Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Hoss’ Loaded Burgers – Nolensville, TN

There is a food truck in Nashville called Hoss’ Loaded Burgers. They became so successful that they finally were able to open their first Brick & Mortar location.

All their burgers are stuffed, their take on the “Juicy Lucy” that you will find up in Minneapolis.

You order at the counter when you enter the restaurant. Then they make it all fresh to order and bring it to your table.

I ordered The Hoss. The fresh beef patties were stuffed with cheddar cheese. Then the burger was topped with crispy bacon, a hickory smoke BBQ sauce, cilantro, and onion straws.

The burger bun was soft. It allowed me to get a great grip on the burger. The meat was extremely juicy. When I took a bite the melted cheddar cheese poured out. It made the burger even juicier. The bacon was not super crispy, but it added a salty element. The BBQ sauce was sweet and went well with the seasoning that was on the burger. The onion straws were a subtle touch that added a crunchy texture. It was the perfect size burger.

And what goes best with the cheeseburger? French fries of course. They offer a couple of different variations of fries. I went for the queso and bacon loaded fries. The crispy fries were covered all over with creamy queso. They made sure it was not just a top layer of cheese. The crumbled bacon added a salty and smokey taste. These were messy fries and needed to be eaten with a fork.

Hoss’ Loaded Burgers was a great spot for lunch. I am so glad they have a free-standing restaurant now. Check them out a www.hossburgers.com

Enjoy!

T

Captain Woody’s – Hilton Head, SC

This was my first visit to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It is a wonderful beach town that gets extremely crowded on the weekends. But who could blame anyone for wanting to spend the weekend at the beach.

My friends told me I needed to visit Captain Woody’s. It is a local place that has been serving up drinks and seafood for over 30 years.

They were packed when we arrived. Luckily there were seats open in the bar area. And if you have ever read my blog before you know sitting at the bar us actually the best. You will always get better and faster service at the bar.

When we got there to my surprise it was still happy hour. It seemed like everything was on special.

I tried a bottle of the Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale. It was like a beer cream soda. The hints of vanilla were wonderful and really hid the taste of the hops.

The other part of happy hour were a few menu specials.

I went for a few to share:

  • Fried Calamari
  • Buffalo Shrimp
  • Fish Tacos

The calamari was lightly fried. It was a combination of body meat and tentacles. The calamari was tender and I could tell it was fresh. I ate most of them plain but I did dip a few in the sweet and spicy dipping sauce for some additional flavor.

The buffalo shrimp were jumbo fried shrimp. They had a great crunch but I was a little disappointment that they were not as spicy as I was expecting.

The bartender highly recommended the fish tacos. She said they are a fan favorite. So I ordered one. The fish could either be grilled or fried. I went for fried.

This one taco was huge. It was so packed with fish and veggies that it was impossible to pick it up. It was loaded with fried Tilapia, tomatoes, onion, cabbage, cheese, and covered in a chipotle cream sauce.

I ended up eating the pieces of fish dipped in the extra cream sauce with a fork. The rest of the filling I ate like a salad. It was pretty good on its own – probably because of the cream sauce acting like a dressing. That left the tortilla shell as the only thing on the plate. It had soaked up all the flavor from the filling, so I ate it all by itself. It was great.

Captain Woody’s was a fun place to hang out. It is a great place for families to go. If you want to eat outside, they have a huge patio. Just be aware of the temperature. I am planning on going back when I visit Hilton Head again.

Check out their website at www.captainwoodys.com

Enjoy!

T

Nero’s Waterfront Café – St. Augustine, FL

So, it is Sunday in St. Augustine and I was ready for brunch. What better was to enjoy brunch the along the water. That is what Nero’s Waterfront Café offered. I was able to get a seat on their patio.

Their menu offered an array of breakfast and lunch type items. I made sure to try their corned beef hash and eggs. They make their own corned beef. It was shredded, almost like pulled pork. It was tender and juicy. It was cooked well done so it allowed it to get a little crispy. It was fresh hash with great flavor.

My meal was the fish and chips. The fish they used was a fresh Mahi Mahi. They breaded and fried the fish in a seasoning blend that was slightly spicy. The entire thing reminded me of fried chicken.

The flavor of the seasoning was amazing. It was the right amount of heat. There was a nice crunch and the breading sealed in the moisture of the fish. The Mahi Mahi was till so flakey even after being fried.

It came with French fries on the side. They were crispy, having just come out of the fryer. They were good with the ketchup but even better with the homemade tarter sauce.

It was such a nice brunch at Nero’s. I would want to go back and try some of their other dishes. If you want a nice and relaxing meal, you will get that at Nero’s Waterfront Café.

Check them out at www.neroswaterfrontcafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Columbia – St. Augustine, FL

I have loved the Spanish restaurant Columbia for years. I have written about two of their locations in Clearwater and Ybor City in Tampa. While I was visiting St. Augustine, I wanted to make sure I checked out this location too. It was in the Historic District which is a wonderful experience.

They were busy the evening I was there, so I was not able to get a table. I was able to get a seat at the bar.

As with every visit to Columbia, it starts out with the waiter bringing out fresh baked Cuban bread. It comes out wrapped up, which makes me feel like I am opening a yummy birthday present. Since the bread is so warm, as soon as the butter is placed on, it melts into all the nook and crannies of the bread. The crust of the bread is crispy and inside is so soft. It is a carb-lovers paradise.

I also love the fresh made sangrias they make right in front of you. They had a new version on the menu, a Sangria de Rose. They used Rose wine along with Torres brandy and fresh citrus juices. Of course, they added cherries and fresh orange slices. This sangria was not too sweet or too dry. It was right in the middle and felt kind of light.

I also split their famous 1905 salad. If there is one thing that you must try on the Columbia menu is this 1905 salad. It is so filling it can be your entire meal. They chop up crispy iceberg lettuce to make it easier to eat. They then toss in julienne style ham, turkey, and swiss cheese. Not to be outdone, they add tomatoes, olives, grated Romano cheese, Worchester sauce, and their famous homemade garlic dressing. Every aspect of the salad gets coated with the dressing.

The garlic flavor shines through. The Worchester sauce added a nice salty, savory taste. The meat and cheese help to fill you up, while the lettuce adds a fresh crunch.

There are so many great dishes on the Columbia menu. But there is something so simple about a salad and a pitcher of sangria that makes me so satisfied.

I highly recommend you check them out. They have seven locations across Florida, so make sure to find one near you.

Visit their website at www.columbiarestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Mimi’s Famous Crepes – St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine is a magical city, filled with a rich history. From wineries to ghost tours, St. Augustine has something for everyone.  Walking along the historic streets downtown, I came across a little crepe shop called Mimi’s Famous Crepes. I decided to check them out for dessert.

They had an assortment of savory and sweet crepes. Since I wanted dessert I went sweet. I ordered the Banana Cream Pie crepe. What was fun about this place is I could watch my crepe being made.

I watched as the crepe batter was poured onto the hot grill and moved around to create a perfect circle.

Once it was perfectly golden brown, it was folded and filled with a vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and crushed up vanilla wafers.

Then it was folded again a topped with a caramel drizzle, more vanilla pudding, and whipped cream.

I could not wait to try this crepe. They had a beautiful garden, so I went there to sit and enjoy my dessert.

The crepe was still warm, so the pudding melted around the bananas. This created a rich bite. The whipped cream added a cool element and the caramel sauce added extra sweetness. With the addition of the vanilla wafers for crunch, this really did taste like a Banana Cream pie. They captured this beautifully.

This crepe was so satisfying. All the ingredients went perfectly together. I would recommend everyone going to Mimi’s for a dessert crepe. You will not be disappointed.

Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mimisfamouscrepes/

Enjoy!

T

Ferdinando’s Focacceria – Brooklyn, NY

I was so lucky that one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Brooklyn, Ferdinando’s, was open for business, while so many other restaurants were shut down. This is because they have a beautiful garden area at the back of the building.

It was a warm, summer afternoon and they had a wonderful trellis that provided shade on each of the tables. The trellis was covered in thick grapevines with fresh grapes growing on them.

To cool off I ordered some Manhattan Specials. Normally Ferdinando’s has this on tap, which tastes amazing. But because of Covid they were not able to serve it that way. So, I got bottles instead. It was cold and refreshing. For people who have never had a Manhattan Special, it is a carbonated coffee that is served ice cold.

I already had my mind set on what I would be ordering for lunch, the Arancina Special. This is an enormous rice ball that is filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. This mixture is then breaded and fried up. They top it off with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce. Then grated parmesan cheese was sprinkled all over.

The filling was so creamy because of the cheese. The rice was also tender. The flavor from the meat and sauce shined through. The peas added a little sweetness.

The other dish I tired was the Panelle and Potato sandwich. Panelle is chickpeas that have been mashed up like potatoes and then fried like a potato pancake. This was placed on a fresh made Italian roll. Then a potato croquette was stacked on top. Finally, a huge scoop of ricotta cheese and parmesan shreds were placed on top. This is a unique sandwich that I have never seen anywhere else. The flavor is savory and creamy. The ricotta cheese helped break up the starchiness of the panelle and croquette.

The food that Ferdinando’s serves has such a comforting feeling. The homemade nature of each dish makes me feel like I am eating at grandma’s house. It is that kind of feeling that has kept this restaurant in business since 1904.

If you are able to get over to Brooklyn, make sure to check them out. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/FERDINANDOS-FOCACCERIA-287577861134/

Enjoy!

T

Cigar City Cider & Mead – Tampa, FL

I am a huge fan of Mead. Not many people are familiar with that mead actually is, or that it has been around for centuries. It dates back all the way to Ancient Greece long before what we know as beer and wine. So what is mead? It is fermented honey that can be blended with fruits and spices.

To my surprise there is place in Ybor City that makes their own mead – Cigar City Cider & Mead. I could not wait to check them out.

They have a huge selection of meads, ciders, and craft beers. They have chalkboards on the wall that lists everything they have available. You can tell which ones are ciders because they have apples on the sign. The meads are noted with a bee.

Cigar City offers meads in flights so I was able to taste a few of them. I went for the following three:

(1) Braggot – 8% ABV

(2) Blind Eye – 7.5% ABV

(3) San Juan Hall – 11% ABV

The Bragott was not sweet like I was expecting. It was thicker in texture but smooth. It went down easy. By the third sip I tasted the coconut that was blended in.

The Blind Eye was very sweet. This one was light in texture. I could really taste the wild flower that was in it.

The San Juan had the highest alcohol content. When I sniffed it, I could smell the hint of pepper.  By the second sip the taste got spicier. As I continued drinking, the after-taste became sweeter.

It was a really fun afternoon visit. I would definitely go back not only to try additional meads but to also take one of their tours of the facility.

   

To plan your visit, go to their website at http://www.cigarcitycider.com/

Enjoy!

T

Frank’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante – Lakewood, NJ

It was Sunday night and time for dinner. What better dinner than some homemade Italian food. It was recommended that I try Frank’s Pizza & Ristorante. Since their dining room was shut down, I had to get the food to go.

I ordered a couple of things that way there was an assortment of things to try. I got an arancini (rice ball). The size was huge and perfect for sharing. It was crispy on the outside but when I sliced in, the melted cheese just poured out. The cheese blended with the soft rice. In the middle was a great blend of chopped meat, peas, and a little marinara sauce. This filling paired with the cheese and rice made the dish filling.

I got two different calzones. One was just cheese and the other was vegetables and cheese. The cheese calzone was loaded down with cheese. It poured out when I cut into the crispy crust. You must be careful, so you do not burn your mouth. If you like cheesy dough this is the calzone to try. Dipping in in pasta sauce just helps break up the overwhelming amount of cheese.

The vegetable calzone had a few vegetables, including from broccoli rabe. The vegetables helped break up all the cheese. They added a nice texture as well. The dough they used was sweet and complemented the saltiness of the cheese.

I ordered a cup of their chicken noodle soup. There were large chunks of chicken in the soup, but the broth was more like a vegetable soup. There was a sweetness to the soup rather than a salty taste. They loaded the soup with noodles which I really liked. I do like it when soups have lots of noodles.

I did order one main pasta dish to try. I went for the gnocchi in a marinara sauce. These gnocchi were dense but still tender. The marinara sauce was slightly tangy from the tomatoes. However, that eased when I sprinkled some fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.

I was so full after all this food. I ordered plenty so I was able to have lunch the next day. The next time I visit Frank’s I want to order a pizza. That seemed like a really popular item with the customers who kept coming in.

Check out their full menu at www.frankspizzalakewood.com

Enjoy!

T

Shore Fresh – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

I love getting fresh seafood when I am near the beach in New Jersey. I was feeling like some homemade soup for dinner. That took me to Shore Fresh where they make homemade chowders and bisque’s every day.

Because of the indoor dining rules in New Jersey I had to get my order to go. That was ok by me. I was planning on eating down by the water so I could watch the boats and fishermen.

Shore Fresh has a variety of fresh caught seafood all on display. All of which would make delicious meals!

I ordered the Manhattan Clam Chowder. This is one of my favorites. They loaded up with tons on tender clams. They used lots of vegetables as well. All these ingredients worked so well in the savory broth. The chunks of potatoes were my favorite in the chowder because of all the flavor they absorbed. The clams were fantastic and could not be any fresher.

I also tried the Shrimp Bisque. This was extremely creamy. They chopped up the shrimp which made it a little easier to eat. There were a few vegetables in the bisque, but they were more of a flavor accent. They made sure to let the creamy broth stand out.

This fresh chowder and the ocean air were the perfect combination for dinner. It was a relaxing way to end a busy day. You should check them out at www.shorefreshseafood.com

Enjoy!

T

Mulberry Street – Brick, NJ

There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in Brick, New Jersey. But with the shutdown preventing restaurants from opening or allowing patrons to eat inside, I had to find a place I could get food to go. Mulberry Street was a great option.

They have a full deli with freshly made sandwiches, pasta dishes, desserts, fresh bread, and a full market to get Italian specialties. They had it all.

There was even a section of the shop where you can sample all varieties of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. That is not something that I normally see.

Their list of sandwiches was long, and it took me a few minutes to read it over. I finally decided to order the Eldridge Street.

I got my choice of bread for this sandwich, so I went for the fresh bastone. A bastone is a traditional Italian bread. This sandwich had layers of fresh capicola, pepperoni, provolone cheese, and freshly made mozzarella. They topped it off with shredded lettuce and tomato slices. There are lots of dressings to choose to go on the sandwich, but I only got oil and vinegar. I kept it simple.

The sandwich was delicious. They were generous with all the ingredients. The meats were salty, and the cheeses balanced that out. The olive oil added a creamy texture and softened the bread slightly, which made it easier to take a bite. The tomato added some sweetness, while the lettuce added crunch.

The sandwich was very filling. It was the perfect lunch. I look forward to getting to go back to try something else.

Check out their menu at www.Mulberrystreet.net

Enjoy!

T