Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

July 15, 2017July 6, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 23 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to one of our favorite pizza spots, Capone’s Pizza in Boone. Formerly located in a small hole-in-the-wall store front in historic downtown Boone, recently they moved into a larger space in New Market Centre.

: Their new spot in New Market Centre. Plenty of parking now!

Dora here. Capone’s moved from a prime location on King Street, but that prime spot costs them in terms of customers due to lack of parking. Also, maybe, they squeezed twenty booths in that cramped space. In their new New (lol) Market Centre location, diners have room to spread out in here. Much nicer than their cramped King Street location. And parking galore!

Capone's Pizza Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

You can really spread out in here. Much nicer than their cramped King St location. And parking galore!

When we visit Capone’s, we have two favorites, the Chicago Style Deep Dish and the Don Vito stuffed pizza. This time we went with the Chicago deep dish, meat supreme on my half and just pepperoni on Dora’s. This pizza is outstanding, with a thick chewy crust (which I usually do not eat because I’d rather eat an extra slice), topped with pepperoni, hamburger, crumbled bacon, diced ham and sausage. The meat items are fresh and the pie has just the right amount of sauce.

Dora here. Just a heads up. This isn’t authentic Chicago style, but it works for us. Light on the marinara, not overly cheesy, and a ginormous thick and doughy crust. YUM! Every time we come, we say we’re going to order something different because Capone’s has a robust menu loaded with non-pizza options, but it never happens. We alternate between the Don Vito Stuffed Pizza and this Chicago style deep dish. One day we’ll try their Stromboli or the Meatball Sub or…um, probably not.

Chicago Style 1/2 pepperoni, 1/2 meat Not really authentic Chicago style, but it works for us. Love the thick, chewy crust!

Our server was friendly and the pizza came out quick. If you’re a resident or just camping out in the area for a few days, Capone’s is a MUST TRY!

What about you? How do you like your pizza?

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly pizza restaurant serving outstanding food.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

July 1, 2017June 20, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 13 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a large mixed community in the South Park area of Charlotte, to Dogwood Southern Table & Bar. This contemporary eating establishment offers “elevated southern cuisine” using in-house creations from local and sustainable sources.

Dogwood Southern Table Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Ample free parking garages

Dora here. Because it was Father’s Day and we didn’t make reservations, our only seating options were the patio or the bar. Glorious day, beautiful patio, no brainer. 🙂

Too pretty a day to sit inside. Especially with a gorgeous patio like this

For an appetizer, we chose the Maw Maw’s Biscuits served with butter and jam. The biscuits were great, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Adding the butter and jam made for an outstanding bite. Dora here. When I lifted the linen and saw the charred tops on these biscuits, I considered asking for another basket, but hubby usually orders everything extra crispy, so he was thrilled. No worries! Even with the toasted tops, these biscuits were great. Buttery flavor, crumbly, and had to eat with a fork. Good to the last fork!

Maw Maw’s Biscuits. Buttery flavor, crumbly and good to the last fork!

For my meal, I chose the Steak and Eggs. Normally, it’s sirloin, but this day it was prime rib, green beans, potatoes, and spinach served with an easy-over egg on top. The prime rib was cooked a perfect medium rare, tender and juicy. The crispy potatoes and veggies paired well with the dish. I am not one who usually orders steak out, but I would definitely order this dish again.

Brunch Prime Rib, tender and juicy! I’d definitely order this dish again.

Dora here. Whenever a place serves only brunch on the weekend, I’m usually ready for a dilemma. Give me my cereal or an English Muffin with peanut butter and jelly for breakfast and I’m good. When I go out for lunch, I want lunch, so I opted for the Breakfast Burger today. I appreciated all the individual components: scrambled egg, cheddar, bacon jam, incredibly soft bun. But together? Not so much. And it turns out I’m not a fan of grass-fed beef. Something about the flavor just messed with my taste buds. Who’d have guessed? Hubby liked it.

Breakfast Burger

What’s your favorite brunch dish/place?

We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

June 17, 2017June 5, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 11 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a “Southern-inspired” comfort food restaurant, The Flying Biscuit Cafe. Located in the Park Road area of Charlotte, this popular meeting spot features breakfast all day plus salads, sandwiches, and plate meals.

the Flying Biscuit Cafe Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

After the crowd outside a couple weeks ago, we strategically timed our visit.

Dora here. Unlike last week’s choice, I knew The Flying Biscuit Cafe would be a great experience. A couple weeks ago, we stopped here, but the crowd outside and the corresponding long wait deterred us. This week we strategically timed our visit, hoping to fall sometime after the breakfast crowd and before lunch. And, also unlike last week, our server seemed to really love her job. She was knowledgeable, helpful with suggestions, and stopped by our table several times to check on us and refill our drinks, always with a smile even though they were obviously super busy. Don’t let the skinny exterior deceive you. This cafe goes a long ways back with another outdoor patio in the rear.

Bustling on a Saturday around 11 AM. This cafe is bigger than it looks from the outside.

For a starter, we ordered a side of Grilled Macaroni and Cheese that Yelpers rave about. This mac and cheese is nothing like I have ever tasted. Rectangle blocks of mac and cheese grilled to perfection, somewhat crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Dora here. This alone was worth the drive. Fluffy, light, you don’t really even taste the pasta. The texture comes off more like a souffle. HEAVENLY!

This alone was worth the drive. A side of Grilled Mac & Cheese. Heavenly!

For my lunch (breakfast), I chose the Egg-Stravaganza. Two poached eggs, chicken sausage, turkey bacon, grits and whole wheat French toast topped with raspberry sauce and a honey cream. This dish was outstanding, eggs cooked to the exact time and consistency, grits were creamy and cheesy.

Egg-Stravaganza, outstanding!

The French toast wasn’t overly egg-y or thick, almost tasted like pumpernickel bread, so I was surprised to find out it was actually wheat bread. Whatever the type, the sauce and cream were a great accompaniment.

French Toast, not overly egg-y or thick. And the sauce and cream a great accompaniment.

Dora here. Y’all, check out the Very Berry Chicken Wrap. Doesn’t it look refreshing? It was!! Great texture from the candied walnuts, fresh flavors, light on the raspberry vinaigrette, loaded with chunky chicken, delish! The perfect choice for a hot summer afternoon, I would definitely order this again. Maybe not the Garlic and Basil Mashed Potatoes because I prefer my taters a bit creamier.

Very Berry Chicken Wrap…light, fresh, delish! Side of Garlic Basil Mashed Potatoes.

What about you? How do you prefer your French Toast? Or not a fan at all?

We rate this restaurant 5 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving outstanding food.

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Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers