Barbecue Party Fun

Posted on June 26, 2014June 26, 2014 by Dusty Roads

In spite of the annoying trek into Boston and the difficulty getting into the event, the Phantom Gourmet’s Barbecue Party was a lot of fun. The entrance fee at the door was only $10.00 This did not include food or drink. That would have been too much to ask.

The crowds were manageable and I didn’t see anyone intoxicated. The Beer Garden was a great place to grab a seat and watch the crowds. A DJ had the music rockin’ and the weather was perfect.

What seemed to be a high point was a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The winner gets to move on to the big contest at Coney island. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves? I couldn’t watch!

In fact, I found that my 4 ribs from the Chicago Barbecue had me filled up completely. I wanted to try the Tennessee Barbecue.

I’d really liked it when I was in Tennessee and I’d promised a taste of Barbecue from down under, The Aussie tent. Didn’t make that either.

But sitting in the shade in the beer garden, listening to the music and watching the crowds was a great afternoon.

Got Kids?

Posted on June 20, 2014June 20, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Got Kids? I don’t but I “borrow” a couple every now and then when the urge to be maternal overtakes me. Well behaved kids are cute, even fun to be around. Sadly I see fewer and fewer well behaved kids when I’m out and about. Must be a sign of old age. I’m sure the same was said of my generations and we’re no worse than any other.

But I digress, I wanted to share a really cute idea. In fact I watched this amuse and entertain a bunch of kids for a whole afternoon.

Next time your kids complain about not having anything to do don’t plunk them in front of the TV or the computer with a video game. No! Give them a potato.

Give them some paint, pipe cleaners, paper and plastic wheels.

When I was a kid we cut a raw potato in half, then carved a design in the bottom. Once the carving was done we dipped the end in paint and stamped the paper. We made stars and lines and circles and all sorts of things. Tater Art!

Or maybe carving them like a pumpkin? But maybe you don’t want your kids to play with sharp objects. Ok then how about sticking some plastic wheels in your tater car?

Paint it, decorate it and race it. Oh that kept the kiddie’s occupied for the whole afternoon.

But you have to watch out for Tater thieves. Yup! They will sneak up and make off with your precious raw material.

Look out he’s got one! (Who said don’t play with your food?)

Smokey Mountain Shakes-N-Dawgs

Posted on May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I have to put in a food “plug”. After my morning owner’s meeting I headed out to drive the Gatlinburg By-Pass and find Cades Cove but first I needed some lunch.

I was looking for a place the concierge recommended. I thought they said “The 3 Bears” but I hadn’t spotted it when I saw Smokey Mountain Shakes -N- Dawgs. It had room to park so I figured I’d grab a hot dog and be on my way.

First of all they advertise that this is the “Home of the Moonshine Dawg”. The owner was at the grill when I stepped in. As I put in my boring order for a naked dawg with mustard I asked him to tell me what a moonshine dawg was. Of course it’s a secret family recipe. But he did say they soak the dawgs in moonshine. The moonshine infuses the dawgs with a unique flavor. He assured me the alcohol cooks off. (Sure it does). He asked me if I wanted one but I decided to pass. I had places to go and things to see.

But I did decide to indulge in a “shake”. I figured It would be a long time until dinner so I ordered a chocolate shake. They only have 1 size and it came with the straw standing straight up. MacDonald’s can’t compare. I requested a spoon because that’s the only way that shake was going to get eaten. It was awesome.

It’s a family owned business and they are real friendly folks. Seating is limited to only about 6 small tables. There’s a long list of toppings going by names like Choo Choo Dawg (beef dawg wrapped in bacon and deep fried and served with cheddar cheese on a toasted hoagie and topped with a special sauce), Super Purple Cabbage Slaw Dawg, Mac Shells -N-Cheese Dawg and so on. The list is too long for this space.

Strawberries seem to be the desert specialty and they are fresh. The owner was ordering them by the pallet while I was having my lunch.

If you get to Gatlinburg you won’t go wrong with a stop here…103 Mills Park Rd (at the corner od highway 321 and Mills Park Rd, Gatlinburg.)

Ole Smokey Moonshine

Posted on May 20, 2014May 20, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I had to try it. I’m not much of a drinker anymore, not like in my younger , wilder days. Drinking makes me tired and leaves me with a head ache even when it’s just a little so I usually abstain. But you can’t go into the southern hills of Appalachia and not sample the moonshine. I admit I was curious.

There’s still a difference in what is commercially available and legal and what the “old timers” brew in their homemade stills in the “hollers”. From what I was told that stuff will curl your hair. Its more than 100 proof and nothing smooth about it.

The highest proof alcohol that can be sold legally is 100 proof. At the Moonshine tasting that was where it started, at 100 proof and worked downward.

At each tasting station a bartender stood in back of a row of bottles, 2 clear and about 5 colored and a jar of maraschino cherries. As soon as you step up to the rough board bar he plops a tiny shot glass in front of you. It’s about the size of a thimble.

We started with a 100 proof version that had been distilled 4 times. There was no aroma or bouquet to speak of even though we all lifted it up to sniff it first. It didn’t have lot of taste either but it did have heat. You toss it back and swallow, no rolling this stuff on the tongue. That heat starts in the mouth and runs down your throat until it slams into your stomach. In my case it roiled around there a bit then started spreading through the rest of me.

Almost immediately it was sample number 2. That one was also 100 proof and he called this one White Lightening. This one had only been distilled twice so it wasn’t as smooth as the first one. This one followed the trail blazed by that first mini shot and my eyes might have crossed. I liked this one. It may not have been as smooth but it had character, body. I wasn’t sure it was going to like me. But eventually it settled down.

We now moved to the flavored versions. The bartender told us to expect something like Boonsfarm. Everyone in my group remembered Boonsfarm, that cheap apple wine we drank in college. The thought of that was enough to make me hesitant but these flavored versions are only 40 proof. The first one was Peach.

It was Peach alright and sweet! Definitely not to my taste. We moved onto the cherries. They were in a bottle of moonshine. I skipped the cherries but my tasting neighbor said that they went off like a bomb in your mouth. I’m not sure what the next few were. I think there was a blackberry and maybe a “punch bowl” but I skipped those too. I was waiting for the alleged crowd favorite..Apple Pie.

Apple Pie tasted suspiciously like that afore mentioned Boonsfarm. I didn’t give it very high marks. Nope my favorite had to be the 2nd kind, the 100 proof with a kick like a mule, White Lightening. That was my choice but at $25.00 a bottle it can stay on the shelf.

Dick’s Last Resort

Posted on May 18, 2014May 18, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I’ve finally made it to the top of the street. The Skylift is closed for maintenance so that just leaves the Space Needle but I think I’ll have lunch before I take that adventure. If I get dizzy I want it to be from the height not from hunger.

The couple from Chattanooga had told me about Dick’s. They said good food, good prices. They were on their way there when I spoke with them. It seemed as good a choice as any so I started toward the entrance. Almost immediately a young man yelled at me. ” Stop reading the menu and come in, you’re wasting time!” I was surprised and I wasn’t reading the menu. He hopped down from the fence he was standing on, yes he was really standing on the top rail and stepped up to open the door for me. At that moment I heard a huge “Fart”. It came from a cartoonish statue next to the door.

Inside were long tables for family style service. A young man yelled at me from across the room…”Hi Lady”. Soon he came bounding over with the menu. He quickly pointed out that there are only 2 food groups at Dicks’s…meat and fries and he was right, well maybe some fish.

Everyone had these silly paper hats and he asked me if I wanted one. I’ll play along so I said sure. As he was folding the hat for me he asked me how many cats I had. That threw me for a minute because I couldn’t figure out how he knew I had cats. When I admitted I had 2 I became the cat lady for the rest of the meal. It finally dawned on me…my luggage tag on the camera bag is a picture of Rocky. Very observant, my waiter.

So now with my silly paper hat on with the gross comment “I eat my chocolates from the kitty box” (yuck) my meal was delivered.

I ordered the shrimp. Yes , you guessed it, fried again. They were very good but the fries were a bit soggy. Just as well, I didn’t need all that grease.

While I was looking around and eating my meal a couple of the waiters opened the sliding window and climbed outside. My waiter stood on the same railing that the fellow who greeted me had stood on but he tried to perform the crane move made famous by the movie Karate Kid. He seemed pleased when I recognized it.

I was about done at this point so I asked if he would take my picture with my stupid hat so I could share the fun with everyone. As he got started everyone got into the act. Dick’s is a fun, loud and raucous place to be. And yes, the name Dick’s does refer to the male anatomy..not a man’s name.