Where are we going to Eat

Where are we going to Eat?

 

Recently I was invited to attend a retirement dinner for a good friend and colleague in Nashville, TN. The reason Nashville was the location may have had something to do with the Rolling Stones Zip Code Tour and Brad Paisley. It happened that both were doing a concert in the Music City that week. Regardless, it was a great opportunity to see friends that I have not seen in the past four years since I retired. Events such as this, a retirement dinner, can be exciting yet a little depressing all at the same time. It is wonderful to visit with people whom you have spent many hours together working and enjoying the fruits of your labor, but also sad when you realize that some of them you may never see again. But that is for another story.

The morning after the dinner and retirement festivities, a few of us assembled in a room that was set up specifically for breakfast for the group. The table was adorned with muffins, fruits, a variety of breads and croissants, eggs, sausage, and French toast with maple syrup. Now no good hotel breakfast is complete without French toast and syrup. Everyone being in a jovial mood after the great time the evening before, our plates were filled and we gathered around the table to discuss the going ons from the previous evening.

Someone spoke up about the nice breakfast and I commented in a really nice way, “Yes it is but it’s not the Waffle House.” Immediately a response from someone in the crowd echoed, “I see the beginnings of a new column” and there it was.

I spent thirty-plus years on the road as a salesman traveling around the country. I loved the travel and the nice places I was able to visit. Upon retirement, I wasn’t so much concerned with how I would live or what would I do, I was more concerned with having Marriott withdrawals. Yes, you read correctly, Marriott withdrawals.

During my years of being a Road Warrior, I had the opportunity to stay in a lot of nice places and eat at some really great restaurants. Morton’s and Smith and Wollensky’s come to mind when I think of steak, Pearl’s Salt Water Grille in Savannah, Ga when seafood excites my taste buds, and even Zipperle’s in San Juan Puerto Rico where a more exotic cuisine comes to mind such as Paella, a Caribbean seafood mixture.

A lot of the years I traveled, my wife would occasionally question me as to my itinerary and I would stop and think then respond with, “I would like seafood this week, I think I will go to Florida.” My taste for a variety of cuisines determined my agenda. The wonderful thing about food is the area from which the food is best known.

All in all, I favor the southern meal. Bar B Que is fabulous in the Carolinas, the variety of sauces that are used makes the pulled pork make it delectable. It can be a little more mustardy, or sweet and even a spicy vinegar will delight the pickiest taste bud, however the best BBQ I have ever eaten comes from Jim & Nicks in Birmingham, Alabama. Whether it is the atmosphere or the way it is smoked, I don’t know, but the portions are large and the flavor is very satisfying. Catfish with hushpuppies and cheese grits is one of my favorites too.  Don’t tell me that it is all you can eat; I will definitely take you serious. Newbern’s in Florence, Alabama wins my approval when it comes to the little bottom skimmer. A family owned restaurant that stays packed, but for good reason. The service and taste of the food is impeccable. Small towns never disappoint me when it comes to food.

Knoxville TN and Athens, Ga. plays host to a great sports bar restaurant called Rafferty’s. I enjoy their large salad adorned with eggs, bacon and cheese, and coated with Thousand Island dressing.  The restaurants atmosphere makes this an excellent place to host a business lunch or simply unwind before returning to the rat race of life. A multitude of large screen TV’s keep you entertained with all the ball games as you enjoy your meal.

When it comes to Japanese Hibachi, I would be remiss if I did not let you know about Mikata’s Japanese Steak and Sushi Bar in Macon, Ga. The owner, Mr. Kim runs a tight ship and offers excellent customer service and his chefs definitely entertain you. Great food and the sushi that Tano makes, well, try it you will want to come back.

I do love a good serving of turkey and dressing, garnished with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce. In 1985, a good friend took me to a little restaurant in Chattanooga, TN, Mount Vernon. Adorned with its white columns and sitting at the base of Lookout Mountain, the restaurant is my favorite for a good southern comfort meal. You get a homey feel and with white table cloths and friendly atmosphere that says, “Ya’ll come in and have a seat.” You are sure to dine with the Chattanooga elite at this great restaurant.

During my years of travel, I have attended numerous conventions and I have eaten numerous convention meals. Convention meals tend to be cooked rather quickly so as to be able to serve everyone all at once. Nothing is worse than sitting at your table watching everyone else eat because your meal has not come out. Word of advice, if given the choice of steak, beef as they call it, chicken, or fish at one of these events, choose the fish. My experience is that the beef is tough and grisly, the chick doesn’t have much taste and the fish; well you can tell what you’re eating.

The biggest laugh I have had at a convention meal is the vegetables. Usually your plate is garnished with; a medley of steamed broccoli and zucchini, a baked potato or those little crispy green beans that I call “convention beans.” These beans show up at most all sit down, white linen table cloth affairs. They must be very inexpensive to grow and they don’t have a lot of taste, no matter how much salt you cover them in.

I could go on and on about the great restaurants I have eaten and cuisines I have enjoyed, but that would just tend to make you hungry then you would stop reading and go get something to eat.  Traveling and eating at a variety of nice establishments is fun. However, we must all go back to our roots and realize the best things in life are the things we grew up on. The childhood delicacies of Vienna sausages and saltines, hot dogs over an open fire, and Mama’s fried chicken bring back sweet memories of my boyhood.

I hope this article has made you as hungry as it has made me. I will now retreat to the kitchen for my favorite sandwich, fried bologna and cheese. Bon Appetite!!

“Life Happens”