That Food Guy
Friday, December 14, 2018
Windy City Grille - Maryville TN
865-724-2508
http://www.thewindycitygrille.com/
The Windy City Grille is a casual café. Most of the menu is
for pizza, burgers and sandwiches. There is bar service with a large selection
of draft and bottled beer to choose from. Lou ordered one of their burgers with
French fries. All of the burgers seem to
start with a half-pound patty. Prices
for the burgers run from $8.50 to 9.50 depending, and come with French fries or
the house potato chips. Alternate side substitution selections are available at
additional cost.
My order was for the “Grande Shrimp Platter – 9 large breaded shrimp
with side of fries and homemade cocktail sauce. No popcorn shrimp here! -
$11.00.” The fry cooks did a
good job. The shrimp and the French fries were a nice crispy golden brown,
cooked but overly so. The shrimp appeared to be butterflied 16/20 and had a
nice flavor, no old cooking oil flavor there. The house cocktail sauce is
excellent. There was adequate sauce for the shrimp but if I were to order this
again I would ask for a second portion of the sauce as it is so much better
than plain ketchup on the fries. It was an adequate portion and a satisfying
meal. I was happy with my choice.
A last note in passing… At the door to the café there is a Missing Man
Table, sometimes called a Fallen Comrade Table. It is set symbolically as a
remembrance and to honor those who will never be able to accept the invitation.
It is frequently seen on Memorial Day and National POW/ MIA Recognition Day. Lost
in service to Country those missing men have protected rights to dissent
and eschew traditional things. But please remember they have also protected my
right to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Windy City Grille
2641
U.S. 411, Maryville TN 37801865-724-2508
http://www.thewindycitygrille.com/
This will be a briefer than normal blog. The occasion was a
Christmas get-together of Blount County ARES, a
part of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Services,
trained amateur radio operator volunteers organized
to assist in public service and emergency communications. It is a group that I
am proudly associated. When we get together we talk shop; radio and all that
sort of thing. However most of the other members are unaware that on the side I
am a foodie and do a blog. My family and some other friends are sometimes
painfully aware that I take photos and ask questions about the food, the meals
and the service. On this occasion I strove
to be not obtrusive with the camera and the questions (they will get to know
that part of me later, I’m sure). This was my first visit to the Windy City
Grille and I think that I did, however, get enough material to give you some
insight into the Windy City Grille; a place you might one day like to visit.
Lou, our section leader, had made inquiries before but no advanced
preparation had been made for our group. Kaitlyn, the charming young lady who met us at
the door and escorted us in, was more that up to the task. In just a moment she
had pulled tables together and rearranged chairs. She took our beverage orders while we waited
for the others to arrive.
Our group came and departed at different times, we ordered a
full range of dishes and beverages from the regular menu and we were Dutch
treat. That should be enough to drive
any server into a panic. Our orders were taken in a timely manner, the orders
when served were correct, drinks were refreshed as needed and bills were ready
when asked and also were correct. Our group
enjoyed a carefree meal; we enjoyed the food and the company. An efficient
server working in the background helps keep it all together and adds to the
enjoyment of the night out to dinner. We were fortunate that Kaitlyn was our
server.
The Windy City Grille is a casual café. Most of the menu is
for pizza, burgers and sandwiches. There is bar service with a large selection
of draft and bottled beer to choose from. Lou ordered one of their burgers with
French fries. All of the burgers seem to
start with a half-pound patty. Prices
for the burgers run from $8.50 to 9.50 depending, and come with French fries or
the house potato chips. Alternate side substitution selections are available at
additional cost.
I’m not sure which one Lou chose but afterwards he said it
was very good. They are juicy burgers and thankfully there are additional
napkins available in the condiment tray in the center of the table. Another
burger order down the table from me was with the in-house made fried potato chips.
They are apparently a well-regarded
local specialty. Perhaps I’ll try then on my next visit.
My order was for the “Grande Shrimp Platter – 9 large breaded shrimp
with side of fries and homemade cocktail sauce. No popcorn shrimp here! -
$11.00.” The fry cooks did a
good job. The shrimp and the French fries were a nice crispy golden brown,
cooked but overly so. The shrimp appeared to be butterflied 16/20 and had a
nice flavor, no old cooking oil flavor there. The house cocktail sauce is
excellent. There was adequate sauce for the shrimp but if I were to order this
again I would ask for a second portion of the sauce as it is so much better
than plain ketchup on the fries. It was an adequate portion and a satisfying
meal. I was happy with my choice.
During the meal a management person came by the table to ask
if everyone was happy with the service and the food. It is nice to see they
have an interest and it seems to show in the performance of their work staff. As
I mentioned, the Windy City Grille is a casual café, much more so than some of
, for lack of a better word, trendier
brew bars and cafes in town. However, the food offered at Windy City Grille is
on a par with the other restaurants and at comparable prices. There are many
large screen TV screens and I could only guess that it would be a rollicking local
hangout for local sports fans on big game days.
The online menu and the menu at the table are slightly different
in the selections offered. The online version seems a bit more comprehensive.
If you have a specific food in mind to order you may want to call ahead to see
if it is available.
My only negative thought about the dining experience is the “re-purposed”
theme; the ceiling not finished in the conventional manner but all of the
ducting and piping exposed. It may be painted a dark color and positioned above
the lighting fixtures but it is all there and the hard surfaces echo and
reflect the sounds so that even a slight amount of activity can raise the
ambient noise level significantly often making cross table conversation
difficult.
Amiable friends and colleagues
make for an enjoyable evening meal. I
also enjoyed the meal and the surroundings. If the question arises, “Where
should we go out to dinner?” The Windy
City Grille will definitely be one of the choices.
A last note in passing… At the door to the café there is a Missing Man
Table, sometimes called a Fallen Comrade Table. It is set symbolically as a
remembrance and to honor those who will never be able to accept the invitation.
It is frequently seen on Memorial Day and National POW/ MIA Recognition Day. Lost
in service to Country those missing men have protected rights to dissent
and eschew traditional things. But please remember they have also protected my
right to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I fondly remember many friends and comrades for whom that
table was set. Thank you Windy City
Grille for remembering and honoring them.
UPDATE: August 30, 2019
“The Windy City Grille is winner of the 2019 “Best of the
Best” awarded by the Best In Town Network, a Knoxville-based restaurant marketing
and survey company.” Daily Times, August
30 2019.
Labels: burgers, Chicago, cocktail sauce, French fries, grill, Grille, potato chips, shrimp, Windy City
¶ 5:48 PM 0 Comments
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Gap Creek Coffee House - Cumberland Gap, Tennessee
It was only natural that a settlement would spring up at the
foot of the gap. What better place to have a blacksmith to repair the wagons, a
store to provide the needed flour, bacon and coffee? That settlement became a
Postal destination in 1803. It was incorporated in 1907. Walking the street of
Cumberland Gap it is hard to come up with just the right word to describe it
although quaint frequently comes to mind. It is almost like taking a trip back
in time and perhaps a bit of the mystique of Daniel Boon, Jim Bowie and Dr.
Walker can be felt in the air.
The wife, the dogs and I left home early for the two hour
drive to Cumberland Gap. I skipped breakfast hoping to get something to eat
once we arrived. After setting up the kennels in a shady spot I went to see
what the Gap Creek Coffee House had to offer. It is a coffee shop and not a
restaurant as such. They do offer a big selection of sandwiches and wraps, as
well as pastries with their lattes and gourmet coffees. I asked the young lady
at the counter what they might have in the way of breakfast fare. She thought
for a moment and offered me an egg, bacon and cheese grilled panini sandwich. I
placed my order; I had a choice of eat in or outside. I chose to eat in and
took a seat in one of the dining rooms to wait.
It appears the coffee shop is popular with the locals. There were several sipping their coffees while they perused their phones and tablets. Several others stopped in and got their coffee and left. There is no need for a Starbucks in this tiny community.
The sandwich, on the outside, was made of slices of mild
sourdough bread, toasted with panini grill marks but not pressed or flattened –
an asset for this sandwich. Inside the bacon had been fried to just crisp. The
cheese was hot and melted. I am not sure how they cooked the egg before it was put
in the sandwich. The gleaming egg white and bright yellow yolk almost looks
like it was a poached egg but I will probably never know. To me it was the
ideal way to make the bacon, egg and cheese panini sandwich. It was a filling
and tasty late breakfast and I appreciated it very much.
My wife, Janis, and I had different duties during the meet. As a result our meal times were staggered and we didn’t have the opportunity to eat together. At a later time she ordered a Club Wrap ($7.79 Smoked ham, smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and honey mustard on a wheat wrap.) And remember, that would be served with chips and a pickle. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of that one. Suffice it to say that she enjoyed her wrap and finished her meal. If she had made this for herself at home it is what she would expect it to be.
Cumberland Gap is in a very scenic area rich in history. We plan to return one day soon when we would have leisure time to do a little sightseeing and exploring. I think we will again frequent the Gap Creek Coffee House, sit in the shade of tall trees alongside the cool, flowing waters of the creek and enjoy another sandwich for a laid-back lunch.
Gap Creek
Coffee House
10 Pinnacle
Alley
Cumberland
Gap, Tennessee 37724
423-801-3100
The original thirteen colonies, now the United States, were
looking to westward expansion. There had already been inroads to the Ohio River
Valley. To the southwest there were
significant natural barriers. There were tales of green and fertile land to the
west on the other side of the Cumberland and Appalachian Mountains. Many men explored these far and distant lands,
men whose names you probably remember form school. There were men such as
Daniel Boone, James Bowie, Kit Carson and Lewis Clark. They followed the game
trails and explored the area bringing back stories of rich and verdant land, deep
forests with abundant wild game. But it was too far away, too difficult to
reach to be of use for settlement. Settlement needs the exchange of goods, the
farmer’s crops for the manufactured and imported goods from the Atlantic
seaboard states.
In 1750 Dr. Thomas Walker, a physician and explorer led the
first expedition that discovered the Cumberland Gap, a natural
break in the mountains near the juncture of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. It was a narrow gap but suitable for making a
mule train and wagon road across the one seemingly impenetrable barrier. The Wilderness Road was born. The way was
open for the westward expansion to "Kentuck" and "Tenasi."
It was only natural that a settlement would spring up at the
foot of the gap. What better place to have a blacksmith to repair the wagons, a
store to provide the needed flour, bacon and coffee? That settlement became a
Postal destination in 1803. It was incorporated in 1907. Walking the street of
Cumberland Gap it is hard to come up with just the right word to describe it
although quaint frequently comes to mind. It is almost like taking a trip back
in time and perhaps a bit of the mystique of Daniel Boon, Jim Bowie and Dr.
Walker can be felt in the air.
On this particular Sunday, a day that dawned hot and
glaringly sunny, we went to Cumberland Gap for a dog event, canine scent work,
a sport where dogs and handlers try to find selected odors that may be hidden
in vehicles, in rooms or in the out-of-doors.
The center of our activities that day, with their gracious cooperation
and generosity, would be the Gap Creek Coffee House. Nestled on a grassy and
wooded lot adjacent to a perennial stream, Gap Creek, the coffee house was
fashioned from a 90-year old wood frame cottage. The grassy area surrounding
the cottage offers many patio chairs and table. The covered front porch has a
swing and offers a shady vantage point to people watch while sipping your
coffee. Part of the parlor has some seating but is mostly an order area at the
counter behind which is the food prep area in the old dining and kitchen area.
The bedrooms serve as small and cozy dining rooms.
The wife, the dogs and I left home early for the two hour
drive to Cumberland Gap. I skipped breakfast hoping to get something to eat
once we arrived. After setting up the kennels in a shady spot I went to see
what the Gap Creek Coffee House had to offer. It is a coffee shop and not a
restaurant as such. They do offer a big selection of sandwiches and wraps, as
well as pastries with their lattes and gourmet coffees. I asked the young lady
at the counter what they might have in the way of breakfast fare. She thought
for a moment and offered me an egg, bacon and cheese grilled panini sandwich. I
placed my order; I had a choice of eat in or outside. I chose to eat in and
took a seat in one of the dining rooms to wait.It appears the coffee shop is popular with the locals. There were several sipping their coffees while they perused their phones and tablets. Several others stopped in and got their coffee and left. There is no need for a Starbucks in this tiny community.
My order was ready shortly. It was served on a round tray
with a fresh paper liner. My order slip and receipt and some napkins were
tucked under the paper liner. Although my egg, bacon and cheese panini was not
listed on the menu it should be noted that, “All sandwiches, melts and wraps are served with chips and a pickle
spear.” Had this sandwich been
served in a big city restaurant it would have been acceptable. Being that it
was in a small village almost in the wilderness it was a very nice
presentation. The behind the counter personnel do make an effort to make
appealing dishes.
The potato chips are not the usual chips you would get from
a bag at the grocery store. These are I guess what you would call “artisan”
chips. They are not salty and I would hazard a guess they are baked rather than
fried. Although these “healthier” chips have a following they are not what I am
used to. There was an adequate serving of these industrial grade chips. A
pickle spear served with a sandwich is a long standing tradition that seems to
have been lost in many newer chain restaurants. A nice crisp pickle, not overly
tart, a good accompaniment to the sandwich.
The sandwich, on the outside, was made of slices of mild
sourdough bread, toasted with panini grill marks but not pressed or flattened –
an asset for this sandwich. Inside the bacon had been fried to just crisp. The
cheese was hot and melted. I am not sure how they cooked the egg before it was put
in the sandwich. The gleaming egg white and bright yellow yolk almost looks
like it was a poached egg but I will probably never know. To me it was the
ideal way to make the bacon, egg and cheese panini sandwich. It was a filling
and tasty late breakfast and I appreciated it very much. My wife, Janis, and I had different duties during the meet. As a result our meal times were staggered and we didn’t have the opportunity to eat together. At a later time she ordered a Club Wrap ($7.79 Smoked ham, smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and honey mustard on a wheat wrap.) And remember, that would be served with chips and a pickle. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of that one. Suffice it to say that she enjoyed her wrap and finished her meal. If she had made this for herself at home it is what she would expect it to be.
Cumberland Gap is in a very scenic area rich in history. We plan to return one day soon when we would have leisure time to do a little sightseeing and exploring. I think we will again frequent the Gap Creek Coffee House, sit in the shade of tall trees alongside the cool, flowing waters of the creek and enjoy another sandwich for a laid-back lunch.
Summer Hours: 8:00Am - 8:00PM daily
Or National association of Canine Scent Work https://www.nacsw.net/
Late Note: There were a lot of people and a lot of dogs all
around. I asked the event coordinator if she had any feedback from the Gap Creek
Coffee House about our visit that day. She did not have any direct knowledge
but she told me one of the other entrants was asked when we might be coming
back. That is a good sign. If you would like more information about canine
scent work:
Or National association of Canine Scent Work https://www.nacsw.net/
Labels: bacon, cheese, coffee, Cumberland Gap, egg, Gap Creek, house, Kentucky, National Park, panini. wrap, pickle, potato chips, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, Tennessee, Virginia
¶ 2:59 PM 0 Comments
