit of skill needed, unless you count the mandolin? The idea is that the ingredients paired work well, and the quality of the ingredients are allowed to shine. But the mushrooms tasted like dirt. And I NEVER met a mushroom I didn’t love. One person at our table loved it, but the rest of us…no.

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Another nifty thing they offer is the Farmhouse Cheese Tray. They give you a selection of four and each cheese is $4. It is served with thin baguette slices. It was good, the cheese was great quality, but you know…it’s a hunk of cheese. Get something the chef makes.

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The Apple Salad was pretty and tasty, too. Hazelnuts, sliced apples and Serrano ham all nestled on a bed of peppery arugula made for a fresh start to dinner.

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See above? That’s called Pappardelle and it is the best thing you will ever put in your mouth. It is a perfectly seasoned hand-made pasta tossed with a guinea hen ragu. Guinea hen tastes suspiciously like chicken, but this is so good, I don’t care if they tricked me. You see those little shavings that look like mushrooms? Those are fried chestnuts, for crunch. They used a tiny mandolin, shaved little chestnuts and then deep-fried them, just to give you a little crunch with your pasta. All I could say was thank you. Amazing.

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So, the other not-as-lucky folks at my table opted to try the Bucatini. I snuck a bite of Erika’s, just for the purpose of this review, of course, and while it was yummy, it wasn’t as good as mine 🙂 This bucatini was in a buttery sauce with bay scallops, miso, shishito peppers and black truffle. It was rich and spicy and it was yummy…just not AS yummy as the papardelle.

Anessa ordered the Pasture Raised Chicken. She also got that with a side of Creamed Mustard Greens with Bread Crumbs. The chicken was baked to perfection, very tender and juicy and it sat atop a pile of polenta, collards and guanciale. Guanciale is an Italian cured meat or salami product prepared from pork jowl or cheeks. I know this because I just Googled it. So, the chicken was great. The mustard greens? Well….not so much. Anessa enjoyed them, but they were so bitter I had to spit them out. I’ll admit I’m not a “greens” lover, but this was too much.

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Dessert…aaaahhhh. We were pretty full, but we took one for the team and ordered dessert. We actually ordered dessert with our meal, since we were informed they might run out. No sense taking chances like that. First up is the Cookies with Cinnamon Ice Cream. The cookies were thick and chewy and the ice cream was perfectly creamy with just a warm hint of cinnamon. So perfect.

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But the most perfect dessert was the Roasted Apple Galette. Sugar sprinkled flaky pie dough enfolds sweet yet tart apples, on a puddle of milk jam (tasted like caramel to me) and topped with buttermilk ice cream. That weed on top? Sugared thyme. I might have sucked on a leaf or two.

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The Pumpkin Pot de Creme was a most requested dessert that night. They ran out! It was a smooth, spiced pumpkin custard (like a super smooth pumpkin pie filling, elevated) topped with Chantilly cream and hazelnuts. It was perfect, light and refined.

This was one of my favorite restaurants that the Girl Nosh group has been to. We had a few snags, but the experience was so unique and so personal, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it. kindredgirlnosh

Restaurants · Statesville

Twisted Oak Bar & Grill in Statesville, NC

August 15, 2015August 15, 2015 Suzanne Strength1 Comment

Restaurant Week is probably my favorite two weeks of the year. I mean, I love Christmas, but Restaurant Week allows me to have a fabulous meal that someone else cooks and cleans up after. That’s love.

This year I had the most handsome date on the planet…my sweet son, Ty. We went to Twisted Oak Bar & Grill in Statesville. It is located in Statesville’s charming downtown area, and in a factory-esque building. It is not facing the road, the front entrance is on the side. When you come up the ramp you’ll see a nice outdoor area with a fireplace and several seats around. Very cozy! The interior is spacious and homey with exposed brick and minimalist decor. I loved it. Also, on this night, they had live music.

Twisted Oak serves breakfast Monday – Thursday and the pictures I saw looked amazing. If I am ever near Statesville early in the morning, that will be my first stop. Lunch and Dinner are served Monday through Saturday.

As you know, Restaurant Week has a limited menu…3 courses for $30 each. What a deal! We both skipped the wine they offered at the beginning of the meal and opted for tea and water. The first course was a great start to a terrific meal. I got a delicious garden salad with a tangy and creamy homemade Ranch dressing. I love some salad. Ty got Peirogies. If you aren’t sure what that is, it’s a potato dumpling that is pan fried and tossed with caramelized onion and andouille sausage and topped with sour cream and cheddar cheese. Ty hit the jackpot with these. A HUGE plateful and they were the best peirogies I’ve ever tried. The outside was crispy and chewy and the inside was soft and creamy. I would order this and my salad for my meal next time!

For his entree, Ty opted for the Pimento Burger. It was a 1/2 pound Angus beef, cooked to medium atop a toasted bun slathered with melted pimento cheese, fried onion, bacon, lettuce and tomato (he opted out of that) and served with French fries. He said the burger was very good and the fries were homemade and perfect.

I got a special selection that was made just for Restaurant week: Beef Short Rib Lasagna. Tender bits of slow roasted short ribs in between pasta sheets with cheese, mushrooms and topped with a tangy and robust tomato gravy, Bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese. So decadent, I had to take home half of it so I could enjoy dessert!

Our dessert choice was the 5 Layer Chocolate Cake. It was a huge slice of moist chocolate cake with plenty of rich, fudgy frosting. Satisfying to any chocolate lover!

We gave this comforting restaurant two thumbs up and will be dining there again very soon!

Charlotte · Restaurants

Tupelo Honey – Girl Nosh

July 11, 2015October 5, 2017 Suzanne Strength3 Comments

So I find myself in a separated state after 20 years of wedded bliss. I gave myself a couple of days to wallow in misery and then got a plan together. New job, new gym membership, new church…check. The last piece of my happiness puzzle was surrounding myself with great friends. Thus “Girl Nosh” was born. We are a group of girls who enjoy going out to eat together and laughing our heads off. We meet once a month and the only requirement is that everyone has to take a picture of their food for my blog and let me taste a tiny bite of what they got 🙂

Our charter meeting was held at Tupelo Honey in Charlotte. We had to call for reservations, since I had too many folks coming to use the online reservation scheduler. No big deal, they were nice and efficient and had our reservation when we arrived. Actually, we arrived early and they seated us very quickly. Awesome!

OK, so I have one knock on the place. It was smoking hot. I mean, I never cooled down. We were seated by the door and it kept opening with each new customer, totally screwing us out of cool air every time. Every time. If only they had a more “closed in” entryway, perhaps that could be avoided? All I know is I was hot. But, I did buy two drinks, so maybe there is a method to the madness?

The Bar

Our table ordered white wine, Sangria (red) and a mixed drink called a Honeysuckle and Lavender Flip. The Sangria was sweet and fruity and very refreshing. The Flip…well…that was light and sweetly resplendent. That’s right: resplendent. It was made with Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka and a house made lavender sweet and sour mixed with soda water and a squeeze of lemon. Served over cracked ice and a sprinkling of lavender buds on top, and you’ll hear an angel sing upon first sip.

Appetizers and Small Plates

First up is a hearty appetizer: Fried Green Tomatoes. Any southern restaurant worth its salt must have this on the menu. But TH has their fried green maters on a bed of creamy goat cheese grits and that is nestled over the top of some brightly flavored red pepper coulis. What a perfect combination. The crispy, salty and sour fried green tomatoes was a perfect counter balance to the decadent grits. The coulis added just enough spice to tie it all together. A perfect dish that we had to order 2 plates of to share.

The Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was another hit. It might have been the best crab cake I’ve ever tasted! Crispy on the outside and full of sweet large hunks of crab. Seasoned just perfectly! It came propped against a small salad a mixed dark greens dressed with a jalapeno aioli and tossed with sweetly sour baby tomatoes. That salad had a bite to it! Perfect addition to the simple goodness of the crab cake.

The table also thoroughly enjoyed Warm Pimento Cheese, like a Southern cheese dip, served with house-made tortilla chips. I looked around to see so many tables enjoying this simple, but unbeatably delicious, sharable appetizer. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it didn’t even need salsa. It was that good.

The humble Biscuit. Handmade, fluffy, salty and tender. Served with honey (of course) and blueberry preserves. A.mazing.

Brunch

Erika had a brunch item for dinner: Fried Chicken and Biscuits! She couldn’t make up her mind what she wanted, everything looked so good, but the description of the basil gravy eventually won her over. Let me set this dish up for you: Huge bowl is filled with split house made biscuits. Next, they place a perfectly fried buttermilk chicken breast patty. Add crispy NC country ham and some basil and top all of that with a fried egg. Which when Erika sank her fork in burst and gave a new level of richness to that gravy. It was decadent and wonderful, and she could barely finish a third of her meal!

Dinner

Laurie ordered Roasted Duck Breast. It was topped with a cherry port wine sauce and served with cardamom ginger roasted carrots and a shaved Brussels sprout salad dressed with a honey vinaigrette. Laurie said that the duck was cooked well, but the skin wasn’t seared enough, leaving it chewy. She cut all of the skin off and ate the duck breast meat. It was tasty, but she was disappointed with the skin. The salad was so tangy and creamy, much like a cole slaw.

Vickie got the Jumbo Fried Shrimp. These big, juicy prawns were buttermilk fried and topped with a sticky cherry pepper lemon aioli. Vickie reported them amazing! She got hers with a side of asparagus and a side salad.

I got the Hickory Nut Gap Farm Beef and Bacon Meatloaf. I’m going to be honest here: I picked something that would go with the macaroni and cheese. Because that’s what I was wanting. If you are going to cheat on your diet, you should really go all out. So, I picked fried okra, too. NO REGRETS! The meatloaf was so tender, and a nice brown color, unlike my gray offerings. The gravy on top was a tomato rosemary shallot gravy that was zesty and packed with flavor. I was dragging the macaroni and cheese through it, too. The macaroni and cheese was gooey and cheesy. I mean, even a bad mac and cheese tastes pretty good, but this one is yummy, no fear. The fried okra was plump yet crispy. Not that frozen mess you get at other places. I was so happy. Joyous, really.

Kathy, the healthy one in the group, opted for the Venerated Veggie Bowl. We’ll never truly know how wonderful this was because Kathy refuses to share her food! LOL I can say that it looked amazing and she couldn’t eat it all. Let me set it up for you: On the bottom of the bowl there is a layer of SC Stone Ground Goat cheese grits and that is topped with salsa verde black-eyed peas. They then pile on sauteed greens, fried okra and salsa. I love meat, but this bowl looked amazing.

Lunch

Lunch isn’t all that much different from dinner, but they do have more sandwiches. My favorite is probably the Shoo Mercy Cheesy Grill. A gooey mixture of Havarti and pimento cheese tops carmelized onions, crispy maple smoked bacon, salty smoked ham, fried green tomatoes and fresh basil all on wheat sourdough bread. Sounds like a lot going on, but the combination is perfect. Squishy, salty, creamy and crispy: it hits all the notes.

I got my sammie with a bowl of their tomato soup. Eh. A little tangy.

The Southern Fried Chicken BLT is another staple at Tupelo Honey. I had one at lunch on another visit. The chicken is seasoned perfectly, crispy crunchy and the bacon is smoky. Perfect in its simplicity

Side Dishes

You could make a meal on the side dishes. Seriously. Because they have a veggie plate where you can choose 3 or 4 for your meal. But, if you just want a couple with your meat (do it!) you’ll be happy too. Laurie got the Edamame, Pine Nut, Golden Raisin and Carrot Salad. I was very suspicious of those healthy looking green beans, but I was pleasantly surprised at the sweet and tangy dressing, and the bite from the pine nuts. Healthy never tasted so good.

Another favorite of our table was the Benne Coated Asparagus. Asparagus can’t go wrong as long as it isn’t over cooked. These were perfectly cooked, still had a bit of a snap, and the benne (sesame seeds, right?) added a nuttiness. Yum!

You may also choose a side salad as one of your “vegetables.” This one comes with mixed greens, grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, pickled onions and pine nuts. The pickled onions and pine nuts are tangy and crunch elements that are different from your run-of-the-mill side salad.

If you are looking for a delicious country meal that is a little on the upscale side, you have to give Tupelo Honey a try. Just bring a fan.

Boone · Boone

Restaurant Review: GameKeeper in Boone, NC & Chetola Lodge

April 15, 2015November 5, 2019 Suzanne Strength5 Comments

Boone and Blowing Rock are two of our treasures near the Piedmont. Dustin and I took a little trip up to stay at Chetola Lodge for a long weekend at Valentine’s Day. We were able to get out only the first night, when we visited the Gamekeeper Restaurant, but the next night we got snowed in. It was beautiful, and cozy. A really magical evening!

Chetola Resort

800-CHETOLA (243-8652) :: 828-295-5500

info@chetola.com

185 Chetola Lake Drive :: Blowing Rock, NC 28605

http://www.chetola.com

The grounds of this gorgeous resort are worth a visit, even if you park and walk around a bit. Ponds, swans, walking trails…very natural and peaceful.

We stayed in the Bob Timberlake Inn and it was so personal. They have cozy (if a tiny bit outdated in decor) rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs and they have a wine and cheese tasting every evening. We also enjoyed the indoor pool while it snowed outside. Magical!

Gamekeeper Restaurant

3005 Shulls Mill Road
Boone, North Carolina 28607
828.963.7400

http://gamekeeper-nc.com

First thing you should know is you need a reservation. The winter hours are scarce and the tables were full when we were there. Second thing you need to know is that if it is winter, you’ll need to call to make sure the restaurant is open. The drive up is curvy and scary on a snowy road. But…it certainly is charming in a snowy setting once you reach your destination.

As you might suspect, the restaurant has a glamorous hunting lodge feel. There are fireplaces blazing inside and twigs along with eclectic artwork and low lighting. It’s easy on the eyes and comfortable. We were seated immediately and enjoyed wonderful service all night.

We started our meal with the Mixed Game Grill which had a variety of (chef’s choice) grilled game meats, sausages and dipping sauces. On the night we visited, we got grilled ostrich and elk, yak and emu sausages, and mustard, horseradish and a peach-pear barbecue sauce for dipping. All of these meats were topped with some hand-cut seasoned fries. The grilled ostrich was crispy and hearty, not too gamey, as I was afraid. The elk was absolutely the best thing I ate all night; it was grilled to perfection with a smoky crust. I’d order a plateful of that. The yak sausage was cooked crispy but it was dry and quite gamey tasting. Not my favorite. The emu sausage was better, with a creamier texture. The fries were without question the best I’ve had. They were planks of starchy deliciousness, seasoned properly.

A perfect accompaniment to this dish were the sauces that were served with it. First there was a mustard sauce that was thick with whole mustard seeds; very bold! There was also a horseradish sauce that was creamy and had just enough bite. My favorite was the peach pear barbecue sauce. It was sweet and matched perfectly with the char on the grilled meats.

I had the Pheasant Pot Pie. It was surprisingly good, but I’m not sure everyone would like it as much as I did. The filling tasted a little “gluey” but it was so flavorful I overlooked the somewhat unpleasant texture. The pheasant itself was cooked beautifully, and tasted like…wait for it…chicken. But incredibly flavorful and tender chicken! The pastry shell was flaky and perfect. I also loved the accompanying vegetables with just a bit of char on them. My only real criticism was that the whole dish lacked salt and it wasn’t provided on the table. That is a bold move on a chef’s part, and in this case the move was the wrong one. Chefs: put salt and pepper on your tables. We won’t think less of you for it.

Dustin had the Grilled Bison Hangar Steak, served with roasted potatoes and root vegetables. Honestly, his was a little gamey tasting for me, but it was cooked well. Again, we found the dish lacked seasoning. Still, it was an experience.

********

My girlfriends and I went back for a visit and it was even better than the first time. Service was amazing and the food was phenomenal. Here are some pics we took:

Davidson · Restaurants

Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse in Davidson, NC

January 3, 2015 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Flatiron is a steak place in Davidson, NC that we decided to try over the summer. Such high hopes, because I love the town of Davidson. Ultimately, this place just didn’t deliver. While there were some high points to our meal, mostly our experience ranged from not great to not really memorable.

We tried the Calamari Fries for an appetizer. Ours came with a side dish of marinara sauce. The calamari was tender, but the large mouthful of tender, almost flabby planks of squid actually put me off. I prefer the rings, fried a little crispier. I would definitely not get these again.

One of the better dishes was the Wedge Salad. Hard to mess those up, but this one was exceptional with bacon, diced tomatoes, Gorgonzola cheese, red onion and topped with a yummy Buttermilk Ranch dressing. Also, they served it a bit chopped and not in the traditional wedge shape, so it was much easier to cut. Loved it!

Another pretty awesome dish is the Goat Cheese Bake. They plop some goat cheese in a dish of marinara, bake it and serve with toast. Simple and utterly delicious.

The Chicken Fettuccine Pasta dish was very good. The chicken was tender, the sauce was flavorful. The grilled bread atop was a nice touch.

The Filet Mignon was also a good dish. It was cooked well, but the sauce was a little tangy. I loved the brussels sprouts with the charred edges and the potato puree was creamy and seasoned well.

The Seared Scallops were just fine. They did have a nice sear, but were not seasoned as well as we’d like. The sweet potato risotto that they were atop was delicious. The grilled asparagus were nicely cooked. The dish was fine, but not particularly memorable.

For dessert, they had quite a few offerings. The Raspberry Cheesecake was probably the best thing our table sampled. It was just sweet enough and very creamy. The Creme Brulee is always a winner, and rarely have I had a bad one, this one was no disappointment. The one dessert we sampled that was just inedible were the Hot Now Donuts. They were like sugar coated bricks. They are served in a paper bag, which is the best thing about them. Maybe they were off that night, but I found them heavy and tough. Never again.

The restaurant isn’t horrible. There are simply better choices around. A quick look around the menu shows me that they are trying to make some changes, so if I give it another try I will be sure and report my findings 🙂

Cornelius · Restaurants

Tenders in Cornelius

December 6, 2014November 11, 2018 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Tenders is a popular fast-ish food joint in Cornelius, NC. It is a on the corner of the beaten path, but you still have to know what you are looking for. Hint: Follow the crowds, because this place is always jacked.

The food here is very fresh, and all of the ingredients are homemade. Hand-breaded chicken tenders, not frozen and fried. The fries are hand-cut and fried, not frozen. In fact, they have NO freezers at all on premises. The sauces are not processed bottled sauces, they whip them all up on site. It’s a huge change from chains and you can taste the difference.

Another thing I love about this restaurant is that it is dine in, carry out or drive up. Sometimes you just don’t want to get out of your car, you know?

OK, so by the name of the restaurant, you know you are getting some chicken fingers. And you won’t be unhappy. That’s what they do, and they do it well. The chicken fingers are nuclear hot when they are delivered to you, and you get to choose your own sauce from about 8 homemade varieties. You know I chose Ranch. Delish!

Pics for your drooling pleasure…

Charlotte · Restaurants

The Cowfish

November 26, 2014 Suzanne Strength3 Comments

Are you looking for an eclectic cuisine that fuses two well loved foods into one delicious dish? No? Nor was I. I just wanted to try food at a place called Cowfish. So glad we did!

We wanted both burgers and sushi, of course, so we opted to try the mini burgers of the week for our appetizers and each got a fancy sushi roll for lunch.

The Burgers of the Week happened to be blue cheese burgers. Dustin was not a fan of blue cheese, but still managed to down two of them. They were cooked well, and very juicy. I loved them, but they were a little drippy (which all delicious burgers should be.) The Cowfish sauce was tangy sweet mayonnaise and the slaw was divine, even to someone like me who is usually pretty indifferent to slaw.

My sushi roll, The “Prime Time” Filet and Lobster Roll, was one of the best things I’d ever had. And clocking in at $22 for one roll, well it should be. But, I’m telling you, one is all you will need. It is very huge and quite filling. The inside was comprised of buttery lobster and crisp, fresh cucumber matchsticks. Atop this were rare (yet in my case, I asked for medium) strips of filet mignon and strips of smoky slices of portabello mushrooms that were panfried in the juices from the steak, then tossed in truffle oil. This tasted like bacon! Bacon veggies! Brilliant!

Dustin chose the Blackened Tuna Roll. Inside this is delicate lump crabmeat, gently mixed with cream cheese to make a delicious, light salad with a slight crunch from the tempura flakes. Topping this are strips of blackened tuna, a dollop of guacamole and a fresh sliver of jalapeno. Talk about the perfect bite! Everything was fresh and delicious.

For dessert (yes, we did) we shared an order of Apple Pie Wontons. Holy Moly. Homemade apple pie filling encased by a wonton wrapper and flash fried. As if that wasn’t enough, they serve it with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream that is surprisingly light and airy and drizzled with a caramel sauce. You can’t really go wrong with a fried wonton, but this one was so rich, with the crispy wrapper and the apple pie filling was sweet with just enough tart to balance. It was plenty big enough to share.

The restaurant is much bigger than it appears from the outside. We even sat on the patio and it had plenty of heaters out there to keep us warm. Our service was amazing, we lacked nothing during our visit. We will be back soon!