You’re on vacation near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the family’s hungry. You’re in the mood for some great food. You pick a restaurant. Maybe it’s not one of the best restaurants in town but it’s still a great place. You go in and sit down and thumb through the menu, and you see it: A food challenge.
We didn’t set out to go to Tennessee Jed’s Craft Sandwiches for a late lunch on our latest Gatlinburg trip. As we walked around Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, we discussed our dining options. The Pancake Pantry was mentioned as was the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant in The Village. And then – because I can never resist the siren song of a
I’d like to think of myself as a discerning fellow. Certainly, I’d like to think my taste is immaculate, my standards high. Movies, television, music, food, wine, books. It’s nice to think of yourself as having a sophisticated palette for such things, to be refined. I am not those things. It turns out, I’m fairly easy to please fellow. I
A look at The Yard dessert shop in Pigeon Forge It’s not only burgers, escape rooms and zipline roller coasters bringing the boys (and girls) to the yard of Lumberjack Square in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Best known for its crazy creations, The Yard Milkshake Bar is a specialty dessert and ice cream shop that serves (literally) over-the-top shakes and sundaes.
I was on the road in Phoenix, Arizona for the National Championship between the University of Tennessee and Florida State in January of 1999. From lawns made of rock and painted green to picking breakfast off the citrus trees in the backyard, I was a stranger in a strange land. One day, while my friends were otherwise occupied, I asked
A local’s review of Ole Red in Gatlinburg The first time I tried to eat at Ole Red in Gatlinburg was unsuccessful. We had just spent a beautiful fall day at Anakeesta. It was the time of year when you start the day in sunny, 70-degree weather and end the day shivering as temperatures drop below 40. After waiting in
I grew up in a part of the country where the “I” in Italian was overly emphasized. For example, our knowledge of “Eye”-talian cuisine was limited to the meager offerings of small pizza places. The ones that churned out pies that needed heavy hits of red peppers just to add some flavor. But I learned better. We moved around and
Look, we get it. There’s a lot of competition in the Smoky Mountains. There are a lot of places selling some version of the same stuff you’re selling whether it’s pancakes or T-shirts or whatever. In particular, you have to find a way to stand out. And often that way is through branding or marketing. Maybe you’re a business owner
First-time visitors to the Smokies will quickly notice a less-than-desirable quirk about local restaurants in Pigeon Forge – reservations are a rare offering. There may be many reasons why a local restaurant decides it’s better off without a reservation system, particularly in Pigeon Forge. But the primary reason boils down to money. You see, it just doesn’t make sense to
Welcome to part two of our Moonshine Mixin’s series. Last week we were mixing up some tasty moonshine margaritas. This week, we’re going to get a little caffeinated. This is another simple recipe and easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Quick disclaimer: this recipe will involve a bit more planning ahead than the last recipe