Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Dinic’s – Philadelphia, PA

The Reading Terminal has been an institution in Philadelphia since 1892. It’s story is one of ups and downs but speaks to the American entrepreneur spirit. This market is bustling with over 80 businesses where visitors and local can get everything from homemade meals & desserts to flowers & books.

To be overwhelmed in the Reading Market would be an understatement. Luckily for me I was given advice before I arrived on how to handle this place – know what you are hungry for. It may sound simple but it really was the best advice.

While in Philly I wanted to have Italian Roasted Pork and Dinic’s is the place you have to go to when you are in Reading Market. All I had to do was follow the line, it lead me right to Dinic’s.

DSC05982

As I squeezed my way up to the counter, I ordered my roasted pork and added broccoli rabe and had it topped with a slice of sharp provolone cheese. The rolls they used for the sandwich were fresh and it made the sandwich all the better.

DSC05976

I saw the size of the sandwich, so I decided to order just a half for myself, which was a good choice. The pork was perfect just on it’s own, but paired with the broccoli rabe and provolone cheese added a kick to the flavor. It is what made the flavor of the sandwich stand out.

DSC05973

This place was so busy while I was there. Their menu is simple but they definitely have a following. The amount of pork that they go through each day is amazing.

DSC05980

If you are heading to Reading Terminal Market I recommend trying Dinic’s. Check out their menu and their hours at : tommydinics.com

To help plan your trip to Reading Terminal check out their complete listing of businesses at: www.readingterminalmarket.org

Enjoy!

T

 

Athens Family Restaurant – Nashville, TN

I found another great place to get a hearty breakfast in Nashville – Athens Family Restaurant. And like most breakfast places I’ve tried there was a line out the door for a table.

Since I had to wait, I made the best use of my time by combing through the menu to decide what I wanted to try. They serve both Greek and American dishes. It was a lot to choose from but my eyes fell upon the “Morning Paradise” – French toast covered in powdered sugar, cinnamon, blueberries, bananas, and then covered in whipped cream. Was this breakfast or dessert? I didn’t care, I just knew it was a must try.

DSC07504

It was sweet from the whipped cream and powdered sugar and it was off set by the sour taste of the blueberries. It was a great complement. The french toast was cooked to perfection with the crust nice and crispy from the grill but soft in the center as it soaked up the melting whipped cream.

DSC07502

If you want breakfast – this is the spot to go since it is served all day. They do have a large lunch and dinner menu so it’s worth going back to try what else they offer.

You can see their whole menu at: www.athensfamilyrestaurant.com

DSC07508

Enjoy!

T

The Loveless Cafe – Nashville, TN

One of the oldest highways in the United States is the Natchez Trace Parkway. It starts in Tennessee and extends south into Mississippi. If you have ever driven on this road, you have probably come across The Loveless Cafe that looks like something out of the 1950’s and that’s because it is. What started out as motel that offered travelers are great place to stop along their journey it is now a popular place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DSC03569

I was there for breakfast because I heard that their biscuits were award winning and a must try. There was a wait for a table, but in my experience that is always a good sign. But don’t fear, if you don’t have the time to sit and eat, you can get your food to go. They even have a cute gift shop where you can get homemade jams and jellies to take home.

I loved the biscuits. They were light and flaky. They were perfect with the homemade jam and very filling when you add the homemade sausage gravy on top.

DSC03574

So get in your car or hop on a motorcycle and head to The Loveless Cafe. It will be worth the drive.

DSC03572

www.lovelesscafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Big Lou’s Pizza – San Antonio, TX

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Well Big Lou’s Pizza lives up to that! I was not expecting to see a 42 inch pizza when I stopped in. I was just there to order a 12 inch pie to go.

DSC03080

While I was waiting for my pizza, I was shocked when I saw 2 people bringing out this enormous pizza to a family’s table. In reality it could have fed at least 2 families. I knew I had to take a picture because no one would believe it.

DSC03078

My reasonably sized pizza was just the perfect size for me.

DSC03092

If you are hungry for pizza for yourself or the whole neighborhood stop by Big Lou’s Pizza.

DSC03081

www.biglouspizza-satx.com

Enjoy!

T

Twisted Root Burger Co. – Dallas, TX

If you have hung out in Dallas in recent years, you have probably seen the area of Deep Ellum undergo a transformation. It is the place you have to visit for great food. This is where you will find Twisted Root Burger Co.

DSC03151

This place has won multiple awards for their burgers and you know they are proud of it because it’s written right on the wall.

DSC08633

They have a great selection of burger combinations on the menu. They have options like: “Southern Comfort” – bourbon bbq sauce, fried green tomatoes, bacon, & cheddar -or- “The Kevin Bacon” – bacon & blue cheese. If these combinations don’t fit your taste-buds you can build your own burger. They also have selections for the vegetarians and gluten-free customers.

DSC03147

One of the other nice surprises that they have is homemade Root Beer. This is a MUST TRY! It is awesome on its own and as a special treat you can get the Root Beer Float.

DSC03148

Twisted Root Burger Co has become so popular they have multiple locations around the Dallas area. Check out their website for a list of locations: www.twistedrootburgerco.com

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Taste of Texas – Houston, TX

About 10 years ago I had the pleasure of trying a local steakhouse in Houston called Taste of Texas. The steak I had was the BEST I have ever eaten. I was recently back in Houston and I had the opportunity to go back. I took 3 friends with me so that they could experience the mouth watering steaks for themselves. Let’s just say there was not a lot of conversation at the table when dinner arrived.

menu

This place is a Houston institution. It’s been around since 1977 and is the largest Independently owned restaurant in the state. They serve Certified Angus Beef and to add to the experience, you can actually visit their butcher shop and select the steak you want to eat.

IMG_7553

To start your visit off right, you must try their salad bar. It is loaded with fresh ingredients so that you can build the salad exactly how you want – including an assortment of salad dressings to choose from. Do you like cheese? Then you will be pleased to see the Texas size blocks of white and yellow cheddar that you get to slice yourself.

Now for those folks that are not watching their carbs, the restaurant offers 3 types of freshly made breads: Jalapeno corn bread, Asiago cheese roll, classic yeast roll. It is hard to decide on just one, so grab a bread basket and try all 3. If you like butter on your dinner rolls, they offer 2 homemade choices: apple butter & cinnamon apple butter.

For the star of the show, I chose the 6 ounce center cut filet. You can get it bacon wrapped if you want but it is not necessary. I like my steaks medium so that it is still a little juicy when it comes out. The trick that Taste of Texas does is they serve the steaks on a sizzling plate, it helps not only keep the steaks hot, but it finishes them off just right. From a seasoning stand point, you have the option of adding a lemon pepper or you can try the melted garlic herb butter or melted blue cheese butter. My favorite is the garlic herb, it adds a dynamic flavor to the steak that sets it apart from all others I have ever had.

steak

I know that the steaks are the star of the show, but you can’t overlook the supporting cast – the side dishes. They have so many to choose from including: macaroni & cheese, Texas Au Gratin Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with bacon jam, fresh asparagus with Hollandaise sauce. I went for the Brussels Sprouts, mainly because of the bacon jam. The jam really complemented the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts.

brussel sprouts

If red meat is not your thing its ok – they have a nice selection of chicken, tuna, salmon, and shrimp to choose from, all of which sound delicious and are cooked with the same love as they do their steaks.

I was lucky to be at the restaurant during the Christmas season, so I was able to see their beautiful decorations.

IMG_7554

I was so happy to get back to Taste of Texas and I was thrilled that every bite was exactly how I remembered. I recommend this to anyone heading to Houston. See their full menu at www.tasteoftexas.com

Enjoy!

T

sign

Metro Diner – Jacksonville, FL

Before heading south to Gainesville, I stopped off for breakfast at Metro Diner. It was another restaurant that was featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

DSC06021

It’s a great local place that is tucked away in a neighborhood. It was packed for a Friday morning – with a line all the way out the door, spilling onto the sidewalk.

I was hungry for French toast and they offered several options to choose from, it was a difficult decision:

  • Cinnamon Raisin Pecan French toast
  • Croissant French toast
  • Pound Cake French toast
  • Yo Hala on the Square French toast (challah bread stuffed with bananas, cream cheese, hazel nut syrup  topped with blueberries & strawberries)

I went for the Cinnamon Raisin Pecan. It was a great twist on a classic. If you love sweets this is the breakfast for you.

DSC06025

They have many daily breakfast and lunch specials so there is always something new to try. Check out the menu at: www.metrodiner.com

Enjoy!
T

DSC06022

Slice – Birmingham, AL

This is the 2nd post I am doing about Slice. I had to go back because there were so many choices on their menu.

slice

I started off with 2 of their small plates: Baked Feta & Brown Butter Pasta.

The Baked Feta was amazing. I was able to watch it bake in the wood fire oven. It was a simple dish – olive oil with roasted garlic cloves, sun-dried tomatoes and topped with  huge slice of feta cheese. What made this dish so special was the crispy top of the cheese created by being in the piping hot oven.

The Brown Butter Pasta sounded interesting on the menu – angel hair pasta tossed with Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, roasted garlic, bacon, & fresh Italian spices. It was so flavorful, I wasn’t expecting it. This is definitely a dish I want to try and make at home.

The evening was finished off with a pizza – the “old School”. It was pretty big for a 12″ pie. It was loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, & grilled red onions (these were super sweet). I was so fun to watch the pizza being cooked right in front of me in the oven. The best part is I ended up having to take home the extra slices of pizza – which means I can enjoy Slice for lunch during the week.

This place is a MUST visit! www.slicebirmingham.com

Enjoy!

T

Pancake Pantry – Nashville, TN

It has taken me several tries to get into Pancake Pantry – there is ALWAYS a line out the door AND around the block. This place has continued to be a hot spot not just for locals but for tourists as well. You need to plan your day around a visit. If you are an early bird, then get there at 6:00am when they open, that will help avoid the rush. But don’t wait too long, they close at 3:00pm during the week and 4:00pm on the weekend.

DSC05280

Instead of using traditional maple syrup, you MUST try their Cinnamon Cream Syrup. It is so unique and is usually served with their sweet potato pancakes. Just ask your server for it because it is delicious on the classic buttermilk pancakes.

DSC05287

Instead of serving basic scrambled eggs with their pancakes, they do a scrambled egg with chopped ham mixed in. It brought back memories of Christmas morning when my dad would make scrambled eggs with pieces of the Christmas Eve ham. It always amazes me how food can help create lasting memories.

DSC05285

Make sure Pancake Pantry is on your list to visit the next time you are in Nashville. www.thepancakepantry.com

Enjoy!

T

DSC05288

Hattie B’s – Nashville, TN

I’ve had lots of fried chicken and hot chicken across Tennessee. Each place I go to is unique and different, putting their own spin on the chicken.

DSC05302

Hattie B’s offers 5 different heat levels to choose from – they start out with just a plain no spice chicken (basic fried chicken) all the way up to their hottest called “Shut the Cluck Up”. This makes me laugh but I am too afraid to try it. I have heard it is so hot you need to bring a gallon of milk just to calm the heat.

DSC05304

I went for the “Hot”, which for me was the perfect blend of heat. The breading was extremely crispy and kept the chicken juicy.

DSC05311

They also have many sides to choose from that complement the chicken. I went with the baked beans, which offered a sweet flavor. I also tried the red skin potato salad, which helped calm the heat from the chicken.

I am excited to go back and see if I can increase my heat level. You should check them out but be prepared to wait in line. www.hattieb.com

Enjoy!

T

DSC05312