I was finally back in Nashville, which is one of my favorite places. This visit I wanted to make sure that I got some hot chicken. I love hot chicken and there are many great places to get some all around Nashville. I decided to try some place different. I headed over to Big Shake’s Hot Chicken.
I got there just in time because the line started backing up behind me. I wanted to make sure I ordered some chicken with heat but was afraid to go too hot. Since this was my first time here I went for the “Stop Drop N Roll”. This was supposed to be medium heat.
While I waited for my chicken to come out I looked over their “Wall of Flame”. It turns out that the Travel Channel tv show Man vs. Food filmed an episode here. I thought that was pretty cool.
They called my number and brought my food to my table. The moment of truth had arrived. Could I handle their “Stop Drop N Roll”?
I took a bite. The first thing I noticed was how crispy the breading was. Then I noticed how juicy the chicken was. It was not till I swallowed that the heat hit me. It was an initial kick that slowly dissipated. It was the right amount of spiciness for my first time trying it. The next time I visit I would want to try something a little hotter.
A side dish also accompanied my hot chicken. There were a
few things to choose from, including mac and cheese. I decided to try Big
Shake’s beans. I was expecting these to be bbq baked beans. These were not what
I thought. They were a savory bean. It reminded me more of a soup because of
the sauce it was in. There was only a slight hint of smokiness.
I am really glad I tried another hot chicken restaurant. Big Shake’s is definitely going into my hot chicken rotation for my visits to the Nashville area.
There was a small Japanese restaurant near my hotel in Charlotte. I was not too hungry and thought this would be a good spot to get a quick meal.
They were not very busy when I walked in. I think I was in-between
the dinner crowds. This was good for me because I was able to get a seat
quickly.
I ordered the Hibachi dinner, which came with the
traditional Miso soup and salad with ginger dressing.
The Miso soup had shredded chicken in it. This made it unique for a Miso soup. I really enjoyed it and could have eaten a large bowl as a meal.
The ginger dressing was perfect on the salad. They used a
generous amount, which I appreciated. Every bite had that delicious ginger
taste.
I ordered the shrimp hibachi. I love how the shrimp are cooked with hibachi. They take on a nice grilled taste and texture. They gave me a ton of shrimp and I was not expecting that. They were delicious. I did dip a few in the creamy Yum Yum sauce for additional flavor.
I also got a generous amount of fried rice and grilled
vegetables. It was almost too much to eat. Good thing I had a refrigerator in
my hotel room. I was able to have lunch for the next day.
I am glad that Mai was near my hotel. I was able to get a nice
dinner, pretty quickly. It pays to
explore what is around you when you travel.
There is a hot restaurant in Charlotte that won several awards in 2018 called 5 Church. I was looking forward to having dinner there on my recent visit to the Queen City.
When I walked through the door I was blown away by the décor. There was a big tree at the hostess stand that lead you over to the bar. Hanging above the bar were feather lights that seemed to be floating in midair.
There were interesting light fixtures throughout, as well as a beautiful carved wood wall.
We started off with drinks for the table. After looking over the menu, everyone wanted to try the Rose flight. They brought out 4 different Rose wines on a slate tray. They were laid out driest to sweetest.
Venve Devienne Brut Rose (bubbly)
Twelfth Night Rose (Pinot Noir)
Dornier Rose (Merlot)
Whispering Angel Rose (Garnache/Syrah)
It was fun to drink these and see what everyone thought about the taste. Everyone had their own favorite. It id not seem like anyone could agree.
We ordered several appetizers to share around the table. The homemade black bean hummus was the first thing brought out. It had a creamy texture and went well with the fresh made crackers that came on the side.
The crispy calamari were out next. They were breaded and lightly fried. These were a different type of calamari that I usually find on the West Coast. These were in strips and were thick, but extremely tender. A lemon aioli, a sriracha cocktail sauce, and a sweet chili sauce were drizzled on the plate. This allowed each piece of calamari to have a little of each sauce. There were also some sweet mini peppers tossed with the calamari for added interest.
The last appetizer was everyone’s favorite – the Yellowfin Tuna Sushi Tots. They took sushi rice and shaped it into the size of a tater tot. Then they lightly breaded them with panko breadcrumbs and fried them up. Then on top they placed yellowfin tuna drizzled with sriracha mayo, unagi, nori, and toasted sesame seeds.
These did taste like sushi that was just sitting on crunchy rice. The flavor was fantastic. They could be eaten in just one bite. I could have eaten an entire plate of these all by myself.
For my dinner, I ordered the pan seared salmon. The salmon came with a charred scallion chimichurri on top. It was almost like a pesto sauce. The salmon was cooked great. It was moist and flakey. On the side there were roasted broccoli and a corn & lobster succotash. The corn was sweet, but I did not see enough lobster. They finished off the presentation by dusting the plate with black trumpet mushroom dust.
The sides all came a la cart. So, a couple were ordered for everyone to share. The braised collard greens came chopped up into nice small pieces, which made them easier to eat. They cooked the greens with smoky bacon, which tasted wonderful with the slight bitterness of the greens.
The mac and cheese could not be passed up. This was a white truffle mac and cheese with cheddar cheese. I could smell the earthy aroma from the truffles as soon as the dish was placed on the table. The truffles paired so well with the saltiness from the cheese. It was also extremely creamy.
The final side was the southern street corn. The corn was roasted so it had a slight hint of smokiness, but it was the corns natural sweetness that shined through. They sprinkled a little parmesan cheese over the corn. However, the fun element was the crunchy onions that they placed on top. It did add nice crunch and the saltiness of the onions complemented the sweet corn.
Now no dinner would be complete without sharing a few desserts around the table. The Pretzel Bar was something unique. This was constructed with a layer of crushed up pretzels to create the base. Then there were layers of caramel and milk chocolate and then topped off with dark chocolate. This really tasted like a candy bar. The pretzel was a little tough to cut through, but we managed. It was the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Plus, they served a homemade vanilla gelato on the side, which to me was a bonus dessert.
The second dessert was the Lemon Brule Tart. The tart shell was filled with a lemon curd and custard. It was topped with a blueberry Greek yogurt mousse and a chocolate disk for presentation. They also added a blueberry compote on the side. The compote was sweet and went well with the tartness from the lemon in the custard. The mousse was also sweet and creamy which also was another perfect complement to the lemon.
I had a fantastic meal at 5 Church. Every dish I tried was
prepared perfectly. I would visit again the next time I am in Charlotte. It was
a great experience and the staff was wonderful. They all really seemed to enjoy
working there.
There is a great neighborhood bar in Lakeland, Florida called 716 Burgers & Brew. This bar is tucked away off the main road, in between neighborhoods and golf courses. This is the type of place where all the locals go to hang out. Everyone knows each other.
If you are a Buffalo Bills fan (or any team from Buffalo) this is the perfect hangout for you. See the owners of the bar, Bo and Lisa, are from Buffalo. This is why it is called 716 – it is the area code for Buffalo. I think it is a clever name and really helps it stand out from all those chains out there.
Keeping with the Buffalo theme, their happy hour is offered from 3:11-7:16. Again, these are both area codes for Buffalo.
To enjoy the football games on TV, I ordered a few things off their menu. I started with the chili cheese fries.
The crispy fries were covered with salty chili that was loaded with beans. Then smothered on top was melted nacho cheese. I love it when cheese fries use liquid cheese. It makes the fries so much better because every bite is covered in cheese. What put these fries over the top was the crispy pieces of bacon that were sprinkled all over.
To wash down these fries, I enjoyed some new Malibu Rum cocktails. They came in cans but I drank mine over ice. They were really refreshing. I tried two flavors:
(1) Pineapple
(2) Strawberry Kiwi
When halftime for the game rolled around it was time to order some chicken wings. I was able to et them naked and extra crispy. I like my wings to be cooked well done so the skin is crispy. I ordered all flats (also another one of my personal preferences). They cost a little extra but that is typical. I got two different flavors:
(1) Bourbon BBQ
(2) Traditional Buffalo Hot sauce
The Bourbon BBQ sauce was nice and sweet. It almost reminded me of a Thai chili sauce, only a little darker and thicker.
I could not go to a Buffalo bar without getting traditional Buffalo wings. I got them hot because I like a little heat. It had a great ting as I ate them.
716 is a fun and friendly place to check out. Their food was great and the menu is much larger than a typical bar. I definitely plan on checking them out again. You should make a stop to 716 to watch a football game or on a Wednesday to check out karaoke night.
Follow them on Facebook at 716burgersandbrew because their website is still being built.
I did not expect to find a little piece of New Orleans in downtown Lakeland, Florida, but that I what I found with Harry’s. I was given a big “Crescent City” welcome when I walked through the door. I took a seat at the bar which was clearly the hot spot.
I started off with one of Harry’s signature cocktails. They had several options that sounded good but I went for the “Big Easy”. It was a combination of spiced rum, whiskey, amaretto, banana liquor, Midori, and pineapple juice. It was sweet and the flavors of banana and pineapple are what shinned through.
I glanced over the entire menu and they had all the classic dishes you would find in New Orleans: gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish Étouffée. I saw the boudin balls and knew I had to start with these. For those not familiar with this dish, boudin balls are ground sausage, rice, and Cajun seasonings rolled up in breadcrumbs and fried. These were delicious. The Cajun spice was perfect; they had nice heat that was calmed with the homemade remoulade dipping sauce.
I was going to get another traditional dish, however, I changed my mind when I read about the Crab and Eggplant Napoleon on the menu. I have never seen this dish before. The slices of eggplant were covered in panko breadcrumbs and layered with fresh lump crabmeat. Then it was topped with a creamy parmesan basil sauce.
Each component was perfect on their own. The eggplant was thinly sliced and only dusted with the breadcrumbs so that there was a slight crunch. The crabmeat was sweet and moist, extremely fresh. Now to combine both with that decadent cream sauce, the taste was magnificent. Because of the cream sauce the dish is a little rich, so I would recommend sharing this with someone.
The other callout that I had to make about Harry’s is their fresh, homemade bread. It is light and fluffy on the inside with a crispy crust. It comes out hot which makes it tasty. Be sure to try their garlic butter too. Smother the butter on the bread while it is still hot. You will not be disappointed.
Harry’s has a few locations around central Florida. Find a location at www.hookedonharrys.com
Key West is not lacking on bar to check out. One important stop is to the Green Parrot. This is one of the oldest bars, dating back to 1890. I had to go visit and be a part of history.
I was excited when I walked in and smelt popcorn. They had a machine all set up and I was able to help myself. I love popcorn and it is a great snack while enjoying a drink and fun conversation with locals. Even the roosters walked in to enjoy the popcorn that fell on the floor.
They had a couple of unique cocktails on their menu. I chose the Parrot Punch. They used Sailor Jerry spiced rum, orange and pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine. They even served it in a souvenir cup. The drink was sweet with just a slight tang because of the acid in the fruit juices.
This was a fun place to hang out. I was able to meet several
locals who gave me even more suggestions of places to check out on my visit to
Key West. This should definitely be a place to stop by if you are looking for a
cold drink.
At this point on my trip to Key West, I had hit most of the
hot spots in the main areas, like Duval Street. Now it was time for me to venture
down to the marina area. There were several shops and restaurants around that
area that I wanted to check out.
Waterfront Brewery was one of those stops. The open walls and windows created a wonderful cross breeze through the restaurant that really helped remind me that I was on vacation.
This restaurant was perfect for the whole family. They had a large arcade in the back that was perfect for kids and the adults who are kids at heart.
They had a large selection of beers to chose from. It is a great place to try something local. I went for the Crazy Lady!
Now I had been trying conch all over the island. Waterfront Brewery offered something a little different from what I had been seeing. They created a Bahamian Red Conch chowder. This chowder reminded me of a Manhattan clam chowder with a savory broth and loaded with fresh vegetables. The chowder packed a bold taste from the cracked black pepper they added. The conch was cut up into small tender pieces.
This was a great stop for a quick bite to eat and some cold refreshments. The view is also spectacular. I would definitely go back to try something else.
I headed back to Key West because I had such a blast the last time. I made sure to hit some places I missed last time. Sandbar was one of those places. I absolutely loved this place. I ended up visiting them three separate times during my trip.
My first visit I was just getting the lay of the land. They were a sports bar first and foremost. They had so many TVs throughout the restaurant, you would never miss a minute of any game.
They also had huge open doors. It let in such a wonderful coastal cross breeze. Those open doors also allowed for the local roosters to roam around. I never got use to that, especially when they crowed in the morning.
For this first visit I started off with a local Key Lime cider. I expected it to be full of lime flavor, but it really did not. But it was still refreshing.
For food, I had to try their Stone Crab chowder. I went for it because I was not conch. I had eaten so much conch it was nice to try something different.
I loved the chunky potatoes, carrots, and sweet corn they
put in the creamy broth. The crab meat was sweet. I really wish there was more
of it in the chowder. The garlic bread they served on the side went well with
the flavor of the broth.
Since this was a sports bar, ordering some wings was a must. I went for the Joey Style wings. These wings were fried and coated with a hot buffalo sauce and bbq sauce. Then they chargrilled the wings for extra crispiness.
These wings were amazing. The skin of the wing was extra
crispy just the way I like it. The meat was juicy. Creativity in the spice
department came from blending buffalo sauce and bbq sauce. The heat and sweet
had extraordinary taste.
These wings were so good I ordered them again when I went back for another visit. They were just as good the second time. The kitchen is very consistent with hoe they prepare these.
During this second visit I also tried their queso dip with French fries. The fries were hot out of the fryer, so they were nice and crispy. The queso came out in a tortilla shell bowl. The cheese was extremely creamy. There was a slight amount of heat from the jalapenos, which created a tango across my tongue. I really enjoyed eating the queso with fries verses tortilla chips.
My third visit was because of a recommendation from my previous bartender. She was explaining that each day they had a different food special. This day was the mac and cheese with bbq pilled pork.
The mac and cheese extraordinarily creamy. The pulled pork
was loaded on top. I did not mix the pork into the mac and cheese. I just
combined the two when I took a bite. It created the perfect smoky, smooth bbq
flavor.
In addition to all the great food I ate at Sandbar, I also
enjoyed some cocktails. They have a fun assortment of Hurricanes, all at
different category strengths. It’s a fun play on the storms in Florida.
I did not make it all the way to a category 5 but I did
enjoy categories 1,2 and 3.
Category 1 – This was a blend of light rum, triple sec, and the homemade Sandbar hurricane mix.
Category 2 – This one was slightly stronger. It was the same mix as the category 1 but with a shot of Spiced rum on top.
Category 3 – Once again this was even stronger. This one combined both light and spiced rum, triple sec, and it was topped off with a dark rum floater.
All the hurricanes were fun to drink. They were nice ad
cold on a hot Florida day. They were definitely sweet so be prepared for that.
I cannot recommend Sandbar Sports Grill enough. I enjoyed every visit. The next time I visit Key West I am heading there first.
After a long day of traveling to get to Tampa, I was looking forward to dinner. I was excited to get seafood. I always try to eat seafood when I am in Florida. Skipper’s Smokehouse topped the selection for this evening. They have been around for over 30 years, so I know they would be a good choice.
I started off with their Cajun popcorn, which was a fun way to say fried crawfish tails. The crawfish was incredibly tender and sweet. They were lightly breaded so the crawfish took center stage. They came with a homemade tartar sauce that reminded me of a thousand island dressing. These bite size morsels were fun and easy to eat.
I ordered a bowl of their conch chowder. It was a classic style vegetable soup with conch all mixed in. It was a wonderful tomato based broth and it was loaded with fresh vegetables.
To wash down all the great flavors, I ordered a fun drink – “Swamp Juice”. I thought it was fitting on so many levels. The swamp juice was pretty much like a rum punch made with fresh juices. All that was missing was a cherry on top.
While I was there I got to enjoy some live music from a local band. They have an outside stage area where you can grab a drink and listen. They have music almost every night so you can check out their website for a complete listing.
If you are looking for a fun place for food and entertainment then Skipper’s Smokehouse is where you have to go. Visit their menu at www.skipperssmokehouse.com
Earlier this year I had written about the brunch I had at Datz. I was fortunate enough to get to go back for a second visit. This time I got to try something off their dinner menu.
I had forgotten that their menu was printed like a newspaper. My waiter said they had just changed a few things around. There were several things that sounded good. He recommended I try their Music City Chicken Tacos. They apparently are really popular.
I was very surprised when 3 tacos came out on the plate. It was a lot of food. The chicken was grilled not fried. It had some nice heat but if they were going for a “Nashville Hot Chicken” idea the chicken really needed to be fried. There was a fresh cole slaw on the top of the chicken that added crunch and creaminess. If the spice of the chicken was too much, this slaw calms that down.
Mexican rice and Mexican street corn accompanied the tacos. The rice was simple, nothing out of the ordinary. The corn was great. It was off the cob so it was easy to eat. The taste was sweet and really creamy from the cheese they sprinkled in. It was a perfect compliment to the tacos.
To wash this all down I enjoyed a strawberry mule. It was a subtle strawberry taste. It was sweet compared to a traditional mule. I loved the fresh strawberry they added on top. I saved that for the very end.
One of the things I remembered from my first visit to Datz was their assortment of desserts. I knew I wanted to try something but a slice of their cakes were way too big for me. I opted to go for a cupcake since it was slightly smaller. I went for the chocolate bourbon cupcake.
It was so pretty when it came out.
What I did not realize till I picked it up was that the chocolate on the top was a hard chocolate shell. I had to break it open to reveal the moose like cream icing.
It was layers and layers of chocolate. If you love chocolate this cupcake is for you. The cake was super moist. It was also quite light in texture. The icing was really sweet and there was a lot of it. I ended up scraping some of it off because it was so sweet. Having the cupcake was the perfect way to end the meal.
I was so glad I got to visit Datz again. I still recommend them for anyone visiting Tampa. Check them out at http://www.datztampa.com/
