Pike Brewing Company – Seattle, WA

After walking around the pier and Pike Place Market, I needed to stop for a quick snack and something to drink. That’s when I saw Pike Brewing Company. They make their own beer with names like Monk’s Uncle. And what goes great with beer? Homemade soft pretzels!

When I was done with the pretzels, something else caught my attention on the menu, it was their Framboise Float.  They take Linderman Framboise (a Belgium Lambic style fruit beer – basically raspberry beer that is sweet and tart at the same time) and they add chocolate ice cream. YUMMY!!!!!!

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It was an adult float and it was awesome. I ended up going back for another later on during the trip.

You have to check them out. The restaurant gets crowded but there is always open seating at the bar. www.pikebrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

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Homecoming Tailgate – Gainesville, Fl

Homecoming is always a special event during the fall. To be able to enjoy it with my sisters is even better.

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Rather than going out to eat, we decided to tailgate and cook up some hotdogs on the grill. Plus we got to enjoy it with chips and queso, macaroni salad, and of course beer.

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Sometimes taking it easy and just relaxing is the best thing.

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Enjoy!

T

The Gum Wall – Seattle, WA

As I was exploring around Pikes Place, dodging flying fish, I stumbled upon a bizarre attraction – a giant wall of gum. It’s located on Post Alley, just under the market.

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It’s pretty simple – a wall with tons and ton of gum. While you’re there feel free to add your’s to the collection.  It’s both gross and amazing and something you will not see everywhere.

Enjoy!

T

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Michou Deli – Seattle, WA

I was walking through Pikes Place Market, enjoying the sights and sounds of the crowd. Not far from the original Starbucks location I came across Michou Deli. They were really crowded inside so I knew I had to go in and check out what they had.

As I looked through their display case, my eyes landed on rice balls. They were stacked on a plate and were calling my name. I ordered 2 and made sure they warmed them up for me.

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Since the place was packed I couldn’t find a table to eat so. I decided to sit down on the sidewalk and eat my rice balls before they got cold.

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The mozzarella cheese just oozed out of the crispy rice. Their version of rice balls were a little different because it was just the cheese in the middle and no meat and peas like you will find in New York and New Jersey. But there will be no complaints from me – they tasted just perfect along with their homemade pasta sauce.

Michou Deli has a large menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups, so make sure you stop by. You can see their menu at their website: www.michoudeli.com

Enjoy!

T

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Noshville – Nashville, TN

Who would expect to find an authentic New York delicatessen in Nashville. But  as soon as you pull up to the restaurant you are greeted by the Statue of Liberty.

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Noshville is a great place to go for breakfast. However, make sure you don’t get there too late because they do not serve breakfast all day.

They have a large breakfast menu. I went with classic scrambled eggs. All of their egg and omelette dishes come with your choice of a side. I would recommend trying their silver dollar potato cakes. They are like hash browns but with more flavor. They are crispy on the outside and inside the seasoned potatoes are creamy. It reminds me of a potato au gratin.

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If you are not hungry for breakfast they also have a full menu for lunch and dinner. You can get anything from matzo ball soup to a Reuben sandwich.  Check the out at: www.noshville.com

Enjoy!

T

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Pizzeria Luigi – San Diego, CA

Who doesn’t love pizza by the slice! You can try different combinations instead of having to commit to just one. The choices are right in front of you when you walk through their door and it smells so wonderful. I counted at least 12 choices in the case.

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I went for 2 slices: the supreme (a traditional flavor) and the artichoke (a unique flavor). The crust was perfect – not too thick and it had a sweet taste to it.

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I knew that I had to try one of their pasta dishes while I was there. I went with a classic – spaghetti and meatballs. The plate was covered in meatballs. They were fantastic, moist and full of flavor. Their sauce was the perfect complement to the dish.

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If you need a pizza fix make sure you check out Pizzeria Luigi. Visit their website: www.pizzerialuigi.com

Enjoy!

T

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Harold’s Restaurant – Gaffney, SC

This restaurant began back in 1932. I had heard about this place on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. I was on my way to Charlotte, NC when I drove through Gaffney and decided to stop for lunch.  Gaffney is known as the “Peach Capital of South Carolina”. You know you are there when you see the water tower that looks like a peach.

The restaurant has the classic diner look with the old fashion counter tops and stools that overlook the kitchen. It is a little piece of history.

They has two world famous items on their menu – their hot dog  or their chili burger – both sounded great but I decided to try the burger. It was extremely messy to eat because the loaded up on the chili. It was the perfect size burger for me to finish the whole thing.

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You can see their entire menu at www.haroldsrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

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Tailgating – Gainesville, FL

So there I was walking down University Avenue and I smell of BBQ was in the air. Across the street in a parking lot, I saw the jumbo smoker. They were serving freshly smoked pulled pork.

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I knew I had to get some before they ran out. They started so early in the morning in order to get the bark on the pork just perfect. I wish I could have just had the pieces of bark. The sandwich I got was great and went so well with my beer before the game.

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Enjoy!

T

Beale Street – Memphis, TN

There are many fun things to do when you are in Memphis. One place you have to visit is Beale Street, which runs from the Mississippi River all the way to East Street. It is really fun to go there at night because the street block off  so you can walk up and down without having to worry about cars.

There are plenty of places to explore from shopping for a souvenir to checking out so great places to eat.  To plan your visit, make sure to visit www.bealestreet.com

If you are in the mood to listen to live blue’s check out BB King’s Blues’s Club            (www.bbkings.com/memphis).

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If you want to try a famous burger, then you must stop by Dyer’s Burgers. They have been around since 1912.

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The burgers are fried in a special grease that has been around since they started. And their milk shakes……YUMMY!!!!!!

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You can read all about their history at: www.dyersonbeale.com

Enjoy!

T

Gus’s Fried Chicken – Memphis, TN

After hanging out, listening to live music on Beale Street, I certainly got hungry. Since I was in downtown Memphis I had to go to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken.  It was crowded when I got there and I had the choice of getting my chicken to go, but part of the fun is eating there, so it was worth the wait.

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The fried chicken at Gus’s is a family recipe in the traditional Tennessee style Hot Chicken and their recipe is definitely spicy.  What makes their chicken even better is that it is made fresh to order – this way it’s still hot and juicy when they bring it to your table. It might take a little longer to get your order but it is completely worth it.

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While you wait for your chicken make sure to try the fried green tomatoes (a southern classic) and the fried pickles. They are perfect for sharing.

They have several locations now in many states including Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas.  Make sure to check out their website at: www.gusfriedchicken.com to find the location closest to you.

Enjoy!

T