Spicy, Sweet & Delicious

Think the Mexican food in your small-town is truly authentic?  Ok, so neither did I, but it took a trip to San Antonio, Texas to really appreciate a quality Mexican restaurant.  Clearly, I imagine it still isn’t anything in comparison to what you can get south of the border, but if you are willing to brave to crazy temperatures at certain points of the year, the open-air dining experience at La Fogata is something to be savored.

The Alamo, right next to the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio

Recognized for their unique outdoor dining, I sat next to a beautiful fountain where birds would continually fly in a take a quick bath.  Our waiter could not have been more attentive and immediately brought by one of the best margaritas and some special salsa with fresh chips.  Often I’ll get a frozen/blended margarita, but if you have an opportunity to visit someplace really authentic, I suggest going with nothing else than on the rocks.  La Fogata has won plenty “best of” awards and rightfully so, as it is a great place for celebrities, local business people and visitors alike.

A bowl of chips and salsa just for me!

I had an excellent meal that tasted fresh and made me want to slowly savor every bite; often times at Mexican restaurants I just wolf down my food and stuff my face with chips.  The vegetables were crisp, the fish was fresh and the tortillas, well, where do I begin?  La Fogata makes their own tortillas FRESH at the restaurant, so getting some hot tortillas aside the meal to dip in a special kind of green salsa our waiter brought by was excellent!

Fresh lime makes everything better.

So, if you find yourself sweating bullets in San Antonio, take a little break and make your way to La Fogata for food, drinks and fun with friends.  I promise, you won’t leave disappointed!

Rock out

Memphis may be known as the home of the blues, but it is also considered the birthplace of rock and roll.  This means the local/regional music hub Young Avenue Deli is right at home in the Cooper-Young neighborhood in the middle of town.  Not your spot if you need white tablecloths, this music joint offers an extensive menu of beers and a savor menu of sandwiches.

RIght next to a decent Mexican joint.

I used to go here once a month for lunch and could always get something different.  This trip included a southern favorite pimento cheese sandwich and a sizeable salad for my dining companion.  Seeing as I was on vacation at the time, I figured it appropriate to have a locally brewed Ghost River Brown Ale to quench my thirst on a hot summer day.

Sorry for the blur, I was just really hungry and ready to EAT!

The fries there claim to be spectacular, but while I do enjoy them, I can’t say they are in my top five.  The fried dill pickles are worth getting and my other favorite sandwiches include the Politically Incorrect, the Bren Calafornia Pita and BBQ Dip.

Young Avenue Deli might not be worth planning a whole day around, but it was a reliable place when I lived in Memphis.  Oh, and you get to take your plastic cup home with you when you order a soda or something, so you certainly don’t forget the place!

May the fork be with you

…is one of the quotes seen on the back of t-shirts worn by employees at Fork in the Alley, in South Roanoke, Virginia.  Dubbed a brick oven pub, this unique, little place is worth seeking out, seeing as it is tucked away beside a convenience store and cupcake boutique.

The certificated behind the bar read “maximum occupancy: 55,” so you can obviously get the impression that the variety of outdoor seating gets used quite a lot during the warmer months.  On my visit, there was actually a 45 minute wait for a table, but was lucky enough to grab two stools at the bar with my dining companion.  There was a band playing outside, so it was nice to be relatively more peaceful indoors, although it was a nice evening with temperatures in the 70s, so would have been perfect to sit outside.

The bartender who helped us out was calm and knowledgable about the entire menu and quickly brought us waters, in addition to the Roanoke Railhouse Ale that was on tap.  There were two tvs in the corners, but certainly the focus of the place, as the open kitchen showcasing the brick oven provided a nice backdrop to our meal.  I was impressed with the appetizer of bbq shrimp and cheese grits, severed separately so that we could enjoy the flavors individually.  The five shrimp were tangy and crispy and while the grits were not the best I’ve ever had, they certainly held up strong to my standards.

For our meal we ordered a quesadilla plus the special side of cucumber salad and a Joe Cool Alley Dog with oven baked mac ‘n cheese.  That’s right, in addition to the pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and house specialties, FITA serves a variety of tasty HOT DOGS!  The Joe Cool is kosher beef with firehouse bbq sauce, cole slaw and cheddar cheese.  Simple, inexpensive and exactly what I wanted, yum.  The menu includes other great options like the DC Dog, Astro Dog and Scooby, coolness.

A Virginia Green restaurant, I was impressed that the menu included designations for vegetarian items, along with some of their cooler, heartier dishes marked as “forks required.”  The restaurant logo is neat and all of the cabinets and whatnot have fork handlebars.  Oh, I mentioned that they are next door to a cupcake shop, Bubblecake, and it looked like there was one left, a big chocolate cupcake with a kind of pink icing….mmmm.  My next trip to FITA might focus more on dessert, as you can also order a brick oven s’more.

Clearly a popular place as a random Sunday evening and the place was packed, they have expanded to include another location called Fork in the City in downtown Roanoke.  Oh, and by the way, with a beer, appetizer, quesadilla, hot dog and sides, the bill was under $30, before tip.  You can be sure this is now one of “my spots” in Roanoke!

I think they say it best…

“Fork in the Alley: hard to find, impossible to leave.”

Potato-sized treat

I could talk for a good while about the merits of a good baked sweet potato and the average American can probably regail you with tales of an excellent baked potato bar, but it is the basic size and shape of a potato that takes center stage in Tampa, Florida.

Ybor City boasts plenty of great restaurants, including the Columbia Restaurant and a pretty solid Tampa Bay Brewing Company.  While this Chowhound discussion may think otherwise, I think the deviled crab at Carmine’s is pretty darn delicious.  Especially when ordered with a cold beer then broken up and gobbled up with hot sauce.  What I appreciate is that you can simply get these potato-sized treats in a bag to go and I definetely snacked on one during the drive from Tampa to Bradenton one evening.

Two deviled crabs = one big smile!

Anyway, moral of the story is that if you are ever in Tampa, you gotta get some deviled crab!

Chocolate Soup

The name of a restuarant can have a big impact on my wanting to walk through the doors and order something delicious and Chocolate Soup is an excellent example of truth in advertizing!  A resort town with plenty of fun little shops and eateries, this place may not have a super extensive menu, but is worth stopping by to get something warm to drink or to satisfy your sweet tooth.

THE Chocolate Soup signature drink

While there isn’t a whole lot of seating and your order isn’t going to be ready in two seconds flat, if you like walking along the main street (Lincoln Ave) and browsing windows, step into Chocolate Soup and order their signature drink (layers of melted dark chocoalte, espresso, fresh whipped cream and a pirouette cookie).  You might get one of their signature macaroons too!

Sweet, flaky, crisp and delicious.

Oh, and Bella’s Wine Bar is just down the stairs, so another neat little option downtown.  Don’t expect fireworks or neon lights when you walk into Chocolate Soup, but it is a nice little cafe for a break from the cold outside.

Classy/Casual in Florida

Typically when I take business trips around Florida, I make a point to enjoy plenty of seafood, but also have given a simple bbq shack a fair chance.  On my recent visit to Orlando, I met a fraternity brother at a place that fortunately was featured on Restaurant.com, Dexter’s in Winter Park.

A polished kinda small town feel community in one of the major glitz and glam tourist traps in the US, Winter Park offers plenty of neat restaurants and shops, but Dexter’s got to nod because they claimed to have a good wine list and casual, yet classy fair.

The front door

We started out with some baked asiago, artichoke and crab dip, which didn’t disappoint.  The wine was good and I appreciated that they had specials.  My buddy ended up ordering the confit lamb tacos and I went for the sweet potato wrap salmon with brown sugar brulee crust, roasted beet and potato mash, asparagus and lemon beurre blanc.  Salmon is my old stand-by when I don’t know what else to order and I was happy with my meal, but not a once in a lifetime kind of taste.

Salmon...tastes great and pretty good for you.

I’d love to rave about Dexter’s as being one of the coolest places in Orlando, but I think it fits a lot better into the category of a reliable restaurant.  Certianly a place I wouldn’t hesitate going on a business lunch or dinner, plenty nice for a date and good enough just for drinks with friends.  I imagine that most everything on their menu is well prepared and the service was attentive.  Best place ever?  Maybe not, but totally worth a visit.

Sweet Spicy Love & Corruption

I lived in Memphis for four years and the ONLY place I would ever consider getting a plate of fried chicken would be Gus’s, downtown between South Main and Beale.  Their spicy and juice fried chicken may have been partially responsible for my increase in cholesterol when I moved there, but as long as you don’t make this place an every day thing, it is pure finger-licking goodness.

Don't miss this joint in south Memphis!

I recently returned to the Bluff City to catch up with friends, see the sights and act as tour guide.  After watching an older episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, I figured it was due time for me to try the other Memphis favorite, Uncle Lou’s.  Located closer to the airport and Graceland, this unassuming storefront in a strip mall aims to please.

Immediately upon walking in, you will get a warm welcome and explaination of how to order, unless you jump right into line and know what you are doing.  There are big pictures of options plastered all along the wall, but I didn’t have to really look to know what I wanted.  Bare tables and friendly faces make this a real hidden gem that doesn’t take itself too seriously and just wants everyone to leave happy and full.

No frills, but all flavor!

Of course, the fried chieck was crispy and delicious, but being dipped in the signature Sweet Spicy Love sauce really gave it a nice kick.  The fried corn nuggets was sweet and the biscuit almost made me cry, so buttery and flaky and just right.  Now, I did want to take a nap after I finished and the sugar rush from the sweet tea wore off, but it was worth every minute.

I bought some of their sauce and seasoning to take home, but if you find yourself in Memphis, aren’t feeling like bbq and like your fried chicken wet rather than dry, then swing on into Uncle Lou’s.  The man himself was going all around the restaurant through the entire lunch rush say hey to people and making sure everyone felt right at home.

Just as good as it looks

Sandwich spots are a dime a dozen, right?  NOPE!  I will fully admit that Macado’s can offer up an inexpensive beer, but anyone who has visited this southwestern Virginia chain realizes that not all sandwiches are created equal.

Enter Backcountry Provisions, a chain of sorts with three locations around Colorado and one in Jackson Hole, WY.  Go to their website and enjoy the tantalizing photographs of various options.  I decided to stop into their downtown Steamboat Springs location after one of the most pleasant blood donation experiences in my life.

The guy at the cash register was pretty granola, but the friendliest person you could ask to take your order.  I was gazing up at the menu for a minute and after he beckoned me forward, I suggested the first thing I saw, the Pilgrim.  He enthusiastically agreed and suggested getting it on sourdough bread.  A pickle on the side and I was soon off to my table to make use of the free wireless.

Stuffing and chutney = yum!

Now, when my order was called at the counter, I was enjoying the window view  and ample seating.  I have a huge affinity for stuffing, so a sandwich made up of turkey, muenster cheese, seasoned stuffing and cranberry chutney was lunchtime bliss.  The only thing that would have made it better was a small cup of warm soup to combat the cold weather outside and from what I could tell, they don’t even have soup as an option…but maybe I was mistaken.

So, if you find yourself at high elevation and need something simple, but that will make you feel good too, swing on into a Backcountry Provisions.  It reminds me of places like McAlister’s, just better!

Real BBQ in Central Virginia

BBQ is an intensly local speciality, be it four generall accepted definitions: the vinegar based or mustard sauce found in the Carolinas, sweet  and thick sauce up in Kansas City, beef and sausage in Texas or the Mempihs dry-rub ribs.  If you hear someone say, “Texas/Memphis/Carolina/Kansas City is the best,” well, them’s fightin’ words!

Blue Ridge Pig

You can consider my suprise to find something relatively unique at Blue Ridge Pig near Wintergreen Resort, just southwest of Charlottesville, Virginia.  Not your average restaurant, BRP is simple a wooden shack tacked onto a gas station with little-to-no parking.  Worth the detour off I-64, you can call ahead for takeout or find a stiff seat in one of the handful of tables tucked into the corners and sides of this hidden gem.  Now, I generally prefer a smooth, sweet sauce, but this pulled pork was doused in vinegar sauce that seeped into the bun of my “sandwich.”  You better plan on using a fork though, because this meat was so well prepared, you could smell and taste the smokiness from a mile away and easily fell apart.  Oh, and did I mention they topped it off with some colesalw?

Pork sandwich with dill potato salad and beans

What helped this lunchtime plate stand out from the crowd was not only the smokiness, but the distinctive sides.  I ordered the baked beans, which really were almost more of a paste, but still tasty.  The thick dill potato salad really brought my tastebuds to attention.

So, next time you find yourself in Nelson County, plan to make a stop at the Blue Ridge Pig, especially if you are a fan of vinegar Carolina style bbq.  Might I also suggest filling up a growler at Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company (just a few minutes away).  This may not be the best bbq I’ve ever tasted, but certainly stands out in the commonwealth.  The character of the place and quality of the food makes it worth a visit!

Blue Ridge Pig

Side note: Check out this review from a couple of years back; good to know this place has been making quality bbq for quite some time.

My place…in Lexington

Seeing as I’ve lived in Lexington, VA for more than two years at the writing of this post, it is high time I got around to reviewing my favorite overall restaurant in town, Bistro on Main.

Any easy suggestion for visitors and locals alike, I’ve always been impressed with the service, quality of food and company at this smaller place in such a quaint town.  They use a good number of local products, so you know the food is fresh and they aren’t afraid the change up their menu as the seasons move along.

This particular review is for a dinner visit, but I always enjoy going here for lunch.  I normally pack my lunch during the work week, so if I am going to head out somewhere to spend $10 mid-day, then I want it to be worth it…and this place delivers.

Fish over a bed of rice and greens.

 Getting a reservation is often a good idea, as they only have seating for less than 50 people with the whole place full.  My dining partner and I each ordered some fish, one regular menu item and another special for the night.  Both were cooked to perfection and when enjoyed slowly over good conversation, filled me right up.  Last time I was here and ordered a fish special, I remember being impressed with the portion size.

Fish over a thick polenta cake.

I’d love to go on and on about Bistro on Main, but I figure if there were only one restaurant in town, this would be it, and that seems like all that needs to be said.  Not the most expensive place and not the cheapest, You know you will get a nice meal and what you are pay for is real quality.  I would recommend something sweet after the meal as well, but I think you should walk down to Sweet Things Ice Cream Parlor and get a scoop.