foodie

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 3 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Cornelius, NC and to Galway Hooker, an Irish Pub named for Galway Bay in Ireland.

20160417_120112Dora here. Actually, the entire pub was deconstructed and shipped from Ireland. Cool, huh? And it fits so well in this mixed use neighborhood. 

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We visited on a Sunday for brunch. By the time we left, most of the tables outside were full. A beautiful day for outdoor dining!

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For my lunch I chose the Bangers & Mash: grilled banger sausage, buttermilk mashed potatoes, brown gravy, crispy onion strings and a side of jalapeno mac and cheese. The bangers were firm and meaty. The mashed potatoes were fresh with skins mixed in, and the brown gravy was hearty and warm. The highlight of this dish was the jalapeno mac and cheese, creamy and delicious with a perfect heat level.

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Bangers & Mash with a side of Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

Dora here. Perfect heat level? Coughing…the mac and cheese was in-your-face, clean-out-your-head HOT! Honestly, I should’ve waited to try the mac because it skewed my taste buds for everything else. Wiping sweat from my face…

Shepherd’s Pie is comfort food to me. 20160417_114045

Some of you might be wondering what’s underneath that yummy looking fluff of mashed potatoes. 

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Quite a generous portion of hamburger, peas, carrots onion and brown gravy smothered in creamy mashed potatoes. I devoured all the potatoes but couldn’t finish the stuffing. Good and filling, but not jazzed with flavor like I expect from an Irish pub.

What’s your favorite Irish dish?

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

Galway Hooker Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 5 Comments

Welcome to our second edition of Excited about Eating located on our new site! Thanks for sticking with us during our “moving” phase.

This week we’re featuring Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse in Davidson, NC.

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This neighborhood eatery, located at the fork on Main, offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, and entrees, and a daily special.

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For our starter, we chose the Taphouse Pretzel, served with white cheddar fondue and house mustard. The pretzel was outstanding,  and when dipped in the white cheddar fondue, I just don’t see how it could be any better.

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Taphouse Pretzel – Oh. My. YUM!

Dora here. I agree.  I love pretzels with the traditional mustard accompaniment, but I could’ve chowed down on five of these smothered in the white cheddar BY MYSELF. Yum!

I chose the Fish & Chips, beer-battered haddock, remoulade and malt vinegar served with fries. Unlike other fish with heavy batter, this fish was lightly battered so the taste of the fish shined through. The fish was tender and flaky, and the fries were fresh, crispy, and shoestring, my favorite. Great!

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Fish & Chips, light batter, tender & flaky. Great!

Dora here. The BBQ Blue Cheese Burger looked so pretty, I almost hesitated to dig in. But I was anxious to try the Wagyu beef, supposedly “the finest quality of beef available in the United States” and “highly prized for their rich flavor,” according to the American Wagyu Association. The burger sported a nice char, but it wasn’t packed with flavor like I expected. Overall, nothing extraordinary. A bit of a letdown considering the pretzel. 🙂

Great vibe in the restaurant, though, and such a friendly waitstaff. We’ll definitely be back to try out some of the other items calling our names from the menu. 

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BBQ Blue Cheese Burger, nothing extraordinary.

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

Are you a pretzel fan? What’s your favorite dipping sauce?

Flatiron Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 8 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Letty’s, a southern-style restaurant in the heart of the Midwood region of Charlotte. This neighborhood eatery offers comfort food in a homey environment where everyone is welcomed.

Dora here. True. Letty made her way around the dining room, chatting with patrons, several times during our visit. What Letty’s lacked in ambiance, they more than made up for in cleanliness, friendliness, and good service. Probably a local favorite. When I mentioned that it was a bit dark, hubby chimed in with romantic. That’s my guy. 🙂

Comfortable, homey interior
As a starter, we ordered Pimiento Cheese Fritters, panko-battered and fried, and served with Letty’s tomato jam. The fritters were great, crispy on the outside but smooth and creamy on the inside. When dipped into the cool and sweet tomato jam, perfect!
Pimento Cheese Fritters

Dora here. Tomatoes and pimento? How did Ernie ever convince me to order this? lol. Actually, the fritters were a great start. I had high hopes. 🙂

The server recommended Shrimp & Grits. Grilled shrimp served over sausage gravy and topped with grits, crumbled bacon and cheddar jack cheese. This dish was loaded with shrimp and cheese, and the combination blended so well together, I will definitely try this again.

Shrimp & Grits

Dora here. Our server also recommended the Honey Pecan Chicken, which sounded right up my foodie alley. Maybe because I’m trying to eat healthier, the chicken was a bit too sweet for my taste, almost like candy, and most of the options for sides were carb-heavy. That said, check out the generous portions, and what a great value at only $10.

Honey Pecan Chicken, Broccoli Casserole, Creamed Corn – all for $10

Fellas, if you’re looking for a romantic spot to wow your sweetheart, this probably isn’t the place. But if you’re looking for down-home cooking at a great value, head to Letty’s.

What’s your favorite southern-style cooking restaurant?

 

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

Letty's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato