Filed under: Food Made by Other Food Folks, Random Foodie Thoughts | Tags: Findley's irish pub, food, irish food, places to eat in nashville, Restaurant reviews, The opryland hotel, travel
A weekend trip to Nashvegas was what the doctor ordered after the last few weeks we have had around here. After searching and searching, our best bet for a hotel during fall break was the mammoth Opryland Resort, a place I mostly avoid like the plague.
Yet, here we were.
We got our room when we and half of the South got checked in, and then we got a different room. The second one was the keeper. After traveling all day and then the long, long line at check-in, and then the room hopping, supper sounded like a great idea.
The way we used to travel, we would never, ever eat at the hotel where we were staying. Hotel restaurants always seemed too swanky and expensive. Lately though, we have changed our ways and have started eating at the hotel more often since it is so convenient even if it is more expensive.
Luckily for us, this worked out very well for us at the Opryland Hotel at Findley’s Irish Pub.
We were starving when we sat down. The whole hotel was swarming with conference people from Merry Maids and three weddings that night.
We started with the fries with gravy, or as we call them at home, Boo Fries.
These were fine, but I make better at home.
Regardless, while we were eating our Boo/Gravy Fries, we were enjoying ourselves. The restaurant very comfortable and busy. At a table next to us, though, an older couple was not having a nice time. The man ordered fish and chips. He sent the fish back for some weird reason. Then, he proceeded to send back the fries. They were burned, he said for all to hear. Our waiter, a nice non-Irish guy, explained that that was just the way the fries were made. The man still insisted on different fries. We were eating the same fries with gravy and cheese, and there was nothing wrong with them.
Really, Ridiculous Old Dude? You apparently need more gravy and cheese in your life.
The waiter brought out fresh fries special made for Mr. Complainy Pants that were still not good enough.
His wife, however, ate most of them. I am sure they went nicely with her salad, and I am also sure our waiter had to comp the couple for their pickiness even though he offered a substitute side for the still-not-good-enough second batch of fries.
Thou Shalt Not Be Rude to the Wait Staff should be a Commandment.
We had no complaints. Mr. Picky had the grilled cheese. He didn’t complain, and his name is picky.
Miss Helper had the pasta. Loved it!
Mr. Opinionated had the pub burger. He liked it, but at the price we paid for it, it was a little bit of a let down. It may have been full of fancy stuff, but it was still just a burger.
I had the Bangers and Mash. It was awesome.
This summer, I really, really watched what I ate and tried to be healthy. I lost several pounds, and realized that I could eat better.
This dish erased every bit of the work I did this summer. It was worth it.
The potatoes, the sausage. Good grief. The mustard sauce. The salad on top with the vinaigrette. Heaven.
We travel to Nashville once or twice a year. Next time we go, I hope we get to eat here again-minus all the Merry Maids and the complaining old guys.
Filed under: Food Made by Other Food Folks, Random Foodie Thoughts | Tags: Easy, food, Places to eat in Chattanooga, Restaurant reviews, Vacation food
Luck led us to Easy.
We just happened to find it while we were walking around town one night in Chattanooga. What a find it was.
We walked in, and it was like walking into a magazine. For this small town food girl, that was a fun experience. The restaurant was so pretty and sophisticated looking, so of course, I fit right in.
Well, sort of.
We ate outside on the front patio. We started with the bread basket with tapenade and mustard. It was nice and light. You can’t beat a crunchy bread assortment.
I had the duck confit. Fancy. I texted my sister and told her what I was having. She replied, “What’s that?”
Exactly. That’s how cool my dinner was. This was food you only see on TV, and not something you can get at the grocery store. The menu has hardly any decimal points. That, my friends, is Fun.
The duck was on a bed of Brussel sprouts. I never eat Brussel sprouts. It is nothing personal, but I just never think to buy or eat them. These were great.
Dessert was a coolie to go. Again, fancy. I know it is fancy because I had to Google the spelling for that and several other things we ate, and I am still not sure that it is right. This dessert was light and delicious and not something you see a lot in rural West Tennessee.
I loved it.
I hope to go back someday. The food and the experience were neat and worth all the distress over spelling.
Filed under: Food Made by Other Food Folks | Tags: burgers, food, life, mugshots, Restaurant reviews, where to eat in meridian Mississippi
The first time the fam made the big trip to the water years ago, we stayed at a nice Econo Holiday Hotel whatever, and the nice lady at the front desk was kind enough to recommend a restaurant to us when we asked.
The restaurant was called Bridgette’s. It was a small, Cajun shindig with good food. We ate there on two of these trips.
This trip? Bridgette’s is no more.
The rule on vacation is no eating at a restaurant that we can eat at at home. So, not wanting to waste a dinner on a chain, we Goggled for somewhere new.
The best reviewed restaurant on the list I found was a joint called Mugshots. We hesitated a bit because the online menu neglected to list steak, which is my daddy’s favorite food. Could he go without a steak? Would we make it? Would this risky restaurant choice ruin the whole trip? Would I be the laughing stock after suggesting this restaurant? Where was Bridgette with her cajun seasonings when we needed her?
We typed the address in the GPS, and off we went to find out.
We drove and drove across town to Mugshots. It was a nice place in a nice area. So far, so good.
When we got in, the staff told us we would have to wait about twenty minutes. Bummer but no big deal.
Unfortunately, twenty turned to more. I was beginning to sweat. This could be bad. I flicked Mr. Opinionated a dirty look and asked him to see how much longer the wait would be. He was told we were waiting on a particular table. I bent just so I could see this table of people taking up my dinner time and keeping my restaurant choosing reputation on the line and perhaps give them a dirty look too. They were still chewing.
Not. Good.
Luckily, a booth opened up behind us. We were saved.
With a menu in hand at our new found booth, I scanned for the weirdest thing on the menu. Mugshots did not disappoint in that area.
Mr. Opinionated had the Comeback Burger. It made him very, very happy.
Daddy had a steak sandwich. He was happy too.
I had the Peanut Butter Burger.
That’s right. A burger with peanut butter. It was, if I may be so bold to say here, life changing.
I kid you not.
The Peanut Butter Burger was simple-one patty, two schmears of crunchy peanut butter, and a sweet, soft bun. The whole thing was unique. The peanut butter was warm and gooey, and the bun was soft and perfect. It was unlike anything I had ever seen or experienced before.
It made me giggle like a school girl.
I couldn’t finish the whole thing even though I tried my very best. I wanted to take my unfinished part back to the hotel so I could look at its awesomeness, but I think that have been too much.
Instead, I just sang its praises to everyone at our table and took way, way too many pictures of it.
It was fun.
The Opinionated Foodie: The Love (or Not) of Food and Everything That Goes with It 