review

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ 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!

Cha Da Thai Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

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.

Cha Da Thai Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

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. 🙂

Cha Da Thai Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

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.

Cha Da Thai Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers
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.

Cha Da Thai Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ Dora Hiers / 16 Comments

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to a British themed pub in Blowing Rock, NC, Six Pence Restaurant and Pub.

Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Located right on Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock. Park for free on the street or in a garage a couple blocks away.

Dora here. Located right on Main Street, you’ll be lucky to snag a spot on the street. But, parking is free in Blowing Rock (as of this post), and there’s also a two-story garage a couple blocks away, also free. If it’s nice, take our cue and sit outside. The inside is cramped and a bit divey. Considering their other locations, an update here is long overdue. But even Old Man Winter and being forced to eat inside doesn’t stop us from choosing this place. lol.

Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

If it’s nice, be sure to snag a table on the patio. The inside is a bit cramped and divey. An update is long overdue.

For an appetizer, I chose the soup of the day, a beer cheese with bacon and andouille sausage. The soup was great, not real thick like most beer cheese soups, more like a brothy soup. The bacon and sausage was plentiful and it was served with corn bread. Dora here. Soooo good, even at 80 degrees outside!

Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Soup Special: Beer Cheese with Bacon and Andouille Soup. Sooo good. Even at 80 degrees outside.

For my lunch, I chose the small order of the Fish & Chips, two large cod tenderloins and pub fries. Now this fish was some of the best I have ever tasted, the beer batter fried crispy, but inside, tender and flaky and meaty. If you really have an appetite, order the large and you get one more fish plank. Dora here. Whenever I crave Fish & Chips, this is the place I want them. The BEST ever! Not greasy at all, and sooo meaty and pull-apart tender. YUMMILICIOUS!

Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers
Fish & Chips, the best EVER!

Still Dora. Whenever we visit Six Pence, I always alternate between the Fish & Chips and the Shepherd’s (or cottage) pie. Today, I was craving the pie. Comfort food for sure, and it’s especially satisfying in the winter. But even in the middle of summer the rich tomatoey meaty base, that big puff of mashed potatoes, and cheese that pulls with your fork calls my name. lol.

Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Shepherd’s (or Cottage) Pie. Pure meaty and cheesy goodness! Comfort food for sure!

If you’re craving something sweet at the end of your meal (because you surely won’t be hungry!), skip the dessert menu and head a couple storefronts down to Kilwin’s. Toasted Coconut Ice Cream, oh YEAH, baby! But that, my friends, is a blog for another day. ❤

Kilwin's Six Pence Pub Fiction Faith & Foodies Ernie & Dora Hiers

Toasted Coconut Ice Cream. OH, YES!

What about you? Do you have a favorite restaurant you visit mostly in summer? What about winter?

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

Six Pence Pub Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Excited about Eating by Ernie & Dora Hiers

/ 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.

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

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

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.

Capones Pizza Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato