Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Enjoy!

T

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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.

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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.

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

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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

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The Fishermans Restaurant – Seattle, WA

I have another great seafood restaurant that is a must try when visiting Seattle. The Fishermans Restaurant is right on the waterfront near the aquarium and The Crab Pot that I have written about before.

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You can’t miss the restaurant because of the huge ferris wheel on the dock.

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I recommend starting with an appetizer of  the Crab Dip. It is full of spinach, bay shrimp, crab, & cheese. It is warmed to a perfect temperature and served with tortilla chips. It is perfect for sharing with the table.

I knew I wanted fresh fish for dinner because why else would you be in Seattle. They had 6 different catches of the day and when I saw the Albacore Tuna on the list I knew I had to try it. But unfortunately is was pretty popular so they ended up being out. So next fish up! I went with the Salmon, that was mesquite grilled. It was served with roasted red potatoes and fresh broccoli. It was the perfect combination and everything was absolutely as fresh as could be.

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The view from the table were beautiful as I got to watch the sun set over the water. If you are in the mood for fresh fish you have to check them out. www.thefishermansrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

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Lou’s Pub – Birmingham, AL

While enjoying pizza at Slice, Casey my bartender recommended I try a Lou’s Pub. Luckily for me Lou’s was just across the street. It’s in a great location in Historic Birmingham.

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Lou’s is a quaint little bar  that is also a package store. This was something very unique and unexpected. They had a large assortment of craft beers that you could buy and try at home.

I asked the bartender what he recommended. He suggested the Bushwacker, this is what they are know for. So naturally that i what I tried. It was pretty good. It was the perfect dessert after all the pizza I ate at Slice.

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Check out their website for a list of their events. www.louspub.com

Enjoy!

T

Slice – Birmingham, AL

I received several suggestions from some locals to check out Slice. I knew it was a hot spot when they were packed on a Sunday afternoon. I sat at the bar so I got wonderful service from Casey! She makes a great Mimosa.

I started off with the “Fire Baked Wings”. They are marinated wings that are cooked in their wood fire oven. The flavor was fantastic. I made sure to ask for the wings to be well done so that the skin was extra crispy.

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Being there on a Sunday, I was able to order their pizza by the slice which I love because I can try different options. My first slice was the “Super Cheese” – basically 6 different cheeses (Mozzarella, Provolone, Fortina, Parmesan, Feta, & my favorite Asiago). It was the perfect ratio of cheese to homemade sauce.  My second slice was the “Soul Pie” – which I felt was appropriate since I was in the South. This slice had everything – turnip greens, black eyed peas, sausage, bacon, onions, & cheese. I never thought that this combination of ingredients would be good on a pizza but I was wrong. They all worked so well together. It felt like a side dish that should be served at Thanksgiving.

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There were so many different meal options on the menu I have to put this place on my list to come back to. Visit their website at: www.slicebirmingham.com to see all they have to offer.

Enjoy!

T

 

Garlic Festival – Gilroy, CA

Gilroy, California is the “Garlic Capital of the World”.  The city of Gilroy holds an annual Garlic Festival every July .

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The smell of garlic is in the air as soon as you step foot in Gilroy. It is a wonderful smell! If you want to try garlic, no problem, it is on everything, from garlic french fries to ice-cream. The grilled corn with garlic butter was my favorite.

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There are live cooking competitions, which makes you feel like you are on the set  of a Food Network show.  I was lucky enough to get to take a picture with one of the pans.

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There is also live music and arts and crafts that you are able to enjoy.

If you have the ability to get to Gilroy, California you definitely need to experience this event.  The dates  for the upcoming festival are July 29-31, 2016.  You can buy tickets in advance at: www.gilroygarlicfestival.com

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Enjoy!

T

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Dallas Aquarium – Dallas, TX

I enjoy visiting different aquariums when I travel. My visit to the Dallas Aquarium was quite fun. They have an indoor rain forest that have tropical flowers, birds, and monkeys.

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There is a cool walk-through tunnel of water where you can see the fish swimming all around you. They have so many different types of tropical fish.

I was very excited to get to see several different turtles. I love turtles!

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The best surprise that I found at the aquarium was an alligator.

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If you are visiting Dallas, make sure to take some time and visit the aquarium.  Check out their hours and exhibits at: www.dwazoo.com

Enjoy!

T

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Starved Rock State Park – Utica, IL

Enjoying the outdoors in Illinois is important to do before the long winter arrives. Starved Rock State Park offers lots of walking and hiking paths with beautiful views of the Illinois River.

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The park is known to have sparkling waterfalls, however to my disappointment the day I visited there was no water to make the falls due to a drought. Along the hike to Eagle Cliff Overlook, I was lucky enough to see a huge doe eating in the brush.

Another great feature of the park is that it is dog friendly. SO many sure you bring out your pups for some fresh air.

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The walk did make me hungry and I was happy to see the visitors center had a snack shop. It served homemade artisan ice cream. Yummy!

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Learn about all the things you can do at the park by visiting their website at: www.starvedrockstatepark.org

Enjoy!

T

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