Press "Enter" to skip to content

Gator Girl - Out of the Swamp Posts

Laurel – Shenzhen, China

The second city in China that I got to visit on my family trip was Shenzhen. I had previously written about Frankie’s – the American pub that gave me a little taste of home. In this post I am writing about a very traditional Chinese meal we had at Laurel. The restaurant is located in the giant shopping mall where we spent most of the day.   The meal started off with an appetizer – some pickled seaweed and chicken feet. The seaweed was salty and a little chewy. However, I cannot tell you about the chicken feet because I…

2 Comments

Jumbo – Hong Kong, China

As I have written about previously, I was very fortunate to get to go to China with my family. One of the cities we got to visit was Hong Kong. It is such a vibrant city that has so much going on. Once you get over the fact that they drive of the other side of the road, it feels a lot like New York City. There is a famous restaurant that we had to try while we were there called Jumbos. Jumbos is a floating restaurant that has been around since 1976. It looks like a Chinese Imperial Palace…

3 Comments

Post Office Pies – Birmingham, AL

The Avondale area of Birmingham is a growing hot spot with breweries, clubs and great restaurants. Post Office Pies is one of these hot spots. Not only do they make fresh, homemade pizza in their wood fire oven, they make homemade sausage, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese! I started with the meatballs while waiting for the pizza to come out. The meat was extremely tender and moist. I could taste all the fresh seasonings and cheese in each bite. There are so many pizzas to choose from on the menu. I went for the “Swine Pie”, which was covered in their…

14 Comments

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. 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. They have 7 levels of heat…

1 Comment

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. 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…

Leave a Comment

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. 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…

Leave a Comment

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. 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. I took a seat at the bar because I got to watch them shuck all…

Leave a Comment

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. 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. 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…

Leave a Comment

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! 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…

Leave a Comment

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). 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…

Leave a Comment