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.

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!

Places

Paula Deen LIVE at the Blumenthal in Charlotte

October 8, 2014November 8, 2014 Suzanne Strength1 Comment

Paula Deen came to Charlotte, ya’ll! Her people reached out to me with fantastic tickets to see this wonderful show and to meet Paula! What an amazing experience! If you want to see her, here’s the link to check out her tour dates: Paula Deen Live. Our show was Wednesday, September 24 2014 at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Theater downtown.

When we first arrived, we were directed upstairs in this beautiful center to have some wine and snacks before going up to meet Paula. As you might imagine, the food was amazing. I wish I could show you pictures of the venue, but security was tight and they wouldn’t let us snap pictures inside the building. My guess is we were too close to the Bank of America Building, and they thought we might be cat burglers.

While we stood in line to wait on the Queen of Buttery Goodness, we spotted several famous folks. Lee Greenwood was on hand to greet us in line, and we’d learn later he’d sing his hit song God Bless the USA during the show. Stunning! (not his best picture, but that is the fault of the photog, not Mr. Greenwood.)

While we were in line to meet Paula, we were told that we could not have anyone take pictures of us (it would hold up the line) but that their photographer would get the shot and give us a link to download them. I got that one today. I think it came out great, even if the hubs has a death grip on Paula’s hand. They seem like awesome people. Paula certainly was. Very warm and friendly 🙂

Now, for the good stuff! Paula’s sons were just out there strutting around, chit chatting with everyone, really working the room. Handsome! This might have been the highlight of my night 😉

I didn’t take pictures of the event itself. I was too wrapped up in listening to Paula talk! We saw her prepare some yummy dishes, heard her telling her famous stories and anecdotes and even played some games! It was a wonderful time, and not to be missed!

Charlotte · Restaurants

Cafe Monte in Charlotte

August 23, 2014August 27, 2014 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Café Monte

My girlfriend and I decided to give this place a try because we found a Living Social deal that was too good to pass up. So glad we did! The interior is fun yet elegant. When we were there, they had live music playing in a corner and a pastry case on the opposite side. It made the wait for our table a bit more bearable!

We were seated in the busy restaurant at a small patio (looking) table and were immediately served our drinks. Our server was attentive and friendly.

We started with some pretty standard appetizers. My friend ordered a salad, and it was dressed sparsely and was pretty basic. I tried the French Onion Soup. The cheese was delicious, but the broth itself was lacking in body and flavor. We both agreed we’d try something a little more adventurous next time.

We sampled the Chicken and Mushroom Crepes for our entrée. This was really my friend’s dish, but she let me have a taste. They were rich and creamy and I kicked myself all night for not getting them. I know it looks a mess, and the picture isn’t that clear, but it was the best thing we had all night.

For my dish, I chose the special for Friday night: Broiled Lobster with fries and asparagus. It was fine, but the waiter really hyped it up and you know…you’ve had Lobster once, you’ve had it a million times. It was delicious, but nothing special. Plus, kinda messy and hard to handle with grace. Next time, crepes for me.

After staring at the pastry case while waiting on our reservation, we decided we had to have dessert. My friend chose the chocolate éclair. The photo is blurry, but I’m sure you can see the cracks in the chocolate on top. That was an indicator we should have heeded. It was dry and uneventful. Very disappointing for a French bakery.

This was the winner between the two desserts. This Vanilla fruit tart was good, but it still had that “made ahead and sat around” flavor to me. I was not impressed, but maybe my expectations were too high for a French restaurant.

The next time we go, we will skip dessert altogether, but definitely have the crepes.

Charlotte · Restaurants

Midwood Smokehouse in Charlotte

August 5, 2014August 15, 2015 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

My husband and I visited the Midwood Smokehouse today and we were so so so happy. So happy. This is huge. Because I’m not crazy about barbecue. I was trying to be nice when I agreed to go. But lord-have-mercy…it was good.

Inside is pretty hip. Lots of metal pig memorabilia, waitresses wearing “Bacon” socks and general “characters” waiting tables and eating here. I loved just sitting in the booth and looking around. All while smelling that delicious smoky smell.

We started off our meal with a watermelon margarita and a beer. Normally I skip cocktails, but the waiter changed my mind by telling me this one was made with real watermelon (not some mix!). Sure enough, it tasted very refreshing, and not to sweet at all despite the sugar on the rim of the glass.

The Cuban sandwich was the menu item that immediately drew my attention. In fact, once I saw it, I stopped looking. The pressed sandwich is chock full of sliced ham, barbecued pork, Swiss cheese and topped with mustard, lettuce and tomato. I had never had a Cuban with the lettuce and tomato, and next time I’ll leave those off. The bread got so flat and crispy in the pressing, and the barbecue pork taking the place of a sliced pork cutlet lent a smokiness to the sandwich. I chose macaroni and cheese as my side and it was creamy and cheesy topped with a crusty coating of baked cheese. It was the best macaroni and cheese I’d ever had at a restaurant. How about that?

The hubs got the beef brisket plate, mixed. That means it was half lean meat and half fatty meat. I can appreciate that fat is needed to make meat tender, juicy and flavorful, but I’m no fan of fatty meat. That said, he left me have a bite of his lean brisket and it was so tender, so juicy and flavorful…I was thankful for the fatty pieces lying around it. The barbecue sauce is tangy and tomato-y. I also detected a bit of beer in it? He chose the baked beans as his side and they were baked with the same barbecue sauce that came on the plate for dipping. A few candied bits of meat had made their way into the beans, too. Seriously, perfection.

Really love this place. And did you notice the china this meal is served on? Funky, punky décor, cool waiters and staff, and then grandma’s china. I’m in love. Go.

Charlotte · Restaurants

Nan and Bryon’s in Charlotte

December 21, 2013 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Nan and Byron’s is a new restaurant in Charlotte by the folks who brought you 5Church. I understand that 5Church is upscale (I haven’t visited yet) and they bring the same care for their food to Nan & Byron’s but the prices are pretty amazing. We arrived at the restaurant, located in the old Vinnie’s Raw Bar on South Blvd, a little earlier than our reservation time of 8:30 p.m. We were told to have a seat and we’d be seated at our table close to our reservation time. Once we were 5 or 10 minutes past our reservation time, the manager came over to apologize for our wait and brought us 4 drinks of our choice for our trouble. Wow! Actually not a bad move, because we bought 4 more plus our dinner beverages. Still, the gesture was welcome. It set the tone for what was to be a great evening.

Before he even got back with our drinks, we were seated at our table. We were by the bar and near a large party, so the noise level was a bit loud for me, but this time of year, that is to be expected. We were brought our *free* drinks and some yummy chipotle spiced popcorn for the table. It was a welcome, and somehow hip change from the normal bread and butter. The drinks we tried included (but were not limited to) Farmhouse lemonade and the Cadillac Jalapeno Margarita. All were pronounced yummy, but they are a little on the pricey side. Please remember, the food is a bargain, so they have to make their money somewhere!

For our appetizers, we ordered Deviled Eggs and Peppedew Poppers. The deviled eggs were so pretty, they tasted nearly as good as they looked. What was very present was a vinegar taste that I thought was a little overwhelming. Still, creamy and delicious! The Poppers were little fritters full of nuclear hot cheese. I took one bite, it spewed on me, dripping on my shirt and burning my lips. So, my tip to you is this…use a fork. No fun with pick up-ables, but trust me, save your shirt and your tongue. You don’t want cat-tongue for the rest of your meal. Once we learned to properly eat the poppers, we discovered them to be more than delicious, breaded nuggets with a fresh dipping sauce that was very herbaceous.

My dinner came with 2 sides, so for one of my sides I opted for a Caesar salad. The romaine lettuce was chopped into bite sized pieces making it simple to eat, which pleases me greatly. The dressing is very tangy and it is served teeth-chatteringly cold. Sprinkled atop it all was grated Parmesan cheese which gave it a salty bite to perfectly contrast the croutons. I loved it.

The entrees were presented so lovingly and were almost too beautiful to eat. I got the chicken, which was a 1/2 chicken roasted in Peruvian spices and sitting atop some spicy green sauce. My other side (besides the salad above) was the macaroni and cheese. They were pretty skimpy with that. Luckily, the deliciousness of the chicken more than made up for this. It was so tender, and juicy! The spices were perfect, not too overpowering, smoky and sweet. It all worked together, perfectly. I will be hard pressed to try something new next time I go.

The guys got the meatloaf. It is described as seasoned ground beef topped by sriracha ketchup and red wine sauce. I only got a tiny taste, but it was really good meatloaf. Tender, not greasy at all, and that ketchup. Wow. Nan needs to bottle it and sell it. Dustin opted for double starches with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. It worked.

The last entree we sampled was a sandwich. My friend got the Farmhouse burger and she was very impressed by all of the different flavors going on: spicy cheese, smoky sauce and salty bacon top the nicely seasoned ground beef. Yummy!

Desserts are not “officially” on the menu yet (at the time of our visit) but we are told they are made by the pastry chef at 5Church and brought over, so the menu changes seasonally or to the whims of 5Church. We tried the Berry-Apple Cobbler, The Brownie and the Whoopie Pie. The Berry-Apple Cobbler was ho-hum and had an odd sort of processed taste to it. I wasn’t impressed. My friends got the Whoopie Pie, and they said it needed ice cream or something to combat its dryness. Mine however, the Brownie, was a.maz.ing. The brownie was warm and gooey, the peanut butter ice cream that topped it was a perfect rich accompaniment. I wish I had one now.

This new restaurant is an exciting new concept for Charlotte, at least to my way of thinking. Our reservation at 8:30 p.m. led us to be one of the last “diners” in the joint, which began to fill up with hip looking young folks. I think Nan and Byron’s might be too cool of a scene for a homegirl like me, but just try to keep me away.

Charlotte · Restaurants

Firehouse Subs at the Epicentre in Charlotte

November 4, 2013November 16, 2013 Suzanne Strength96 Comments

We were honored to be invited by the Co-founder of Firehouse Subs to attend an invitation only soda/sandwich pairing at Firehouse Subs at the Epicentre in Charlotte on Tuesday night. At first I was skeptical, thinking it was a marketing ploy designed to garner good reviews for their restaurant, but hey, free food won over my good sense. I am so glad I didn’t pre-judge. That tasting has made a customer of me for life, and I’ve already told 4 people so much about my experience, that they too are anxious to go. Brilliant is what that marketing plan was!

Before going in, we walked around a bit to see what the Epicentre had to offer. Turns out that place is pretty cool. It’s a little expensive to park, but well worth it for the plethora of restaurants, clubs and fun stuff. Here are a few of the things we saw while strolling:

We sampled 4 different subs while we enjoyed the founder, Robin Sorenson, sharing anecdotes and stories about the start up of his company, their mission, and the charities that they support. What I learned is that you can start a huge company that begins with a small dream, and that the company gives a ton of money to various charities, but locally, nationally and even internationally. Also, we learned about the quality of their ingredients, which is second to none in the sandwich business. Another thing that separates Firehouse from other sub shops is the service provided. I’ve never been in one when I wasn’t greeted upon arrival and then provided with exceptional service while there. Also, their dining room is large enough for people who wish to dine in. There were 50 seats at the restaurant we visited.

The first sub we got to sample was called the Hook and Ladder. It consists of smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and topped with Lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and mustard. All of this served with a crunchy kosher dill pickle on the side.

All of this sounds pretty basic when I write it down, but these sandwiches are anything but. First, the meat they use is top quality. None of the pre-sliced coldcuts like at Subway, and no cutting corners with cheap cuts of meat. Their meat is always USDA choice, not a claim most sub places can make. The bread they used is baked especially for them, and always steamed so your sandwich is soft and chewy. The mayonnaise they use is a double yolk mayo which tastes far more rich and creamy. All of their cheese is Sargento. My point in telling you this, is that if you use quality ingredients, it stands to reason that you will serve a quality product. And that is exactly what Firehouse serves.

After all of this delicious food, we were handed a bucket full of a few goodies, and were left with this pearl of wisdom: “Don’t let your lifestyle drive your business.” Simply put, live within your means.

For my visit, I was rewarded with 5 $10 gift cards for Firehouse Subs. I am going to do a random drawing for these cards on November 15. To enter, comment on this blog (and leave me some contact info to find you again if you win!). If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry. I have to approve all comments. Good Luck!

UPDATE!!! Thank you for all of the comments, here are the winners! Please email me your addresses to Barenakedchef AT gmail Dot com and I’ll get your card in the mail!

Sara Wood
Tiffany O
Sherry Franklin
Amy Hart
Elizabeth Milam

Congratulations, ladies!

Charlotte · Restaurants

Bistro La Bon in Charlotte

October 5, 2013October 5, 2013 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Bistro la Bon describes itself as humble, or at least describes its location as such, but to my way of thinking it couldn’t be more wrong. When you walk in, you are immediately immersed in the modern decor and realize that this is a place where the hip come to play. The chef, Majid Amoorpour, has over 20 years of cooking experience he brings from all over the world. You’ll find menu items from many different countries represented.

When we arrived, we had to wait in the bar for about 10 minutes while they got our table ready. I had a reservation, but 10 minutes wasn’t that big of a deal. The bar was active and full of boisterous people, so could be an exciting time for those who like such an atmosphere. Me, being a killjoy, found them loud and obnoxious. It happened to be a large party, which proved to be loud and obnoxious even in the dining area, but that isn’t Bistro’s fault. Just a personal note 🙂

But the fooooooood more than made up for the noisy atmosphere of a few toasted diners. We began our meal with tomato bisque and a shrimp and cornbread appetizer. The tomato bisque was creamy and smooth, with a velvety tomato flavor with just a hint of basil. It was the perfect cup of soup.

The shrimp with cornbread was a small plate (tapas) and utterly perfect. The shrimp were plump and perfectly seasoned in this spicy sauce with shallots and garlic and the cornbread was sweet and moist. I wish I could make an entree out of it!

For my entree, I ordered the pan seared fish with lentils. I am desperately trying to remember what kind of fish it is, but all I can tell you is it was delicious. Perfectly tender and flaky, and the sauce was light yet tangy. The lentils were also flavorful and soft.

Dustin had the airline chicken, which was glazed with a cherry sauce and set atop a bed of couscous. He said it was the most tender chicken he’d eaten. Couscous is not usually my favorite, but this was spiced perfectly and savory.

Vanilla Bean Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta with Seasonal Fruits & Berries — Vanilla Bean Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta
with Seasonal Fruits & Berries

Dustin got the Panna Cotta for dessert. It was merely a vanilla custard accomapanied by stewed fruits and some whipped cream. I found it not decadent enough, but Dustin found it light and refreshing. I think this dessert will appeal to those who don’t have much of a sweet tooth. My dessert was miles better.

Bourbon Brioche Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream — Bourbon Brioche Bread Pudding
with Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream

Oh, here it is! This bread pudding is the best I’ve had. Creamy and warm, a perfect set up for the cold, intensely vanilla ice cream and the sweet, buttery caramel sauce. I have no idea what the little crunchies were on the side, but yeah, I gobbled them, too. A perfect end to a perfect evening!

Charlotte · Restaurants

Dish!

September 14, 2013 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Dish

Dish is a wonderful find in Charlotte. It is eclectic, but only to a certain extent. The dishes are purely Southern, but only if your grandmother was a hippy. When you enter Dish, you will have to stand at the door and look around for a minute. The outside doesn’t do justice to the interior. It’s really very fun and funky. The waitstaff is much the same. Each is an individual and the times I’ve been, quite nice and helpful.

We tried the Fried Green Tomatoes for our appetizers. They were tart and crispy, and perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of crunch from the golden brown spheres. These are served with a very refreshing horseradish sauce that is spiked with dill.

For my lunch, I chose the soup and salad, since I was a little full from the Fried Green Tomatoes. That was kind of dumb, in retrospect. The salad was fine, with the homemade Ranch dressing, which is always a must, but the soup was oddly chunky and not velvelty smooth. I just couldn’t get a taste for it. And Tomato basil soup is my favorite, so that is really saying something. As you can see from the picture, my plate came with a deviled egg. Creamy and rich, it was delicious.

No matter. My son got the Chicken and Dumplings which arrived with fresh fruit and a huge biscuit, and of course, the deviled egg. The dumplings were soft yet chewy, with plenty of tender chicken. It was nicely seasoned and very thick. The fresh fruit was a disappointment. Does anyone really like cantaloupe? The biscuit was fluffy and warm and the top was glistening with butter. It was just good food.

Dish is a lovely restaurant, and a must-hit if you are in Plaza Midwood.

Charlotte · Restaurants

Lupie’s Restaurant

September 4, 2013 Suzanne StrengthLeave a comment

Remember in my last post where I told you we took our soup and sandwiches back up and got our money back from Crisp? We went straight from there to Lupie’s. I ride by their Huntersville location all the time on my way to my friend’s house, but never had time to stop. Today was my day to finally try some Lupie’s!

I gotta tell you, when I first went in to Lupie’s, I was a little taken aback. It’s..uh…pretty casual in there. Looks like it could use a lick and a promise, and maybe a coat of paint. But, the servers could not be nicer and you kinda get used to the weird apathy vibe and settle in to eat some hearty (if heart clogging) food.

We didn’t formulate a good plan, and ended up getting kinda the same thing. I got a bowl of chili as I had lost most of my appetite over the Crisp Debacle. It tasted good, but it was so chunky and meaty, I found it more hearty than I cared to eat. It was tasty, it just got to be too much. What was delish to me was the side of cornbread that came with my chili! Good crumb and perfectly warm with butter, yum!

Dustin’s meal was better. He got a Carolina Dog, with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. It came with chips. He let me have one tiny bite. The hot dog was huge, piled high with sloppy toppings. The wiener itself was huge (that’s what she said) and had a nice snap to it. I’ll probably have that next time I go.

Lots of other folks around us were having the meat and three of the day, and enjoying that, so if country cooking is more your speed, you may enjoy that. But you should go. Just take off your fancy pants.