Another Mexican Restaurant...and Perhaps the Best One!

We have an almost overwhelming number of Mexican restaurant dining options in our semi-rural small town setting.  I can think of eleven or twelve different restaurants serving Mexican style cuisine within a 20 minute drive from our home.  Many of them are above average.  Laurie had her favorite and I had my favorite...but to be fair, a couple other Mexican restaurants were also in the running for favorites.

But recently, we found a Mexican restaurant that we both agree is our favorite...at least for now.

This is the Sol Azteca Mexican Grill in Madisonville Tennessee.  Like almost all local Mexican restaurants in our area, Sol Azteca is family owned.  The owner/chef has been cooking/creating for the public for over 10 years.  We've passed the restaurant many times on our way south through Madisonville over the last several years.  Probably due to the restaurant's location in the corner of a sweeping curve by an overpass on US Hwy 411, we'd never really noticed it or managed to remember seeing it.  This is despite Sol Azteca having been in business for about 8 years!

On our first visit, we arrived a bit early for dinner...and the full bar lacked any customers.

Basically, the lack of early diners and patrons was also evident in the dining areas as well.  While Sol Azteca has colorful decor, it is less over the top than some of its local competitors'.  It is a bit more subdued.  

Like in almost all Mexican dining establishments, our server (Kevin), brought a basket of tortilla chips and salsa to the table.  What was a bit different was that he provided a bowl for each of us for the salsa and he brought a carafe of salsa...which meant we didn't have to ask for more salsa later in the meal.  Subtle...but a nice touch.  The salsa had a little 'bite' to it, but it is mild enough for most diners.

OK...our favorite Mexican style appetizer is Chorizo Dip with our chips.  Our biggest complaints about this style dip generally are: 1) it was too runny; 2) it lacked enough chorizo sausage bits, and 3) it was too bland.  Sol Azteca's Chorizo Dip featured none of those negative points.  It is the best version of this appetizer that we've had in several years, and it was plentiful too. ($9.99) 

As this was our first visit to Sol Azteca, Laurie stuck with her usual tried and true menu item.  This was her Quesadilla Rellena. ($9.99) This very large flour tortilla was grilled and then stuffed with chicken, cheese and beans. (beef tips are another option) The tortilla was then served with Mexican style rice, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole and sour cream.  She was quite happy with this oversized quesadilla!

I stayed within my tried and true comfort zone as well when ordering.  I ordered the Burrito Deluxe, 2 burritos, one filled with chicken and one with beef, plus beans and then topped with grated cheese, lettuce and sour cream. ($9.75) It came with a red sauce but I opted for a green salsa.  I'm not into sour cream so Laurie, who loves sour cream, was the recipient of my serving, adding it to the dollop on her plate.  I also enjoyed my meal...so what logically came next? 

Note: Like several other Mexican restaurants in our area, Sol Azteca has a 'salsa bar' where you can replenish your salsa or sample a wide range of alternate salsa toppings.  They range from green to red and from mild to 'call the fire department'!

The answer to the question posed above is that we revisited Sol Azteca, this time bringing our neighbors, Steve and Sue, California 'refugees' who managed to 'escape' to a relatively laid back East Tennessee and it's moderate climate.

No repeat photo but once again we ordered the Chorizo Dip as an appetizer.  It was well received by Sue and Steve.  For my entree this time I wandered a bit from my norm.  This was the Camarones a la Diabla. ($15.25) Diabla for sure...as the sauce with the shrimp was very spicy hot indeed.  However, while it may not appeal to everyone, the 'heat' was right for me.  Laurie was happy too...in that I'm OK with but not crazy about guacamole so she was able to score the slices of guac that came with my meal.  While I did wrap some shrimp in the soft tortilla wraps that came with my meal, I decided that I preferred them straight up with a little lettuce.

Laurie went for the shrimp for her entree as well... This was her Camarones Cremosos. ($15.49) In this instance the shrimp were cooked with mushrooms and then they were served with Mexican rice, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.  She was very happy with her meal, enjoying both the plentiful shrimp on the plate as well as more mushrooms than she could eat.

I'd never seen a 'bowl' dish like this before in a Mexican restaurant.  Sue's entree was Sol Azteca's Classic Burrito Bowl. ($9.99) The bowl was filled with grilled chicken, black beans and Mexican rice with Pico de Gallo and avocado slices...all topped with the Mexican cheese dip.  Two thumbs up!

Steve went 'all in' with a Classic Fajita Plate. ($13.99) This combination of steak strips and shrimp was grilled with onions and bell peppers then topped with cheese.  As you can see, this platter of food was accompanied by a plate of Mexican rice, refried beans, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes and soft tortilla shells.  Despite having come from California with it's many Mexican restaurants, he gave high praise for his dinner.

Sol Azteca Mexican Grill is located 4263 US Hwy 411 in Madisonville Tennessee.  This restaurant is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.  Website: 

https://www.solaztecamexgrill.com/.  This restaurant is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/solaztecamadisonville/.

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

Thanks for stopping by for dinner!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

More Food - Dining with Friends

Laurie's sister and brother-in-law have flown the coop back to St. Louis Missouri... So what did we do to keep busy?  To no one's surprise, it's more food and dining out.  

One of these days, I may actually publish a blog post that isn't food related but almost every social event these days seems to involve food!  We'll have to get back on the road again in order to interchange history, architecture and countryside views with restaurant visits.

But for now, get out the Pepcid, Rolaids and Tums as we eat our way through parts of East Tennessee.   

Once again, we returned to the Blackhorse Pub and Brewery in Alcoa Tennessee.  This time we brought our neighbors, Sue and Steve, with us.  I can assure you that East Tennessee is a big and welcome change for them after living in California for many, many years.  Laurie and I are hard at work introducing them to a number of the area's dining sites...

As you can see, Blackhorse Pub and Brewery is a big place!  You might also note that when we arrived, the restaurant and bar were not very busy.

While we did imbibe in a nice mild Blackhorse Blonde Ale ($5.00), we really don't drink much beer.  However, for the beer lovers out there, you should know that the Blackhorse Brewery offers 6 'standard' beers, an apple cider and something called the Side Hustle Sour.  In addition, they also brew 5 seasonal beers and 10 'specialty' beers.  You can learn more about these offerings at https://www.blackhorsebrews.com/our-beers.  

As usual I forgot to take photos of the appetizers until after they'd been ravaged... This was the Spinach and Artichoke Dip. ($10.75) It consisted of fresh spinach, artichoke hearts and cheese...accompanied by pita bread.  It was OK.

We also ordered Chips and Beer Cheese for the table. ($9.00) The beer cheese had a decent twang to it but it was too thin and there wasn't enough of it for all the chips. 

Both Steve and Sue had hamburgers but I'm not sure which one of the 10 available burgers is shown in this photo.  They seemed to enjoy their meals.  Blackhorse's basic burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickle is $13.95.  All burgers come with one side.  It was reported that the onion rings were quite good...and there were plenty of them!  

Probably the most interesting hamburger...which also has to be a challenge to eat without wearing it...is the Hangover. ($15.95) That particular burger includes bacon, pepper jack cheese, a fried egg, Bloody Mary aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion.  

Laurie decided to order a Flatbread creation for her meal.  In addition to the 7 'standard' flatbread offerings on the menu, patrons can design their own. ($13.00 with 4 toppings) Laurie went for mushrooms, artichoke hearts, onions and mozzarella cheese with red sauce.  She said that it wasn't that great but since it was her 'design', she said that the outcome was her fault.  

FYI, there are 11 'specialty' pizzas on the menu as well.  Plus, as with the flatbread entrees, you can design your own.  A 7" specialty pizza is $11.75 and a 12" pizza costs $18.50.  We would design our own 12" pizza...typically sausage and pepperoni...and it would cost $16.75.

I just didn't feel like a hamburger, a flat bread creation or a pizza.  I dismissed the entrees on the menu as well.  It was the sandwich...non-burger choices...that drew me in.  I settled on the Prime Rib Sandwich...with shaved beef prime rib and Monterey jack cheese served with au jus and a horseradish sauce. ($16.95) For my side...12 different choices...I went for the 'pub chips'.  I finished my meal but I wasn't too impressed with any of it.  The 'shaved prime rib' was a bit tough and lacked much flavor.  The au jus didn't help.  I guess I should have ordered a burger.

Our previous visits to Blackhorse Pub and Brewery had been more satisfying so we aren't deterred from returning for another go at the menu.  This restaurant is located at 441 North Hall Road in Alcoa Tennessee.  Phone: 865-448-5900.  Website: https://www.blackhorsebrews.com/menu/alcoa-menu. 

So what does one do shortly after having a sizable meal?  Of course the answer is seek out more food!

Therefore, our next stop was for dessert.  the good news was that it takes over 45 minutes to drive from Blackhorse Pub and Brewery in Alcoa to the Tic-Toc Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Loudon Tennessee.  Tic-Toc makes fine ice cream and it's a popular local feature in Loudon County.  We've been patronizing this ice cream parlor since we moved to the area more than 15 years ago.  Of course, they can't rely on our business for survival as our visits are limited to 2 to 4 times a year during Tic-Toc's open months.

As you can see, Tic-Toc was very busy.  It was a warm day...but not miserable... and it was in the early evening when we stopped by.  Customers were lined up, both inside and out.  Living in a community that caters, but is not limited to retirees, we hadn't seen so many young folks in one place for a while.  Nice...

I didn't take photos of the treats we purchased for our dessert.  A photo of ice cream in a cup or in milk shake form doesn't quite capture the glory it imparts to one's flavor buds... But here is the menu just for your consideration.  Note: This is not discount ice cream...

Tic-Toc Ice Cream Parlor doesn't seem to have either a website nor is it on Facebook.  This establishment is located at 504 Grove Street in Loudon Tennessee.  Phone: 865-408-9867.  You can learn more and check out the reviews on both TripAdvisor and Yelp. 

I started to say that this post isn't all about food...but then I realized that it really was!  Nice doggy!  This husky is named "Shadow" and it turns out that he is a frequent visitor at Tic Toc.  He lives just across the railway tracks behind the old depot in Loudon.  However he has learned that folks like him, (he is a charmer), and therefore they give him treats, bits of ice cream cones, a little ice cream, etc.  He wasn't with anyone...he just drops in and enters the store with customers as they open the door.  The staff got him to leave at one point but he was back inside within a couple of minutes.  We petted but didn't feed Shadow.  He is a bit of a 'chunk' and is in no danger of starvation.  Probably needs to go on a diet.  Once he got his quota of treats and attention, he just headed home.  We saw him crossing the tracks and going up the hill... 

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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