Vegan Choices Asheville

Okay...

Jeff C. in Southeast

Curate - Asheville

I have eaten at both Jaleo and Curate as well. I felt the dishes were a little more daring at Jaleo (with ingredients like Uni you don't see that often at an American tapas place), but Curate is certainly a better value. In the end, I would give Jaleo a slight edge, but, you're right, they are both outstanding.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Vegan Choices Asheville

Re Plant: I'm wondering if you could be a little more specific about what dishes you had and why you felt they were bad?

Jeff C. in Southeast

More exciting Asheville news!

Stoked about the new RAD restaurant, too. I understand it is to be built from refurbished shipping containers, so hopefully the end result will be Asheville organic meets modernism.

Any idea what the target opening date is? (None mentioned in the article.)

Jeff C. in Southeast

Charleston breakfast and lunch fare

Good advice, all. Thanks!

Jeff C. in Southeast

Charleston breakfast and lunch fare

Got it. If the other location is just as good, we may avoid Mt. P. altogether. (Will be closer to Folly anyway.)

Any good breakfast spots along Folly Rd.?

Jeff C. in Southeast

Charleston breakfast and lunch fare

Are the traffic delays to get to Jack's at the West Ashley or Mount Pleasant location?

Jeff C. in Southeast

Charleston breakfast and lunch fare

Awesome, guys. Thanks so much. Dinner reservations necessary for Glass Onion?

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Thank YOU. Good to know I can get a decent soft shell somewhere besides the coast.

Chocolate, yes. (Esp. MEXICAN chocolate.)

P.S. If that chicken was really "friendly," I'd feel bad about eating it. (But I would anyway.)

Jeff C. in Southeast

Charleston breakfast and lunch fare

Wife and I will be visiting for a few days in June and are interested in casual, innovative, fresh, non-chain breakfast and lunch fare, esp., but not limited to, nuevo southern and seafood. We are staying on James Island near the river, so recs. in West Ashley, James Island, and Folly Beach are also welcome. We have already planned return visits to Taco Boy and Bowen's Island, and first visits to Glass Onion and Jack's Cosmic Dogs. Have any new local faves emerged since last summer? Thanks in advance!

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Finally got a chance to try West Asheville Kitchen & Lounge (or WALK) this weekend, and it's not bad. It's cavernous and loud, so I'm not sure how loungey most will find it, but both food and service are an improvement over their sister restaurant Universal Joint. I want to go back and try the fish tacos on Taco Tuesdays, but the sandwiches and sides we tried, including a not bad shrimp po' boy, were good. The fried pickle app. not so much--never, EVER deep fry pickle wedges, people. That's too much breading and they get even slimier (and molten hot) inside. Chips only from now on, okay? Nice selection of a dozen or so rotating draft beers, about half local. Full bar. I esp. love that it has three giant garage door-sized sliding windows to raise in the summer. Total for four, including beers, was around sixty bucks, pre-tip. Verdict: Not bad for a leisurely lunch or late bite.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Vegan Choices Asheville

Plant's menu changes daily according to seasonal availability. That's why they don't list much on their website. (FYI, for those who don't already know: Jason Sellers was the genius vegan chef at Laughing Seed before opening Plant.)

Jeff C. in Southeast

Vegan Choices Asheville

Plant. Hands down.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Update: Excellent review of the Admiral in the June/July Garden & Gun. (Now I'll have to make my resevations TWO months in advance.)

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

The macaroon pie is excellent if you like sweet and salty in equal measures. (I do.) The name is a little misleading, however, as there is no crust--it's really more of a macaroon custard with a salted caramel topping. (Hey! No crust makes it practically a DIET dessert, no?)

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Yep. Kinda sucked. But was a great place to get my drink on without fear of being seen by one of my students.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

No connection between the two Blues. The Blue Note started out as the Flat Rock Wine Shop (or "Shoppe"), which then expanded to include a restaurant, which then moved to the old Expressions location downtown under the new name.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Thanks, Nancy. Let us know if you if you find out where he is, esp. if he's still making that succulent eggplant parm!

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Danna, I was told that the former West First pasta chef moved to one of the Hendo "Blues," which I guess makes it either The Blue Note or Never Blue. Anyway, that was last fall, so who knows where he is now...

P.S. I think that shrimp dish is on the menu, but I haven't had it in years. The eggplant parm, however, is definitely not what it used to be.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Bummed that you didn't get to try it, or bummed that Chef Phillips is doing the cooking?

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Have been to The Junction twice. I'm reposting my review from the last visit here in case you missed it: Here's my post second visit two cents: First, the service was excellent and not at all slow, though I should add that they weren't all that busy at six on a Saturday night. (Maybe the Junction crowd prefers to eat late?) The dining room is echoey and a bit too spare--would it kill them to add vases or votives or something besides flatware to the chrome-topped tables? I had the Good Memory cocktail, which was a tad sweet but still one of the best tequila-based cocktails I've had. Wife had the Dark Storm (aka a Dark & Stormy), which she liked but thought not in the same league as The Admiral's (The Junction uses bottled ginger ale, for one thing). The Salmon Croquettes app. was super fresh and tasty but served on an exceptionally bland bed of green spinachy sauce with the odd piece of crimini mushroom. Entrees were the excellent if a tad overdone shortrib and the sweet tea brined fried chicken. The Junction chef is fond of stacking ingredients, which is fine with me, except when the plates are so darn small. This makes it very difficult when cutting meat off a bone to do so without also knocking perfectly good food off the plate altogether. I also felt the cloying sweetness of the chicken marred what was otherwise a fine dish. Dessert was a thin slice of "Mexican Chocolate Tart"--think dark chocolate cheesecake with hints of cayenne. This was also tasty but served without so much as a blob of whipping cream, a spig of mint, or even a dusting of powered sugar to spruce up the forlorn presentation. Total, pre-tip: $68. Verdict: Still a good restaurant, still not quite a great restaurant.

Jeff C. in Southeast

Out & About in Asheville, pt. two

Admiral--Drew Maykuth has decamped for Maine, and when we ate at the bar the other night resident genius Elliot Moss was also nowhere to be seen. Guess what? Couldn't tell the difference. Carrot bisque with celeraic and crispy leeks, SC Mahi over cheddar-tyme grits with pickled ramps, chocolate tres leches cake with salty caramel, strawberries, and spiced creme, to die for Dark and Stormy cocktails with housemade ginger ale. Still the best restaurant in Asheville and one of the best in the south. (Bonus: I hear tell Chef Moss also has a food truck in the planning stages!)

Over Easy Cafe--Finally got to try this for Mother's Day brunch. It's tiny, so expect a wait, but it's worth it. Excellent coffee and fresh pressed juices. Srawberry and cream cheese stuffed challah french toast, eggs "Benny" with avocado and cherrywood smoked bacon, nothing too sweet or salty. I want to go back and try their huevos rancheros, before I say for sure, but based on one visit, I'm thinking it may best even Sunny Pointe as a brunch spot.

Sunny Pointe--Had a late dinner there a few weeks ago, admittedly not their signature meal, but it was very disappointing compared to previous visits. Sullen service, a long wait, of the four dishes our table ordered, only the breakfast sandwich wasn't soggy or overseasoned. (My kale was so salty as to be inedible.) Off night or trend?

Storm Rhum Bar--Was there a few weeks ago for their first anniversary celebration with specials and live music (which they should do more often). Most of the early problems with slow and/or spacey service are now a distant memory, and the kitchen seems to be firing on all cylinders now as well. In fact, I had a duck breast entree that was as good as any I've had at The Admiral. Best rum cocktails I've had outside of the caribbean, too.

White Duck Taco--Still tiny, still a wait, but there may be relief soon as Chef Ben reports they'll be opening a second location soon, exact spot T.B.A. Still love the Bankok Shrimp and Carnitas tacos the best, but they've also started doing some nice side dishes, including Green Chile Black Beans and a lovely pearl couscous salad. Best dessert: Macaroon Pie with salted caramel. Margaritas are now served as well, if you're into the whole, you know, tequila thang. (I know I am.)

West First (not in Asheville, I know, but close enough)--Had my doubts after they lost their killer pasta cook, but based on two visits in as many weeks, they're BACK, baby! And let me just say this: Whatever the salad and pizza specials are, get 'em, because they WILL be good. Desserts have moved past the basic tiramisu as well. (The cake du jour especially is always uber-moist.) They even offer a few cocktails now. Oh, and still the best foccacia I've ever had anywhere. (Haven't been to Italy, though.)

Pending: Zambra (still), WALK, Strada, and the Gypsy Queen and El Kimchi food trucks, which we have thus far failed to find. (Maybe this summer...)

Jeff C. in Southeast

seeking Nashville recs.

Okay, so I've read recent posts here, looked at Trip Advisor, and the Nashville Scene's Annual Best-Of lists. So many choices I'm a bit overwhelmed, so let's do this: Same qualifications as above, but no Indian, Asian, or Sushi, and nothing over fifty bucks a person, including alcohol. (We seldom buy bottles.) Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Casual, hip, funky, neighborhood gems, classy but not stuffy. We'll only be in Nashville for about three days and will try to stay somewhere near the loop for easy access to all parts of town, including east Nashville. So, hit me with a no-fail ten or so plus the best burger in town, Nashville Hounds.

Jeff C. in Kentucky & Tennessee

seeking Nashville recs.

Found some things that were a year or two old. Will narrow my search. Thanks.

Jeff C. in Kentucky & Tennessee

seeking Nashville recs.

Wife and I will be visiting this summer and are interested in casual, innovative, fresh, non-chain breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare. We are esp. interested in nuevo southern, but any cuisine and price range is fine as long as it isn't super expensive. Full bar a plus. Thanks in advance.

Also, do The Catbird Seat and Bar 308 live up to the hype?

Jeff C. in Kentucky & Tennessee

What's new in Greenville, SC ?

We get down there about once a month as our daughter and son in-law live in Simpsonville. The Owl is now numero uno on my list of places to try in Greenville.

Jeff C. in Southeast

seeking recs for in and around Treasure Island, Florida

Makes sense...sake is a lot closer to vodka in taste than it is tequila.

Jeff C. in Florida

seeking recs for in and around Treasure Island, Florida

Hey, thanks for the link. I didn't know about this before our visit but had an inkling that cost versus profit had something to do with it. Still, I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw the words "saki" and "margarita" used in the same sentence on one menu. That's just w-r-o-n-g, people!

Jeff C. in Florida

seeking recs for in and around Treasure Island, Florida

Just back. Here's a quick report. Thanks to all.

Biggest disappointment: Waltz Fish Camp (Overpriced, overfried grouper)

Best breakfast: Beverly's La Croissett (Luscious homebaked croissants and stellar strawberry jam.)

Best lunch: The Floridian (Great Cuban Sandwiches and even better black beans and rice. Now if they only had a better beer selection.)

Best dinner: Middle Grounds Grill (Loved, loved, loved the Nut-Crusted Mango Grouper, great salads, fantastic baked goods, FULL bar!)

Best value: Cheeseburger and a beer at Sandbar Bill's (Bon Aire Resort)

Best ice cream: Scoops (esp. the salted caramel ice cream)

Solid but unspectacular: Red Mesa, Keegan's

Finally, a question: What is up with so many places serving "wine-based cocktails." Are liquor licenses really that hard to get (or expensive) in Florida?

Jeff C. in Florida