Showing posts with label restaurant review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant review. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A Waffle House Valentine's Day

Because it's Valentine's Day (A day I hate. You will prob recall, I have written post on my disdain. Search Valentine if you dare), I thought I would rerun this cheeky/cheesey post on my cheap date from 2009. Enjoy. And lots o love!


 


Ha! How else to spend Valentine's Day than by being scattered, smothered and covered?
I took Waffle House regional manager, Calvin Stokesbary up on his offer to guarantee Big Daddy and I a "different & romantic experience" on the Waffle House. Not to mention that this idea made my penny pinching husband happy. I figured he'd get a charge out of going to work on Monday telling his coworkers how he managed to get lucky by taking his wife to WH while the others had to shell out a pretty penny on some hoitey toitey meal. And Hey! I am a adventurous one, one that likes fun....and one who doesnt get into the idea much of Valentine's Day and one that loves a big plate of hashbrowns...so what did I have to loose? I made my reservation. Yes. Reservation. Who woulda thought?
Thanks to my oldest son, Bama, Big Daddy and I had a night to ourselves. When we arrived, at the Calera Waffle House, Big Daddy and I had to wait just a short time before we were seated. Every single table was occupied by elegantly dressed couples, as if they had all just come from church or a broadway show. The Waffle House was only accepting reservations for tables. If you didn't have a reservation, those customers were seated at the bar. I asked Calvin, he said that reservations were booked through 8 PM (which was actually almost 9PM, due to the fact that they allowed a 45 minute turnover time to seat guest and feed them).



After being seated in a corner, I noticed how sweet the place was decorated. Red tablecloths on the tables, candlelight at each table, soft mood music playing, and what the waitress pointed out on the table, a big candy heart dish full of candy for each guest to take home after the meal. A nice touch! And what about that stack of heart-shaped and lip-shaped waffles that passed by!




Also noted was the lighting. Calvin told me that each globe actually has two bulbs in it, but for tonight's occasion, one of the two globes were turned off to create a cozier feel. The globes were wrapped in a red netting.


Lastly, in the corner....with Big Daddy and me....a FOX 6 News TVphotographer. How is that for romance? I was a bit embarrassed after I spotted the camera facing me. Ok, more than just a bit. I was mortified. I really needed some color on my hair not to mention a haircut and most certainly my double chin would occupy much of the shot. Big Daddy, however, wanted to take full advantage of embarrassing our sweet children at home and began to unbutton his shirt a couple buttons allowing chest hair to expose. I know. I really shouldn't even be mentioning this in a post on food, but I am being truthful here. Think John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Tell me that you know what I am talking about. Please.
I gave Big Daddy the stink eye and a few verbal threats through my fake smile. He must have known I meant business because he did button his shirt back up. For the love.....
"Excuse me, would you mind if I asked you both a few questions?" asked the photographer.
Heaven help me. Why was I freaking out so? I didn't want to be on tv. Again....my hair was the least of it. Surely he and Big Daddy saw my look of panic. Deer in the Headlights. I couldn't even speak. Me!!! What was up? I looked over to Calvin who was standing near the door, grinning from ear to ear. Were they incahoots?

"Sure! We'd love to!" answered Big Daddy. Who was this man next to me? Surely not my quiet husband, who hates attention and the spotlight. This was where I began to wonder if I was sitting in my own nightmare sequence. "I DO NOT WANT TO." I said aloud. And very convincingly, I might ad.
dream
"It's ok, you don't have to say anything. We'll let your husband talk." the photographer answered back to me. Like that helped. And with that, the camera and lights were on, capturing my panic, glistening grey hairs and double chin, for all the world...ok Birmingham and surrounding metro areas....to see. Before I knew it, it was all said and done. A pretty painless operation with exception to my stunned look...and whatever I might have mumbled into the mic about me being a cheap date. Yep, that would make the parents and kids sitting at home proud. I am trying to find the video. When I do, I will post it for a good laugh.


Onto the meal. I was in the in the mood for what the Waffle House is famous for, a plate of waffles. Big Daddy opted to be "scattered, covered and smothered, with a Steak sandwich for his main entree. I told you we are easy to please. The food was good. We left fat and sassy (forgive the use of the "F" word for effect, my children arent even allowed to use that word in our home. You know FAT, such an ugly word, but for lack of expression here).


Fat.
Sassy.
And impressed. What a cheeky.....yet cute and filling Valentine's day! That was certainly one for the books. We got scattered, covered and smothered for Valentine's Day...all for $15.00.
Did you? Don't answer that. I just hope it was a good one for you.
Links:

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Swan Coach House, Atlanta

In 1965 a group of extraordinary women established the Forward Arts Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia. These distinguished arts patrons, whose dynamic leadership was matched by their determination, transformed the carriage house of the Swan House estate into a thriving restaurant, gift shop and art gallery.

Today, in the year 2011....WE are an example of extraordinary women!

Or at least we tried to represent....
 

We had the pleasure at being at the Swan Coach House to celebrate Melissa's engagement with some priceless girl time over "chic food" and drinks! Pinky's up!

We were so happy to be able to celebrate such a special occasion at such a special place, The Swan Coach House. We arrived a little prior to our reservations so it gave us some time to look around and explore.

The Grounds:




 
Inside (which includes a fabulous and reasonably priced gift shop):







Don't think that we didn't explore ALL that this true southern tearoom had to offer. Nothing was off limits, including the ladies room! For that we took the ride up to the second floor...

We loved the ultra feminine powder room, from the sign on the door...


To the room behind it!





Dining Rooms (There are several dining rooms throughout the Swan Coach House because this once was an actual home. Today the rooms within the Swan Coach house are dining rooms and the gift shop):









We sat in this girly pink floral room as we dined.

Everything sparkled under the gorgeous pink light.
From the silver julep cups...

...To the Chandeliers overhead:


To the company:
(Sweet Melissa with sisters. Okay, really one is her delightful mother, but you wouldn't know unless I told you!)


The Food.
It was so hard to decide on what to order from the menu! Everything looked/sounded incredible! Finally, decisions made....

Melissa & Sharon ordered the Salad Sampler: One timbale each of our chicken salad, shrimp salad,and tuna salad served with seasonal fresh fruit. 14.25 substitute frozen fruit salad 15.00

Courtney & myself each ordered the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich: Southern fried green tomatoes on grilled foccacia bread with swiss cheese, mixed greens and red pepper aioli. Leigh and Courtney both got a salad as a side to the meal. 9.95

Elizabeth & Morgan ordered the Southern Crab Cakes: Two crab cakes prepared with lump crab, celery, onion blended with a light mix of seafood seasonings. Served with remoulade sauce on the side.Served with the vegetable of the day14.75



Margie ordered the Salmon Salad: Grilled salmon over a bed of mixed field greens and topped with tomatoes, scallions, and olives. 12.75

Many of the ladies ordered the The Bubbly Atlantain, the SCH signature cocktail. It consist of Champagne and jasmine liqueur shaken and served over ice,with a cherry. 7.25. They spoke highly of it. I stuck with my water with lemon.
After lunch, we spent some time admiring the artwork in the Saw Coach House Gallery:

 
We had a memoriable time at the Swan Coach house, even allowing enough time from our formal tearoom dining to ham it up...






Hmmm, Goes to show you can take girl from the hair band concert arena... the but you can't take the hair band outta the girl. No matter where ya put her. My husband might say, "I can't take you anywhere.."
Thank goodness for girlfriends.

If you are in the area....I highly recommend that you and your best girlfriends...or guy friend....check out the Swan Coach House!

Swan Coach House
3130 Slaton Drive Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30305 ph. 404 261 0636

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant in Glencoe

I love Mexican food. And it's a good thing, because all across Alabama and the south, you can find Mexican restaurants a dime and dozen per mile. So what in the world could posses me to drive about seventy miles one way to eat at one particular Mexican restaurant? Well, I am happy to share with you in just a bit. But first, I want to tell you a little bit about Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant.

Mi Casita began as a family owned restaurant and then branched off into several family owned locations, before many were sold to individual who kept the name, but were no longer family run. But there are still a few that are the exception, for example Mi Casita in Glencoe. It is still owned and operated by the Herrera family by husband and wife team, Gregorio and Adrinna Herrera ( who are grandparents, but look like teenaged fashion models). And I think they have kept some of those family secrets (besides the fountain of youth) in dishing up some authentic Mexican cuisine that makes memorable dining. Gregorio and Adrinna are both originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, but have made Gadsden, Alabama their permanent home for the past 18 years.  They have owned the Mi Casita in Glencoe for three years, which quickly became a favorite for locals.

True, you will find all of the traditional Mexican dishes that make us all so happy on their menu. But you will also find dishes like their Botana Chivitos ($8.95) that can be shared as an appetizer, or strictly guarded and consumed alone. It comes on a platter with quesadillas, beef nachos, chicken taquitos, Chorizo (Mexican sausage) chicken fingers, guacamole de la casa, cheese stuffed Jalapeno pepper and house dressing.

 And let's just talk about the Nachos Cameron ($9.25)-which is essentially Shrimp Nachos that features grilled shrimp (compete with grill marks)sauteed onions, bell peppers and mushrooms, served on a bed of crispy chips and white cheese sauce.

You can also find a Chicken and steak version too for just $8.95.

But for me, the reason I drive about 70 miles to THIS Mexican Restaurant and THIS Mi Casita is the Vegetarian Burrito ($6.25). It's unlike any other...and believe me when I say I have looked and I have tried. Nothing compares to their vegetarian burrito that fortunate for me is enough for two meals (the leftovers are highly sought after in my house).

The Vegetable Burrito is prepared by grilling onions, bellpeppers, mushrooms and what I think is the secret, potatoes. The potatoes are cut small and in my opinion taste as if they have been stewed in something heavily before added to the burrito. The vegetables are wrapped in a light flour tortilla and topped with melted cheese sauce. It is then served and kicked up with it's accompaniments of guacamole salad, sour cream and fresh pico de gallo. I request their homemade green salsa and what I call their "hot salsa" in addition, because I like trade off dipping each bite in their delicious sauces. It makes for a truly incredible meal.....one worth a seventy mile (per way) trip for this loyal customer.


Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant
512 W Main Street (Highway 431)
Glenco, Alabama 35905
(256) 494-9007
Open daily