UPDATE: this was set to post before I realized what date it was scheduled (9/11). Rescheduling to a Wednesday that might feel a little more whimsical…
Maybe just a note (or two) of love today…💗
weekly
Tuesday’s Treats #181
Mezzaluna Brick Oven Tap House
Location: Hendersonville, NC
This place is a great place to enjoy a nice lunch. It has a great atmosphere, and the staff is friendly. There are nice wooden booths, tables and chairs and a large high top bar. If you have a really large party, they’ve even got a really cool HUGE booth that will seat a gazillion. lol.
What is surprising is the menu. The host gave us about four of them, a regular lunch menu, a daily specials, a daily lunch cordials and then, the wine list. For the most part, it seems to be an italian fare, with build your own pizza (wood fire, brick oven), calzones, etc. However, the surprise was on the daily specials, they offered grilled swordfish, Chilean Sea Bass and grilled salmon and chicken marsala. It doesn’t really strike you as a “fancy” italian restaurant, but the menu defining offers it.
The cheese moons, pepperoni pizza, lasagna and calzone we ordered were all amazing. The cheese moons are just like mozzarella sticks, except in the shape of half moons, and they are yummy. Our son asked for Parmesan for his pizza, and the waiter brought fresh grated Parmesan on a side plate. Wow. The lasagna was like homemade, and I was so thankful I ordered the lunch special of 1/2 an order and a side salad. I could barely finish it, and my husband ate some of the salad. It was definitely a generous portion. The calzone was chocked full of the ingredients (you decide), and the crust was very tasty and just the right consistency: soft on the inside, cooked with a bit of a crunch on the outside and bottom.
Friday Fun Day
What’s your Friday like? Is it a crazy day chaos leading into the weekend? Is it a mundane day of grind, constantly watching the clock for that 5:00 hour? Is it a dreaded day of misery, as everything must be done in such a way, and by such a time, only to wait in misery on the highway to final reach your destination hours and hours later?
Or maybe you have the day off today? Is it an unusual treat for you, or maybe you have a normal four day week? For me, as a stay at home mom, and we have our kids in a hybrid homeschool, today is usually an off day. Our oldest goes to work for the day, and our youngest has studied to complete.
Yet, today isn’t quite an off day; it’s found a bit of dread in it. Today, I have to do what hundreds (maybe thousands) of women hate to do. I have to go get an exam. Thankfully, it’s thermography rather than the other dreaded procedure, but still, not a joyous adventure for me. 😳 The joys of being a girl, I suppose. We will just make the best of it…
Well, let’s get this over with. Happy Friday, and everyone! 😉
What is your Friday going to be like today?
(Not so) Whimsical Wednesday
Listened to this song for the first time today. Don’t know why I haven’t ever heard it before, but it speaks a message today. On this 18th anniversary of a horrific day in our history, I will remember. I will cherish, and I will never forget.
It’s not about a political party. It’s not about a race, a religion, or a heritage. It’s not even about a personal opinion or thought.
This was a day that radicalism thought it could rule. This was a day when hatred filled hearts surmised they could win. This was a day when evil consumed souls believed they had the upper hand and could bring down a powerful, mighty nation.
9/11 will forever be a day of remembered terrror, heartbreak and death. Yet, 9/12 will forever be a day remembered of a nation uniting to bring rescue, support, encouragement and comfort. The two days shall ever be etched in the memory blanks of my legacy.
This is a realization of what purpose can expose. This is a revelation of what a common bond can bring. This is a testament of what unity can do.
For evil and for good.
Never forget these days in your retelling of truth and of history. Share the brokenness, revel in the heroics and cherish the patriotism. Never forget, a people bound together in one cause, one focus, one goal can accomplish the unthinkable.
America, never forget.
Tuesday’s Treats #180
Downtown Chocolates
Location: Brevard, NC
Ok, so I don’t usually post a strictly dessert place on the blog, but this place is worthy! The chocolates are absolutely amazing!! They MAKE their own peanut butter. Now, look, I know when some of you read that, you think, “Like the grocery store, ‘grind your own pb’ kind??” NO! This is like silky smooth, best you’ve ever tasted kind! Wow!
They have short hours; so be sure to check the website or call to assure they’re open. *Note, FB hours state 10am-7pm, but we’ve been in town 3 different weeks when the hours have fluctuated. 😉
Tuesday’s Treats #179
Cantina 76
Location: Greenville, SC
The downtown of Greenville, SC is a great place for shopping and eating; so, even pursuing TripAdvisor makes it tough to decide where to eat. (There’s only 711 restaurants from which to choose! 😳😜) Cantina 76 was listed in the top 200, and it was close there where we were walking; so, we decided to give it a try.
Now, if you know anything about cantinas, they’re typically a little more expensive than your local “authentic” Mexican fare, and Cantina 76 doesn’t disappoint. They even charge individually for salsa! However, everything was incredibly fresh, and they had a trio app that came with three salsa/quest choices. So, we decided to not resent the choices too bad. Lol.
Our oldest got the teriyaki chicken and buffalo chicken tacos (individual, not mixed). Wow! Crazy good!! Our youngest got rice and beans. My husband got 3 beef and cheese tacos, and I got one beef and one roasted chicken. Each of the tacos were great, but I would have to say the roasted chicken was my favorite. My husband and eldest son would say the buffalo chicken was the best. Our youngest would say the bean dip was the absolute best. oh, Ana the salsa is phenomenal!
There are a variety of tacos to choose, and there are a few other items on the menu, but you’re not going to find all the extensive “authentic Mexican” menu items.
Here is the website to find menu and location.
Tuesday’s Treats #178
131 Main (@Biltmore Village)
Location: Asheville, NC
I’m not sure I can say enough GOOD about this place! Oh. My. Goodness! Everything was absolutely incredible, from the iron skillet cornbread to the fresh catch mahi mahi, from the Caesar salads to the cheeseburger and hickory plank grill salmon to the chef’s special filet medallion. Be assured, all the ingredients are fresh, even the seafood is shipped in fresh every morning from the coast, never frozen. The sides of fries, white cheddar grits and red-skinned potatoes were also delicious.
Yet, we’d have to say the desserts were rightly tied for the most delicious dishes. First, they were huge servings, and second, they were the best homemade brownie and key lime pie we think we’ve ever had (and we’ve been to The Keys)! Honestly, it was totally unexpected. Usually, you get a little slice of key lime and a generic type of brownie, but their desserts are all made in-house, and it shows! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!
Please note, the menu prices are not incredibly cheap; so, be sure to take your wallet. 😂 It’s so very worth it!!
Tuesday’s Treats #177
Ian & JoJo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Location: Waynesville, NC
This place was AMAZING!! They have only been open for about four months (about 6 when this posts), and they’re doing a fantastic job! The restaurant has a nice comfortable feel, and there are both booths and tables and chairs from which to choose. They also have a large meeting room for big families or gatherings.
The food was absolutely incredible. We ordered the stuffed garlic knots to begin. Oh. My. I could have just made those my meal! The garlic and butter made the rolls delicious, but then add the mozzarella and pepperoni… Holy! Moly!
Our youngest ordered the pepperoni pizza, and our oldest ordered the fettuccine Alfredo. My husband ordered the chicken panini, and I ordered the lasagna. Everything tasted fresh, homemade, and incredible. We would have to say the lasagna ‘took the prize.’ You could taste each individual ingredient, but they blended to create a culinary ‘phenomenon.’ As our oldest said, “It’s like an explosion of flavor in your mouth!” DELICIOUS!!
The owner even came to our table after we were done to make sure everything was satisfactory. She was precious.
Tuesday’s Treats #176
KTCHN
Location: Brevard, NC
This place has a great atmosphere and really good food. The servers were nice, and we left full and happy. The vegetable beef soup we ordered as an appetizer was incredible. The special of the day was chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and our son ordered “Lola’s Mac and cheese” with it. The chicken was a tad bit dry but had a great taste. The Mac and cheese was just like homemade and AMAZING. Our youngest ordered pepperoni pizza, and it was delicious. My husband ordered the prime rib sandwich, and it was very tasty. I had the chicken sandwich with bacon and an herb mayo. I don’t even like mayo, and it was incredible. They had several other items on the menu we’d have like to try. Maybe we’ll be back one day.
*Btw, yes, that IS the correct spelling! 😉
Tuesday’s Treats #175
Square Root
Location: Brevard, NC
We are here three times during our vacation. The first two times were absolutely amazing…the third time, maybe not so much. The atmosphere is great, but if you want a corner or wall seat, you need to make reservations or arrive early. It gets crazy packed. There is also nice outside seating for both lunch and dinner.
The pretzel barrel app is crazy good! The pretzel is delicious along with the smoked Gouda, Swiss, salami, ham, pimento cheese, and mustard…the fried black eyed peas weren’t quite my taste, but you might like them.
Like I mentioned, we ate here a total of three times. The salmon on cedar plank is so very good. The first time, my husband ordered it as it is on the menu, but the next time, he ordered it with pimento cheese grits. Oh. My. The egg battered fried grouper sandwich, on a pretzel bun, is very tasty. The burgers are amazing, and our son loved the kids pepperoni pizza.
The second time we were here, my husband had his salmon on the grits, and I ordered the chicken marsala, and both were Oh. My. Word. Amazing!!
The third time we ate here, the pretzel board and the pizza was still amazing; however, the grouper sandwich, BLGT (bacon, lettuce and fried green tomato) and rabbit gumbo, maybe not so much. The waitress was kind enough to remove the sandwich charge, and we went next door for chocolates; so, all is good. 😉 oh, and the sides were all tasty: sautéed zucchini, fries, salad, fried zucchini slices.
The desserts were scrumptious; even if the key lime pie didn’t have a stitch of key lime in it! 😂 It actually was an amazing taste of sweetened condensed milk creamy goodness on an Oreo crust. The tuxedo cake was also delicious with it’s three different, creamy chocolate-y goodness.
the grizzle grist mill 