That Food Guy
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Cracker Barrel - Alcoa, Tennessee
That brings us to today’s blog, Alcoa Tennessee's Cracker
Barrel. Since we moved here we have met Abbie and Mariano who are also Alaskan ex-pats. We have become good friends and grub mates as we see what is good
to eat in Eastern Tennessee. We agreed to meet at the local Maryville Cracker
Barrel for breakfast. There is an old expression, “if you have seen one you
have seen them all.” That is a close truism for Cracker Barrel stores. They are
not exact copies of what but very, very close in layout, merchandise offered,
the menu and usually the quality of the food. When we were traveling Cracker
Barrel offered known quality, ample portions, and reasonable price.
Abbie ordered the Momma’s Pancake Breakfast® ($8.19 Three freshly made Buttermilk
Pancakes with your choice of any fruit topping or a warmed bottle of 100% Pure
Natural Syrup plus two eggs cooked to order and your choice of Smoked Sausage
Patties, Thick-Sliced Bacon, Turkey Sausage or Turkey Bacon.) On a plate by
themselves there were three large golden brown pancakes with a large dollop of
whipped butter. On a companion plate was the bacon, fried crisp, and eggs done to order.
It was a typical Cracker Barrel presentation, the food looked good and appetizing.
On request Abbie got more maple syrup. Momma’s pancake breakfast is a big meal
and a bit more than Abbie normally eats. She did enjoy her mail but there was a
good portion that went to Mariano and some in a doggy bag.
Mariano
ordered the French Toast ($7.19 Four
slices of our own Sourdough Bread (regular or whole wheat) dipped in egg then
grilled to perfection. Served with any fruit topping or 100% Pure Natural Syrup.)
The serving was on an oval platter and there were six thick slices of sourdough bread,
egg dipped, and they were fried to a nice appetizing golden brown with a dollop
of whipped butter on top. More syrup came as requested. Mario said it was very
good, very tasty but he did have one observation. At $7.19 for four slices of
bread the coffee really should come with it. The French toast at good
appearance, good taste, but may have been a bit overpriced after adding the coffee.
Janis
ordered the Wild Maine Blueberry
Pancakes ($7.39 Three Buttermilk Pancakes loaded with wild
Maine blueberries. Served with Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup.) Served on an
oval platter were three golden brown pancakes topped with an amazing abundance
of blueberries. All of that was topped with a generous helping of whipped
cream. There was more than enough blueberry preserves that no additional syrup
with needed. Janis enjoyed her meal, and set it was very good, very tasty. It
is a serving much larger than she normally eats but she managed to finish most of her
meal. The blueberry pancakes were presented well, were good tasting, and
adequate portion with an abundance of blueberries.
I ordered
a more conventional breakfast, at least for me, I chose the Sunrise
Sampler® ($8.19 Two eggs cooked to order with Grits, Sawmill
Gravy, homemade Buttermilk Biscuits, real butter and the best Preserves, Jam n’
Apple Butter (on request) we could find. Plus Fried Apples and Hashbrown
Casserole and a Sampling of Smoked Sausage, Country Ham and Thick-Sliced Bacon.)
This is a good combination as it includes eggs and breakfast meat along with
hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy and fried apples. I asked for my eggs over
medium and ask for the sausage as my choice of breakfast meat. The eggs were
cooked order just like I asked for. The sausage is fried nicely with good
color, was tender and had a good taste. The gravy was nice and hot, nice and
thick and had that good peppery country gravy flavor. The fried apples were
very good and always make a great end to breakfast meal. They’re kind of like
eating an apple pie without the crust.
That leaves the biscuits and the hashbrown casserole. The biscuits it had
been a loft. They were dense, heavy and one would guess that they had not used
enough baking powder. They were also cold and makes me wonder if perhaps they
weren’t left over from the day before. Without the gravy they would have been
way to dry to eat. One of my favorite parts of the Cracker Barrel breakfast is
the hashbrown casserole. This serving did not live up to what I have come to
expect from Cracker Barrel. It was quite dry and the edges crispy and serving
was way too small-sort of like the kitchen scooped the last remaining drag out
of a long-standing pan to fill my order. I did enjoy the eggs and apples
as well as the gravy. The poorly prepared biscuits and potato casserole severely
detracted from my enjoyment of the meal.
One of the things that kept us going back to Cracker Barrel over the years was a consistency of quality in the food. For the most part the four of us received meals that were up to Cracker Barrel’s normal standard. In my case, however, slight deviations from normal quality made a meal less than totally satisfying. As far as I can recall this is the first time I have been dissatisfied with Cracker Barrel. I am sure we will have breakfast a Cracker Barrel again in future and I hope that this glitch was a one-time event. And the grits.... well I never eat that stuff anyway.
Aug 19, 2011 http://thatfoodguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/cracker-barrel-st-petersburg-florida.html
Cracker Barrel (Old
Country Store)
771 Louisville
Rd, Alcoa, TN 37701
My first experience with Cracker
Barrel was probably more than 20 years ago; long before I started blogging my
food adventures. Back then, Cracker Barrel’s were a mostly Southeast presence
and someone from Alaska would be hard-pressed to find a convenient Cracker
Barrel. The wife and I flew down to Florida to visit her parents and one of the
places they took us was a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Over the years and many
more trips to Florida to visit the in-laws garnered many more Cracker Barrel
experiences.
When the wife retired we started the
motor home phase of our retirement. We found that Cracker Barrel had expanded
and had stores across much of the United States and they made a convenient
place to stop for a bite one on the road. A bit later, we stayed in Florida to
spend quality time with the wife’s father in his later years. That of course made
a breakfast or even a lunch or dinner a common occurrence. That’s not to
mention that frequent newspaper promotions for daily specials made for an even lower
priced meal.
Since then we have relocated to
Eastern Tennessee. We are located not too far from where the very first Cracker
Barrel company store opened in 1969 in Lebanon Tennessee. In the past Cracker
Barrel has had some rough times with customer relations. Apparently they have
managed to smooth out the rough edges and I notice that the customer base seems
to be a cross-section of the population. They seem to be doing it right because
it has grown to be 630 stores located in 42 states and a bit less than 50
years. All of them are company owned and operated.
That brings us to today’s blog, Alcoa Tennessee's Cracker
Barrel. Since we moved here we have met Abbie and Mariano who are also Alaskan ex-pats. We have become good friends and grub mates as we see what is good
to eat in Eastern Tennessee. We agreed to meet at the local Maryville Cracker
Barrel for breakfast. There is an old expression, “if you have seen one you
have seen them all.” That is a close truism for Cracker Barrel stores. They are
not exact copies of what but very, very close in layout, merchandise offered,
the menu and usually the quality of the food. When we were traveling Cracker
Barrel offered known quality, ample portions, and reasonable price.
It was a bright sunny and unseasonably
warm day in Maryville. We managed to find a parking spot in the shade of a
tree. The coolness inside the store was a welcome change from the heat outside.
The hostess led us to a corner table where Abbie and Mariano were waiting for
us. It was all very familiar, the fireplace and the old-time country decore They
had arrived after us but we managed to pass each other in the store without
noticing.
Our server, Misty Dawn, was there
within moments to take our beverage order. A charming young lady, she would be
at tables frequently to see what we needed and yet never looming. She was a
plus to the dining experience. The menu was familiar. I was trying to juggle
the included side dishes with each selection and Misty knew the menu well
enough for me to order the right selection without having to order it
piecemeal.
Abbie ordered the Momma’s Pancake Breakfast® ($8.19 Three freshly made Buttermilk
Pancakes with your choice of any fruit topping or a warmed bottle of 100% Pure
Natural Syrup plus two eggs cooked to order and your choice of Smoked Sausage
Patties, Thick-Sliced Bacon, Turkey Sausage or Turkey Bacon.) On a plate by
themselves there were three large golden brown pancakes with a large dollop of
whipped butter. On a companion plate was the bacon, fried crisp, and eggs done to order.
It was a typical Cracker Barrel presentation, the food looked good and appetizing.
On request Abbie got more maple syrup. Momma’s pancake breakfast is a big meal
and a bit more than Abbie normally eats. She did enjoy her mail but there was a
good portion that went to Mariano and some in a doggy bag.
Mariano
ordered the French Toast ($7.19 Four
slices of our own Sourdough Bread (regular or whole wheat) dipped in egg then
grilled to perfection. Served with any fruit topping or 100% Pure Natural Syrup.)
The serving was on an oval platter and there were six thick slices of sourdough bread,
egg dipped, and they were fried to a nice appetizing golden brown with a dollop
of whipped butter on top. More syrup came as requested. Mario said it was very
good, very tasty but he did have one observation. At $7.19 for four slices of
bread the coffee really should come with it. The French toast at good
appearance, good taste, but may have been a bit overpriced after adding the coffee.
Janis
ordered the Wild Maine Blueberry
Pancakes ($7.39 Three Buttermilk Pancakes loaded with wild
Maine blueberries. Served with Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup.) Served on an
oval platter were three golden brown pancakes topped with an amazing abundance
of blueberries. All of that was topped with a generous helping of whipped
cream. There was more than enough blueberry preserves that no additional syrup
with needed. Janis enjoyed her meal, and set it was very good, very tasty. It
is a serving much larger than she normally eats but she managed to finish most of her
meal. The blueberry pancakes were presented well, were good tasting, and
adequate portion with an abundance of blueberries.
I ordered
a more conventional breakfast, at least for me, I chose the Sunrise
Sampler® ($8.19 Two eggs cooked to order with Grits, Sawmill
Gravy, homemade Buttermilk Biscuits, real butter and the best Preserves, Jam n’
Apple Butter (on request) we could find. Plus Fried Apples and Hashbrown
Casserole and a Sampling of Smoked Sausage, Country Ham and Thick-Sliced Bacon.)
This is a good combination as it includes eggs and breakfast meat along with
hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy and fried apples. I asked for my eggs over
medium and ask for the sausage as my choice of breakfast meat. The eggs were
cooked order just like I asked for. The sausage is fried nicely with good
color, was tender and had a good taste. The gravy was nice and hot, nice and
thick and had that good peppery country gravy flavor. The fried apples were
very good and always make a great end to breakfast meal. They’re kind of like
eating an apple pie without the crust.
That leaves the biscuits and the hashbrown casserole. The biscuits it had
been a loft. They were dense, heavy and one would guess that they had not used
enough baking powder. They were also cold and makes me wonder if perhaps they
weren’t left over from the day before. Without the gravy they would have been
way to dry to eat. One of my favorite parts of the Cracker Barrel breakfast is
the hashbrown casserole. This serving did not live up to what I have come to
expect from Cracker Barrel. It was quite dry and the edges crispy and serving
was way too small-sort of like the kitchen scooped the last remaining drag out
of a long-standing pan to fill my order. I did enjoy the eggs and apples
as well as the gravy. The poorly prepared biscuits and potato casserole severely
detracted from my enjoyment of the meal.
One of the things that kept us going back to Cracker Barrel over the years was a consistency of quality in the food. For the most part the four of us received meals that were up to Cracker Barrel’s normal standard. In my case, however, slight deviations from normal quality made a meal less than totally satisfying. As far as I can recall this is the first time I have been dissatisfied with Cracker Barrel. I am sure we will have breakfast a Cracker Barrel again in future and I hope that this glitch was a one-time event. And the grits.... well I never eat that stuff anyway.
Previous Cracker Barrel Blogs:
May 12 2012 http://thatfoodguy.blogspot.com/2012/05/cracker-barrel-revisited.htmlAug 19, 2011 http://thatfoodguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/cracker-barrel-st-petersburg-florida.html
Labels: bacon, Barrel, biscuits, blueberries, crack, cracker barrel, eggs, gravy, grits, maple, pancakes, sausage, syrup
¶ 2:36 PM 0 Comments
Saturday, May 28, 2016
TC's Grill - Maryville, Tennessee
I may be
wrong but it appears that pattern has influenced the advent of TC’s Grill.
There is a church, a few outbuildings, and what was once a busy gasoline
service station. Restauranteurs Shirley and Tom Clark
and Jeff Hodge moved to
present location in 2012 repurposing the old service station (which accounts
for the motif and much of the interior décor). They established a reputation
for good wholesome food at reasonable prices. In 2015 they a placed the
restaurant up for sale. Steve and Audrey Nelson purchased the Grill in December
2015 with plans to continue TC’s Grill much as it has been only seeking to
tweak the menu bit and perhaps add-on to the kitchen to make more workspace. See
the link at the bottom of this article for more information on the evolution of
TC’s Grill.
Abbie and
Mariano ate breakfast there one day. They wanted to tell us about the biscuits;
big beautiful freshly baked biscuits! Apparently a lot of people were impressed
with TC’s biscuits because they were frequently mentioned in food blog
websites. It was only natural that one day Abby and Arturo along with Janis and
I went to TC’s for breakfast to see for ourselves what it was all about..
Their menu
has many selections for breakfast (served 7 AM until 10:30 AM), lunch and
dinner. One of their combos, the Fairview, caught my eye. It consists of two
eggs, bacon or sausage and served with biscuits and gravy for $4.49. I chose
that one; the egg over and sausage. I also like my breakfast potatoes so I
ordered a side order of home fries for an additional $2.50. Coffee was an
additional $1.35. Our server made sure the coffee cup stayed full.
Janis chose
the Shirley’s special; two eggs, bacon or sausage, with a short stack of
pancakes for $7.00. She chose eggs over and bacon. By the time I got the camera
out she was already remaking her plate into an egg and pancakes sandwich. The
eggs were cooked order, the bacon crisp and not soggy. The pancakes well cooked
and with that the ethereal “golden brown and delicious.” She did enjoy her
breakfast very much; all very tasty. Coffee was an additional $1.35.
TC’s Grill
2514 Old Niles Ferry Rd,
Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 980-1905
Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed on Sunday
Our good friends, Abbie and Mariano,
told us about a new restaurant they discovered. Discovered is the operative
word. To find it you either had to be going there on purpose or were helplessly
lost. It all has to do with how the local area has grown over the years. From
way back when, in the horse and buggy days, at small crossroads businesses
would spring up. Perhaps a general or feed store, perhaps a smith or even a
grain mill; quite often there was a church as well. It was easier for the local
farmers to go a mile or so to the local crossroads rather than spend the day in
travel to the big town many more miles away over rough and unimproved roads. With
the advents of the motor vehicle and improved highways, farmers can now
travel to the main town often bypassing the local crossroad businesses they
used to frequent. If you should visit TC’s, look around and ask yourself how you
would attract customers, what would you do to draw them to this seemingly
remote location (albeit just a few blocks from a Walmart Super Store)
surrounded by bucolic acres of working farmland.
Abbie and
Mariano ate breakfast there one day. They wanted to tell us about the biscuits;
big beautiful freshly baked biscuits! Apparently a lot of people were impressed
with TC’s biscuits because they were frequently mentioned in food blog
websites. It was only natural that one day Abby and Arturo along with Janis and
I went to TC’s for breakfast to see for ourselves what it was all about..
The original
renovation from service station to restaurant was well done. But inside of the
restaurant seems more like a purpose built restaurant made to resemble the old
service station rather than an old service station made into a restaurant. The
starkly contrasting black and green tile floors, the shop-green color of the
walls, the murals and pictures tell the story of the servicenbays where we
were now dining.
Their menu
has many selections for breakfast (served 7 AM until 10:30 AM), lunch and
dinner. One of their combos, the Fairview, caught my eye. It consists of two
eggs, bacon or sausage and served with biscuits and gravy for $4.49. I chose
that one; the egg over and sausage. I also like my breakfast potatoes so I
ordered a side order of home fries for an additional $2.50. Coffee was an
additional $1.35. Our server made sure the coffee cup stayed full.
It is a
diner and it was a busy morning. Certainly an acid test of what comes out of
the kitchen. My eggs were cooked to order, over medium, although they were a
bit rough looking somewhat like Army mess hall eggs cooked on a griddle. I will
say they were cooked to order, were not greasy and tasted good. I can’t hold their
rough exterior against them. The sausage patties were well cooked, nicely
seasons, cooked done but not overcooked to crisp. When I ordered the home fries
I took the option of adding onions. The home fries are diced potatoes that are
fried to a nice golden brown. The onions were perhaps added a little late as I
would have preferred them cooked a bit more. All in all it was a satisfying
serving of potatoes with onions. The biscuit gravy was served on its own plate.
True to their reputation, the biscuits were big, lite and tender; easily as big
as two biscuits elsewhere. It cut easily with a fork. The gravy was just the
right thickness, had good flavor and was an excellent pairing with the biscuit.
It was a good breakfast, adequate portions to fill a hungry appetite and tasted
good. It was good enough that I will be coming back to TC’s Grill to try other
things on their menu.
Janis chose
the Shirley’s special; two eggs, bacon or sausage, with a short stack of
pancakes for $7.00. She chose eggs over and bacon. By the time I got the camera
out she was already remaking her plate into an egg and pancakes sandwich. The
eggs were cooked order, the bacon crisp and not soggy. The pancakes well cooked
and with that the ethereal “golden brown and delicious.” She did enjoy her
breakfast very much; all very tasty. Coffee was an additional $1.35.
Abbie and
Mariano’s choices for breakfast with similar to ours. When I asked how their food was they replied that
it was very good, as good as remembered, and they would be back for more. To
return for another meal in the future is perhaps the best accolade you can
bestow on the restaurant.
TC Grill is
just a few moments automobile drive from downtown Maryville. For a nice place
the, serving good food, and a friendly atmosphere, it is not far away from
anyone in Maryville or Alcoa.
There menu is posted below.
For more information about TC's Grill...There menu is posted below.
Labels: bacon, biscuits, eggs, Fairview, gravy, grill, Maryville, pancakes, sausage, Shirley's, TC's, Tennessee
¶ 8:30 AM 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Smoke Shack - Seward, Alaska
Smoke Shack
Located in the “Train Wreck” (Corner of 4th and Port) in the Historic WWII Railcar
(907) 224-7427
We had been up long before the rooster crowed for the long journey south to Seward to catch the MV Glacier Explorer, a tour boat out into Resurrection Bay, Kenai Fjords and a stop in front of majestic Aialik Glacier. We encountered no accidents, avalanches or road construction along the way and arrived with about an hour to spare. Nephew Ron was driving and he pulled smartly into the parking lot in front of the Smoke Shack. A collection of retired Alaska Railroad cars, they have history dating back to carrying troops during the Second World War. One of the cars is the diner, the Smoke Shack, and the others have been converted to motel rooms for a unique over-nighter.
When one thinks of rail dining the thoughts turn to linen napkins, silver plate, crystal glassware and fine chine dishes. That is not exactly the case with the Smoke Shack. The tables and booths are of angular plywood construction devoid of cushions. Surprisingly, they are quite comfortable but considering the width of the rail car, four persons fill the booth. For climate weather, there are several umbrelled tables outside for alfresco dining. One end of the car accommodates the kitchen, open to public view; no secrets there. The opposite end of the car has rest rooms in the Pullman-style; antiquated but clean and serviceable.
Pattie Sue’s eggs were cooked to order, over medium. The homefries were crudely cut into pieces of varying sizes. When cooked, there were some that were very much overdone and some of the larger pieces had a bit of a raw taste. They were acceptable but they would have been so much better if more care had been taken in cutting the potatoes making them more uniform in size. The toast was lightly toasted which made for a bit of sogginess in the middle when buttered; a bit more time in the toaster would have made it ju
st about perfect.
Ron’s order was a stack of two large pancakes. He said they tasted good but perhaps were a bit dense. However, he had no trouble finishing his meal that was served with adequate butter and syrup.
My order was a large biscuit, split and covered with a generous portion of gravy. There were lots of little sausage bits in the gravy that was liberally seasoned with black ground pepper. Did I mention that they gravy was highly seasoned with pepper? Luckily pepper doesn’t linger like capsatian and by the time I had finished half I was almost used to it. Perhaps the local taste runs to heavily peppered gravy but it was more than I would have used were I making the dish at home. Other than the heavily peppered spiciness, it tasted good
and I finished the meal to gird me for the sea voyage ahead.
The Smoke Shack has been in Seward for quite awhile and the deficits we noted are more like teething problems in a start-up café. One would have thought they would have smoothed off all the rough edges by this time. Perhaps it was just the hectic nature of the busy morning breakfast trade… The server was always about bringing requested items in a timely manner exhibiting courtesy and good humor. In spite of the deficits we enjoyed our meal, lingering over coffee, as we talked about the day’s adventure to come.
Located in the “Train Wreck” (Corner of 4th and Port) in the Historic WWII Railcar
(907) 224-7427
We had been up long before the rooster crowed for the long journey south to Seward to catch the MV Glacier Explorer, a tour boat out into Resurrection Bay, Kenai Fjords and a stop in front of majestic Aialik Glacier. We encountered no accidents, avalanches or road construction along the way and arrived with about an hour to spare. Nephew Ron was driving and he pulled smartly into the parking lot in front of the Smoke Shack. A collection of retired Alaska Railroad cars, they have history dating back to carrying troops during the Second World War. One of the cars is the diner, the Smoke Shack, and the others have been converted to motel rooms for a unique over-nighter. When one thinks of rail dining the thoughts turn to linen napkins, silver plate, crystal glassware and fine chine dishes. That is not exactly the case with the Smoke Shack. The tables and booths are of angular plywood construction devoid of cushions. Surprisingly, they are quite comfortable but considering the width of the rail car, four persons fill the booth. For climate weather, there are several umbrelled tables outside for alfresco dining. One end of the car accommodates the kitchen, open to public view; no secrets there. The opposite end of the car has rest rooms in the Pullman-style; antiquated but clean and serviceable.
There is one aspect of dining anywhere in Seward that takes a bit of getting used to; sticker shock. Seward is located at the end of the road, the tourist season is short and he idle winters very long and dark. But, you take a big breath of air, ignore the price and place your order. That is also true of the menu at the Smoke Shack. The menu features breakfast and lunch items. Perhaps there is a dinner menu; I don’t know.
We started off with coffee ($2.00) while we perused the menu. At long last we were ready to order. Sister Pattie Sue chose the Two Egg Breakfast ($7.00 Eggs any style, homefries and toast, eggs over medium). Nephew Ron selected a half order of Buttermilk Pancakes ($4.00). I thought about it for awhile but finally chose something I don’t often have, biscuits and gravy. For a moment I remembered flying from Van Nuys Airport on Sundays to Santa Paula where the little, on the airfield restaurant served the most wonderful biscuits and gravy. But that is a story for another time. This day I selected the half order of Biscuits and Gravy ($6.00 We make them from scratch). 
Labels: Alaska, bicuits and gravey, eggs, housefries, pancakes, railroad, Seward, Smoke Shack, WWII
¶ 1:29 PM 0 Comments
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Cracker Barrel - Revisited
Cracker Barrel - Revisited
4011 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL
33762 (727) 572-8685
It was to be an early day in downtown Clearwater, a hearing before the County Commissioners about a zoning matter; the end of a long and arduous process. On the way we would pass by the wife’s favorite Aunt and Uncle who offered to go along for the moral support. It was agreed that it would also offer the opportunity for a brunch if the proceedings were short, or perhaps a lunch if it were a protracted affair. It was open, to be played by ear… Que sera, sera.
As luck would have it, it was nearly the first item on the lengthy agenda and the motion was passed. It was now a done deal at last. It was time to go and eat some eagerly awaited breakfast. A quick check of the local phone book and a familiar name popped up – Cracker Barrel. There is a certain wisdom in choosing a know name when in an unfamiliar part of town. With a large chain like Cracker Barrel you pretty well know what to expect beforehand and that engenders a certain bit of confidence about the meal. It was quorum and Cracker Barrel it was to be.
This was our first time in this particular Cracker Barrel. It is much the same as the others in general layout but I sensed a bit different, perhaps a bit smaller. I did notice that the fireplace, usually on the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room was at the end on an outside wall. Other than that, perhaps to suit the individual site, it was much as any other cracker barrel in furnishings and décor.
It was not busy and we were escorted swiftly to a large table with a window view. Our server was promptly on the scene and we were sipping coffee and perusing the menu in just a few moments. It didn’t take long before we were ready to order. Aunt Effie and Uncle Gilbert ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes.
“Buttermilk Pancakes with 100% Pure Natural Syrup The secret to our pancakes is in the buttermilk. You see, buttermilk actually activates the mix so it rises higher for more tender, flavorful pancakes - just the way we like them. Enjoy three pancakes, made from scratch and topped with real Butter. Served with a bottle of 100% Pure Natural Syrup, warmed up especially for you.”
The three large pancakes are served on a platter with a dollop of butter and the trademark little bottle of syrup. If one bottle is not enough for you other are brought on request. The pancakes were a nice golden brown, cooked through but not over cooked. Bothe Effie and Gilbert enjoyed their meal. Gilbert noticed something that may have changed – the syrup bottle not pure maple syrup. It is a mixture of maple and cane syrup. My memory, sometime faulty, recalls that it used to be pure maple syrup. Nonetheless, it didn’t appear to change the flavor and Gilbert said it tasted just like he remembered.
My wife Janis ordered the buttermilk pancakes with cherry topping.
“Buttermilk Pancakes with Fruit Toppings Three buttermilk pancakes served with your choice of Golden Delicious Apples, Marion Blackberry, Sweet Peach or Montmorency Cherry toppings. Topped with Real Whipped Cream.”
Again, three large well cooked golden brown pancakes served on a platter. There was a copious slathering of cherries and syrup and three dollops of whipped cream. She seemed to enjoy her selection very well. Suffice it to say that Janis, usually a light eater, didn’t ask for a doggie bag on this occasion.
I, on the other hand are a bit of a trencherman and I chose Grandpa’s Country Fried Breakfast.
”Grandpa's Country Fried Breakfast® Two Eggs* cooked to order with Grits, Sawmill Gravy and Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits along with real Butter and the best Preserves, Jam n' Apple Butter available. Served with your choice of Fried Apples or Hashbrown Casserole and Chicken Fried Chicken or Country Fried Steak. $7.99”
Of the choices, it was a hard pick of the hashbrowns over the fried apples; both are so good. I often times try to imitate the hashbrown casserole with copycat recipes. They come close but not exactly; but one day… I also chose the country fried steak. It is the South and the meal comes with grits, a de rigueur of Southern cuisine. I always think they taste like Cream-of-Wheat which was never a favorite from childhood. I called them wallpaper paste. As for the rest of the meal: It is an imposing array of three plates in front of you. The eggs were cooked to order, over medium. The hashbrowns were succulent. The country fried steak was perhaps a bit over cooked; just enough to make a few too crispy edges. Otherwise it was tender and tasty. For a deep-fried steak it was well drained and not at all greasy. I saved the biscuits and gravy for last and the biscuits were flaky and the gravy just right; they have the gravy down to a science. (I hope my cardiologist doesn’t read this blog.) I cleaned my plate (well, most of the grits went back to the kitchen) and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a certain comfort in being in a familiar place as you know what to expect. The staff at the Clearwater Cracker Barrel fulfilled those expectations very well with good service and tasty well prepared food. The fact that we were sharing the day with dear relatives certainly added to the enjoyment of the day; not to mention that Uncle Gil picked up the tab. An enjoyable day was had by all.
PS Memory was correct. I rummaged through the pantry once we got home and found a bottle of syrup from a much earlier visit to a Cracker Barrel; 100 per-cent maple syrup.
4011 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL
33762 (727) 572-8685
It was to be an early day in downtown Clearwater, a hearing before the County Commissioners about a zoning matter; the end of a long and arduous process. On the way we would pass by the wife’s favorite Aunt and Uncle who offered to go along for the moral support. It was agreed that it would also offer the opportunity for a brunch if the proceedings were short, or perhaps a lunch if it were a protracted affair. It was open, to be played by ear… Que sera, sera.
As luck would have it, it was nearly the first item on the lengthy agenda and the motion was passed. It was now a done deal at last. It was time to go and eat some eagerly awaited breakfast. A quick check of the local phone book and a familiar name popped up – Cracker Barrel. There is a certain wisdom in choosing a know name when in an unfamiliar part of town. With a large chain like Cracker Barrel you pretty well know what to expect beforehand and that engenders a certain bit of confidence about the meal. It was quorum and Cracker Barrel it was to be.
This was our first time in this particular Cracker Barrel. It is much the same as the others in general layout but I sensed a bit different, perhaps a bit smaller. I did notice that the fireplace, usually on the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room was at the end on an outside wall. Other than that, perhaps to suit the individual site, it was much as any other cracker barrel in furnishings and décor.
It was not busy and we were escorted swiftly to a large table with a window view. Our server was promptly on the scene and we were sipping coffee and perusing the menu in just a few moments. It didn’t take long before we were ready to order. Aunt Effie and Uncle Gilbert ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes.
“Buttermilk Pancakes with 100% Pure Natural Syrup The secret to our pancakes is in the buttermilk. You see, buttermilk actually activates the mix so it rises higher for more tender, flavorful pancakes - just the way we like them. Enjoy three pancakes, made from scratch and topped with real Butter. Served with a bottle of 100% Pure Natural Syrup, warmed up especially for you.”
The three large pancakes are served on a platter with a dollop of butter and the trademark little bottle of syrup. If one bottle is not enough for you other are brought on request. The pancakes were a nice golden brown, cooked through but not over cooked. Bothe Effie and Gilbert enjoyed their meal. Gilbert noticed something that may have changed – the syrup bottle not pure maple syrup. It is a mixture of maple and cane syrup. My memory, sometime faulty, recalls that it used to be pure maple syrup. Nonetheless, it didn’t appear to change the flavor and Gilbert said it tasted just like he remembered.
My wife Janis ordered the buttermilk pancakes with cherry topping.
“Buttermilk Pancakes with Fruit Toppings Three buttermilk pancakes served with your choice of Golden Delicious Apples, Marion Blackberry, Sweet Peach or Montmorency Cherry toppings. Topped with Real Whipped Cream.”
Again, three large well cooked golden brown pancakes served on a platter. There was a copious slathering of cherries and syrup and three dollops of whipped cream. She seemed to enjoy her selection very well. Suffice it to say that Janis, usually a light eater, didn’t ask for a doggie bag on this occasion.
I, on the other hand are a bit of a trencherman and I chose Grandpa’s Country Fried Breakfast.
”Grandpa's Country Fried Breakfast® Two Eggs* cooked to order with Grits, Sawmill Gravy and Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits along with real Butter and the best Preserves, Jam n' Apple Butter available. Served with your choice of Fried Apples or Hashbrown Casserole and Chicken Fried Chicken or Country Fried Steak. $7.99”
Of the choices, it was a hard pick of the hashbrowns over the fried apples; both are so good. I often times try to imitate the hashbrown casserole with copycat recipes. They come close but not exactly; but one day… I also chose the country fried steak. It is the South and the meal comes with grits, a de rigueur of Southern cuisine. I always think they taste like Cream-of-Wheat which was never a favorite from childhood. I called them wallpaper paste. As for the rest of the meal: It is an imposing array of three plates in front of you. The eggs were cooked to order, over medium. The hashbrowns were succulent. The country fried steak was perhaps a bit over cooked; just enough to make a few too crispy edges. Otherwise it was tender and tasty. For a deep-fried steak it was well drained and not at all greasy. I saved the biscuits and gravy for last and the biscuits were flaky and the gravy just right; they have the gravy down to a science. (I hope my cardiologist doesn’t read this blog.) I cleaned my plate (well, most of the grits went back to the kitchen) and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a certain comfort in being in a familiar place as you know what to expect. The staff at the Clearwater Cracker Barrel fulfilled those expectations very well with good service and tasty well prepared food. The fact that we were sharing the day with dear relatives certainly added to the enjoyment of the day; not to mention that Uncle Gil picked up the tab. An enjoyable day was had by all.
PS Memory was correct. I rummaged through the pantry once we got home and found a bottle of syrup from a much earlier visit to a Cracker Barrel; 100 per-cent maple syrup.
Labels: Barrel, biscuits, breakfast, chicken, Cracker, eggs, fried steak, gravy, pancakes, restaurant
¶ 1:48 PM 0 Comments
Thursday, September 23, 2010
KOA Kafe – KOA Albuquerque North - Bernalillo, New Mexico
Traveling around the country we often stop at Good Sam’s or KOA campgrounds. We are thus assured of at least a minimum standard. There are many independent campgrounds out there but they are hard to find. The Sam’s and KOA directories make finding a campground easy. So it was that we found KOA Albuquerque North.
It is 
actually located just off the Interstate in the small, independent town of Bernalillo, a few miles north of Albuquerque. Even though the campgrounds have a minimum standard, many of the campground owners go beyond the minimum and devise many clever ways to cater to their camping customers.
KOA Kafe
KOA Albuqurque,North
555 South Hill Rd
Bernalillo, New Mixico 87004
(505) 867-5227 9/23/10
KOA Albuqurque,North
555 South Hill Rd
Bernalillo, New Mixico 87004
(505) 867-5227 9/23/10
Traveling around the country we often stop at Good Sam’s or KOA campgrounds. We are thus assured of at least a minimum standard. There are many independent campgrounds out there but they are hard to find. The Sam’s and KOA directories make finding a campground easy. So it was that we found KOA Albuquerque North.
It is 
actually located just off the Interstate in the small, independent town of Bernalillo, a few miles north of Albuquerque. Even though the campgrounds have a minimum standard, many of the campground owners go beyond the minimum and devise many clever ways to cater to their camping customers. Well maintained, with lots of trees to shade your camping spot, clean restrooms with lots of hot shower water, a carefully maintained pool for an afternoon dip, large fenced pet walks, even weekend movies, this particular campground is already well above standard and a very pleasant stopover. The owner has one additional perk for us, the KOA Kafe. Not a full service café for sure, but rather a casual provider of the campground equivalent of the big hotels continental breakfast. From about seven to nine each morning, a campground guest only has to 
stop by the office, get a small ticket and present it to the Kafe cook for a free pancake breakfast. The free pancake breakfast consists of two pancakes and syrup, butter on request. A side bar has coffee, tea, sugar and creamers at your leisure. During the warmer temperate months the service is al fresco in a nice covered patio and enough picnic benches to accommodate everyone. A decorated full-scale beehive oven sets the mood for this New Mexico patio. In bad weather there is an adjacent enclosed dining area.
The KOA Kafe also has a small menu for additional purchased food items. Bacon or sausage is $1.50, eggs $1.50 each and a bowl of breakfast chili (remember, we are in New Mexico) is $3.00. There are some combo plates, featuring either fried potatoes,
corned beef 
hash, omelets or burritos, ranging from $4.00 to $7.00. There is even a telephone number for takeout orders. At the window you present your ticket and order any additional items you desire. It is cash only when your name is called for pick up. The cook has been there a long time. We have seen him on the last three trips through Albuquerque. He is a bit gruff but never any problems. Let’s just say he is amusingly irascible, much like his motto, "If we don't have it, you don't need it!" After eating, you buss your own table and police your area. Toss the trash in the canister and get on with your wonderful day after a satisfying breakfast at the KOA Kafe.
stop by the office, get a small ticket and present it to the Kafe cook for a free pancake breakfast. The free pancake breakfast consists of two pancakes and syrup, butter on request. A side bar has coffee, tea, sugar and creamers at your leisure. During the warmer temperate months the service is al fresco in a nice covered patio and enough picnic benches to accommodate everyone. A decorated full-scale beehive oven sets the mood for this New Mexico patio. In bad weather there is an adjacent enclosed dining area.The KOA Kafe also has a small menu for additional purchased food items. Bacon or sausage is $1.50, eggs $1.50 each and a bowl of breakfast chili (remember, we are in New Mexico) is $3.00. There are some combo plates, featuring either fried potatoes,
corned beef 
hash, omelets or burritos, ranging from $4.00 to $7.00. There is even a telephone number for takeout orders. At the window you present your ticket and order any additional items you desire. It is cash only when your name is called for pick up. The cook has been there a long time. We have seen him on the last three trips through Albuquerque. He is a bit gruff but never any problems. Let’s just say he is amusingly irascible, much like his motto, "If we don't have it, you don't need it!" After eating, you buss your own table and police your area. Toss the trash in the canister and get on with your wonderful day after a satisfying breakfast at the KOA Kafe. Labels: Albuquerque, bacon, Bernalillo, breakfast, chili, free, Kafe, KOA, New Mexico, pancakes
¶ 1:19 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Weck's - Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Weck’s
1690 Rio Rancho Dr Rio Rancho, NM
( ) 881-0116 www.wecksinc.com
Passing through the Albuquerque area, we had the opportunity to visit with my son, Larry, and his charming wife, Vickie. My son insisted one morning that he was going to take us out to breakfast. He knew of a place that served big meals and he knew I like to eat a lot. With 5 stores in Albuquerque and one in Rio Rancho, Weck’s seems to be a growing concern. And as for the big meals, their menu proclaims, “A full belly tradition since ’91.” We were about to put that to the test.
A store front restaurant, it is located in a new and busy shopping center. Catering to the breakfast and lunch crowd, the restaurant is open daily from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Although we did not sample any of the lunch fare, they offer a selection of hot and cold sandwiches ($8.19), soups, salads and hamburgers ($6.39 to $8.39). As would be expected from a New Mexico restaurant, they also offer southwestern specialties such as quesadillas ($8.19), burritos ($8.19) and enchiladas ($8.19). They also offer vegetarian options. Since breakfast was very good, on a future trip to the Albuquerque area we will have to have lunch at Weck’s to round out 
our dining experience.
My selection was a Sausage Big Breakfast Burrito ($6.39). It is three scrambled eggs in a rolled flour tortilla with your choice of filling (ham, bacon or sausage – carne adovada – carnitas – chicken – veggie) and a choice of sauce or cheese. Red and green chili sauces are available but I chose the Cheddar and Jack cheese combination. The burrito is served with a large helping of hash brown potatoes. It is served on a large oval platter and certainly lives up to its name, big. The hash browns were the shredded kind, brown and crispy on the outside, steaming hot on the inside. Delicious, they were also covered by the melted
Cheddar-Jack cheese. It was a good tasting meal of ample proportions and certainly worthy of ordering again.
The wife ordered what Weck’s calls a pancake sandwich ($6.89). It is two large buttermilk pancakes, two bacon strips (she ordered sausage instead) and one egg any style. In keeping with the full belly tradition, it is served on two plates. The pancakes were nicely browned, tender and tasty. The egg was cook right to order. A satisfying meal with some for the doggie bag.
My son ordered the Full Belly Egg Plate ($6.89). It is two eggs any style, hash browns and choice of ham, bacon or sausage. He ordered scrambled egg. The eggs were light and fluffy, the bacon just crispy as ordered. Again, in the full belly tradition, it was served on a platter filled to the edge.
The facility was a new, clean and well maintained facility. The serving staff was quick and courteous. They kept the coffee cups full without hovering over the table. All of the food served that day was tasty and well presented. The experience has made me anxious to go back and try the offerings on the lunch menu.
1690 Rio Rancho Dr Rio Rancho, NM
( ) 881-0116 www.wecksinc.com
Passing through the Albuquerque area, we had the opportunity to visit with my son, Larry, and his charming wife, Vickie. My son insisted one morning that he was going to take us out to breakfast. He knew of a place that served big meals and he knew I like to eat a lot. With 5 stores in Albuquerque and one in Rio Rancho, Weck’s seems to be a growing concern. And as for the big meals, their menu proclaims, “A full belly tradition since ’91.” We were about to put that to the test.
A store front restaurant, it is located in a new and busy shopping center. Catering to the breakfast and lunch crowd, the restaurant is open daily from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Although we did not sample any of the lunch fare, they offer a selection of hot and cold sandwiches ($8.19), soups, salads and hamburgers ($6.39 to $8.39). As would be expected from a New Mexico restaurant, they also offer southwestern specialties such as quesadillas ($8.19), burritos ($8.19) and enchiladas ($8.19). They also offer vegetarian options. Since breakfast was very good, on a future trip to the Albuquerque area we will have to have lunch at Weck’s to round out 
our dining experience.My selection was a Sausage Big Breakfast Burrito ($6.39). It is three scrambled eggs in a rolled flour tortilla with your choice of filling (ham, bacon or sausage – carne adovada – carnitas – chicken – veggie) and a choice of sauce or cheese. Red and green chili sauces are available but I chose the Cheddar and Jack cheese combination. The burrito is served with a large helping of hash brown potatoes. It is served on a large oval platter and certainly lives up to its name, big. The hash browns were the shredded kind, brown and crispy on the outside, steaming hot on the inside. Delicious, they were also covered by the melted
Cheddar-Jack cheese. It was a good tasting meal of ample proportions and certainly worthy of ordering again.The wife ordered what Weck’s calls a pancake sandwich ($6.89). It is two large buttermilk pancakes, two bacon strips (she ordered sausage instead) and one egg any style. In keeping with the full belly tradition, it is served on two plates. The pancakes were nicely browned, tender and tasty. The egg was cook right to order. A satisfying meal with some for the doggie bag.
My son ordered the Full Belly Egg Plate ($6.89). It is two eggs any style, hash browns and choice of ham, bacon or sausage. He ordered scrambled egg. The eggs were light and fluffy, the bacon just crispy as ordered. Again, in the full belly tradition, it was served on a platter filled to the edge.
The facility was a new, clean and well maintained facility. The serving staff was quick and courteous. They kept the coffee cups full without hovering over the table. All of the food served that day was tasty and well presented. The experience has made me anxious to go back and try the offerings on the lunch menu.
Labels: Albuquerque, breakfast, burrito, hash browns, New Mexico, pancakes, Weck's
¶ 9:32 AM 0 Comments
