Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

August 5, 2017August 2, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 19 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes a step in a different direction as we visit a hot spot in Blowing Rock, NC, for a cold treat, Kilwins. “Sweet in every Sense since 1947” Kilwins serves just about everything to satisfy your sweet tooth, chocolates, caramel apples, brittle, fudge, and ice cream. Dora here. There’s ALWAYS a crowd around Kilwins! Even in winter.

: There’s ALWAYS a crowd around Kilwins!

Usually, there’s a line inside the store and out.

Kilwin's Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

The line backs up outside the store.

You have to pass the fudge counter to get to the ice cream. Torture!

To get to the ice cream counter, you have to pass the fudge counter first. Torture!

Fudge made in-house

Finally! The ice cream!!

Lots and lots of flavors to choose from!

On this trip, I chose ice cream, chocolate chip topped with caramel sauce. The ice cream is smooth, silky, and full of huge chocolate chunks. I can’t call them chips because they were like pieces of chocolate incorporated in the ice cream. It was a great ending to a long day of work.

: Chocolate Chip with Caramel Sauce

Dora here. From day one of trying Kilwin’s, I have only ever ordered the Toasted Coconut ice cream. That’s how good it is. None of the other flavors have even tempted me to stray from the Toasted Coconut. Creamy. Decadent. Rich. But not in a way that stops you from digging that spoon to the very bottom of the bowl. And those coconut flakes? Dipped in chocolate, people!

Toasted Coconut, and yes, those flakes are toasted in CHOCOLATE, people!

It’s obvious from the first bite that they use quality ingredients, so for two one-scoop cups, we forked over $10. But, as an ice cream lover, this treat is worth every penny.

Street parking is free in Blowing Rock, but you might have to circle a few times to find a spot. There’s a two-story parking garage a couple blocks away, also free, but it’s full sometimes too. Maybe, if you’re lucky like we were on this particular occasion, you can snag a spot here. Or, better yet, a bench. 🙂

Maybe, if you’re lucky as we were on this occasion, you can snag a parking spot here. 🙂

Are you an ice cream lover? How much will you pay for ice cream?

We rate this ice cream place 5 spoons out of 5 for a family friendly place serving outstanding ice cream.

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

July 29, 2017July 18, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 14 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to Cha Da Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant that incorporates a “balance of textures, colors and flavors” in Boone, NC.

Cha Da Thai Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Rather unassuming building, but free parking lot across the street!

Dora here. We’ve been frequenting The Local, right next door to Cha Da Thai, for years, but the exterior of the restaurant never really invited us in. But after our son returned from his year-long journey and cooked a Thai meal for us, we knew we had to try this place. The interior was huge and clean, and the server friendly and helpful with suggestions. Oh, and a FREE parking lot across the street is always a bonus!

Huge interior and CLEAN! Servers friendly and offered suggestions.

For my lunch, I chose the Sweet & Sour Pork. The pork was breaded and deep-fried, and the plate was loaded with onion, pineapples, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, and rice on the side. Different than other sweet & sour dishes I’ve tasted, more of a stir-fry. They lived up to their philosophy with vivid colors, crunchy texture, and perfectly balanced flavors.

Sweet & Sour Pork

Dora here. Our son suggested we try the Tom Kha soup, and ya’ll know how much I love dumplings. So, I opted for two appetizers. Win, win, right? Oh, yeah.

According to their menu, the Tom Kha soup is “pure Thai comfort food.” The flavors were vibrant, wake-you-up intense, with every dip of my spoon. Huge slivers of chicken, chunks of tomatoes, and mushrooms all mingled in a coconut cream soup infused with lemon grass and chili paste. Deep, complex, and wowza! I can’t say that I would consider it comfort food, but I would definitely order it again. And again. 🙂

Tom Kha Soup with Chicken, wowza!

And the dumplings were unlike any I’ve sampled before. You have a choice between fried or steamed, and I went with steamed. Pork and chicken and other tiny goodies packed into thin wrappers and served with a sweet (honey?) sesame sauce with a hint of citrus. Oh. Yes! Come to mama! lol.

: Steamed Dumplings…oh yes! Come to mama!

We will be back. And I’ll probably order the exact same thing. lol.

What about you? When you find a certain dish on the menu that you enjoy, do you order it every time you visit that restaurant?

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

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.

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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