Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Pepperfire – Nashville, TN

As I tell people visiting Nashville, you have to try hot chicken at one of the many great places around town. I decided to take my own advice and try someplace new – Pepperfire.

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Located in the eastern part of the city, Pepperfire offers a unique dining experience. You walk up to the window to order then sit and enjoy the chicken at one of their picnic tables. The chicken is made to order so you will have to wait a few extra minutes to get your chicken but it is well worth it.

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They have 7 levels of heat to choose from – no heat all the way to XX Hot! I went for Medium because that is currently the max I can handle. I could not wait to bite into the chicken. It smelled so good. It was extremely juicy, especially since it had just come out of the fryer. It was perfection; perfect crunch, perfect taste, and perfect amount of heat!

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What I found out after I finished my chicken is that they have a deep fried “grilled” cheese sandwich called Peppercheese. Just hearing about this I just put Pepperfire back at the top of my list to come visit again.

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Plan your visit at www.pepperfirehotchicken.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Red Mill Burgers – Seattle, WA

When visiting Seattle it’s natural to want fresh seafood. Everywhere you go it’s available. However, sometimes a person just needs a burger. That is why I was excited to find Red Mill Burgers. Judging by the line that was out the door, several other people were hungry for a burger too.

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You need to be prepared for what you want to order when you get to the counter – they move fast. I went for the Verde Burger because it came with roasted peppers and their “mill sauce”. I also got a side of onion rings – I saw many other patrons ordering them and they looked good.

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I was worried about finding a seat since the inside of the restaurant is small. Luckily by the time I got my burger a seat opened up.

The burger was cooked perfectly – extremely juicy and not over cooked. They used pepper jack cheese which paired nicely with the roasted peppers. It was the mill sauce that tied the whole burger together. It added a sweet taste to the slight heat from the peppers.

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I am not forgetting about the onion rings – they were huge. They had a great crispy coating and the onion was sweet on the inside. After eating two I was almost full. They are definitely meant to be shared.

So if your taste buds are wanting something other than seafood check out Red Mill Burgers (except on Monday’s when they are closed): http://www.redmillburgers.com/

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Enjoy!

T

 

Taco Mama – Homewood, AL

I was hanging out with my sister and we wanted to get a quick bite to eat. We decided to try a newer place called Taco Mama. This place had a cool vibe as soon as we walked up. The music they were playing made me feel like I was on vacation. Instead of traditional windows, they had garage doors, which were open because the weather was nice.

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You walk up to the counter to order but they bring your food to you at the table. Since we felt like we were on vacation we knew that fun cocktails were needed. I went for the Sangria and my sister tried the Pomegranate Margarita. Both were excellent choices!

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After looking over all the choices on the menu we settled on sharing nachos. We got to build our own starting with our choice of meat. There were over 8 choices which made it a challenge but we agreed upon chicken. If we thought choosing a meat was hard, it was now time for the toppings.

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They have a ton and it was really difficult not to get every single things on the list especially when you have items like queso and cilantro-lime rice. So we did our best and put together what we thought would taste best. We were not disappointed. Every aspect of the nachos was perfect, right down to the chips that were nice and light. It was the best dish to get and share between two people.

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We had a really fun time at Taco Mama. The staff was friendly and the food was great so we will be back for sure. I would recommend this place to anyone. Check them out at http://www.tacomamaonline.com/

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Enjoy!

T

The Southern Steak & Oyster – Nashville, TN

I was going to a Predators hockey game in Nashville and I got downtown early. Since I had some time till the game started it was recommended that I try the Southern Steak and Oyster. The restaurant was just a short walk from the arena.

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It smelled wonderful as soon as I walked in. The menu was diverse having everything from steak and burgers to hot chicken and Cajun. I was not in the mood for steak but got excited at the thought of oysters.

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I took a seat at the bar because I got to watch them shuck all the oysters. It is cool to me how fast those guys can open them up. I can barely open one. They had several varieties of oysters to try from around the country. When it came to which variety to try, I left it up to the experts to choose for me.

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I went for the Lemon Herb chargrilled oysters and asked them to top them off with parmesan cheese.

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The kitchen grilled them up flawlessly. They were still bubbling when they came out. There was an awesome smoky flavor from the grill and a tangy bite from the lemon that was a nice change from the usual flavor I get.

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Sticking with the New Orleans theme of my dinner I saved room to try their homemade gumbo. The cup was a great size. It was a savory broth with lots of fresh shrimp. It was the perfect finish to my meal.

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If you are in downtown Nashville and want to try a fancy place, check out The Southern Steak & Oyster. http://www.thesouthernnashville.com/

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Enjoy!

T

Shot & Pepper – Franklin, TN

Driving around Franklin I came across a new restaurant called Shot and Pepper. The name caught my attention so I decided to check out the menu.

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The best way I can describe their menu is Mexican with a Southern flare. The atmosphere of the restaurant is inviting because of all the reclaimed wood but also adventurous with all the accents of stainless steel throughout.

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I love tortilla soup so I was happy to get to try theirs. The presentation of the soup was beautiful and it all started with the type of bowl they served it in. The soup was a creamy base unlike a broth that I usually find and that made it very filling. They had nice pieces of fresh chicken throughout the soup too. I ended up eating the soup with extra tortilla chips to add extra crunch.

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So to validate my description of their menu being Mexican with a Southern flare, I knew I had to try their Hot Chicken burrito. The burrito was filled with the chicken and a homemade slaw and topped off with their creamy homemade queso. Their hot chicken was great on its own, not too spicy. Their slaw was a perfect complement to the chicken and it was all kept together with the tortilla shell. The queso was a nice addition to the flavor that you normally would not get with other hot chicken dishes.

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So if you are out and about in Franklin and you get hungry, try something new. Stop by Shot and Pepper www.shotpeppercantina.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Blue C Sushi – Seattle, WA

If you want a fun and different sushi experience then stop by Blue C Sushi in Seattle. When I walked through the door the first thing I noticed was this conveyer belt going around the center of the restaurant which had all of these colorful plates. It was explained to me that the conveyer and the colors were modeled after the subway lines in Tokyo. Completely unique and clever!

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I sat in a booth next to the belt so that I could watch all the action. Different colors plates would go by carrying different dishes like spicy tuna rolls, tempura rolls, edamame; you name it they had it on the belt. Each color corresponded to the price of the dish. If for some reason you didn’t see anything you wanted on the belt, you could order it from the regular menu.

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It was so fun to watch for a dish I wanted to try and then grabbing it off the belt before it passed the table. It became like a game. I was able to have dinner and be entertained at the same time.

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All their fish was fresh, which I would expect in Seattle. I also tried their sesame noodle dish that had great flavor. Their portions from the belt are the perfect size so that I was able to try a few things without getting too full.

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If you are looking for a different experience I recommend Blue C Sushi. They have several locations around the Seattle area and a few locations in California. Check them out at: www.bluecsushi.com

Enjoy!

T

Saw’s BBQ – Homewood, AL

So a few weeks ago I wrote about Saw’s Juke Joint. I enjoyed a great pulled pork sandwich but did not get to try their famous stuffed potato because they had sold out.  So for lunch, I decided to try their sister restaurant, Saw’s BBQ, located in Homewood, Alabama (in the Edgewood area).

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I could smell the BBQ as I walked up to the door. This location is smaller than the other but there is plenty of seating outside if you cannot find a place inside. They are extremely busy during lunch; the line was out the door but the staff was really efficient so the line moved fast.

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They have eight different stuffed potatoes to choose from. When it was my turn to order I went for the pork tater – which has green onions, bacon, and pulled pork layered on top of a giant baked potato and smothered with cheese and BBQ sauce.  The potato was huge. It was a good thing that I did not order any sides.

Their BBQ sauce has a sweet and tangy flavor that pairs so well with the pork. Their pork is so tender and moist and had nice chunks of bark mixed in. The potato is cooked perfectly too, no hard uncooked sections that you can sometimes find with large potatoes. Putting these to ingredients together makes for an amazing meal.

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I was thrilled to finally get to try Saw’s potato. It was worth the wait. Now I understand why everyone recommends them. Check them out at www.sawsbbq.com

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Enjoy!

T

Frankie’s – Shenzhen, China

While on my family trip to China, one of our stops was in Shenzhen, China (a major city in Southern China that is right on the border with Hong Kong). One of the reasons for our stop here was so my father could show us around. He has been doing business in this area for over 20 years.

While getting to explore a different country is exciting, after a certain amount of time it’s only natural to start feeling homesick. This is where Frankie’s comes into play; this is where my father and all other ex-pats come to get a little home cooking. So naturally I could not wait to check this place out.

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As soon as I walked in I could have sworn I was in a bar in Boston or Chicago. There were all the classics: a wooden bar, sports memorabilia on the walls, NFL football on the tv – all to make visitors feel like they were home.

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The atmosphere was just part of the experience, the menu sealed the deal with hot dogs, hamburgers, and French fries, all the comforts of home. I went for the hot dog – grilled up on a toasted bun and covered in homemade relish. Their relish was amazing and extremely fresh. I was never more excited to have a hot dog. Their French fries also hit the spot as they added a little seasoning salt to them. But a classic American meal at a bar would not be complete without a nice cold draft beer! I was very excited the see draft beer.

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We got to meet the manager Clay, who was originally from West Virginia. He has a wonderful establishment that is truly one of a kind in Shenzhen.

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If you find yourself in Shenzhen and you are feeling homesick then you have to go to Frankie’s. They make you feel like you are home – even if it’s just for a few hours.

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Check them out at: www.frankies-bar.com

Enjoy!

T

Spice Market – New York, NY

New York City is known for being a melting pot of different cultures. A perfect example of this is the restaurant Spice Market, located in the Meatpacking District. Here you will find flavors from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

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When you walk through the door you feel like you have been transported to an exotic land. Their décor captures the imagination with hanging lights, wooden pagodas, drums for seats, and candle light everywhere.

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I started the evening off with one of Spice Markets creative cocktails – the Yule Mule (their take on a Moscow Mule). Adding the hibiscus liquor to it made the drink much sweeter than a typical mule. It really was delicious and added to the feeling like I was on vacation.

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The menu may seem overwhelming since there are so many choices, it is best to have an idea what type of food you are in the mood for. The dishes at Spice Market are served family style, so whatever is ordered is shared with the table. I prefer this style of eating because it allows me to sample a variety of things.

The first two dishes that came out were the spring rolls and dumplings. The spring rolls were Vietnamese style with lobster, shrimp, and pork inside. The flavor was great and the wrapper had great crunch. The dumplings were mushroom and the sauce they came in was a paired nicely with mushrooms.

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Before I could finish my dumplings the next two dishes arrived at the table. The grilled chicken satay was served with a Mandarin orange sauce. The chicken had a wonderful smoky grilled flavor that worked well with the sauce. That sauce was so good that I actually started dipping my spring roll in it. The other dish was the Hamachi crispy sushi with a chipotle mayo. I was expecting a sushi roll that was tempura fried but that is not what came out, which was a pleasant surprise. The fish sat on top of a thin layer of the chipotle mayo and a fried cube of rice. The fish was so fresh that it melted in my mouth. The rice was the star of the dish; it was super crispy on the outside but still moist on the inside. This dish was a nice change from typical sushi.

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The final dish, which I would consider the main course, was a red curry duck in a pineapple sambal. The duck was extremely tender and tasted wonderful with the pineapple sambal sauce. The flavor was not dominated by the curry because of the sweetness of the pineapple. As a side I got a bowl of the ginger fried rice. It was simple with just a hint of ginger and was great to use up the extra pineapple sauce.

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If you are interested in a unique experience I recommend checking out Spice Market. Just make sure you call ahead for reservations because they get busy. www.spicemarketrestaurants.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Fritz – Vancouver, Canada

On a visit to Vancouver, Canada I discovered a little hole in the wall place called Fritz. All this place serves is fresh cut french fries. DSC04200

You can get them plain or with different toppings. This is where I was introduced to Poutine for the first time. Classic Poutine is fries topped with cheese curd and brown gravy.

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It’s a wonderful treat. The fresh cut fries are made with sweet tasting potatoes. The cheese curd is creamy but has a mild taste that complements the brown gravy that is nice and salty. The best thing is the cheese curds do not melt fast so there are nice chunks in every bite.

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I never expected to find this on my trip but was excited that I did. I may not be able to find Poutine in the states, however, the ingredients are simple so that it can be made at home.

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If you are in Vancouver and want to try a great snack, make sure you stop by Fritz. www.fritzeuropeanfryhouse.com

Enjoy!

T