Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

5 Church – Charlotte, NC

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.

Check out their menu at www.5church.com

Enjoy!

T

716 Burgers & Brew – Lakeland, FL

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.

Enjoy!

T

Harry’s – Lakeland, FL

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Enjoy!

T

Green Parrot Bar – Key West, FL

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.

Visit their website at www.greenparrot.com

Enjoy!

T



Waterfront Brewery – Key West, FL

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.

Visit their website at www.thewaterfrontbrewery.com

Enjoy!

T

Sandbar Sports Grill – Key West, FL

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.

Check out their menu, specials, and activities at their website www.sandbarkeywest.com

Enjoy!

T

Skipper’s Smokehouse – Tampa, FL

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Enjoy!

T

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Datz – Tampa, FL – Visit #2

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/

Enjoy!

T

The Listening Room Café – Nashville, TN

I  went to a unique place in Nashville called The Listening Room Café. This was a restaurant where you get to enjoy a meal while listening to musicians / songwriters from the industry tell their stories. It was an interesting concept that made perfect sense in the Music City.

The day I visited I was going to see the Warren Brothers. They are singer / songwriter siblings, Brett and Brad Warren. They have written songs for the most famous of famous country singers.

While I waited to go into the theater area, I got myself a glass of Merlot. They have a nice bar area to sit and relax before the main attraction. I got to walk around and look at different pictures on the wall.

Inside the main area was a stage and tables all lined up facing the stage. The crowd got situated at the tables and the wait staff came over to get our drinks orders.

I started with the Dolly Sangria. I can only assume this was named after country music legend, Dolly Parton. This sangria used white wine, cocchi torino (a Vermouth), and cocchi Americano (an aromatized sweet wine). With all the ingredients this was a sweet sangria. They did not put any fruit in this, but it was refreshing on its own.

They started bringing out the food. They served it all family style. We had no problem passing everything around the table. I started off with the Caesar salad. It was a classic salad. They chopped up their lettuce well, which made it easier to eat.

The other starter was a homemade buffalo chicken dip. The chicken was shredded and tossed completely in the sauce. It had an awesome tang to it and had a creamy texture. They served it with tortilla chips which added a nice crunch. However, I enjoyed eating the chicken by itself.

Before the main dishes came out I orders a different cocktail to try. I went for the Carly’s “Hide the Wine Sangria”. This was red wine with a blended with lime, lemon, orange, and peach juices. Despite all the juices, this sangria was not as sweet as I expected.

The main dishes started coming out. I got to enjoy pulled pork along with roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts.

The pork did not have BBQ sauce on it. A few people asked for some on the side. I decided to enjoy it plain. The pork was moist and had a great smoky flavor. There were also some nice pieces of bark mixed throughout the meat.

The roasted potatoes were tender red potatoes. The seasoning they cooked them in was savory, while the potatoes themselves were sweet. The brussels sprouts were charred well to create a smoky taste as well.

While we were eating the Warren Brothers came out. They stared telling stories about where they were from and how they got started in the business.

Between the stories they played some of the songs that they helped create. One of the last songs they sang was “Red Solo Cup”. I was surprised to learn that they were the ones that wrote that song. It was fun hearing everyone in the audience start singing.

While we were listening to their stories, the desserts came out. It was a plate of assorted cheesecakes. The cheesecake was creamy and had a great taste. The plain was my favorite because all I could taste was the cake. The other ones that had toppings were good too, just overpowered by the toppings.

At the end of the show the Warren Brothers took pictures with every person in the audience. They were the nicest people.

The Listening Room Café was a fun experience that I would go back to. Every show would be a different experience. I have never seen a venue like this before in any of my travels.

Check them out at www.listeningroomcafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Tempered – Nashville, TN

The final stop on my food tour in Nashville was a dessert stop. After all the savory and salty foods, I got to enjoy it was time for something sweet.

Tempered is a local café that serves up chocolate, sandwiches, and freshly made coffee. They had lots of homemade chocolate to choose from.

I got to sample their chocolate covered pretzels. The salty pretzel rods were dipped in creamy milk chocolate. The chocolate was smooth and melted instantly in my mouth.

They had so many truffles to choose from. It was a tough choice. There was milk, dark, and white chocolates. I focused on the filling flavors rather than the outside chocolate.

I went for the following:

  • Lemon Lavender: This is a trendy flavor. I tasted the lavender right away. The lemon was more of a subtle accent.
  • Vanilla Cream: This was my favorite because it was a simple, classic flavor of vanilla.
  • Bourbon Praline: I could taste just a slight hint of bourbon flavor. The praline was more on the top of the truffle in the form of the sugar accent.

I made sure to get a cappuccino while I was there too. It helped add to the enjoyment of the chocolate.

This was the perfect end to a wonderful food tour. Germantown is such a great area. I only hit a few spots but there are so many more places to try.

Check out Tempered at www.temperednashville.com

Enjoy!

T