Good Dog

A valiant effort but a Chicago hot dog fan is hard to please. This was from Chattanooga's Good Dog, one of but a few hot dog only places in the Chattanooga area. They get points for creativity with the "Dog Dust", a mysterious powder in a pepper grinder that has a definite taste of curry.

Dine-o-meter presents the Art-o-mat

The art-o-mat is a refurbished, vintage, cigarette machine from which comes tiny works of art for $5 each. Chattanooga's art-o-mat can be found at Create Here on Main street.

Cupcakes

GiGi's Cupcakes,
Chattanooga TN

Lime Margarita and Texas Chocolate cupcakes from GiGi's. Such pretty frosting-- until the cat got curious about what was in the box and knocked it off the counter. The box landed upside down with all the frosting squished to the top.

Making Fun of the Rich

This house is for sale in the Chattanooga area for 4.9 million dollars.

To which I can only say one thing: "Suck it Beverly Hills!"

You know you have too much money when a helicopter is required to get a complete view of your house.

The living room has a very modern feel. If your last name is Flintstone or Rubble.

The kitchen is heavily laden with that wonderful, finger print attracting substance know as stainless steel. Ideal for a kitchen if you're not the one cleaning it.

A round bedroom. If only it rotated.

With so many chairs, I am gonna assume this must mean the house was built as a refuge for orphaned children, probably with cancer. The owners are now selling it because they have managed to place all the poor, parentless children with families. I am sure this is correct because why else would someone need so much space for a single family.



Is anyone else thinking "Beam me up Scotty" right now?

White chairs in the dining room. The help must just LOVE these people.

And white chairs in the living room.

The following must be imagined as being said in the voice of Thurston Howell III: "Muffy darling, I don't know WHY the help keeps quitting. After we bought those black mastiff pups and had the red wine gala to celebrate, they all just left! Makes absolutely no sense to me. Oh bother Muffy, I just spilled my chardonnay"

Because they wanted to recreate the look of the Northgate library in their own home. (This is only funny if you live in Hixson Tennessee)

The house is described as being designed with Frank Loyd Wright influences. I have been to many FLW houses in my time and was not impressed. Very poor tippers.

Roman pillars... so this must be the vomitorium?

Ok now I hate these people. An indoor pool.

This view makes me feel less bitter. It's looking a little Holiday Inn-ish from this angle.

And by the way, Capitalism: A Love Story is playing this week at both the Rave and the Bijou. Saw it yesterday and loved it!

The Boathouse, Chattanooga Tennessee

The Boathouse,
Chattanooga Tennessee


I've decided that I don't really like most of the food at the Boathouse but will continue to return. That is because I love the view from the deck which, on weather pleasant days offers a relaxing view of the river that one can stare placidly at while eating their dry sandwiches and funny smelling coleslaw (seriously, it smells like fish). The freshly made guacamole is wonderful and probably the best thing they serve. So if you're smart, you will order that with a beer and then go home and make yourself a sandwich. Ok, the grilled greenbeans are good too. But, items claimed to be specialties, like the Voodoo Chicken--deep fried chicken with flavorless black beans and rice-- are rather dull.

The featured cocktail at the Boathouse is the Brazilian lime, sugar, and rum drink the caipirinha which, according to Wikipedia, the name "caipirinha" is derived from the word "hillbilly. " Should we be offended by that?

Crust Pizza

(the Gigantor pizza, and a picture of the retro 70's inspired tables)









Crust Pizza
Red Bank TN

http://www.crustpizza.com/ (Check out the South Park inspired character on the Crust website)


Crust Pizza is a restaurant that touts it's "Famous Thin Crust". They use fresh ingredients and even make their own salad dressings, such as the rosemary French, for which they deserve many extra credit points. The salads are huge with chick peas, topped with that home made salad dressing. The pizza was good, but the sausage, I think, can sometimes be dry. The pasta dishes are flavorful but served in metal bowls which seems to continue the cooking resulting in what ends up being overcooked noodles.

I can't talk about Crust without mentioning the groovy 70's inspired design. The walls and tables are decorated in pop culture memorabilia and bring back memories. From those advertisement parody stickers once found in bubblegum packets (Wacky Packs, remember those?), to Sleestaks and Puff N Stuff. The menu items also have retro inspired names such as the Sigmund and the Mighty Isis pizzas.

I have eaten here many times and would definitely recommend the lunch buffet option which includes a huge salad and several different kinds of pizzas.

Dine-o-meter rating 70%

McKay's Used Books

Anyone traveling through Tennessee might want to consider stopping at McKay's in either Knoxville or Chattanooga. Unlike many other used bookstores, McKay's is well organized so it's much easier to find what you are looking for. The stores themselves are huge. Knoxville has a two-story cavernous warehouse sized building with an elevator which goes to the music loft. Because of the huge selection, traffic is high at both stores, even at midday when you'd think people would be at work or school.

So why do these interior McKay's photos show a nearly empty store? Knoxvillians and Chattanoogans would assume they were taken before the store opens as it is pretty much crowded at every other time. The pictures were actually taken at about 4pm, when the store should be in full swing.

That's because this is the new Nashville store! Nashvillians have not yet discovered McKay's leaving lots of good stuff still on the shelves not yet picked over by bookaholics, musicholics, and movieholics, looking for a good bargain.

I traded in old CD's, audiobooks, and DVDs and earned enough in trade to get the latest David Sedaris book and one other, both on CDs and unabridged, for the $40 in trade that I earned.

There was a contest?

Of the 17,000 No Reservations commercials the Travel Channel broadcasts daily, why didn't I notice they were having a contest to select a location? I would have entered Chattanooga for sure. Saudi Arabia was chosen because Tony (the host of the show) has "misconceptions." 15 of the 19 hijackers were from there he says. Although none of the hijackers were from Chattanooga, we do have a criminal element. Our Sheriff was arrested for money laundering, accepting bribes, and purchasing a gun from an FBI agent. The almost too ridiculous to believe FBI document detailing the crimes reads like a Coen Brothers movie script. If you Google "worst mayor ever" our very own Chattanooga Mayor tops the list and has inspired a website dedicated to his idiocy.

















And people think we all dress like this lady, who greeted visitors last Saturday, coming to have their crap appraised on the Antique Roadshow. (A shout out to my friend who found out that the painting her family likes to use as a target for hitting golf balls, is actually worth as much as something you would hit golf balls at. Bummer. Welcome back to poverty land my friend.)

This Saudi Arabia episode will be interesting because not only is it rarely ever featured as a travel destination, it is a county without alcohol. Lets see how long it takes before Tony starts to sweat and have hand tremors. If he wanted to go to a place where alcohol is illegal, we could have taken him to a few dry counties right here in Tennessee, like the county where Jack Daniels is produced. It's always been an interesting little factoid that although they make Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, you can't buy it or any other alcohol there.

Hey! Maybe Samantha Brown could do a Great Weekends, Middle East series. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Turkmenistan. Now that would be fascinating.







UPDATE: The Saudi Arabia episode was excellent and gives a completely different perspective on life in that country than what is typically perceived. The view of cooked camel hump was nauseating, the enclosed fast food booths in which to eat your chicken nuggets in private, interesting. But what was most intriguing to me was the contest winner Danya Alhamrani. She was born in Bismark North Dakota and divided her time between Saudi Arabia and North Dakota. She is a film maker. I want to know more about her and her life and you would think others would too, but as of this morning only three people have posted questions for her on her message board. My question is: When are you going to write a book about your life?

Chattanooga's Salvadoran Cuisine

I have written about this particular restaurant once before, but I wanted to add an update. I found this video of Chattanooga's Taco Rico which shows pupusa preparation and has some good shots of the food served there. The narrator is the son of the owner, and he is much cuter in person.




I also thought I would add more info on the type of foods served there.




Plaintain chips with red, green, and chimichurri sauces. Chimichurri is a sauce made with spices and olive oil. According to Wikipedia, it originated in Argentina but is used as far north as Central America.


This is an empanada. This one is filled with meat but you can also get dessert fillings. I tried one filled with sweetened yucca although I didn't particularly like that one.


The Plate of Day, a beef stew with rice and beans. It's served with tortillas on the side and is a good value at only $6. I would definetely recommend this restaurant if you want to go out to eat but are short on cash.

The unfortunately non-alcoholic mango drink comes in this decorative large glass. I tried a new juice type drink, the "maranon." A different taste that the waitress described as less sour than the maracuya (passion fruit) I had on my last visit. The waitress also informed me that this particular fruit is good for digestion.

Ethnic Grocery Store: Russian/East European

Euro Food
Chattanooga Tennessee




Pretty tea tins.








Imported jams.




Euro food is a relatively new ethnic grocery store in Chattanooga, specializing in imported foods from Europe, with a heavy bias towards Russia and East European countries. Among the selection are a Greek caviar spread, luncheon meats, German noodles, vegetable salads in vinegar, teas, and chocolates. There are also a few magazines for sale and if you are missing your Russian crossword puzzles, this is the place to find it.



Euro Food (423) 855-3192 6940 Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN

Southern Cuisine

The Southern Star
Chattanooga Tennessee



Chicken pot pie, cucumber salad, and stewed tomatoes.






A very thin and lacy type of cornbread.





Pepper juice is often poured on greens in the south. They don't use the peppers, just the juice. Odd for those of us who grew up in Chicago, where we used the peppers on hotdogs, but not the juice.

The Southern Star is a restaurant that I would probably recommend to Chattanooga visitors as a good place to go for Southern food. The mashed potatoes are real, the vegetables fresh, and the decor pleasant. Recently opened in their new location (I think they have moved about three times), they are now easier to find than in their last location.

To read a full review, written by an actual, true southerner, click here.

Chattanooga Video

Finally. Someone appreciates our small city. Here is a video showing some of the rejuvenation efforts among the small business owners in Chattanooga and a look at our public spaces. Kinda creepy that this man takes covert photos of people though. I watched the video three times, concerned that there might be a shot of me somewhere, adjusting a wedgy.

The English Rose

The English Rose
Chattanooga Tennessee




Elegant china tea pots surround you in this former historic hotel turned English tea room. The English Rose is located across from the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo, thus the history as a hotel, as it was the ideal location for newly arrived train passengers to Chattanooga.

It's a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a pot of tea, which will arrive at your table dressed properly with a tea cozy. The tea is probably the best in the city and despite frequent attempts, I have never been able to match the taste in my own kitchen.

The food consists of dishes such as cottage pie, bangers, and Dover sole. The desert menus include sherry trifle, sticky toffee pudding, and lemon cheesecake. All food is carefully prepared and tasty. The staff is authentically British. There is also a small store selling imported British delicacies (my favorite is the rose flavored Turkish Delight) and eclectic gifts.




Dineometer rating: 90%

Farmer's Market

Today was opening day for the Chattanooga Market, our local, weekly farmer's market featuring locally grown produce, handmade items, music, and food. It was good to see that it was sold out for vendor booths, and hopefully, will continue to sell out. There were some new food booths that I am looking forward to trying, including the Yellow Deli, which also has a restaurant in town that recently re-opened (thanks Tut-Tut for the tip). I have heard that the Yellow Deli has an extremely interesting history, and is well loved among late night party animals. I hope to venture a visit in the near future.

I much prefer getting my produce, which frequently was picked just the day before if not that morning, from the farmer herself. It's early in the growing season so mostly what is available so far (in our area) is only a few herbs and small plants. I purchased honey today directly from the lady who stole it from the bees herself. A friend told me that honey produced locally has the greatest health benefits. It's one of those things that I am just going to take her word for, since I am too lazy to research this for myself.

El Salvadoran Cuisine

(above) El Salvadorian beef stew with rice, beans, tortillas and plantains; authentic tamales served in banana leaf; the pupusa served with a cole-slaw like salad.


Taco Rico
Chattanooga Tennessee

It's good to see that Chattanooga's only El Salvadoran restaurant finally has a substantial lunch crowd. This place seems to be growing in popularity with a gradual increase in customers over the last few months, based solely on my unscientific observations. If you have not tried El Salvadoran food, here is what you can expect:

The Pupusa: Pupusas are thick tortilla like rounds filled with cheese, meat, or some type of vegetable. Served with a side of curtido that is used as a topping for the pupusas.

Curtido: Cabbage-like salad. Reminds me of cole-slaw.

Loroco: This is a filling available in the pupusa. It is an edible flower.

Tamale: Meat or cheese cooked inside of corn meal. At this particular restaurant, the tamales are cooked inside banana leaves rather than the usual corn husk, which, I think, makes them even more flavorful and moist. Dare I say, Taco Rico has the best tamales in Chattanooga.

Plantain: Similar to a banana, usually served fried as a side dish with your meal.

Maracuyá: A flavor of fruit drink that is sometimes available at Taco Rico (and probably other Central American restaurants). I don't know much about this type of fruit, but maybe our friends over at the Fruit Species website can give us some info (hint, hint).


These are by no means the only items on the menu, just some of the ones you might not be familiar with. I had the Plate of the Day which was a beef stew (see photo above) served with tortillas, rice, and plantains. Beans were also served, but they were whole beans, not the refried variety that is seen in most local Mexican restaurants. A fellow customer suggested I try a bottle of coke, because it is imported from Honduras and is made with sugar cane rather than what coke is usually made of in this country, whatever that is.

With extremely reasonable prices, and flavors that are different but not too exotic for the less adventurous, Taco Rico would be an excellent alternative to Mexican restaurants for lunch or dinner. And for those of you not near Chattanooga, if you happen to see a restaurant serving pupusas, maybe now you will give them a try.

Taco Rico, Dine-o-meter rating: 80%

See the review here: http://www.dineometer.com/browse_reviews.php?id_b=149

Chattanooga View

Photos taken in Chattanooga Tennessee recently. These are not representative of our entire city, and in fact I took them because of the unusual, European feel in this particular small corner. Can any of the Chattanooga readers identify where these were taken?

Taco Roc: The New Black

Taco Roc is the new La Altena of Chattanooga and I mean that in a "Is the new black sort of way." It's trendy and lots of business types in suite and/or high-heels/ties, go there as do actual authentic, non-English speaking taco aficionados. This is probably due to the owners advertising on both NPR and Spanish language radio. I see this as an excellent business move and feel that it shows a strong awareness of potential customer bases. As for the food, they offer the best tacos in Chattanooga. If I said that any other taqueria offers the best tacos in Chattanooga, I have changed my mind.

I found the pollo tinga tacos to be very flavorful and not dry, like chicken tends to be at other Mexican restaurants. The tacos al pastor were almost (sorry) as good as what I get in Houston or Mexico. They also provide a selection of aguas frescas ("waters") such as pineapple, watermelon, tamarind (not my favorite), and horchata (which is described as a rice water but tastes like sweet milk) that are an excellent change from the usual soft drink. You will also have the opportunity to add your own onions, cilantro, and salsa to your food as you like you it.

The seating is ridiculously cramped at lunch due to the current Taco Roc craze in Chattanooga but on the bright side, you may get to share a table with a stranger and end up making a taco lovin' friend. We were seated at the table next to the door, and everytime it opened, we instinctively grabbed our napkins and covered our tacos from the cold gust of air that would blow past. We ate with our coats on. Eavesdropping on conversations (not hard to do since I was practically sitting in the lap of the people at the next table) it seems that everyone expects Taco Roc to expand to a larger location. Excellent idea. Lets just hope they don't trendy themselves towards crappiness.

Dineometer rating 90%

http://www.dineometer.com/write_review.php?id_b=143

Aretha Frankenstein's

Aretha Frankensteins
Chattaooga Tennessee


A cute name and a visit from Rachael Ray do not a great restaurant make. Aretha Frankenstein's is popular with college students, who survive mostly on Ramen Noodles and grilled cheese sandwiches made with their irons, and thus can not necessarily be considered the most descerning of palates when it comes to food quality and taste. I have only payed one visit to Aretha's, pre-fire, with a group of above college age women. We all pretty much had the same reaction then, as do many of the people I have pressed for opinions lately: "Eh. "


Not "Ewww", just, "Eh. "


I haven't been back, not that I don't want to, just that there are a few other restaurants with food above "Eh" that I would like to try. Now, Rachael Ray had an orgasmic reaction during her visit when filming an episode of $40 a Day, but then she often seems to have this reaction to food and so her opinion cannot be trusted either.

So imagine my suprise when I found that Aretha seems to be branching out into prepared pancake mixes. Who wouldn't want to buy a pancake mix with a catchy name and threats on the back that you are not to use fake eggs or real milk (something like that--I didn't actually buy a box) or bad things will happen to you.

I plan to keep an open-ish mind and venture a visit to Aretha's in the near future, in the name of thorough research. Maybe I will even buy a box of pancake mix but I am going to use fake eggs dammit! Try and stop me Aretha!


Stay tuned.

http://www.dineometer.com/

La Costa Chattanooga

La Costa
Chattanooga Tennessee

Typical mexican food, served on huge platters, and with a free side of bean dip. The ambience is less than thrilling, with Pepto Bismal pink walls, no music (unless you count the radio in the kitchen), and florescent lighting. The location is at near the foot of Signal Mountain in what was once a successful Italian restaurant (that moved to a larger location and then quickly went out of business). But the service at La Costa was fast and friendly, and the food adequate.


www.dineometer.com