Lunch in Chattanooga...

When Dawn Marie’s late summer visit came to an end, we drove her down to Chattanooga where she could catch a timely flight to Miami’s International Airport.   As her flight was scheduled for early afternoon, we decided to have lunch before she flew home.

 

We’d eaten at this J. Alexander’s Restaurant on the north side of Chattanooga on a previous occasion.  With a timetable to deal with, rather than try something new, we decided to confirm or refute our first experience...which had been positive.

J. Alexander’s is a casual dining restaurant chain that opened its first location in Nashville Tennessee back in 1992.  They now have at least 39 restaurants in 13 different states. (FL, GA, AL, LA, TX, CO, CA, MO, TN, KY, OH, MI and IL) To view a nationwide map showing these locations, just go to http://find.mapmuse.com/map/j-alexanders.

 

J. Alexander’s has an upscale look to it…lots of dark woods and soft lighting.  It’s a comfortable…’feel good’ interior.   I suspect that the cost of building one of these pleasant environments has been one reason that the expansion of J. Alexander’s Restaurants has been gradual…

 

 

Dawn ordered the Rattlesnake Pasta. ($15.00) It’s basically fettuccine Alfredo with southwest spices and grilled chicken.  She seemed to enjoy it…as there wasn’t any left on her plate when we were finished!  

The luncheon and dinner menus are similar, divided into sections labeled Starters, Salads, Burgers/Sandwiches/Small Plates, Taco Platters, Flatbread Pizzas, Entrees, Desserts and Sides.  The selection of entrees expands from 11 choices at lunch to 16 items for dinner.  The prices sometimes vary as well…with Dawn’s Rattlesnake Pasta priced at $16.00 on the dinner menu.

 

I love chicken…so I ordered the Rotisserie Chicken from the entrée selection. ($16.00) This was ½ a roasted chicken seasoned with herbs and spices and served with a terrific au jus type of dipping sauce and smashed potatoes.  The chicken was very good and with the sauce/au jus, it was even better…

The prices on the dinner menu range from $16.00 for the Rattlesnake Pasta as well as 2 chicken offerings, to $18.00 for a couple of shrimp entrees, and the price tops out at with items like Carolina Crab Cakes ($28.00) and the Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce ($29.00)

 

Laurie ordered the Crispy Fish Sandwich with Kiawah Island Dressing. ($16.00)  I believe that it came with the French fries… Laurie liked this sandwich and would definitely order it again.

The reason that I commented on Laurie’s French Fries…stating that I thought that they came with the Fish Sandwich…is that sides at J. Alexander’s tend to be a bit pricy in relation to other restaurants.  French fries are $5.00…as are Black Beans and Rice, Broccoli, a Side Salad and Cole Slaw.

There are 8 sandwiches on the menu at J. Alexander’s.  They range from a Veggie Burger ($10.00), to a Cheeseburger with Tillamook Cheddar ($11.00), and on up to include at French Dip Sandwich ($17.00) and a Prime Rib Sandwich ($18.00).

Actually I feel that, in general, pricing at J. Alexander’s Restaurants is a bit high.  $15.00 for a chicken pasta dish…$16.00 for a chicken dinner…and $16.00 for a fish sandwich…the prices all seem a little over the top.  Despite that fact, if we’re on the road somewhere looking for a decent meal…J. Alexander’s would definitely fit our needs.

 

So…following our luncheon repast and a short drive to the Chattanooga Airport, Dawn Marie blew us a kiss as she headed back to her condo overlooking Biscayne Bay in Miami… She’ll return for another visit at Christmas!

J. Alexander’s Restaurant in Chattanooga is located at 2215 Hamilton Place Boulevard just off of I-75.  Phone: 423-855-5559.  For some reason the J. Alexander’s Restaurant website was not available at the time I was writing this blog.  If it’s working, the website can be found at www.jalexanters.com.   

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Madisonville Tennessee - History and Politics

As I’ve previously mentioned, Laurie and I have been using the county by county listing of places and structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as a blueprint of sorts to explore the areas around us here in East Tennessee.

On a recent drive, two of the NRHP locations that we ‘found’ were in Madisonville, the county seat for Monroe County Tennessee.

 

This is the Monroe County Courthouse in downtown Madisonville.  This structure was built in 1892 but it is at least the 4^th courthouse for Monroe County.  The first county courthouse was built in the early 1820’s.  It caught fire and was burned down only to be replaced by a second structure that was torched during the Civil War.  A third courthouse was built in 1868 but I haven’t been able to learn what happened to it…

 

 

Here's a brighter and clearer photo of this impressive courthouse, albeit a Christmas Season photo.  I 'borrowed' this picture from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Monroe-county-tennessee-courthouse1.jpg. 

Four war memorials have been erected around the outside of the courthouse.  The first one is a Civil War Memorial.  It commemorates those military units in which county residents served…both for the Union and the Confederacy.  The second memorial is for those who fought and died in World War I…22 names are listed.  The World War II memorial lists about 100 names.  The memorial for Korea and Vietnam lists 12 and 15 instances of the supreme sacrifice by the county’s soldiers, sailors and airmen. 

 

This is a view of the back and one side of the Cooke – Kefauver House in Madisonville.  There can be no doubt that Carey Estes Kefauver is the most famous person to come from Monroe County…specifically from Madisonville.

Who was Estes Kefauver?  He was a member of the US House of Representatives for 10 years… Then he was elected to the Senate, serving Tennessee in that role about 14 years…dying in office.  The Senator ran for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President…in both 1952 and 1956.  In 1956, he was on the unsuccessful Democratic ticket as Adlai Stevenson’s Vice Presidential running mate.  They were defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.  

 

The Cooke – Kefauver House was built in 1846.  It’s still impressive today and I can’t imagine how strongly it must have seized the passerby’s attention in its early days!  It’s a sign of the times but sadly enough this house is now ‘hidden’ behind a Wal-Mart… I also 'borrowed' this photo from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kefauver_House,_Madisonville,_TN.jpg.

The city of Madisonville was founded as the county seat back in the early 1820’s.  The town was created from land donated by local residents…Robert Snodgrass and John Henderson.  It was initially named Tellico...after the long term Cherokee village of the same name.  It was renamed Madisonville to honor President James Madison.

 

As a measure of his importance during his time in office, Estes Kefauver was on the cover of Time Magazine at least 3 times.  He rose to fame as the Chairman of the Special Senate Committee on Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce.  This committee became better known as the Kefauver Committee.  Coming along during the 'new era of television', Kefauver held public hearings in 14 cities across the USA…naming names and calling witnesses.  Mob bosses and local politicians were forced to testify.  It was sensational!

Kefauver also headed the Anti-trust & Monopoly Sub-Committee and in addition, he held hearings on indecent publication and pornography… He considered the pin-ups of the day as indecent.  He held many independent and unpopular political views that, combined with his reputation as a maverick with a penchant for sanctimony, earned him so much enmity even from other Senators, that one Democratic insider felt compelled to dub him "the most hated man in Congress."  This fact eventually contributed to his failure to gain the 1960 nomination for President on the Democratic ticket.  Instead, John F. Kennedy was nominated and the rest is history…

 

Carey Estes Kefauver is buried in the Cooke – Kefauver Family Cemetery near his former home in Madisonville Tennessee.  He had been born near Madisonville and he had graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

In 1952, Kefauver won 12 of the 15 Democratic primaries that were held that year.  He only lost 3 primaries to local favorite sons, but these were the days when the party bosses decided who ran for office and who didn’t.  Estes Kefauver garnered over 3.1 million primary votes…whereas Adlai Stevenson from Illinois had only received a total of 78,000 votes.  Stevenson got the nomination… 

For an expanded summary of Estes Kefauver’s life and his accomplishments, just go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estes_Kefauver.  He served the country in a time when backroom deals were made but also when compromise was possible and both sides worked together and they sometimes actually managed to accomplish some business for “We the People…”

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave     

Lunch at The Firefly Café

During Dawn Marie’s recent visit, I decided to take us all on a drive out to Townsend Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Laurie and I had viewed a local Knoxville TV show that talked about a new restaurant in Townsend and it really sounded great.  We always like trying new restaurants!

 

This is the Firefly Café in Townsend Tennessee.  It’s a small place at the end of a small strip shopping center.  It certainly stands out…very colorful and bright in relation to the other retail operation in the strip center.  Laurie and Dawn Marie gave the exterior décor an “A+” for Cute!

 

 

OK… This restaurant is cute and colorful inside as well.  Also, like an old-time diner, it has the requisite lunch counter with stools. 

We are always looking for places in East Tennessee that serve breakfast.  We noted that the Firefly Café serves breakfast from 7 AM to 11:30 AM Monday through Saturday…and until 3 PM on Sundays.  The menu is limited but it covers almost anyone’s needs and the pricing is right!

Vienna Coffee with 1 refill is $1.00.  Two eggs with bacon or sausage, grits or potatoes and toast or a biscuit is $5.99.  Firefly Crunchy French Toast is $6.99 and if you wanted to add bacon or sausage that would add $1.99 to the bill.  Other choices include a Banana Split Fruit and Yogurt Parfait for $5.99 and a Biscuit and Meat...choice of pork tenderloin, sausage, bacon, country ham or bologna. ($2.99)

 

This is the view looking from our table toward the front of the restaurant.  The person by the door on her computer was the owner and she knew many of her customers.

We were just looking for lunch so we didn’t order any of the 8 “Happy tizers” listed on the menu.  Fried Green Tomatoes ($8.99), Hot Potato Chips ($2.99) and Fried Frog Legs ($7.99) were among the more interesting items shown.  Fried Green Tomatoes apparently have more value than Frog Legs…interesting…

 

Laurie ordered Dee’s Grilled Cheese, with American and Swiss Cheese and Tomato . ($5.99) All of the sandwiches come with ‘Firefries’ and a pickle wedge.  Laurie reported that it was a good grilled cheese sandwich and she’d order it again.

Other menu options include Fried Shrimp, Chicken (tenders) or Fish Baskets.  The shrimp basket is $8.99 and the other two baskets are $7.99.  All of the ‘basket’ entrees come with Firefries… A Firefly Salad is also available. ($8.99)  It comes with fresh mixed greens, feta cheese, pecans, chopped eggs, onions, tomatoes and home-made croutons.

 

Dawn ordered a nice Turkey Sandwich with Special Sauce and Olive Spread on Foccacia Bread. ($7.99) FYI…we all agreed that the Firefries were quite nice, a little crispy on the outside…and they were served in these nifty little wire baskets.

FYI…for the carnivores among us there is a Rib Eye Steak Sandwich ($10.99), a Country Fried Steak Sandwich ($7.99), a Fried Bologna Sandwich with Cheese ($6.49) and a couple of hamburgers. ($6.99 to $8.49)

 

I personally went with the item that had been stressed on the TV broadcast… I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT. ($6.99) Hey, what can I say…I really like BLT’s and I really like fried green tomatoes… I meant to add a slice of cheese to my sandwich but it slipped my mind. 

OK…this highly touted sandwich was a bit of a letdown for me.  The fried part of the fried green tomatoes plus the grilled bread overwhelmed the other ingredients.  I couldn’t taste the bacon or really even the tomatoes… Maybe it’s just me.  Also, it comes with a 'special sauce'.  When I ordered the sandwich, I asked what the sauce was and the server said she would have to ask the chef.  I told her that I don't like pimentos, red or green bell peppers or mushrooms.  She never came back until she brought us our meal...and my sandwich had a red pepper/mayo sauce on both sides of the bread!!  I scraped it off before it could soak into the bread too much.   

This is the Firefly Cafe's signature sandwich… I think that I’d add a slice of cheese if I were to try it again.  Actually, a couple of slices of Benton’s Bacon with its more distinctive flavor would have fixed everything!

 

Laurie tried one of the Firefly Café’s signature “famous” Firefly Pies.  She said that it was OK…but nothing special.  I tasted it too…and I agreed with her.

With the exception of my problem with the 'secret sauce', service at the Firefly Café was efficient and pleasant.  Everyone seemed to be in a great mood and the customers all seem very comfortable.  The café does have a homey feel to it…

Where did the Firefly Café get its name?  Elkmont, in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is the home of the famous synchronous firefly display!  Every June the firefly mating season begins and it brings thousands of visitors to watch the event.  This is one of the few places in the world where…for unknown reasons…the fireflies all lite up repeatedly at the same time.  If you’d like to learn more, go to http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/fireflies.htm.

 

Dawn had a cup of coffee and she also ordered one of the café’s special cookies to go.  It was a very good cookie!

We enjoyed the Firefly Café…although we may have expected a little extra from it based on the very upbeat TV report.  We will return…probably for breakfast the next time!  The Firefly Café is located at 7967 East Lamar Alexander Parkway (US Highway 321) in Townsend Tennessee.  It’s in the IGA Shopping Center right next to the Dollar General.  Phone: 865-758-3507.  For more information and to view the menu, go to http://www.thefireflycafe.com/Firefly_Cafe/HOME.html.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit…and if you’re wondering, after lunch we did visit Cades Cove in the park and we saw 3 bears…but none close enough to take a decent photo.

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Lunch in Sweetwater Tennessee

Recently I was privileged to accompany Laurie and Dawn Marie on a shopping mission over to Sweetwater Tennessee.  They were in a search mode for a birthday present for Dawn Marie…  We’d promised to take her shopping when she came to visit us in September…

First things first… We’d skipped breakfast and I needed all the energy I could muster.  Shopping is simply not something in my repertoire.  Like most males, I buy what I want when I must…with minimal 'shopping' from store to store. 

In any case, it was time for lunch!

 

This is Hunter’s Bakery and Café in Sweetwater Tennessee.  Sweetwater has been evolving into a destination for both Knoxville residents and a growing number of tourists.  Hunter’s Café is located right downtown…in the middle of the antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores.   It’s safe to say that this restaurant is part of Sweetwater’s growing success…

The town of Sweetwater offers several attractions as well as a growing number of major events.  Attractions include the nearby Sweetwater Valley Farm and Cheese Factory, the Lost Sea cave complex, Purdy’s Petting Zoo and the 500-booth Sweetwater Flea Market.  Events include “A Small Towne Christmas”, (with a Christmas Parade), a walking tour of the many historic sites, the annual Antique and Garden Show, a huge 4^th of July celebration and the National Muscatine Festival.  For additional details, go to http://www.visitsweetwater.com/.

 

This is an interior photo looking toward the front of Hunter’s Café and Bakery.  The décor is simple but it does have a bit of class.  The old wooden ceilings add a lot to the setting.  The bakery goods are displayed in the case at the front of the store…

Hunter’s Café and Bakery is open for dinner as well as lunch.  The all-day menu includes luncheon and dinner items.  Included among the dinner offerings are such entrees as a 14 oz. Rib Eye Steak ($18.99); Fresh Grilled Atlantic Salmon ($14.99); Beef Tips over Rice with sautéed onions and mushrooms ($7.99); Chicken Spencer…chicken breast topped with lump crab meat and tomato-basil vinaigrette ($14.99), and; Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled shrimp ($13.98).

We will definitely have to return to Hunter’s Café for dinner!

 

Laurie started out with a cup of French Onion Soup as a part of her Soup and Half Salad Combo. ($6.49) Since I’m not into onion soup…or mushrooms…or beets…she takes every opportunity to enjoy them whenever we’re eating out.  She was very satisfied with the soup! 

 

 

Laurie’s salad of choice was the Salad Trio.  She chose the chicken salad over the tuna salad…accompanied by a light pasta salad, seasonal fresh fruit and a roll.  She enjoyed it all…and it gave her the energy needed to go shopping in downtown Sweetwater!

Several other salads are offered.  These include is a Spinach Mushroom Salad ($6.99), a Greek Salad ($6.99), and a Caesar Salad ($6.99).  There are no less than 12 sandwiches and wraps on the menu not including the 6 burgers.  Prices range from $6.69 to $8.69.  For the vegetarians, Hunter’s offers a Portabella Wrap…portabella mushrooms sautéed with peppers, onions and cheese and served in a 12-inch flour tortilla. ($6.99)

 

Dawn Marie ordered the Club Sandwich…a pile of ham, turkey, Swiss and American cheese, leaf lettuce, tomato, bacon and honey mustard served on toasted white bread. ($6.69) She added French fries as her side dish.  We thought that her sandwich looked pretty good…and she confirmed our observation!

 

 

I decided to order the Black Jack Burger, Hunter’s signature burger. ($7.69) This burger is Cajun-spiced and it’s topped with pepper jack cheese.  All of their burgers are fresh ground beef chargrilled ‘to order’ and they’re served on a toasted bun accompanied with chips and a pickle spear.  I asked for the lettuce and tomato on the side…  I was a good boy and I ate my ‘veggies’ albeit separately.

Note my ‘to order’ as shown above… Chargrilled ‘to order’ for me would always be medium rare.  When I asked for my burger medium rare, the waitress told me that she’d see what she could do as they’re supposed to cook all hamburgers medium or well done.  I told her that if they couldn’t cook it ‘my way’, then I’d order something else.  She did deliver a very nice medium rare and very flavorful burger!

Oh yes…the cookies.  We bought the chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin…and well, the fudge brownies.  They made a nice dessert for us that night…very, very nice indeed!

Hunter’s Café and Bakery is located at 101 East Morris Street in downtown Sweetwater Tennessee.  The restaurant is right at the corner of US Highway 11 and Morris Street.  Phone: 423-351-1098.  For more information just go to their Website at: http://www.huntersbakeryandcafe.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for lunch… Oh…FYI, Laurie and Dawn did find that birthday gift they were looking for!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Cruising Blount County Tennessee

Continuing with our exploration of East Tennessee, Laurie and I looked up a few sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places…and we went on a drive around Bount County. 

Blount County is located just south of Knoxville Tennessee and its population is included in the Knoxville Primary Statistical Area.  FYI… Knoxville ranks 54^th in the USA as a Primary Statistical Area.  For more information on these population statistics, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Primary_Statistical_Areas.

 

This is one view of St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 314 West Broadway in Maryville Tennessee.   The oldest part of the structure is at the left side of the photo.  This has been an Episcopalian place of worship since 1940 and it has been updated and expanded several times over the years.

Of course, the key question is…why it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places…?

 

The answer to the question posed above is that this front portion of the church was built in 1871 as a Meeting House for the local Society of Friends (Quakers).  It’s truly a beautiful building…

Blount County was the 10^th county formed in what is now Tennessee…way back on July 11, 1795.  The county was named for William Blount, the then Governor of what was called the Southwest Territory.  The city of Maryville, (the County seat), was named for Governor Blount’s wife, Mary Grainger Blount.   The adjacent Loudon County was actually created in 1870 when it was split off of Blount County.  Although technically still part of Blount County, another portion of the county was also included in the Smoky Mountain National Park…effectively removing it from county jurisdiction.  

 

This Victorian Italianate structure is the Peter Bartlett House at 315 High Street in Maryville.  It was built circa 1887.  It was listed in the NRHP in 1989 as a part of a massive submission of historic homes and structures in the College Hill neighborhood of Maryville.  Over 100 homes were included in this listing to include several built in the 1880’s.  Several of them were built by Friends (Quakers) who moved to the area from Indiana.

The first non-native American settlement here was established in 1785 when John Craig built a fort, (Craig’s Fort), designed to protect local settlers when Indian raids were feared.  Craig later donated 50 acres adjacent to the fort as the original town site for Maryville. 

 

As the sign states, this is the John Alexander House.  It’s located at 714 Hillside Avenue in Maryville.  This home was built in 1907 on the campus of Maryville College by alumnus John Alexander.  As with many other historic properties, it was also was added to the NRHP in 1989.  The house is now being used as offices for the College.

Maryville College is a four-year liberal arts college that was founded in 1819 by a Presbyterian minister named Isaac L. Anderson.  It’s one of the 50 oldest colleges in the United States.  Enrollment stands at around 1,100 students.  The school was racially integrated for most of its history…until 1901 when the state of Tennessee forced all schools to segregate the races.  (It should be noted that only 24% of the county’s residents voted to secede from the Union during the Civil War) Graduates of Maryville College have been as varied as Richard Sellars, the former Chairman and CEO of Johnson and Johnson…and Sen Katayama, one of the co-founders of the Japanese Communist Party.

For more information regarding Maryville College, just click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryville_College.

 

This is as close as we could get to the Alexander Hamil House on Morganton Road, south of Maryville.  The wood frame front section was built circa 1885 but there is a brick “I” section in the back that dates back to the 1830’s.  This house was added to the NRHP listing in 1989 along with many other Blount County locations.  From what we could see, it was in need of some major restoration.  I couldn’t find any other information on this house…and I still haven’t been able to figure out how to use/access the NRHP files on these historic properties. 

Well…that’s about it for now.  More historical information will follow in subsequent blogs.  After all, it can’t all be about restaurants and food!

Just click on any of Laurie’s photos for a closer look…

Thanks for stopping by and going for a drive with us!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

The Market – Gourmet & Specialty Foods

Laurie and I are always on the lookout for special historical and scenic places, nifty attractions or activities, as well as ‘special’ restaurants, delis, bakeries and markets.  We always have a feeling of satisfaction when we discover any of these exploratory highlights!  Beyond that, we also like to spread the word about any and all of our finds…

 

This is ‘The Market’.  It’s located close to Maryville College in Maryville Tennessee.  The Market has been in operation since 2008.  Their catch phrase is that their store is “Where Southern hospitality meets quality by offering the best in service and selection”.

 

 

The Market sources and sells regional produce and meats wherever possible.  They hand pick every vendor.  Their meats are prime-cut, hormone-free and their seafood is flown in fresh daily from the coastal fishing wharves.  In addition, fresh bakery items are received daily from local specialty bakeries.  This store also offers specialty food products and merchandise and it has a huge beer selection and a lunch counter.  In many ways, The Market is a deli on steroids!

This old 1920’s building served as a coin operated laundry prior to its purchase and transformation in 2008. 

 

This photo shows just part of the meat, cheese, deli and seafood display cases.  The fresh meat offerings are beautiful…but with quality meat, one usually finds pricing to match, and The Market’s meat and seafood is not inexpensive.

On the other hand, the price is positively offset by the quality, which is enhanced by the variety of cuts and the types of products available.  The source for meat is Mother Earth Meats.  The store offers 11 varieties of handmade sausage; grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and elk; free range chicken, duck, turkey and pork; browse-raised goat; grain fed beef; cut-to-order rabbit and deer, and; pasture raised eggs.

The seafood is supplied by the Blue Moon Fish Company and Duck Trap River.  Blue Moon provides clams, mussels, lobster tails, crab legs, shrimp and soft-shell crabs… Duck Trap River supplies smoked trout, salmon, mussels and scallops, as well as salmon and trout pate.  Another supplier, Rajun Cajun provides a line of ‘Cajun’ specialty meats and foods.

 

This is a photo of part of the dry goods or dry grocery area of the store.  A wide variety of unusual and/or quality name brand products are available for the customer.  These include such items as coffee, jams, preserves, salad dressings, maple syrup, honey, specialty soaps, candles, lip balms, fancy snack foods, hot sauces, bbq sauces, cereals, spices/seasonings, cookies, cooking oils, vinegars, salsa, spreads and dips.

Did you spot the tables and chairs?  This is one of the seating areas for customers who stop by for lunch at the High Street Lunch Counter…part of the deli portion of the business.  The Market offers 8 different sandwiches ranging in price from $5.00 to $6.99.  One favorite is the Scotty Dog…a bison hot dog with chili, cheese, onions and slaw. ($6.99) They also offer 7 different sides, milk shakes and fruit smoothies.  Lobster Bisque is on the menu too… $4.00 cup, $5.00 bowl and $15.00 for a quart.

Laurie and I stopped by for lunch one day.  She had a big bowl of their great  Lobster Bisque and I took advantage of the special…all you could eat steak with a side for only $10.00!  I skipped the side but I managed to consume a New York Strip Steak and a Rib Eye Steak.  Such a deal…!

 

This is the bakery and produce section of the store.  The focus is on local produce whenever possible and the baked goods are provided by 2 or 3 local specialty bakeries.  One of those bakeries is also one of our favorite spots for sandwiches and baked goods in all of East Tennessee…Tellico Grains Bakery in Tellico Plains.  For more on their products, just go to http://tellico-grains-bakery.com/.

But I digress… Back to The Market!  Did I mention that this store also sells pre-prepared meals to go?  Mother Earth Meats produces most of these to go meals.  They include such items as lasagna, meat loaf, roasts, shepard’s pie, tamales, mushroom ravioli…and such sides as mac ‘n cheese, chicken/tuna/shrimp salad, twice baked potatoes and potato salad.  Laurie and I have taken home a very nice family style chicken pot pie and a quart of that Lobster Bisque. (She insists that I capitalize Lobster Bisque!) The bisque does include a spoonful of lobster with every bite!

 

Then there is beer…lots and lots of beer!  Not only does The Market carry a wide selection of imported beer, they also stock many local brews from around the USA.  These include New Belgium, Duck-Rabbit, Yazoo, Sweetwater, Flying Dog, Left Hand, Rogue, Abita and Fort Collins.   Beyond that, there are many ciders, both hard and soft, as well as a “Growler Wall” with an 8-tap beer ‘filling station’ stocked with regional beers on draft.

Periodic beer tastings are conducted at the Market by regional breweries.  In season, The Market offers an All You Can East Seafood Boil…complete with jumbo shrimp, crawfish, sausage, potatoes and corn…plus $3.00 beer from the “Growler Wall”.  Incidentally…a growler is apparently a 64 oz. jug used for beer to go drawn from the Growler Wall… If I have this wrong, it would be great if someone would send me a correction.

 

OK…This is about it…the end of the story.  I’m got my groceries and I’m in line checking out.   It’s time to get out of here before I drop any serious coin and before I buy something that would further contribute to my waistline!

The Market is a very popular place… It’s a ‘go to’ store for something special and a great lunch.  We will return many times I’m sure.  As a matter of fact, the original Market is so popular that, in 2011, a second store was opened in Knoxville at the corner of Gay and Union Streets.  The phone number of The Market in Knoxville is 865-541-5150.  The phone number for The Market in Maryville is 865-977-8462.  The website for The Market is at http://www.themarketinmaryville.com/.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for going grocery shopping with us!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

A Bit of Lunch and Golf

It probably seems that all we do is eat as most of my blogs revolve around restaurants or food.  I do usually mix the subject matter a little better than I have lately.  I’m currently dealing with a bit of a bum knee and a hip too… Consequently, our travel adventures, with the accompanying non-food related photos and topics, have been somewhat curtailed.

So…where in the Knoxville area can we grab a decent sandwich or lunch and play golf too?

 

This is the main entrance to the Toqua Golf Course clubhouse in Tellico Village.  The club house has a pro-shop and of course, given my proclivity to blog about food, it also has a restaurant! 

Note: Both the Toqua golf course and the Toqua Grill are open to the public!

FYI… Tellico Village is a very large development with mostly single unit homes spread along the shore of Tellico Lake Tennessee.  It was originally a Cooper Development but it now operates on its own.  While the majority of the ‘villagers’ are retired, it is an open community…there are no gates or age restrictions.  School buses are a common sight during the school year and many residents work regular jobs or own businesses in the area. 

In keeping with my previous reports on bits of history and towns in East Tennessee, in the not too distant future I’ll be publishing a blog about Tellico Village, how it’s grown and what it offers.  After all, it does operate much like a small city or a large incorporated village… 

 

This is a view of part of the dining area at the Toqua Grill.  A patio dining area can be seen through the windows across the room.

The adjacent 18-hole golf course also has a very large practice putting green as well as a driving range.  A golf pro is available for lessons…

 

This is one view from the Toqua Clubhouse… The driving range is off to the left and you can see part of the practice putting green just to the left of the small tree in the foreground.  The starter’s hut is off to the right side of this photo. 

The golf course was built in 1987 and then it was renovated in 2008.  It is a par 72 course, measuring 6,910 yards from the farthest tee.   Three holes are positioned alongside the lake… There are hundreds of mature trees and as well as many homes lining the fairways.  

 

Well…it was lunch time!  Laurie and I both had this low calorie, low fat sandwich with chips.  This was an excellent creation!  Fried eggs with Swiss cheese, ham and bacon on toast… Plus, neither one of us had had any potato chips for months so even they were a treat!

The menu at the Toqua Clubhouse is pretty basic, but the quality is good.  Breakfast includes standards like bacon/sausage and eggs with hash browns, pancakes, omelets, etc.   The lunch menu offers sandwiches/burgers, salads, etc.  The prices are very reasonable, service is friendly and, oh yes, beer is available for the discerning patron…

 

Here is yours truly standing at the grill’s counter…paying for our lunch. 

For more information regarding the Tellico Village community and its amenities, just go to http://www.tellicovillage.org/home.   The village has 3 different golf courses and each of the clubhouses is home to a restaurant.  All are open to the public.  The Yacht Club houses a more upscale dining option with great views…and it too is open to the public. 

 

As usual, Laurie is taking the photo… This is the foursome that she played golf with the other day.  From left to right…Dawn Marie, (visiting us from Miami), and our friends, Holly and Karen.  The ladies had so much fun playing together that they may dump us guys and just play together whenever possible.

The Toqua Pro-Shop and Golf Course can be reached at 865-458-6546.  The Toqua Grill can be contacted at 865-458-1330.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave