15. September 2010 by admin.

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14. September 2010 by admin.

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13. September 2010 by Jason.

I don’t usually use this site to promote fast food places but I think a shout out is in order for the Hardee’s in Pigeon Forge, TN.

You see I am a local to this area and this particular Hardee’s has become a favorite stop of mine in the morning to score breakfast.  I have developed a fondness for Hardee’s biscuits.  I used to be a McDonald’s breakfast fan but Hardee’s biscuits are better.  I don’t know that I belive the ‘from scratch’ advertising but they are really good.  So I will admit that I go there for the food but the service at this particular hardee’s is out of this world.

1. Firstly they are fast!  You pull to the window and your food is ready.   I have never had to wait at this fast food place in the morning.  I am going to keep saying - “in the morning” - because I cannot think of a time I have eaten there later in the day.
2. They are accurate!  I have never had a wrong order from them when ordering breakfast.
3. There morning crew is friendly, courteous and a pleasure to deal with.  Just a great bunch of people.  They are always smiling and they are always friendly.  I have never been able to say this about another fast food restaurant.  The management and the crew there need to be thanked so I am taking this time and this forum to thank them.  Plus I am going to send them some good karma through the Hardee’s website.

So, if you are in Pigeon Forge, TN and you are looking for a good biscuit to start your day of with:

Hardee’s
3046 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863-3312
(865) 774-7687

Start your day off with a smile.

-J

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4. September 2010 by admin.

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2. September 2010 by admin.

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1. September 2010 by admin.

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30. August 2010 by Jason.

Laura and I eat at Chili’s a lot.  It is one of our favorite chain restaurants.  They are consistent and almost always clean.  They have a good selection and it is not just the same old same old.  This Chili’s was on a visit to West Virginia for one of our wedding showers.  Here is what we had:

Jason:
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Shrimp Tacos

Laura
Crispy Honey-Chipotle Crispers

Appetizer
South Western Eggroll

Sam Adams Boston Lager - I am not a big drinker.  That being said, when I want a beer I want a good beer.  They had Boston Lager on draft so I got one.  I love Sam Adams of almost any variety.  We were too early for my favorite:  October Fest but a Boston Lager will work too.  It was buy one get one happy hour so my buddy Matt had the other one.  The rich flavor of the beer worked well with my food choices.  Of course, I can’t think of a food choice that it would not have gone well with.  If anybody knows of something you can’t drink Sam Adam’s with, let me know.

Shrimp Tacos – People shy away from fish and seafood in tacos.  I say they are wrong to avoid them.  The shrimp tacos from Chili’s are outstanding.  If I get a recipe worked up of my own I will post it.  They fried the shrimp so that they are crispy.  The little bit of crunch they add is an excellent contrast to the flour tortillas.  On top of the taco is a honey-chipotle drizzle with ranch dressing.  The cool dressing mixing with the warm shrimp and the sweet and hot from the honey and chipotle keep your mouth guessing which flavor it likes most.

Crispy Honey-Chipotle Crispers – Small chicken pieces breaded and fried.  The sauce is the same honey-chipotle that is on the shrimp tacos.  Great combination.  A little sweet, a little hot, it is great flavor combination.  Corn on the cob and fries are the recommended sides and that was what Laura got.  Chili’s fries are always good and their corn on the cob looked delicious – very tender and full of flavor.

South Western Eggrolls – This is one of my favorites at Chili’s.  Smoked chicken, black beans, corn, cheese, red peppers and spinach spill out of these wonderful eggrolls.  The appetizer comes with 6 eggrolls and small tub of avocado-ranch dressing.  The have a little heat from the jalapeno Jack cheese.  Not too much, just the right amount.  The outside of the eggroll is a little crispy.  The beans and the corn both add a lot of flavor and some texture to the party.  I have made them a meal and have never been disappointed. 

Mercer County – Chili’s
1150 Oakvale Rd
Princeton, WV 24740 
304-425-8360
www.chilis.com

Pros

• You can always get Southwestern Eggrolls.
• The menu is very familiar and if you have picky people with you there is going to be something on the menu that everyone will eat. 
• You can always get Southwestern Eggrolls.
• They have good sides and you can mix and match with the entrees.
• You can always get Southwestern Eggrolls.
• They have endless nachos and salsa if everyone is starving.
• You can always get Southwestern Eggrolls.
• Each bar is different so if you are looking for a drink special there will be one going on everyday of the week.
• You can always get Southwestern Eggrolls.

Cons

• Not many cons for Chili’s  The food is always good.  The problem is that it is a chain that everybody likes so at times you are going to have to wait.  We were there on a Saturday night and the wait was about 20 minutes.  It was nice outside in Princeton so we hung out outside until we were called.  No big deal.  

-J

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29. August 2010 by admin.

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28. August 2010 by Jason.

My most recent visit to Ye Olde Steakhouse was on August 21st, 2010.  Now I will admit before writing this review that I am biased.  I love Ye Olde Steakhouse.  It is in my opinion the maker of the best steak that I have had in East, TN.  They are awesome and I eat there a lot.  That being said I will attempt to be fair.  Here is what we had:

Jason:
20oz NY Strip
Broccoli Casserole

Laura
8oz Filet
Sweet Potato

The Steaks – The steaks were cooked perfectly.  Laura likes hers a little more done then me (I am a medium rare kinda guy) and they were both perfectly cooked.  The filet is a thick cut filet.  Juicy and tender as it can be.  Like butter, your knife just sides through it.  The NY Strip is huge.  I used to get the porterhouse but the strip i just as big and you don’t have to fool with the bone.  Tremendous steak and out of this world.  The marinade they use isn’t overpowering.  It adds to the flavor of the steak without being the only flavor that you taste.  They are choice cuts and the best part is they come out exactly the way you requested.  I have been going to Ye Olde Steakhouse for years and I have come away with a bad steak.

I always get their Broccoli Casserole.  It is baked in a boat style dish.  The broccoli is always very tender but not overcooked.  It has lots of onions an cheese in it and it is covered with cheese before they finish the dish in the microwave.  It comes to the table steaming hot.  There is nothing like that first hot bite.

Ye Olde Steakhouse elevates the sweet potato above its humble cousin the baked potato.  It arrives at the table wrapped in foil.  There is already butter waiting on it at the table.  But in a little shaker there is a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon.  The baked sweet potato, with butter melting throughout and then brown sugar and cinnamon sprinkled over the top make it impossible not to steal some of your friends plate.  Out of this world.

Ye Olde Steakhouse
6838 Chapman Hwy
Knoxville, TN 37920
865-577-9328
www.yeoldesteakhouse.com

Pros

• Perfectly cooked steaks
• I have never experienced a long wait trying to get in.  I may have been lucky but I have never had to wait long.  I hear that trying to get in on a UT home game night is a bear but I wouldn’t go then anyway.
• Good selection of sides

Cons

• The only real drawback is the atmosphere.  There isn’t a lot of atmosphere at Ye Olde Steakhouse.  It is a steakhouse.  No frills.  The walls are covered in memorabilia and nic nacs.  If you are wantin a romantic evening… Go elsewhere.  If you are ready to eat… this is your place.

-J

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30. July 2010 by Jason.

We are foodies.  In the truest sense of the word we like to eat, we like to cook and we are addicted to the Food Network and the Travel Channel.  Food Network is our default station.  So we are sitting at supper last night and Laura said to me:

“We ought to be food critics.”

I thought that was a great idea.  So we are going to give it a shot.  We are going to attempt to blog about the places that we eat and the dishes that we eat.  We are going to include food that we make and recipes that we make up.  There will be movie reviews thrown in there as well (because I am also a bit of a movie hound).  And anything else that we find that makes us smile and makes us happy will get posted too.

You can follow us on Twitter:  @CakeWhole

-J

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