Cookbookaholic

Sweet Meadow Café

Since it has already passed my two year anniversary at the new job and I’m getting close to the third anniversary, I guess I can go ahead and drop the “new” part.

The team that I work with really like to eat out for lunch…a lot. When I first started, I did try to bring my lunch but there’s only so many frozen lunches you can heat up in the microwave before you start to lose your mind. At about the one year mark, I decided to venture out a little more often with the team for lunch.

There are, of course, our favorite spots. Some are local and some are your typical restaurant chains. But there is one special local restaurant that I wanted to call out: Sweet Meadow Cafe.

Ever had a restaurant that always served you something amazing? And you never ordered anything bad? That’s Sweet Meadow.

It’s run by a husband and wife chef-duo who create the most amazing dishes that make you think you’re eating in an undiscovered gem—a special restaurant that’s just waiting to become the “next big place.” (I love the two giant landscape paintings on the wall!)

The seating is limited, but once you’re inside the building located in the downtown historic of Salisbury, you’re in for a great meal. My favorite is the Wild Alaskan Salmon Salad. It’s served on a plate piled deep with plenty of fresh mixed greens tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The salmon is nicely grilled and just tastes fresh. It’s my go-to dish because I’m never disappointed. If you’re a little on the spicy side, they offer to blacken it for you.

 Since I rarely venture outside of my salmon salad, I have noticed that others have their favorites as well. The Tuna Tacos are popular and made with fresh sashimi grade tuna steaks (seared rare) and served with a mango salsa. Their crab cakes are also a hot item and just may be my next order.

Sweet Meadow Café

Historic Downtown Salisbury

118 W. Innes Street

Salisbury, NC  28144

704-637-8715

This Gal Walks Into a Burger Bar

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar introducing their new weekend breakfast menu. Hold on there…breakfast menu at a burger bar?

We’ve visited their Birkdale location several times and really enjoyed their fried pickles and burgers. It’s a great location and at night, that joint is jumpin’. So what in the world are they doing serving breakfast? Not to mention what in the world would they actually serve? They have a burger on the menu that is served with a fried egg—will it be just an endless variation of those?

The email went on to list the menu and my jaw dropped and drooled as I read through the items: French toast, pancakes, eggs Benedict and bacon. I’m a huge fan of breakfast and brunch—so this is something that is looking good to me.

I immediately showed the email to the hubby and suggested that he wake up early one Saturday morning and, as a family, we’d give the breakfast at Bad Daddy’s a try. Of course, this would all have to take place after I finished yard sales.

For two Saturday mornings in a row, I came home after the sales around 8-ish and attempted to wake everyone up to join me for breakfast. No one would budge. The first Saturday, I let it go. That second Saturday? Forget them, I decided to go solo. This gal isn’t letting this brunch get away.

Take a look at the menu:

I think you can probably guess where I started.

That’s Bananas….with a side of bacon.

And let me tell you…it was absolutely amazing. Hands down, this was the most incredible French toast I’ve ever had in my life. It was piled high with sliced bananas (was it a whole banana? It sure looked like it!) while swimming in a rich, thick and warm caramel sauce—dotted generously with chopped walnuts.

That first bite was game-changing. I treated that first slice like it was made out of gold. If you’re familiar with the amazing-ness that is Moravian Sugar Cake, then this tasted like a thinly sliced (almost deep fried?) version. I was so bowled over by the taste that I only ate the top slice and brought the second slice of French toast home for the hubby. He needed to experience this mouthful of heaven.

Needless to say, on my next visit a few weeks later—I kept both slices to myself!

 

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Birkdale Village Location

8625-A Lindholm Dr.

Charlotte, NC  28078

 

Weekend Breakfast Hours:

Saturday: 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Sunday: 8:00 am – 11:00 am

 

Who’d Have Thunk It?

So, last night, the hubby and I went out to dinner. After some discussion, we ended up at the nearby mall and Firebirds Grill.

It’s a bit pricey and I had ordered The Desert Pear Margarita for myself—which was not cheap, so I wanted a less expensive entrée. Salmon seemed like a really good idea instead of steak and I am happy to report that I may have just found the most amazing dinner ever!

There were two salmon options and I went with the Sesame Crusted Salmon. The salmon was covered in a nicely crunchy sesame crust, topped with a ginger-mustard sauce and diced tomatoes. But the real reward for this meal was discovering the side of Fried Spinach.

You heard me….Fried Spinach. I know…I couldn’t believe it myself. But, it was the most amazing thing I’ve tasted in a long while. Paper thin, flaky, buttery—this is not your traditional side of leafy greens.

I couldn’t get enough…it even has a taste reminiscent of fried okra. It was such a revelation that I didn’t even pay any attention to the mashed potatoes. And that’s saying something!

Next visit, I’m asking for two helpings of Fried Spinach and hold the potatoes.

Arby’s Salted Caramel Shake

Let’s be honest about this whole wave of salted caramel craze. I think it crested in popularity with salted caramel chocolates around Christmas of 2012. We’ve had a few proven hits (Salted Caramel Cupcakes at Sweet Bakery in Florence, SC) and some huge misses. Side eye honors go to you, Red Robin, and your chunky Salted Caramel Milkshake…so thick with rock crystals, I thought I was drinking the ocean in the form of a slushie.

Recently, Arby’s has been touting their brand new Salted Caramel Shake. If you received that sheet of Arby’s coupons in the mail recently, then you noticed it took up the bottom third of the page. Also notice that there was no coupon for the shake? Oh well…. It looked interesting, so I decided to give it a try.

For the price, you get a very large portion. The cup is generously coated with swirls of caramel along the inside. The shake itself is smooth, buttery, creamy and sweet. And when you get that combined with the small pink Hawaiian salt crystals—it’s really amazing. The salt is literally sprinkled on top as more of a treat and not overpowering. In fact, I found myself hoping for a little more salt to fold into the shake.

But let’s jump back for a minute to that very generously-sized cup. For all of my best efforts, I couldn’t make it through a whole shake! I really did give it the ole college try and only conquered half before I finally gave up. But I’m not deterred…I will try it again. That caramel shake is an unexpected delight!

I’m Obsessed: Orange Ginger Lemonade

Have you tried the new Orange Ginger Lemonade from LongHorn Steakhouse? Oh have mercy…

Last week, several of us on the marketing team went to lunch at LongHorn Steakhouse in Salisbury. They’ve got some new items featured on their summer menu. I was intrigued by the listing of an Orange Ginger Lemonade and decided to give it a try. I loved it…

When the glass arrives, the lemonade is practically glowing with the lemon and orange hue. Plus, there’s a thickly sliced wedge of orange that you can squeeze in for some extra juice. When you first take a swig, you can really taste the orange along with a deeper hint of the ginger flavor. Then, you get the strong tart lemon finish. It’s really flavorful. And did I mention addicting?

I tried the drink on a Tuesday. Thought about it all day Wednesday and went back for lunch again on Friday. And then again for Sunday lunch down in Huntersville. In the days in between, I even attempted to make a homemade version. That wasn’t too bad, either!

Come to think of it, I’ve been noticing a bunch of new twists on lemonade. Hubby recently ordered a Peach Lemonade at East Coast Wings which was a savory sweet followed by the lemon tartness. Plus, I’ve been seeing Watermelon Lemonade recipes popping up all over the place. Nice to see the summertime staple getting some makeovers!

So Borders Went Out of Business

Okay, so I know Borders went out of business a while ago—but I just came across a bag that came from the now-defunct bookstore and rediscovered this cool find. When the Borders near us started their price markdowns, I went through the “Local” section and found this:

Tupelo Honey Café: Spirited Recipes from Asheville’s New South Kitchen (Elizabeth Sims with Chef Brian Sonoskus).

I haven’t been to Asheville in ages and I really miss spending time there. I used to spend summers in nearby Ridgecrest with trips over to Black Mountain and Swannanoa.

I’ve heard about the Tupelo Honey Café, so I quickly picked up this cookbook. Not trusting that it would still be here for a further markdown, I decided to go ahead and get it at 20% off.

Now that I’ve rediscovered it, I flipped through and read the recipes: Crispy Fried Artichokes with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes and Lemon Vinaigrette, Baked Goat Cheese and Smoked Tomato Dip with Garlic Crostini, Carolina Fish Chowder, Coconut Sweet Potato Bisque, Grateful Dead Black Bean Burger with Cilantro Lime Mayonnaise, Bacony Egg Salad, Fried Green Tomato and Grilled Portobello Sandwich with Basil Roasted Red Pepper Mayonnaise, Pecan-Crusted Red Snapper with Spiced Black Beans and Orange Cilantro Butter, Bronzed Wild Sockeye Salmon with Roasted Corn Salsa, Nutty Fried Chicken with Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Milk Gravy, Parsley-Crusted Lamb Chops with Dijon Demi-Glaze, Beef Tenderloin Wrapped in Maple-Peppered Bacon with Gorgonzola Gratinee and Green Peppercorn Bordelaise Sauce.

Knowing how much I love brunch, listen to these options: Pain Perdu with Cinnamon Sugar, Blueberry Preserves, and Toasted Almonds, Blueberry Granola Crunch Pancakes, Broccoli and New Potato Quiche and Sweet Potato Pancakes with Peach Butter and Spiced Pecans. And for dessert, how about Chocolate Pecan Pie,  Banana Pudding, Maple Sweet Potato Pudding and Candied-Ginger Crème Brulee?

Maybe I need to look at my vacation days and try to find some time to head back to the mountains…

Mother’s Day Brunch!

For Mother’s Day, I got the guys to go to my new favorite Sunday Brunch destination: Bonefish Grill.

We got a great table that was outside and underneath a very large umbrella. We got the warmth of the May weather without the harsh sunlight. After our meal and two desserts: crème brulee and key lime pie—we got a visit from one of the managers.

She came over and asked if we enjoyed our brunch and then thanked us for choosing Bonefish Grill for my Mother’s Day celebration. Then, she handed me a Mother’s Day card with a $10 Bonefish Grill gift card to use on a future visit. 

Now that’s a great way to make sure I’ll be back for another Sunday Brunch!

WOW indeed! 

Bonefish Grill Brunch

At last! I finally made it to Bonefish Grill to try out their new Brunch menu. When I first heard about this through a Bonefish Grill sponsored Twitter event several weeks ago, I was really excited to give it a try. Seeing Crème Brulee French Toast as a selection was enough to get me going.

So this Sunday, Dunc and I headed over to the Huntersville location. The brunch is available only from 11am to 2pm, so we got there right after they opened. As we were being shown to our booth, the host grabbed the regular lunch menu and the brunch menu as well. I was so happy to finally see it and hold it in my hands.

As you know, as a Southerner, I’m a huge fan of breakfast at any time of the day. Brunch is just a nice way of allowing me to have bacon yet again and something smothered in syrup. Yummmm.

I ordered the Crème Brulee French Toast with bacon. When it arrived, the presentation was really nice.

The bacon was thickly sliced and very flavorful—as you probably expected, I started with those two slices first.

The French Toast was served in three slices. You could taste the crunchy sugar glaze on top of the toast. You honestly didn’t need any syrup (but they’ll still bring you some, if you request). The mascarpone whipped cream, topped with fresh mint, gave the French toast a nice creamy taste. I ate every single bite and loved every morsel. Plus, when I had cleaned my plate, I didn’t feel overloaded—it was just the right amount of food.

I know that when I go back—and I will go back to Bonefish Grill for another brunch—I should venture out and try the omelets and frittatas…but I’m really loving the Crème Brulee French Toast! I would love to order and then line up the French Toast, Oscar omelet, California omelet and a chocolate croissant—and just sample each of them. That sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday. Happiness, indeed.

Interested in seeing what else they have to offer? Here’s a link to the Bonefish Grill locations offering brunch and the menu:http://www.bonefishgrill.com/Content/brunch-menus

#HappinessTalk

I was on Twitter recently and saw that Bonefish Grill was a few minutes away from an event and the hashtag was going to be #HappinessTalk. I love talking about Bonefish Grill and the Pecan-Crusted Rainbow Trout. Heck, maybe Tweeting about it could be great, too.

When the Twitter event started, there were Bonefish Grill chefs introducing a new menu…a brunch menu.

All I need to see is bacon and some French toast and I’m there. I know that I consider brunch just a late breakfast. Of course, I’m Southern and can eat breakfast at any time. When the twitter event started, they a few questions about brunch and  I responded with this tweet:

@BonefishGrill Will your new Brunch menu feature French Toast? And don’t forget the bacon….lots of bacon! #HappinessTalk

Then hit us with the new Bonefish Grill Brunch menu.

http://www.bonefishgrill.com/Content/brunch-menus

They’ve launched an amazing brunch menu at many of their locations including the one nearest me in Huntersville, NC and the one near my in-law’s condo in Hilton Head, SC. They’ll have a special menu every Sunday from 11am to 2 pm.

Of course, I was thrilled to see their French Toast offering:

Créme Brulee French Toast Grand Marnier + orange zest  battered, served with mascarpone whipped cream, fresh mint, strawberries + bacon

I’ll have mine without the strawberries and mint and request the bacon be extra crispy.

I was also intrigued by the omlette selection:

Oscar--asparagus, crab, smoked mozzarella, basil, lemon butter

And I’m sure if one of the boys tags along, we’ll be ordering one of these off the a la carte menu:

Chocolate Croissant flaky pastry, layered dark chocolate, topped with a Maple syrup drizzle

Oh man, am I hungry just reading the menu! I really like getting brunch and can’t wait to try out these new items on my next visit to Bonefish Grill!

At the end of the twitter event, I tweeted out this final post:

@BonefishGrill Here’s my plan: Brunch & Crème Brulee French Toast. Stay for Dinner and Pecan-Crusted Rainbow Trout. #HappinessTalk

Seems like a great plan, right?

After the Twitter event ended, I received a tweet from Bonefish Grill awarding me a $25 gift card! Woo-hoo! That’s fantastic! I’ve never won anything off of Twitter before! A few days later, this arrived in the mail:

Now, my only decision is whether to use this at home or save it for Spring Break in Hilton Head?

Review: Tony Luke’s Philly Cheesesteak

As part of my job, I get to travel up to some great cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. I’ve always heard amazing things about the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich but never really had much in the way of anything authentic. Unless Steak-Umms are authentic? Maybe not.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Of course, I’ve made a point of getting a Philly cheesesteak sandwich before. In fact, I ate my first “real” one at a restaurant inside the Philadelphia airport…but I was not impressed.

I’d heard that Tony Luke’s was a local favorite and I was definitely willing to give it a try. During a trip to Philadelphia this past summer, I finally made my way over to Tony Luke’s Old Philly Style Sandwiches. It was after 2pm, I was starving and ready to get the real deal Philly Cheesesteak.

Tony Luke’s Old Philly Style Sandwiches at 39 E. Oregon Avenue is a not your usual sit down eatery. You walk up to the window, place your order, pay and wait under the metallic roof/awning for your name to be called. And I do mean called loudly!

I opted for the Original without onions and slathered with Cheez Whiz.

A handmade sign advertised Chipotle BBQ Fries for a limited time. I took a chance and ordered them as my side. When my order was ready, I was amazed at how delicious the simple combination of bread, steak and cheese could be.

 

The bread was so soft and tasted like a cross between an Italian loaf and a biscuit. I honestly think half of the amazing taste experience is from the roll itself! I saw a delivery truck from Liscios Bakery dropping off a ton of rolls earlier; I bet this was fresh off the truck.

The steak and Cheez Whiz was a perfect blend of meat, cheese and saltiness. The Cheez Whiz is warm and melty and runs down your arm as you take a bite of the sandwich. Seriously, who would’ve ever thought you’d chase the Cheez Whiz to lick it off your hand? For someone who was ready for the real cheesesteak experience, Tony Luke’s did not disappoint. Why can’t they all taste this good?

Remember those Chipotle BBQ Fries? Amazing. Imagine the sweet, salty, smoky flavor of your favorite BBQ potato chips. Now, imagine it on a hot french fry. Mmmhmm…Yummy goodness. I know that sign said they were for a limited time only, but I think I’d go ahead and make Chipotle BBQ french fries a permanent selection to the menu.

I’ve had the opportunity to get back to Philadelphia a couple more times this fall. Luckily, every trip has also included a trip to Tony Luke’s. And come to think of it, I don’t think I need to bother with any other Philly cheesesteak joint. I’m good with Tony Luke’s.