The Visit Comes to an End - Last Meal

The night before Bonnie and Bill, Laurie's sister and brother-in-law, flew back to St. Louis Missouri, we had one more restaurant choice to make.  I had a long list...2 pages...of restaurants that we either like or want to try.  

As Bonnie and Bill are usually adventurous, I was surprised when they selected Bonefish for our last meal together...at least for a while.  Bonnie told us that Bonefish is one of their 'go to' always good...always safe...dining options.  Of course, the fact that Bill loves seafood might have something to do with their choice.  On the other hand, Laurie and I consider Bonefish to be one of the stable and consistent restaurants we can always rely on as well.

This is the Bonefish Grill location in the Turkey Creek Shopping area of Knoxville.  I've written about it several times in the past 15 years.  It is located at 11395 Parkside Drive in Knoxville.

Given the fact that it was a Saturday night in August, neither the bar nor the restaurant were overwhelming busy.  The fellow at the table in the bottom photo seemed very agreeable about my photo taking...

Our little group did indulge in a couple of adult beverages... The ladies started out the 'last meal' with the 'special' for the day, the "Lemon-tini". ($7.00) but then the server kind of sold them on the new martini on the menu, the "Watermelon-tini". ($10.90) Bill stuck with a Blue Moon. ($5.50) As for yours truly, I was driving so it was water with lemon.

This is a photo of something that you used to automatically be served in most restaurants...but you don't any longer.  A nice crusty bread (or rolls) with seasoned oil (or butter), something that, as a bread fanatic, I really appreciate.  

We had to have an appetizer didn't we?!  It had to be something that all of us would enjoy, so we ordered the Bang Bang Shrimp. ($18.90) For this offering, Bonefish's crispy fried shrimp is tossed in their signature creamy and spicy sauce and then served on a bed of shredded lettuce.  It was a favorite for all of us!

For her entree Bonnie ordered the Blue Moon Miso Halibut. ($26.90) The wood-grilled halibut is coated in a house-made savory Blue Moon Miso sauce.  Then it is plated on top of jasmine rice and sauteed spinach.  Bonnie really enjoyed her meal.

Bill ordered the Grilled Salmon, in this instance topped with creamy spinach and lump crab 'dynamite' topping. ($24.90) It was served with jasmine rice and steamed broccoli.  

I don't recall what problem we had, but I think it had to do with Bill's order.  Perhaps they had to redo the order...but I just don't remember what happened.  I know that he got his meal after the rest of us already started eating ours.  In the end, he did enjoy his entree.

Mexican Street Corn was a seasonal special, either as an upgraded side dish or separately. ($5.90) This offering consisted of creamy pan roasted corn tossed in a spicy aioli sauce and then it was topped with a smoky chili seasoning and crumbled feta cheese.  I believe that Bill ordered it based on a positive previous experience with this dish.

For my entree, I went for Lily's Chicken. ($24.80) The grilled chicken was covered with goat cheese, a bit of spinach, artichoke hearts and then finished off with a lemon basil sauce.  It came with the Jasmine rice as a standard side dish.  Out of curiosity, I ordered the Mexican Street Corn so I could try it.  It was a side dish upgrade. ($3.90) 

Lily's chicken is my 'go to' favorite at Bonefish Grill, despite the restaurant's focus on seafood.  It never disappoints me and it didn't this time either.  As for the Mexican street corn, I was underwhelmed.  If it wasn't for the feta cheese, it would have tasted like corn with a little chili seasoning...

Whenever we dine at Bonefish Grill, Laurie loves to order the pair of Cold Water Lobster Tails. ($39.00...now listed at $41.00 on-line) The 5 to 6 oz. lobster tails are seasoned and steamed and then served with warm drawn butter.  

Laurie wasn't attracted to any of the usual or 'signature' sides...whipped potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Jasmine rice, coleslaw or French fries.  She ended up with 2 premium sides ($3.90 each), the steamed asparagus and some parmesan risotto topped with house-made herb oil.  Lobster makes her happy and she might order it twice a year...so happy wife means happy life, that's my philosophy.

By this time, we shouldn't have wanted and certainly didn't need any more food.  However temptation overcame us...just a little.  We ordered a single slab of Key Lime Cake for all of us to share. ($10.50) This is a vanilla citrus cake layered with sweet yet tart key lime frosting and then lightly dusted with toasted coconut.  I'm not much of a cake lover, but we all agreed that this was quite nice indeed...

Given the economy and current prices, eating out in any restaurant is not for the faint of heart.  It's hard for 2 people to even go out for breakfast and spend under $30.00 including tax and tips.  As you will have noted, dining at Bonefish Grill has become more of a treat than a place to regularly have a meal.  The good news for us is that without asking, our server Kendall adjusted the bill due to the problem with Bill's meal.  We were comped for both the Bang-Bang Shrimp and that slab of cake...total $29.40.  Our next meal at Bonefish will probably be for Laurie's birthday.

This Bonefish Grill location is at 11395 Parkside Drive in the Turkey Creek Shopping area in Knoxville Tennessee.  There are 166 Bonefish Grill locations across the USA.  The website for this particular location is found at https://locations.bonefishgrill.com/tennessee/knoxville/11395-parkside-drive.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Out Exploring...with Zero Shopping!

Continuing with Bonnie and Bill's visit in late July and the first part of August, Laurie and I looked around for new venues to explore.  We realized that we'd never driven over to the area around Watts Bar Reservoir/Lake despite its close proximity to our home.  We live right next to Tellico and Fort Loudoun Lakes or reservoirs...so I guess we just take the scenery for granted.  So...off we went! 

I'd done a little research and I'd discovered the Euchee Marina Resort and Campground in Ten Mile Tennessee.  Since a restaurant overlooking Watts Bar Lake/Reservoir was located at the Resort, it seemed like a great place to stop and enjoy some refreshments.  

Euchee Marina Resort and Campground pretty much seems to have it all.  It has floating lake cabins, a duplex waterfront cabin, land based cabins, the cabin styled lodge in the second photo, and a campground with the necessary facilities.  In addition, there is a salt water pool for guests as well as the marina shown in the last photo.  The marina itself has covered as well as open slips, a transient dock with gas available as well as hookups and a dock store.  

For more information regarding the Resort and Campground, you can go to https://eucheemarinaresort.com/marina.

The Euchee Grill and Brewhouse is located in this lakeside lodge-style structure.  The restaurant is independently owned and operated although for all practical purposes it is an essential part of the Euchee Resort.

As you might note, the Euchee Restaurant and Brewhouse wasn't all that busy... The waitress told us that with schools back in session, business drops off fast.  The restaurant is quite large, it has a full service bar and offers outdoor dining on a deck overlooking Watts Bar Lake.  

The name 'Euchee' came from the Yuchi Tribe of Native Americans who used to live in this area of Eastern Tennessee.  Today there are an estimated 2,000 persons who are ethnically Yuchi.  They primarily live in northeastern Oklahoma and they maintain their own distinct cultural identity...and some Yuchi have learned and maintained the Yuchi language.

The photos shown above show some of the views from the deck of the Euchee Grill and Brewhouse.  Watts Bar Dam was completed in January 1942.  Watts Bar Lake stretches for 72.4 miles between the Watts Bar Dam and the Fort Loudoun Dam along the Tennessee River.  The lake has 722 miles of shoreline, covers 39,000 acres and has a maximum depth of 108 feet.  We live a couple of blocks from Tellico Lake/Reservoir which is connected to Fort Loudon Lake/Reservoir via a short channel.  To give you a comparison, those 2 lakes between them, have 736 miles of shoreline and they cover 28,800 acres.  Watts Bar Lake is really big!

What...no food photos!?  I didn't think I needed to take more photos of basic appetizers or adult beverages.  This experience was all about the ambiance provided by Watts Bar Lake itself.  From left to right above...Laurie, my better half, Laurie's sister Bonnie and Bonnie's husband Bill.  It was a relaxing hour or so spent overlooking the lake and the boat traffic... 

FYI, we did order Fried Pickles, a Jumbo Pretzel and House-Made Beer Cheese.  Several other appetizers were on the menu as well as a nice selection of sandwiches/wraps, tacos, salads, burgers and entrees.  However, the Euchee Grill and Brewhouse is now closed for the season.  They are only open from a few weeks before Memorial Day until a few days after Labor Day.  Check out this restaurant's website at https://eucheegrill.com/.  Both the Euchee Resort and the restaurant are located at 200 Euchee Lane in Ten Mile Tennessee.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by to share part of our summer fun!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Late Breakfast...and Believe it or Not, More Shopping

 ...continuing with the family visit and Laurie's sister Bonnie and Bonnie's husband Bill.  Yes, we were out eating yet again!  This time we decided to have a late breakfast or brunch, just before shopping a bit more.  Breakfast is a bit of a challenge here in East Tennessee.  There are a fair number of OK or average breakfast destinations but we have yet to find one that sets the world on fire and we've been here for more than 15 years.

This is Don Delfi's Pancake House and Restaurant.  Another similar style restaurant occupied this spot in Farragut/Knoxville Tennessee prior to Don Delfi's start up in 2020.  We've eaten here a few times before, both prior to and since the current owner's business began.   

Don Delfi's dining room is more than double the size shown in this photo.  The tables are well spaced and there are booths as well.  The restaurant always seems well maintained.   

So, how was the food?  It had been about 2 years since we had last eaten here as it's not close to our home. 

This time I'll start with my breakfast... It's the Country Fried Steak and Eggs with hash brown potatoes and 3 over easy eggs.  It also came with toast or a biscuit. ($12.99) One must admit that this is a big breakfast for the money given restaurant prices these days.

The eggs were cooked perfectly and the hashbrown potatoes were decent but just a bit too crispy.  I like country fried steak but this one didn't hit the spot.  Whether it was or not, it tasted like a previously frozen commercially breaded chopped steak.  

What was I thinking when I took this photo?!  Horrid angle... In any case this was Laurie's breakfast, just a Belgian waffle with butter and syrup and a side of bacon. ($10.74) The bacon was good and the waffle was OK.  She skipped the powdered sugar on the waffle.  We're kind of spoiled by the malted waffles that we make at home so a comparison is tough.

This was Bill's breakfast.  He likes just about everything so this was an appropriate breakfast for him to order.  It's the Melting Pot Skillet. ($13.99) Starting with a base of fried cubed potatoes, it was then layered with bacon, diced ham, sausage links and onions, covered with American, cheddar and Swiss cheeses, then topped with 3 fried eggs.  A biscuit or toast is also included.  

Bill enjoyed his breakfast but on hindsight, he decided that he should have ordered a less complex skillet breakfast.  Of course, as previously noted, the portion was huge!

Bonnie kept it simple.  She went for a short stack (3) pancakes with butter and syrup with a fruit cup as a side. ($10.99) The pancakes were good and she enjoyed her fruit cup.  If I remember correctly, Bill did purloin one of her pancakes, one of his favorite foods.

Don Delfi's Pancake House and Restaurant is located just off US Hwy 11/70 in Farragut Tennessee at 120 West End Avenue.  This restaurant is open from 7 AM to 3 PM Monday through Saturday and from 8 AM until 3 PM on Sunday.  Website: https://www.dondelfispancakerestaurant.com/order. 

So what did we do next?  A little shopping of course...

When Laurie and I last visited St. Louis Missouri and spent time with Bonnie and Bill, Bonnie directed us to a new Painted Tree Boutiques location near their home.  Stupid me... When I was looking for things the ladies would like when Bonnie and Bill visited us, I discovered that we also had a Painted Tree Boutiques location in Knoxville.  So of course, we 'had to' check it out.

The difference between the new Painted Tree location in St. Louis Missouri versus this more established location was night and day.  Whereas the St. Louis location had plenty of unoccupied booths and minimal shopping appeal, I wasn't so lucky here!  More variety for sure with some antiques, books, clothing, lots of decor items and even a booth that stressed Tennessee Volunteer's Orange!  There wasn't much to attract male shoppers so Bill and I eventually ended up sitting on a bench at the front of the store as we waited for our wives.  

Yes, that is Laurie checking out with her purchases at Painted Tree Boutiques.  She did find a couple small items she had to have.  She looks happy doesn't she?  The worst part is that she's now a repeat shopper, with a special fixation on some coffee scented candles.  The positive for me is that the coffee smell (a little sweet), is so much better than most of the overly sweet smells that many women seem to favor.

Guys, we are doomed!  This boutique malls are springing up from Spark Nevada to Virginia Beach Virginia and from Chicago Illinois to San Antonio Texas.  Dallas and Houston both have 6 locations!  The store count is in the mid-50s and growing fast.

This particular Painted Tree Boutique location can be found at 9630 Kingston Pike in Knoxville Tennessee.  The store is open seven (7) days a week... The company's website is at https://paintedtree.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Lunch Along the Tellico River

Yes, this post is a continuation about the recent visit to our home in East Tennessee by Laurie's sister and her husband from the St. Louis Missouri metropolitan area.  We may not experience much variety at this stage and age, but we do get around, shop and browse a lot... Beyond a bit of exploring, there is that other critical piece of the exploratory puzzle...food!  

So lets get right to it...food that is!

My photo of the Iron Works Grille near Tellico Plains Tennessee didn't come out well...so I 'borrowed' this early evening photo of this popular restaurant from the Internet.

Iron Works Grille is located right on the banks of the Tellico River just outside the town of Tellico Plains...and right at the start of the Cherohala Skyway.  As you can see from this photo, outdoor dining is an option.  However, it was too dang hot out so we sat inside at a window on the upper level of the restaurant.

This is one of the pleasant views diners have when eating at Iron Works Grille.  This view looks up the Tellico River toward the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.  It is 52.8 miles long and it flows into the Little Tennessee River at the Tellico Reservoir/Lake.  From about this part of the river on into the mountains, the Tellico River is a prime trout stream and it's also used for rafting and kayaking.

FYI, the name Tellico is derived from the Cherokee word "Tahlequah", which according to the Cherokee people who historically have inhabited the region, means "rare-peace".

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Cherohala Skyway is connected to the Tail of the Dragon US Hwy 129.  Both are part of a mountainous loop of sorts that challenges drivers looking for some excitement.  Auto and motorcycle rallies are common in the area.  You can pass a dozen Harley-Davidson Motorcycles or a dozen corvettes, etc. as you traverse these roads.  All of these thrill seekers are good business for Iron Works Grille and other businesses along these favored routes.  

Due to the popularity of these curvy and cliff hugging roads, rentals are available from a variety of sources.  The first 2 vehicles shown above are different Polaris Slingshot models...3-wheel vehicles.  The third photo includes a random group of motorcyclists as well as a separate gathering of sports cars.  

I found motorcycle rentals that offered Cam Am Spyders, Road Grade MCs, Harley-Davidsons, Kawasaki's, Honda's, BMW's, Yamaha's and KTN's...whatever they are.  As far as auto rentals go, I even found one site that sets up 3-day group sports car tours.  If you don't have your own 'hot' sports car, you can rent a Porsche 911/992 GT2, a Ferrari 488 Spider or a Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder.  Not for me...but different strokes for different folks!

This is a view of the inside dining area at Iron Works Grille.  It isn't fancy but it is appropriate for the flocks of tour groups that frequent this restaurant.  It was an early afternoon weekday after school had started so other than the folks that came with those motorcycles and sports cars, the restaurant wasn't very busy.

Our group ordered a couple of appetizers.  This was what was left of the Green Fried Tomatoes, served with Iron Works Grille's signature Sriracha Aioli by the time I remembered to take a picture. ($9.99) They were good...a solid grade of "B" in our opinion.  

Alas, the same photographic failure also applied to the 1/2 pound of Boneless 'Wings' with garlic parmesan sauce...not much left for the photo. ($9.99) The difference here is that we all agreed that these 'wings' were among the best we've had lately.  It may have been all about the sauce, but this appetizer earned an A+ from our group.  FYI, five other sauce options were available.

It should be noted that a total of 21 different appetizers are on the menu at Iron Works Grille.  Other choices range from Pork Rinds and a Hummus Plate to Trout Dip, a Pimento Cheese Plate and on to Crab Cakes.  Should be something for everybody to chose from!

I ordered the Shrimp Po' Boy with corkscrew fried shrimp on a toasted bun with shredded lettuce and a side of French fries. The sandwich was accompanied by a cup of spicy boom boom sauce. ($13.99) This creation was impossible to pick up and eat so it was knife and fork time for yours truly.  I've had plenty of shrimp Po' Boys over the years and this one just didn't 'make it'.  The shrimp themselves were decent.

The menu includes other sandwiches, including a fried chicken creation, a number of salads and a few entrees.  The latter included Fried Trout, Shrimp and Grits, a Cajun Pasta and Mahi Mahi.

Bill ordered the 8 oz. Iron Works Signature Burger with a side Caesar Salad. ($17.99 with the salad) This burger creation was topped with bacon jam, melted cheddar jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.  It was a pretty decent burger... FYI, the menu features 18 different burgers.

I was pretty surprised when Laurie ordered the 8 oz. Cannonball burger.  It was topped with beer battered mushroom slices, Swiss cheese and a house-made garlic aioli. ($15.99) Since she doesn't get mushrooms at home (I can't stand them), this was her opportunity.  She couldn't finish this big burger but she did finish off the mushrooms.  Note: the burger was accompanied by that optional cup of potato salad instead of the usual French fries.

Bonnie surprised us too when she ordered the French Dip Sandwich with onion rings. ($15.99) She did like the onion rings and there was plenty of sliced roast beef on the sandwich.  However, she felt...and Bill concurred...that the beef didn't have much flavor and the au jus was really tasteless.

When we first came across Iron Works Grille a few years back, my first inclination was that it was named for all the "Iron" aka motorcycles in the parking lot.  Supporting that theory is the fact that a Harley Davidson Store is located right across the street.  In actuality, the Tellico Iron Company had been located very near this location.  That company had been established in 1824 amid rich deposits of brown hematite.  That ore produced what was touted as the 'finest grade of iron ore in the world".  When the Civil War began the high quality of the iron being produced led to the Confederacy's seizure of the company...continuing production on behalf of the South.  However in 1863 Sherman's Union forces captured the iron works...and they demolished it to prevent further use by rebel forces.

As an aside, I'm also pretty sure that The Babcock Lumber and Land Company's rail line ran right through this location as it headed up into the mountains.  Trainloads of lumber had to have passed by here until the late 1930s.

Iron Works Grille is located at 1641 Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165), just outside of the town of Tellico Plains Tennessee.  Phone: 423-253-2773.  Website: https://ironworksgrille.godaddysites.com/.