Category: Tennessee

Freiberg’s – Johnson City, TN

Johnson City is one of three cities in Eastern Tennessee know as the Tri-Cities. Their quaint downtown is seeing a resurgence of development with an array of shops, restaurants, and breweries. It is also not far from the campus of East Tennessee State University.

One of the restaurants in the heart of downtown is Freiberg’s. It is an authentic German restaurant making classic dishes from scratch.

When you walk through the doors, it feels like you are transported to a restaurant in Germany.

As soon as we were seated the waitress brought us some homemade fresh bread with a dill butter. This butter was unique. The butter itself was light and creamy, the flavor of the dill was just like a pickle. There was something addicting about the butter. I could not get enough on the bread, especially as it melted on the warm bread.

We started off with an appetizer to share around the table. We ordered the Kartoffelhaut aus Sachsen. This is basically loaded potato skins.

They took potato haves and covered them with a cream cheese and spinach dip, Swiss cheese, and bacon pieces. These are then baked to warm the dip and melt the cheese. These were definitely different from a typical potato skin. The spinach, cream cheese dip worked so well with the potato. The sharp taste of the Swiss cheese accented the dip which had a slight sweetness to it. The bacon added a great crunch to the overall texture. These potato skins are filling so it is good to share them if you are ordering additional dishes.

For my meal I ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu. They took a chicken breast and filled it with ham and Swiss cheese. Then they hand breaded it. There was not an oily texture, so I think they baked the chicken. Then they melted a little more Swiss cheese on top. The chicken was tender and moist. The have gave it a salty taste and the cheese gave it a creamy texture. The ham and chicken paired perfectly together.

I also got freshly made sauerkraut and Bavarian potato salad. The sauerkraut was warm and tangy. The bite was exactly what you would want from sauerkraut. Having it warm verses cold gave it a comforting feeling.

The potato salad also came out warm, which is typical for this German side dish. It also had a nice tanginess to it because of the vinegar-based dressing that the potatoes were tossed in. They gave such large portions of these sides.

Another dish that was ordered that I got to try was the Cheddar Bratwurst. This homemade sausage was juicy and had amazing flavor from the spices that were infused. The cheddar cheese that was mixed in added a creaminess to the bratwurst. This also came with their homemade sauerkraut.

The Schnitzel Sandwich was also ordered, and I got to try that. This was a pork loin that was breaded and pan fried. They served this on a fresh pretzel roll, along with tomato, onions, mayo, and slices of Muenster cheese. This sandwich was large. The pork was crispy on the outside. That crunchy coating helped lock in the moisture of the pork. It was extremely juicy. The Muenster cheese gave a great creamy texture to the pork.

One of the sides that came with this sandwich was the Bratkartoffeln. These are pan fried potatoes with onion and bacon. The potatoes were nice and crispy. The onions added sweetness, while the bacon accented the starchy potato with a little saltiness. They reminded me of home fries that I get at some breakfast restaurants.

Finding this authentic German restaurant in this small, southern town was fantastic. The food was amazing. I would love o go back during Octoberfest. I sure it is a blast there.

Check them out at www.eatbrats.com

Enjoy!

T

Brentwood Market & Deli – Brentwood, TN

There is a neighborhood market that serves up homemade foods, snacks, and ice cream. Brentwood Market & Deli offers items that are already prepared, or they can be orders hot and fresh. They have picnic tables inside the market that you can sit at and enjoy some food.

I ordered a chili cheese dog. They make a homemade chili that they covered the grilled hotdog with. They sprinkled shredded cheddar cheese on top so that it would melt. There was no way I could pick up this hotdog. It would have been so messy. I ate it with a knife and fork. The chili was not spicy, it was mild and had a generous amount of eat and beans. I would have liked a little more cheese on top since there was so much chili.

I also got to try the Reuban Sandwich. They made the sandwich on Marble Rye that was toasted up on the flat top grill. This allowed for a little crispiness. The corned beef was nice and salty. It was thinly sliced which made it easy to bite in to. The melted Swiss cheese helped calm that saltiness. The sauerkraut added a great sour, tanginess. The Russian dressing (which is basically mayonnaise and ketchup) helped tie it all together with a slight sweetness.

There was a side of tater tots that came with the sandwich. There was nothing fancy about these, just simple tots that were crispy from the fryer.

They make homemade Pork Rinds at the market. They are a popular item. They come plain with a little salt or with spicy seasoning for a little kick. It is so cool to watch them being made. They take the raw pig skin and drop it into hot oil. As the skin starts to cook, it puffs up to create an airy texture. While I was there, I was able to get a fresh made batch. These were still warm when I got the bag. They had a great crunch, and the spicy seasoning added the right amount of heat.

During my visit, they were making some of their homemade ice cream. This is also a popular item with their customers. They offer a variety of flavors, including peach, that is a seasonal flavor.

The one being made was Mint Chocolate Chip. They made this ice cream by hand not with a machine. I was lucky to get to try some of it, even though the cream mixture was not frozen yet.

The mint flavor was strong but not overpowering. There was a richness to it along with a creamy texture. I could only imagine how delicious this would be once it was frozen.

This is a great neighborhood market. It is perfect to pop in for a quick bite to eat or grab something to make at home. Check them out at www.thebrentwoodmarket.com and help support this local business.

Enjoy!

T

Stir – Chattanooga, TN

I was looking for a great place to have brunch in Chattanooga. It was recommended that I check out Stir.

They were very busy when I walked in the door. Luckily, I found seats at the bar.

I was excited to find out that they had $1.00 mimosas. This was clearly a popular item because they kept popping bottles of champagne all morning.

Their brunch menu was interesting. They had classic breakfast items but also some unique dishes. I was excited to try the Breakfast Chicken Piccata. Chicken piccata is one of my favorite Italian dishes so I could not wait to see what the breakfast version was all about.

They cooked the chicken in a white wine beurre blanc sauce with capers. They put the chicken on top of scrambled eggs with spinach and breakfast potatoes.

The beurre blanc sauce soaked into the breading of the chicken cutlet. This made each bite of chicken full of flavor. The only downside is there was not a lot of extra sauce on this plate. The capers gave the chicken a nice bite.

The scrambled eggs also soaked up a little of the sauce, which was great. It made the eggs more interesting. The breakfast potatoes were seasoned nicely but did not have any of the piccata flavor. I ended up eating those with a little ketchup. It would have been better if the potatoes were chopped up into smaller pieces and cooked with onions and peppers.

I also got to try the Baja Omelet. This large omelet was filled with peppers, onions, and a blend of cheeses. On top they sprinkled homemade Pico de Gallo, sliced avocado, charred salsa, and a Mexican crema.

I loved all the flavors that this omelet had going on. The peppers and onions inside the omelet added nice flavor and texture to the eggs. The Pico de Gallo added a great fresh element. The avocado added a creamy texture that really popped in taste when combined with the charred salsa. This was a filling dish. There was really no need for the potatoes that came with it.

Before ending brunch, the bartender suggested we try the Expresso Martini. They used a local roasted espresso bean from Chattz Coffee. The martini has a nice frothy topping, and it was smooth in taste. It did pack a punch of coffee flavor.

If you like coffee this is a must try. It will wake you up.

The food was great at Stir. It looks like their brunch menu may change so I would check out their menu at www.stirchattanooga.com . Get there early because they do get busy.

Enjoy!

T

Flying Squirrel – Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga is a fun town that keeps growing every year. There is a fun Southern restaurant downtown called Flying Squirrel. They have a unique menu that I felt had an Asian influence in dishes and flavors. There were several items on the menu that came highly recommended.

The Charred Cauliflower were cut into bite size pieces that were breaded in a spicy chili batter and deep fried till crispy. They covered the cauliflower in a sweet ginger cream. The ginger flavor was subtle but helped sooth the heat from the chilis in the batter. They tossed the cauliflower with toasted hazelnuts that added extra crunch. There was also a hint of lime juice and mint. The cauliflower had great flavor and were still tender on the inside after being fried.

The Spicy Miso Brussels Sprouts were amazing. The brussels sprouts were chopped up to make them easier to eat. They were charred up perfectly so there was a nice crispiness to them. They were covered in a glaze made of honey, orange, mint, and a miso-sesame mayo. The earthy flavor from the miso-sesame complemented the bitterness from the brussels sprouts. The honey added a subtle sweetness.

The Karaage was a Japanese fried chicken. They chopped up tender pieces of chicken and tossed with a black garlic molasses, Japanese mayo, and togarashi (a Japanese chili pepper mixture). This dish was the spiciest I tried this evening. The garlic molasses added a great sweetness that complemented the heat of the togarashi. The Japanese mayo was creamier than a typical aioli. It too helped calm the heat with adding some tanginess.

The final item was the House Cut Fries. These were fresh cut fried that were covered in garlic and spicy seasoning. The fries were crispy and slightly sweet. They were not too spicy; however, they used a ton of garlic. All this garlic made the fries so flavorful that no ketchup was needed.

I enjoyed all the dishes I tried at Flying Squirrel. I would love to go back and try several of their other dishes on the menu. They also have a beautiful bar that you can sit at for a nice, crafted cocktail.

Check out their website at www.flyingsquirrelbar.com

Enjoy!

T

Community Pie – Chattanooga, TN

Downtown Chattanooga has really grown and redeveloped over the last several years. They have so many restaurants and bars to choose from. If you are wanting good pizza, then Community Pie is a must visit.

They have many pizza options to choose from, pus you can create your own. All their pizzas are cooked in their wood fire ovens.

During my visit I ordered the Little Italy pizza. This pie included Italian sausage, pepperoni, fresh Ricotta cheese, Calabrian chiles, fresh garlic, basil, and pecorino Romano cheese.

The crust had a great crunch and charr on it because of the fire oven. It added a slight smoky taste. This is the best way to have pizza cooked. The sausage had a fantastic fennel taste to it. The pepperoni was extra crispy because of the oven too. I loved crispy pepperoni. The Ricotta cheese added a creaminess to the pizza; it also helped calm the spiciness that came from the Calabrian chiles. The chilies were smoky and spicy and packed a punch of heat.

This was a delicious pizza. The one thing I wanted to note about their red pizza sauce, it does contain bacon. It adds a great flavor but obviously would not be suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians. They do have other sauce options.

If you are in Chattanooga and get hungry, stop by Community Pie.

Visit their website at www.communitypie.com

Enjoy!

T

Rio de Brazil – Johnson City, TN

If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, you are in for a treat. It is a parade of meats, coming direct to your table. It was exciting to take someone who had never been before. I knew it would be a fun experience at Rio de Brazil in Johnson City, Tennessee.

To start off with, you must understand the color-coded cards that are on the table.

  • GREEN = Yes, I want meat, please come over to the table
  • RED = No, I am full so you can pass by

The next thing to know about Brazilian steakhouses are the salad bars. They are awesome but remember do not fill up on all of that. You must save room for the meat, that’s the main reason to visit. The salad bar had so many options.

I tried some pasta salad, fresh tomato and mozzarella, and a fresh broccoli salad. I figured this would be a light enough starter. The broccoli salad had a nice sweetness to it. They also had shrimp cocktail which is a great way to start with protein. There were creamy mashed potatoes with gravy on the bar too. I knew this would be the perfect side with steak.

The first meat that came to the table was the bacon wrapped chicken. The bacon was crispy on the outside. The bacon fat helped add to the taste of the chicken as it cooked. The chicken was tender and moist. The flavor they marinated the chicken in had a light teriyaki taste. It was really delicious.

The next skewer of meat to come to the table was the bacon wrapped filet. As soon as I cut into the filet, the juices just poured out. The meat was cooked perfectly with a little pink. The seasoning they put on the meat was savory and it made each bite more addicting. The bacon added a little extra salty with a crunch.

The flank steak was thin slices of tender meat. I did not even need a knife to cut it. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture.

In between the meats, the waiter brought some bananas to the table. This was like a dessert. The bananas were cooked in cinnamon and sugar. The bananas were soft, and the sugar created a caramelization on top. It was a great cleanser to eat a few bites in between the salty meat.

One of the last meats I tried was the garlic steak. The meat tasted like it was marinated in a garlic butter sauce. The garlic complemented the savory flavor from the meat. Even this cut of meat was tender.

I was starting to develop a meat coma. I was surprised when the waiter came around with a skewered pineapple. The pineapple was coated on the outside with cinnamon and sugar. As it rotated over the flame, the sugar melted and caramelized. It was fantastic on the pineapple. The grill gave it a little different texture. It was really delicious. This is something I might try on the grill at home.

The meat was fantastic at Rio de Brazil. The sides were great too even though I did not try many of them. It is a fun restaurant to go to so you can try a variety of things. It is definitely a place to check out.

Visit their website at www.Riodebrazilsteakhouse.com

Enjoy!

T

Rise – Germantown, TN

It’s time for breakfast in the South. What is one of the first things to come to mind? Fresh made biscuits of course. And this is exactly what I found in Germantown, Tennessee (just outside of Memphis) at Rise.

There was a line out the door that I could see as soon as I pulled up. I thought it might be from social distancing, but not, the line was truly that long.

As I was waiting in line, I looked over their menu to determine what I was going to order.

Since it was breakfast time, I ordered the Country Ham Biscuit.

There was no egg on this biscuit. It was just thick slices of ham on a fluffy biscuit. The ham was salty and had a smokey taste. The biscuit was large and sweet tasting. It complemented the ham. It was a simple combination which is what I was looking for.

Because I went lighter on my breakfast biscuit I had plenty of room for some dessert biscuits. I started off with the Glazed Blueberry Biscuit. The fresh fluffy biscuit was loaded with plump, juicy blueberries. There was a little sugar glaze on top of the biscuit. This helped settle down the sourness of the blueberries. This was a cross between a donut and a muffin. It was sweet like a donut and fluffier than a muffin.

The other sweet dessert I ordered was the Biscuit Beignets.

The order came with four. They were covered in powdered sugar. They took the biscuits and fried them up. They were heavier than a traditional beignet. It was doughy and the sweetness of the powdered sugar worked well with the flavor of the dough.

Rise really does have “The Best Dang Biscuits & Donuts”.

I enjoyed all the items I tired. I cannot wait to visit again in order to try something different. Check out their menu at www.risebiscuitschicken.com

Enjoy!

T

Red Hook Cajun Seafood – Memphis, TN

I was lucky to get to visit Memphis recently. It had been years since I had visited. So much had changed, so much growth. There were many new restaurants I was having a difficult time choosing one to try.

After looking over the different cuisine offerings, I set my eyes on Red Hook Cajun Seafood. They are a New Orleans style place, offering a wide range of seafood, po’ boys, oysters, and NOLA favorites.

The atmosphere was fun inside the restaurant. It was a great place to bring a family.

I started off with a half dozen of their chargrilled oysters. These are my favorite and I have written about these many, many times.

The oysters were tender. The slight briny taste was masked by the flavor of the garlic and parmesan cheese. They used a lot of cheese which added great saltiness but also a creaminess. They were hot when they came out, so if you order them, make sure to let them cool off before you touch the shells.

On this cold Memphis evening, I thought a bowl of gumbo would help warm me up. This gumbo had a little of everything, peppers, sausage, some shrimp, and rice. The flavor was fantastic. There was a rich savory taste with a hint of salt. The shrimp and the sausage were very tender. The rice helped thicken up the gumbo.

For my dinner I went for one of their seafood boils. Each boil came with corn on the cob and potatoes. The seafood choices were endless, everything from the traditional shrimp and crawfish to crab, lobster, or mussels. I was feeling traditional, so I went for the crawfish.

The boil came out in an interesting way. All the crawfish, corn, and potatoes were sizzling in a giant plastic bag. This helped keep it really hot and prevented too much of a mess before it got to the table.

I made sure to keep on the gloves and the bib. I knew I would end up being messy. I cut open the bag and let all of the ingredients fall onto the metal tray. Then I dug in. The crawfish were seasoned wonderfully. They were juicy and the meat was so tender. These were large crawfish too so there was a lot of meat. The potatoes soaked up a ton of the seasoning flavor. The corn on the cob added a nice, sweet element.

I cannot believe I finished this whole thing by myself. I am glad I wore the gloves because my hands got dirty. Now I would not smell like the boil for the rest of the evening.

I really enjoyed the seafood at Red Hook. I would go back and try one of their other boils. Check their menu out at www.redhookseafood.com

Enjoy!

T

Daylight Donuts – Johnson City, TN

The mountains in Eastern Tennessee are absolutely beautiful. I was visiting Johnson City and the campus of East Tennessee State University. While driving around I came across a local donut shop not far from the campus. Daylight Donuts was calling my name.

When I walked in, I could smell the sweet donuts in the air. I could not wait to get my hands on one. To my surprise, they also had kolaches that they made fresh. I would never have expected to find these in Tennessee.

I ordered a sausage, jalapeno, and cheese kolache. They warmed it up for me. The cheese that oozed out was nice and crispy. When I took a bite, I could taste the sweetness of the yeast roll. The sausage had a slight heat from the jalapeno, nothing overwhelming. The creaminess of the cheese helped calm down any sign of spice.

Since I was originally there for donuts, I made sure to grab two. The first one was the maple donut. This was a yeast donut that was light and fluffy. The maple icing was sweet and full of fresh maple flavor. It was perfect on a cool morning with a cup of coffee.

The second donut I shared. I was starting to get full. This was also a yeast donut and I selected the chocolate icing with multi-colored sprinkles. The icing had an awesome chocolate taste and the sprinkles gave it a nice crunch.

These donuts were very satisfying and the kolache was a great surprise. The staff at Daylight Donuts was great. They were really friendly. If you are in Johnson City check them out. Grab a donut or a dozen.

Enjoy!

T