Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to the Boone/Blowing Rock area in the mountains of North Carolina.

Our first stop is Our Daily Bread, a casual upbeat delicatessen. 

From the menu, you can tell this deli focuses on blending unique ingredients together to make unusual sandwiches.


I chose the Smoke Stack, a combo of smoked components (smoked turkey, smoked applewood bacon, melted smoked Gouda), along with chipotle aioli, tomatoes, and spring greens on sourdough bread with a side of Sweet Basil Corn Chowder. Loaded with corn in a creamy broth and a sweet basil undertone, the soup was great. But the sandwich was outstanding. All of the different smoked flavors worked well with the chipotle aioli, and the toasted sourdough bread held it all together.

Smoke Stack

Dora here. Since we visited on the Fourth of July, I opted for the daily special, the Red White & Blue Chutney Sandwich. Smoked ham, melted brie, balsamic blueberry chutney, tomatoes, roasted red pepper aioli and basil leaves pressed in cranberry French bread. Hello! Blueberry chutney? Doesn’t that sound fabulous? Well, it was. A melt-in-your-mouth mixture of everything I like about breakfast and lunch. Yum! Definitely adding this place to our “must visit” list.

Red White & Blue Chutney Sandwich

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.
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Our second stop is Town Tavern in downtown Blowing Rock.

It was a beautiful day, so we decided to sit outside.

Dora here. Great choice! Restaurants with an outdoor patio score bonus points. 🙂

For lunch I chose the Tavern Philly Cheesesteak served on a Milano roll with a huge amount of thinly sliced rib eye steak, American white cheese, peppers and onions and a side of Tater Tots.

Tavern Philly Cheesesteak

This sandwich was unique in that the components were all cooked together giving it great flavor, as opposed to cooking individual ingredients and layering. Not only was the sandwich great, the tater tots were just the way I like them. Crispy.

Dora here. Burgers are my go to meal when we’re away from home, and I hadn’t had one all week. The Bacon & Cheddar burger satisfied my burger craving. Meaty and juicy, and the slightly toasted bun makes this meal a winner! Oh, and the creamy ranch dip for tater tots now replaces boring ketchup!

Bacon & Cheddar Burger

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant that serves outstanding food.
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Your turn. What’s your favorite go-to meal when you’re away from home?

Getting all my ducks, er…geese in a row

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Hey everybody! Tori Kayson here. Not the real name, but the real deal. 🙂

Writing is what I do eight-to-five, but occasionally I escape my laptop and discover a life outside my office.

Here I’d like to share a little beauty along the journey. Maybe a few pictures. A quote or two. Just simple pleasures one might discover in their every day or inspiration to brighten your day.

I hope you’ll join me on my new blogging journey.

~Tori

Reviewers and Bloggers Needed for Christian Romance Book

“I won’t let you down.” His fingers fanned out to her cheek, his giant palm cupping half her face, his gentle touch sending quivers of delight to skip up and down her arms. A tremor rocked her torso.

“Cold?” Cinnamon flavored breath puffed so close to her lips, she could almost taste the candy herself.


Uh…no.

Definitely. Not. Cold.

She shook her head, only a slight wag. Because if she moved anymore, his hand might drop away from her skin, dragging his warmth with him. Her heart practically thumped out of her chest.

What was wrong with her? Why was her heart betraying her?

“Lacie—” his voice came out hoarse and ragged, so unlike his typical confident tone, and she witnessed the vulnerable little boy in his eyes, the one he might’ve been before the world took his dad away too soon, before he was forced to become the head of his family prematurely.

Instinctively, her hand covered his fingers. Maybe he needed someone to protect him, too.

“Lacie, I want to talk about—”

He wanted to talk? She gulped, embarrassment heating her neck. Talking wasn’t what she had on her mind right now.  


Like that little goodie? Hope so! I’m looking for reviewers and bloggers to help spread the news about the release of Burk’s Surrender on Sept 18. Interested in reading and leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads or any of your other favorite online sites? How about featuring on your blog? 

Here’s the back cover blurb:
Deputy City Manager Burk Harmon has always been the strong one for his family, but recently those responsibilities have dwindled. When Lacie Heatherton, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation, ropes him into a city-sponsored trip to the mountains with fifty seniors, Burk has two things on his mind: considering a possible promotion and wooing Lacie past friendship and into a future. Lacie has emotional scars and a thirteen-year-old daughter to remind her that men can be cruel and unforgiving. Can Burk convince Lacie to relax her “no dating” policy or will he surrender his dreams of family and love?


I have a handful of pdf review copies available. Interested? Message me here or email Dora(at)DoraHiers(dot)com. Thank you!