by hankinslawrenceimages | Jun 15, 2008 | Food Finds
Bill and I have stopped in Boone, NC a couple times on our trips photographing along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Last year, I think we ended up eating dinner at Wendy’s. Last month, we found a great place for Bar B Que in Boone – Bandana’s Bar B Que and Grill.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
On the day we stopped in Boone, we had started the morning in Gatlinburg and driven through all sorts of bad weather, taken detours, driven on the shoulders of the road on the Blue Ridge Parkway to get around downed trees, etc. I don’t think I took more than 20 photos all day. We were ready for a good dinner that night.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Bandana’s menu is pretty standard for a barbaque place – lots of ribs, steaks, chicken, pork, and fish. Bill had the Rib and Rib Platter – since he couldn’t decide between the baby back ribs and the St. Louis ribs he went for the platter with both. The ribs were nicely smoked and moist. Without a doubt, they were the best ribs he had on our trip last month.
What won’t surprise anyone who has read any of our food finds previously – I had the barbaque chicken. It was nicely flavored if a little dry.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
Bandana’s is located at 1475 Highway 105 in Boone, NC. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Bandana’s. If you’re in the area, we definitely would recommend giving Bandana’s a try.
And in case you are wondering – the photo at the top of the this post was taken the next morning as we drove north on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Boone. It was a gorgeous spring day – blue sky, a few white clouds and incredible scenery for the drive home.
by hankinslawrenceimages | May 15, 2008 | Food Finds
Our first great food find of our recent trip to the Smokies was the Bear Camp Grill in Sevierville, TN. We had lunch there on Mother’s Day. For anyone who has heard our tales of woe about trying to find lunch in Gatlinburg last year on Mother’s Day – you’ll understand how thrilled we were to find a great place to eat this year.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
We started the morning photographing at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We headed out of the park on Rich Mountain Road. One of the photographic opportunities along the road is a view of the Cades Cove Methodist Church surrounded by trees. The drive is worth it just to see this view. Someday, I hope to get back and take a similar photo with the church surrounded by colorful fall leaves.
Cades Cove Methodist Church (c) 2008 Patty Hankins
After exiting the park, we drove along Rt 321 – and eventually came upon the Bear Camp Grill. Knowing we weren’t far out of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg – we figured it was time for lunch.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The decor of the Bear Camp Grill is an old camp lodge – the type of place hunters would go to eat while bear hunting in the Smokies. The menu is good basic southern cooking.
Bill had the pulled pork BBQ lunch – which was excellent. I had the fried chicken special. The fried chicken was incredible – probably the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. The coating was light, the chicken moist – and not greasy. I couldn’t eat both pieces for lunch, so I took the second piece back to the hotel for supper that night. The fried chicken was just as good cold as it was hot – still moist – not soggy or greasy.
The Bear Camp Grill was a wonderful find on our trip – great food, great service and very reasonable prices (lunch for 2 was under $ 25 including tip). We’ll definitely be eating at the Bear Camp Grill on future trips to the Smokies.
The Bear Camp Grill is located at 3275 Wears Valley Road, Sevierville, TN. Hours are 11 AM – 9 PM Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 9 PM on Saturday and 8 AM – 3 PM on Sunday. Phone number is 865 453 0181. Their full menu and more info can be found on their website.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Apr 23, 2008 | Food Finds
Last weekend, Bill and I spent some time in the Cambridge, Maryland area. We wanted to photograph the sunrise and hopefully some of the wildlife at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Not only did we get some great photos, we also found a new place for breakfast – J-BIrd’s Church Creek Cafe in Church Creek, Maryland.
Sunrise was spectacular – one of the best we’ve seen at Blackwater. We photographed the sunrise from Maryland Rt 335 – where the road crosses the Blackwater River.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
After sunrise, we took a couple of trips along Wildlife Loop in the refuge – lots of eagles and osprey were flying around and perched in the trees. One of our favorite trails – the Marsh Edge Trail – is closed due a pair of eagles nesting right alongside the trail.
Finally, we decided it was time to find something to eat. We’ve passed the J-Bird’s Church Creek Cafe on all of our previous trips to Blackwater – but had never stopped for a meal. This time – we went there for breakfast.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
From the moment we entered the restaurant, we suspected we’d found a great place to eat. Jay Smolins, the Cafe owner, greeted us and after hearing that we were in the area to do some photography, gave us a few tips on place to photograph that we weren’t familiar with.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The menu has pretty standard breakfast fare – eggs, pancakes, french toast, waffles, etc. I had the French Toast – it was wonderful, very eggy and not soggy. Bill had a cheese omelet with a side of sausage. He really enjoyed the sausage – very sagey. Best guess is that is it made locally.
Lunch and dinner menu includes sandwiches, salads and burgers. Jay is expanding the menu to include barbecued and smoked meats. The dinner specials the weekend we were there included lots of BBQ options.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
For those of you who’ve been reading our blog for a while – you know how much Bill like BBQ. So he suggested we stay in Cambridge all day – just so we come back for dinner. Unfortunately, we both had work to do at home – so BBQ at Church Creek Cafe will have to wait until a future trip.
Had we stayed for dinner, I’m not sure either of us would have been brave enough to try one of the specials – muskrat – either BBQ or fried!
J-Bird’s Church Creek Cafe is located at 1963 Church Creek Road (Hwy 335) in Church Creek, Maryland. If you’re familiar with the route to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the cafe is not far before the turn onto Key Wallace Drive. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch on Wednesday – Sunday and also for dinner on Friday and Saturday. You may want to give them a call (410-228-1900) to get their operating hours.
J-Bird’s Church Creek Cafe was a great place for breakfast. We’ll definitely stop there on a future trip to Blackwater. My guess is – we’ll be there for the BBQ some night in the not too distant future.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Mar 13, 2008 | Food Finds
On my last morning in town on a recent trip to Sedona, Arizona, I discovered a great little restaurant – the Coffee Pot Restaurant. Located at 2050 Hwy 89A in Sedona, the Coffee Pot is a great place to go for breakfast or lunch. Hours are 6 AM to 2 PM daily.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
They are known for the 101 different omelettes on the menu. I had a fantastic bacon and cheese omelette – one of the best I’ve had in a long time. I’ve got to wonder if anyone has ever ordered omelette 101 – the peanut butter, jelly and banana omelette!
Breakfast is served all day. For lunch, the menu includes a variety of salads, sandwhichs, soups and a variety of mexican standards.
(c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The Coffee Pot Restaurant is named for a local rock formation. It originally opened in the 1950s, and it currently in its third location in town.
Coffee Pot Rock (c) 2008 Patty Hankins
The service at the restaurant was great – efficent but not rushed – with friendly wait staff.
Next time I’m in Sedona, I’ll definately head back to the Coffee Pot for more meals. I only wish I’d found it before my last morning in town on this trip.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Jan 6, 2008 | Food Finds
It’s not uncommon for us to spend holidays out photographing somewhere. Depending on where we are – finding good food can be a challenge. In December 2007, we spent some time at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Smyrna, Delaware. We knew our biggest food challenge was going to be finding breakfast in Dover, Delaware on Christmas morning. We really didn’t want to have Christmas breakfast at a hotel breakfast bar.
On the afternoon of the 24th – we spotted the Hollywood Diner – with a sign announcing they were open 24 hours a day. A quick check confirmed that this would include all day Christmas Day and New Years Day. Problem solved – we knew where we’d be going for breakfast.
(c) 2007 Patty HankinsFrom the outside, the Hollywood Diner appeared to be an authentic old-fashioned diner. When we were seated – and started reading the menu cover (which provides some nice history on the diner), we learned that the Hollywood Diner was built by the Fodero Dining Car Company in 1954. The diner originally opened in 1955, and was one of six diners known as the Hollywood Diners of Delaware.
(c) 2007 Patty HankinsThe menu is pretty standard diner fare. Breakfast items include lots of eggs, omelets, french toast, pancakes, etc. Bill had a sausage and cheese omelet. My french toast was very good – nice thick bread, lots of egg in the dipping batter.
The Hollywod Diner is located at 123 N. Dupont Highway in Dover, Delaware. They are open 24 hours a day.
We’ve found our breakfast spot for when we’re at Bombay Hook. I’m already looking forward to our next visit (to both Bombay Hook and the Hollywood Diner.)
