Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

January 21, 2017January 21, 2017 / Dora Hiers / 6 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to an 1861 historical house in Valle Crucis, NC, to Over Yonder, An Appalachian Kitchen. This picturesque house has had many different uses over the years but I think this may be the best one yet.

Over Yonder Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Love the farmhouse exterior!

Dora here. The owners added on over the years, but the left side is original. Stunning, isn’t it?

The original side: just stunning!

We were seated in the front right room, the added-on side. Can you guess why we called this the game room? That’s right. Old fashioned games hung from every wall.

The Game Room. Can you see why? 🙂

I chose the Potlikker Gumbo, loaded with chicken, andouille, ham and okra in a brown broth of collard greens and blanketed with jasmine rice. The gumbo was outstanding without being spicy, hardy, and the perfect choice for a cold day in the mountains. All of the ingredients mingled together to form one tasty bowl of goodness.

Potlikker Gumbo, tasty bowl of goodness!

The Roasted Okra appetizer drew my attention when I first looked at the menu. Being from the south, I have had okra cooked just about every way possible, but never roasted. Let me just say, this has to be some of the best tasting okra I have ever had. The okra is cut in half, roasted until soft and then flashed fried until crispy. I would recommend this dish to anyone who visits this restaurant. Which I did, actually, as we were leaving.

Roasted Okra Appetizer…amazing!

Dora here. Before the food came out, I teased hubby that he’d be eating this okra by himself. I like fried okra, but roasted? Not in a million years would I like it prepared this way. Well, let me just tell you, the joke was on me. This okra was delicious! And my hand kept straying to his side of the table, swiping a delectable goodie whenever he wasn’t looking. haha. Now on to mine…the OY Pork Burger should be called the Oh My Pork Burger! Messy, but packed with flavor!

The OY Pork Burger should be called the OH MY Pork Burger. Messy, but PACKED with flavor!

Good to the last bite, I even scooped up the overflow because I didn’t want to miss any ounce of the awesome flavor! Ground pork topped with smoked Gouda and a wonderfully intoxicating slaw…divine! Kind of like a chilled sauerkraut, but in the very best way, adding a whole new dimension and texture to the sandwich. And, oh my stars, those pickles! The chips were salted with rosemary, giving them a zesty bite. YUM, YUM, YUM! There was nothing left on any of these plates! We might’ve licked them…lol.

Demolished these dishes! Not a crumb left!

Dora here. Amazing food. Quick, friendly, and very knowledgeable service by an employee who obviously loves his job (thank you Justin!). Lovely atmosphere. Over Yonder is definitely a repeat!

Are you an okra fan? What’s your favorite way to eat okra?

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

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

December 10, 2016December 3, 2016 / Dora Hiers / 9 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to The Tavern in Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC. This 1816 historical two-story building still has the design of years past with the kitchen in the basement and intimate dining rooms on the first and second floor.

Dora here. Such a cool building! Food is cooked and prepared in the basement and transported to the dining areas on dumbwaiters. We discovered that tidbit from our fountain-of-information server. Ya’ll, I snapped several pictures of the crowd hanging around the porch outside and our server dressed in historical costume, but unfortunately, none of them turned out. I’m blaming it on my new phone. 🙂 If you’d like to see photos of the restaurant, click on the link above. Here’s the view from our second story table.

The Tavern in Old Salem Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

We chose the Snowflake Biscuits and Pumpkin Muffins appetizers served with warm apple butter. Now I really do not know why they call the biscuits “snowflake” because they were huge and did not look anything like snowflakes. They were light and fluffy and tasted great and did I say they were huge. Dora here. YUM! And this whole basket was less than $3!

Snowflake Biscuits and Pumpkin Muffins appetizer under $3. Fabulous!

Ginormous biscuits!

For my meal, I chose the Local Beer Boiled & Grilled Bratwurst served with house made sauerkraut, green beans, mustard glaze, and a side of hot German potato salad. The bratwurst was great, and the sauerkraut was surprisingly not vinegary because I learned they use mineral water in the cooking process. The hot potato salad was some of the best that I have ever tasted, with bacon and sliced red skin potatoes, just a touch of sweet.

The Tavern in Old Salem Excited about Eating Ernie Hiers

Dora here. The Chicken Pie is just as the name implies. I half expected a pot pie –and, truthfully, I’m not a fan of pot pies unless it’s cold outside. And it was cold. lol. So, I was surprised and more than a bit intrigued with this plate. The pie crust was handmade, not too thick and not too thin. Just right. I read a review that said the chicken pie was a bit dry. Mine wasn’t, not at all! I’ll admit to carb overload, but every once in a while, it’s okay to indulge, right? This is one of those comfort dishes perfect for a wintry day. When I finished, this plate was clean!

Chicken Pie…just like the name implies. Delicious!

Folks, when we arrived roughly ten minutes after they opened for a Saturday lunch, already a crowd loitered on the front porch. The hostess couldn’t/wouldn’t give us a timeframe, and some frustrated people left. But, it wasn’t ten minutes and they escorted us to our table, so don’t give up! Also, you’ll find a parking lot behind the restaurant, but if that’s full, there’s another lot directly behind it. No worries. 🙂

What’s the last dish that surprised you?

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