Some friends invited me to a nice Indian restaurant called Spice Cafe. Located in the middle of university area of UNC Charlotte, Spice Cafe offers a nice selection of foods to accommodate my picky tastes.

Spice cafe at WT Harris Blvd
230 East WT Harris blvd
Charlotte, 28262
980-355-0934 and 980-355-0931

Tags: cafe, charlotte, indian, nc, spice, university

I located Cafe Gouda during a search prior to a recent trip to The Smokey Mountains. The online menu listed several items that I wanted to try.

Upon walking in and to the order counter we were presented with a huge chalk board full of items.

The Café Gouda menu offers both traditional and unique dishes, serving delicious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Menu

Cafe Gouda | 2960 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601
Phone: (828) 267-1300

Tags: breakfast, cafe, dinner, food, gouda, hickory, lunch, menu, music

After I decided not to get a steak during my visit to a steakhouse last week, the craving for a grilled dinner reappeared. A trip to Texas Roadhouse seemed appropriate on this Saturday night. We managed to arrive just in time to avoid the 45 minute waits. Fifteen minutes after checking in we were seated and browsing a menu. I determined not to let the descriptions of the non-steak items to distract me again. When my meal arrived it was one of the best looking steaks that I had ever seen. This was meant to be and I enjoyed every bite.

Tags: birthday, dancing, food, fries, roadhouse, steak, texas

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Have you ever entered a steakhouse craving a nice juicy grilled steak and ended up with a plate of chicken and rice? This is what I did during a recent visit to Long Horn Steakhouse in Rock Hill, SC. This was after a day of riding a couple of hundred miles and it was well past lunch time. After reviewing the menu the Spinach Feta Chicken jumped out to me and I had to try it. I was not disappointed

I usually have more than one mission when I book reservation at California Grill.  First, the food there is spectacular!   I’ve never had anything that didn’t provide great memories.   Second, the view from the observation deck is perfect for watching and photographing the Magic Kingdom fireworks show.  Magic Kingdom Fireworks

We have been lucky a few times to have a seat at a window overlooking the Magic Kingdom.  This most recent trip also landed us at a window table.

The flat bread appetizers are always delicious and provide a great to start to my meal.  Tonight I enjoyed the Oak-fired Filet of Beef – (Heirloom Tomato Risotto, Marinted Baby Vine Tomatoes, Basil, Tomato Butter)

The entire visit is special and I’m never in a hurry to leave.  After this dinner we move to the bar.  There’s plenty to choose from with 250 wine selections, 80 by the glass, an expanded sake list, eight kinds of craft beers and ciders and signature cocktails.

 MENU

Tags: bar, california, contemporary, fireworks, flat bread, grill, show, steak, view

“Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood at this warm, wood-paneled restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. “

We arrived here for our reservations just in time to remain dry.  Within second of entering the restaurant the clouds dropped bucket of rain that lasted for nearly two hours.   This was good for a needed break from jetting around to the desired attractions.      The caricatures are very interesting and you could possibly eat up several hours attempting to view all of them.

During this visit I ordered- Bibb Lettuce Salad drizzled with a Peppercorn-Sweet Onion Dressing, Cherry Tomatoes, Shaved Radishes, and Parmesan-Seed Frico and The Original Fettuccine Alfredo – Grilled chicken and pasta topped with Prosciuto Brittle and Parmigiano-Reggiano.  My favorite item of the meal could possibly be The Hollywood.  (2 parts Absolut Vodka, 1 part Chambord, and 6 parts pineapple juice.)

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Dine in an authentic replica of the famous Brown Derby, a Tinseltown landmark steeped in glamour and glitz. The walls are adorned with caricatures of famous faces—a tradition that began with the original restaurant—and the upscale atmosphere harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Located at Disney Studios

MENU

Tutto Italia Ristorante is my favorite Italian Restaurant on Disney property.     The atmosphere and staff do a great job of creating the mood of being in Italy.

During this visit I chose the Ceasar Salad – (Romaine wedge, olive crostini, shaved parmesan) and Ravioli a delicious sauce.

From the Disney website:

“Relax in Old World ambience as you enjoy platters of chicken, fish, handmade pasta, lasagna and more.

On the outside patio or in the airy dining room amid murals of ancient Rome and sparkling chandeliers, relish the rich, textured flavors of authentic Italian dishes from a menu created by award-winning chef and California restaurateur Joachim Splichal.

Start with a tantalizing selection of appetizers and then continue with entrees that may include pan-roasted fish, grilled steak and seasoned potatoes, and classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Delight in such decadent dolci as gelato, chocolate cake and crispy cannoli to complete your delectable dining experience.

With attentive table service, plenty of vegetarian options, a wide-ranging wine list and a full children’s menu, Tutto Italia Ristorante will satisfy Guests of all tastes and interests. Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit.”

Tags: ceasar, epcot, italian, ravioli, showcase, world

We took a lunch break from meetings and were led to an area with a great selection of food and dessert.   Tables were setup outside for us to enjoy the warm Florida weather.     The prime rib and pasta salads knocked out my hunger, but the highlight for me was dessert!    The key lime mini pies were the best.  I considered sneaking a few out to snack on during the remainder of the days meetings.

The Cabana Bar & Beach Club is somewhat hidden on the opposite side of the Dolphin resort if you are arriving from the Boardwalk area.     I’ve been here twice and itf you are lucky to grab a seat in the Cabana go for it!  It’s a great place to relax and you have a good view of the pool area.     The menu has a great variety of food from light to heavy and the beverages are wonderful!

MENU

Raleigh restaurant The Flying Biscuit has a unique menu with many selections even a picky eater like myself would enjoy.

It too a while for me to decide what I wanted to order.   Breakfast for lunch: Red velvet pancakes, grits bowl with egg and sausage and biscuit with cranberry apple. Mmmm good.

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How Many Biscuits should a biscuit maker bake?

The night before opening day, the biscuiteers all gathered around the biscuit making table to plan their first batch of biscuits. How many biscuits should we make tomorrow morning?

The baker figured she had ten friends who would stop by. Other biscuiteers thought they could round up fifteen guests each. The owners thought they could round up a dozen or so and they wanted to make a few extra – so 90 should be plenty…they didn’t want to have too many leftover.

The next morning at 7am, The Flying Biscuit served its inaugural breakfast. Customers got their first taste of those now-famous “flying” biscuits. The first batch of biscuits sold out at 11am, and The Flying Biscuit had to close the doors for the day, wondering if 120 biscuits would be enough for day 2.

As the story goes they were wrong again. On an average week now, the biscuit makers bake close to 5,000 biscuits per location.”