#a chicken pie and some buttermilk for starters

[ardwynna]

Turns out my girl's liver enzymes are out of whack. No discernible cause, investigations continue.

She's officially a mutt but the German shepherd in her is obvious. They're prone to things and we've been down that road before. They're very good at masking till the last possible minute. Not trying to borrow trouble, it could still be some passing thing. But my girl will be getting the time of her life regardless.

[haidasndwch]

Best Lunch Restaurants in Toronto

Wimpy's Diner

Restaurant Name: Wimpy's Diner

Phone Number: +19058896799

Website:

Address: 8123 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 2C6, Canada

Opening Hours: 7am–10pm

Dish Type: American, Diner, Canadian

Special Diet: Vegetarian Friendly

Price: €3 - €13

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 3.5

Google Rating: 4.4

Zomato Rating: 3.9

Foursquare Rating:

Wimpy’s welcomes you with a great lunch menu. Wimpy’s is a place to experience every delicious thing. Wimpy’s Diner is a restaurant with delectable American and Canadian cuisine to fulfill any craving.

With an endless menu to choose from, Wimpy’s prepares and cooked tasty lunches. All items are outstanding in their own way; you will feel divine when you take a bite. Whether you want a chicken lunch or salad, Between the Buns is the best choice for you. Philly cheesesteak will get more delicious with BBQ sauce. Wimpy’s buns are ciabatta bun.

Appetizers will cover you fully in case you have a little appetite. Original Poutine with savoury gravy is the favourite. You cannot ever go wrong with Atlantic salmon as it is served with garlic bread.

Have salads which meet meat in Wimpy’s. You are free to add one of their sides to your lunch. And the best one is a sautéed mushroom. Wings and fingers are top notches to eat during lunch.

Order one of their most exciting desserts, Banana Split, after your lunch. Don’t miss out on fish and chips with slaw and pickle tartar sauce. You won’t get regretful in case of ordering soup of the daily. Wimpy’s prepares soup fresh daily.

The Mediterranean wrap is made of beaded fried chicken, crisp lettuce, and feta cheese. Therefore, have it as a quick lunch. While your stomach is enjoying the lunch, you can enjoy attentive servers and unique services.

The Belsize Public House

Restaurant Name: The Belsize Public House

Phone Number: +14164876468

Website:

Address: 535 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S 2M5, Canada

Opening Hours: 11:55am–9pm

Dish Type: Bar, Pub, Gastropub, Canadian

Special Diet: Late-night food

Price: €6 - €13

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 4

Google Rating: 4.4

Zomato Rating:

Foursquare Rating:

Belsize focuses on Canadian dishes and a bar, grabbing the most delicious Canadian lunch in this Public House.

Belsize’s unique items are chicken noodle soup, Poutine with chicken gravy, cheese curds, and braised lamb shank with roasted garlic mash. Begin your lunch with a special flavour of Buttermilk fried chicken wings, which comes with blue cheese dressing, carrots, celery, and scotch bonnet sauce.

Also, onion soup can be a well-cooked starter. Fries are incredible in Belsize. Organic greens salad looks interesting. Imagine carrots, radishes, pickled onions in a honey dijon vinaigrette; what a tempting thing to have.

Among the main dishes, the grilled salmon taco is a pleasant surprise for your lunch. Mac and cheese with organic greens and honey dijon vinaigrette are very satisfying. Don’t miss out on a well-seasoned fried chicken club. Thousand island dressing is unique in Belsize. The soft texture of the chicken makes your lunch more enjoyable.

You want to have your lunch in your home, so use pick up or take out options. A decent and tidy dining salon is what every customer wants. You will be attracted by some cute and extraordinary things on the wall. Also, Belsize’s patio is well-designed and a favourite on summer days. The right choice of drinks is another appealing option in Belsize.

Randy's Take-Out

Restaurant Name: Randy's Take-Out

Phone Number: +14167815313

Website: 

Address: 1569 Eglinton Ave W, York, ON M6E 2G9, Canada

Opening Hours: 11am–6pm

Dish Type:

Special Diet:

Price: CA$15 for two people (approx.)

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 4.5

Google Rating: 4.6

Zomato Rating:

Foursquare Rating:

Among lunch servers in Toronto, Randy’s is leading with its Caribbean cuisine. What else do you reach for your lunch?

Begin your lunch with a small order of Oxtail with rice. You can experience a special lunch of chicken, pork, and seafood. Randy’s unique dishes are a soup of the day, Ital stew, veggie chunks, wings, and fries.

Keep yourself warm with Randy’s spicy beef patties whenever it becomes snowy and chilly out. Come over to Randy’s for these hot patties. You witness the flaky, crispy mess while chewing away on Randy’s patties. Dress up your patty however you like. Order your favourite toppings and enjoy it. Mouthwatering lunch items will incredibly satisfy you. Drop-in Randy’s and leave it with a full and happy stomach. A combination of beloved flavours is seen in Randy’s menu. It’s tough resisting biting into a hot and fresh chicken curry with Randy’s recipe.

Taking out and catering for everything is possible, such as steam fish, fried fish, jerk chicken, jerk pork, soup, salad, and juice. Don’t hesitate to order your lunch from Randy’s menu. They deliver at any time you want. Take a baked box of their handmade patties for your lunch at the workplace. Randy’s knows how to serve its clients.

FLOCK rotisserie + greens

Restaurant Name: FLOCK rotisserie + greens

Phone Number: +16477487199

Website: 

Address: 97 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 1G6, Canada

Opening Hours: 12–9pm

Dish Type: Canadian

Special Diet: Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options, Vegan Options

Price: CA$25 for two people (approx.)

Delivery: No

Yelp Rating: 3.5

Google Rating: 4.4

Zomato Rating: 3.2

Foursquare Rating: 7.5

Offering healthy well-cooked lunch with Canadian cuisine and an inviting atmosphere, Flock, is based in Toronto. Super juicy lunches are available on site every day.

Suppose you are a healthy lunch eater, order Flock’s nutrient-packed salads and sides. Roast chicken and salad will melt in your mouth. Flock has some fresh signature sauces and salad dressings, raw and made from scratch daily.

We guarantee you will love everything about Flock, from chicken to sweets. Flock is famous due to its fantastic rotisserie chicken. Flock Stock with chicken stock, vegetables, pulled chicken topped with greens, and pumpkin seeds is number one all over Toronto.

Order Flock’s Boxes items, so you can taste many delicious things altogether. Baja Box includes brown rice, spinach, romaine, black bean, red cabbage, cucumber, cherry tomato, pickled onion, butternut and squash, corn, avocado, feta, green onion, cilantro, and tortilla chips with Baja dressing.

Harvest green makes every customer’s heart to beat. Combination of too many healthy ingredients: kale, Farro, cauliflower, spaghetti, butternut squash, sweet potato hummus, beets, Brussel sprouts, crispy jalapenos, pecans, currants with Harvest dressing. Flock’s turkey chilli (black beans, Poblano pepper, feta, green onions, cilantro, and pepitas) makes you warm on cold days.

As a dessert, why not try Flock’s Pumpkin cheesecake pie after your light and healthy lunch?

Count on Flock’s new boxes and individually packed meals for your meetings or events.

https://haidasandwich.ca/best-lunch-toronto/

[eliaddmends]

This is how mother’s day afternoon went with making food for my special old lady. The rice and peas went down really fast with my friends @_ghog @specsphoto after I carted off her food to her. • • I hope you guys enjoy the visuals as much I liked making and eating this with virtually with my family and physically with my two good friends. So I made an oven baked chicken with a lemon-ginger drizzle with a side of grilled pineapple salad with some homemade pickled onions and honey buttermilk vinaigrette. Not forgetting the starter chips with a mango salsa and a key lime pie for dessert. I really enjoyed making an ice cream with the filling and the extra crust bits. Thank you teacher @booveey Unfortunately, we couldn’t add the rice and peas, jerk chicken and the brown stew because we ate it all before the shoot , and these boys like to EAT!😂😂 Thank you @urbanfreshgh for the dehydrated fruits. They were a great addition and garnish too. • • 📸: @l.kayku 🎬: @specsphoto • • • #cocktails #cocktail #beautifulpeople #coke #mixology #ghanaianevents #ghweddings #love #photooftheday #ahuofebridal #hennessy #instafollow #craftedcocktail #cocktailsinaccra #ghanacocktails #lagoscocktails #bellanaija #bellanaijaweddings #follow #weddingroyalty #instalike #garnishgame #martini #alcohol #thirsty #yummy #cocacola #enjoy #glass #liquor (at East Legon, Accra-Ghana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAU8sekpwek/?igshid=1497nku0ml75k

[greecechef4-blog]

Nocturnal Cravings At The Nighthawk Diner, Chippendale

An American style diner food in the heart of Sydney? The Nighthawk Diner serves up fried green tomatoes, fried chicken steaks, gumbo and pie in a modern diner setting. All with a giant screen playing classic movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark!

It's bucketing down with rain and hail on the night of our visit. But when Viggo messages me to ask if we are still going out for dinner, my response is "Rain schmain, we are still on!". Nighthawk Diner started as a food truck serving up burgers, fries and Cuban sandwiches. They named the food truck and diner after Edward Hopper's famous oil painting "Nighthawks". Nighthawk Diner's chef Alistair Fogg lived in North America for much of his 20s and has held various jobs such as a diamond digger, superyacht chef and taxi driver but always came back to cheffing.

We take a seat in the movie room which is spacious but I look over longingly at a blue booth and ask to move there. "Have booth, will sit," is my motto. Service is friendly from our American waiter. Comically, there's a miscommunication and everything arrives at once (we ordered two starters and four mains and two sides between the four of us).

There's a look of hushed silence before Viggo says uncertainly, "Is there more food coming out?" while the couple next to us look upon us with a combination of horror and fascination as every surface of our table is covered with food or drink. "Let's just move the sauces shall we?" says Louise trying to make room.

Boozy Shake $16

There is a list of classic cocktails as well as an option for a regular and a boozy shake. I wanted a breakfast cocktail (there's an all day breakfast menu too) but unfortunately they're out of protein balls. Louise is frazzled because she has just spent almost 2 hours driving across the Harbour Bridge in delays because of an accident so she needs a stiff drink. There are two types of shakes that they can make boozy shake: an Oreo or a salted caramel one and she opts for the former with a shot of whatever takes your fancy. In this case it's bourbon. It's delicious and I end up trying quite a bit of it (tipsy, moi?). It's rich but there is just the right amount of bourbon in this.

Miami Cuban Sandwich $17

I tossed up whether to get the Miami Cuban sandwich which I've had at the food truck and really enjoyed because the menu is quite extensive and there were other things I wanted to try but Viggo and Mr NQN were total enablers, convincing me that they also should try it. The soft hoagie roll is filled with slices of citrus pork, maple smoked bacon, house made pickles, American cheese and chipotle mayo. There's a certain gloriousness to a meal whose only vegetable involves a pickle. Your brain says, "This won't be healthy" but your mouth says "Hell yeah".

Fried Green Tomatoes $15

I have only had fried green tomatoes served in a very rich way which is breaded and fried with a thick country style gravy. This is a fresher version with four crumbed and fried slices of green or unripe tomato on a bed of sweet corn puree with a wild rice succotash and the freshness of a peach and jalapeño sauce.

Nachos in a Bag $10 and pork $4

I remember having a Fritos pie when in Chicago and this is a larger version made with corn chips instead of Fritos. It's a bag split open with the corn chips topped with Nighthawk cheese sauce and red salsa. We also added some pork for good measure because Viggo couldn't eat the gumbo and he loves pork. The pork comes in large shredded chunks - perhaps smaller pieces would be good for better distribution over the corn chips and ratios. Because you know I think about this stuff a lot.

Fried Chicken Steak $26

And then comes one of my favourite dishes. And when they set it down I think my eyes bulged out of my head cartoon style at its sheer size. It's an enormous buttermilk marinated boneless chicken breast (although seriously, it's like two or three chicken breasts in size). It is dipped in seasoned flour and then fried and then topped with a white country style gravy with plenty of ham. It's so rich and gloriously crunchy and creamy-an unashamed screw you to anyone suggesting a salad for dinner.

Louisiana Prawn and Chicken Gumbo $27

I also love the gumbo, a rich deeply flavoured stew made with prawns, chicken and Andouille sausage with herb ranch and a thick wedge of toasted sweet buttery cornbread on the side. The cornbread is spectacular - decidedly sweet but goes so well with this savoury stew.

Mash and Gravy $10

Viggo spotted the mash and gravy and wanted to try this as you don't often see the two together on a menu. "Would you like some potato with your butter?" he says spooning a creamy heap onto his plate. The brown country gravy is delicious with the buttery mash.

Cheesy Fries $9 + bacon $4 and Fried jalapenos $2

You'd think we had ordered enough but no we needed fries right? These are shoestring fries served with a house-made smoked cheese sauce to which we added some maple smoked bacon and fried jalapenos. Just because we are going for the full American experience here y'all. I would have loved some more cheese sauce on this.

Sundae Du Jour $16

It's dessert time. The sundae du jour is no shrinking violet and it's a soft serve with cream, a thick chocolate fudge Nutella sauce and deep fried Oreos. I'll just let that all sink in for a second. Yep, deep fried Oreos. And they're pretty damn good and remind me of going to the deep fried capital of the world, the Dallas State Fair where they deep fry butter, Thanksgiving dinners and cake.

Pie Du Jour $15

There was a peanut butter brittle pie that got me very excited because I love peanut butter. But we end up getting the last piece of pumpkin pie instead which while very smooth, spiced and delicious (not to mention an enormous slice) isn't quite scratching that peanut butter brittle itch that I was hoping for. Alas that will have to wait for another time because we could not fit another bite in!

So tell me Dear Reader, do you like American diner style food? Has all of your food accidentally arrived at the same time? And has rain or hail ever caused you to cancel plans?

This meal was independently paid for.

69 Abercrombie St, Chippendale NSW 2008 Tuesday to Saturday 11am–10pm Sunday 11am–4pm Monday Closed thenighthawk.com.au Phone: (02) 9319 0548

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/09/25/nighthawk-diner-chippendale/

[secondgame00-blog]

Nocturnal Cravings At The Nighthawk Diner, Chippendale

An American style diner food in the heart of Sydney? The Nighthawk Diner serves up fried green tomatoes, fried chicken steaks, gumbo and pie in a modern diner setting. All with a giant screen playing classic movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark!

It's bucketing down with rain and hail on the night of our visit. But when Viggo messages me to ask if we are still going out for dinner, my response is "Rain schmain, we are still on!". Nighthawk Diner started as a food truck serving up burgers, fries and Cuban sandwiches. They named the food truck and diner after Edward Hopper's famous oil painting "Nighthawks". Nighthawk Diner's chef Alistair Fogg lived in North America for much of his 20s and has held various jobs such as a diamond digger, superyacht chef and taxi driver but always came back to cheffing.

We take a seat in the movie room which is spacious but I look over longingly at a blue booth and ask to move there. "Have booth, will sit," is my motto. Service is friendly from our American waiter. Comically, there's a miscommunication and everything arrives at once (we ordered two starters and four mains and two sides between the four of us).

There's a look of hushed silence before Viggo says uncertainly, "Is there more food coming out?" while the couple next to us look upon us with a combination of horror and fascination as every surface of our table is covered with food or drink. "Let's just move the sauces shall we?" says Louise trying to make room.

Boozy Shake $16

There is a list of classic cocktails as well as an option for a regular and a boozy shake. I wanted a breakfast cocktail (there's an all day breakfast menu too) but unfortunately they're out of protein balls. Louise is frazzled because she has just spent almost 2 hours driving across the Harbour Bridge in delays because of an accident so she needs a stiff drink. There are two types of shakes that they can make boozy shake: an Oreo or a salted caramel one and she opts for the former with a shot of whatever takes your fancy. In this case it's bourbon. It's delicious and I end up trying quite a bit of it (tipsy, moi?). It's rich but there is just the right amount of bourbon in this.

Miami Cuban Sandwich $17

I tossed up whether to get the Miami Cuban sandwich which I've had at the food truck and really enjoyed because the menu is quite extensive and there were other things I wanted to try but Viggo and Mr NQN were total enablers, convincing me that they also should try it. The soft hoagie roll is filled with slices of citrus pork, maple smoked bacon, house made pickles, American cheese and chipotle mayo. There's a certain gloriousness to a meal whose only vegetable involves a pickle. Your brain says, "This won't be healthy" but your mouth says "Hell yeah".

Fried Green Tomatoes $15

I have only had fried green tomatoes served in a very rich way which is breaded and fried with a thick country style gravy. This is a fresher version with four crumbed and fried slices of green or unripe tomato on a bed of sweet corn puree with a wild rice succotash and the freshness of a peach and jalapeño sauce.

Nachos in a Bag $10 and pork $4

I remember having a Fritos pie when in Chicago and this is a larger version made with corn chips instead of Fritos. It's a bag split open with the corn chips topped with Nighthawk cheese sauce and red salsa. We also added some pork for good measure because Viggo couldn't eat the gumbo and he loves pork. The pork comes in large shredded chunks - perhaps smaller pieces would be good for better distribution over the corn chips and ratios. Because you know I think about this stuff a lot.

Fried Chicken Steak $26

And then comes one of my favourite dishes. And when they set it down I think my eyes bulged out of my head cartoon style at its sheer size. It's an enormous buttermilk marinated boneless chicken breast (although seriously, it's like two or three chicken breasts in size). It is dipped in seasoned flour and then fried and then topped with a white country style gravy with plenty of ham. It's so rich and gloriously crunchy and creamy-an unashamed screw you to anyone suggesting a salad for dinner.

Louisiana Prawn and Chicken Gumbo $27

I also love the gumbo, a rich deeply flavoured stew made with prawns, chicken and Andouille sausage with herb ranch and a thick wedge of toasted sweet buttery cornbread on the side. The cornbread is spectacular - decidedly sweet but goes so well with this savoury stew.

Mash and Gravy $10

Viggo spotted the mash and gravy and wanted to try this as you don't often see the two together on a menu. "Would you like some potato with your butter?" he says spooning a creamy heap onto his plate. The brown country gravy is delicious with the buttery mash.

Cheesy Fries $9 + bacon $4 and Fried jalapenos $2

You'd think we had ordered enough but no we needed fries right? These are shoestring fries served with a house-made smoked cheese sauce to which we added some maple smoked bacon and fried jalapenos. Just because we are going for the full American experience here y'all. I would have loved some more cheese sauce on this.

Sundae Du Jour $16

It's dessert time. The sundae du jour is no shrinking violet and it's a soft serve with cream, a thick chocolate fudge Nutella sauce and deep fried Oreos. I'll just let that all sink in for a second. Yep, deep fried Oreos. And they're pretty damn good and remind me of going to the deep fried capital of the world, the Dallas State Fair where they deep fry butter, Thanksgiving dinners and cake.

Pie Du Jour $15

There was a peanut butter brittle pie that got me very excited because I love peanut butter. But we end up getting the last piece of pumpkin pie instead which while very smooth, spiced and delicious (not to mention an enormous slice) isn't quite scratching that peanut butter brittle itch that I was hoping for. Alas that will have to wait for another time because we could not fit another bite in!

So tell me Dear Reader, do you like American diner style food? Has all of your food accidentally arrived at the same time? And has rain or hail ever caused you to cancel plans?

This meal was independently paid for.

69 Abercrombie St, Chippendale NSW 2008 Tuesday to Saturday 11am–10pm Sunday 11am–4pm Monday Closed thenighthawk.com.au Phone: (02) 9319 0548

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/09/25/nighthawk-diner-chippendale/

[anachef]

Restaurant Chains Open Thanksgiving Day 2018

RestaurantNews.com has put together the following list of some of the restaurant chains open on Thanksgiving Day to serve your family and friends. Be sure to call your local restaurant in advance to confirm participation and pricing.

For those who prefer to dine at home, please see Restaurants Offering Thanksgiving Meals for Carryout 2018.

Acapulco will serve an all-day buffet which consists of traditional Mexican dishes, seafood, turkey and ham carving station, traditional Thanksgiving dishes along with desserts and salads. Pricing at all Acapulco locations will be $26.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids 12 and under. Acapulco will be open on Thanksgiving from 11am – 7pm. The Downey location will be open from 11am – 8:30pm.

Ben’s Kosher Deli – Dining rooms will be be seating at 1:00, 2:30, 5:00 and 7:15 pm (no 7:15 pm seating in Manhattan and Scarsdale). Reservations recommended. Roast Turkey Dinner, $26.99 (includes homemade soup and soft drink). Kid’s Feast, $9.99 (includes soft drink and kid’s dessert). Regular meals also available.

Black Angus Steakhouse encourages you to make your reservations now for its Thanksgiving Dinner. Choice of soup or garden salad with warm molasses bread, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sage dressing, sweet potato, steamed broccoli and fresh cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream. $19.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids. Price may vary by location.

Bob Evans is open until 8 pm. Get your choice of Slow-Roasted Turkey & Dressing, Hickory-Smoked Ham or Country-Fried Steak, three sides, endless bread and a slice of pie for just $14.99 (Dine-in Only).

Boston Market is open on Thanksgiving with a special Thanksgiving day menu, which includes Sliced Roasted Turkey Breast or Signature Rotisserie Chicken individual meals or “feasts for three,” plus home style holiday sides, appetizers and whole pies. Returning for a second year is Thanksgiving Home Delivery, which features six, fully-prepared and pre-cooked signature Boston Market Thanksgiving meal options that will be shipped directly to your door – a complete Thanksgiving meal (which includes an 11 – 12 pound whole, roasted turkey, even!) for 12 is just $99 plus shipping and tax.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. will be open at the following locations: Galveston, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Biloxi and San Antonio.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants are serving up a Thanksgiving Feast with sliced white meat turkey, homestyle gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, spicy Italian sausage stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Charlie Brown’s Fresh Grill will be serving an All You Can Eat Turkey Dinner (3-course) for $21.99. Includes all the fixings. Raisin Glased Baked Ham 3-course also available for $19.99. Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Turkey Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Apple Cornbread Stuffing, Baby Beans Amandine, Candied Carrots and Cranberry Sauce. Children 12 and under $9.99. Other entrees available: Classic Dill Salmon, Queen Cut Prime Rib, Parmesan Crusted Chicken or Hand-Cut Filet Mignon.

Chevys Fresh Mex is serving a three-course Thanksgiving meal available at all Chevys locations from 11am-7pm, in addition to their regular menu. The three-course Thanksgiving meal will feature a mixed green salad for starters, followed by an entrée of roast turkey with mole sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, jalapeno cheddar bread, and cranberry sauce. A mini pumpkin pie will top it all off for dessert. Pricing varies by location: At Chevys in Emeryville, the three-course meal will be $23.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids; at Chevys in Sacramento, Lake Buena Vista, South San Francisco, and Ontario the pricing will be $22.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids; at all other Chevys locations, the pricing will be $21.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids.

Chompie’s is open until 3pm and is offering a Thanksgiving Dinner for $19.99 per person, dine in or to-go. $9.99 for kids 10 & under. Dinner includes sliced oven roasted turkey breast, homemade stuffing and gravy, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, candied yams and more.

Claim Jumper Restaurants will be serving its Thanksgiving Menu from 11am – 6pm at most locations. Appetizers include Spinach Artichoke Dip, Mozzarella Sticks, and Cowboy Candied Bacon. All entrees served with a choice of freen salad or Caesar salad. Entree choices include Roasted Turkey ($24.99), Ham Dinner ($24.99), Roasted Tri-Tip ($25.99), Ham & Turkey Supper ($26.99) and The Feast ($29.99). Prime Rib, Salmon Oscar and Grilled Shrimp also available. Vegetarian entree available. Not valid at Golden Nugget Las Vegas or Opry Mills locations.

Country Cookin is serving up their Thanksgiving Day Feast with turkey or ham with all-you-can-eat holiday salads and sides for $11.99 (kids 10 and under $5.99). Most locations open and serving breakfast from 7-11 am and a traditional Thanksgiving Feast from 11am-4 pm. Not served at Harrisonburg location.

Cracker Barrel will serve a special in-store Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to close. This traditional Homestyle Turkey n’ Dressing Meal comes complete with turkey gravy, a sampling of sugar cured ham, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish, choice of a country side, a refillable beverage, buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins, and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert. Pie slices can be topped with the new salted caramel nut ice cream at no additional charge. The Homestyle Turkey n’ Dressing Meal is available for $12.99/adult and $7.99/child.

El Torito’s all-day buffet will be available from 11am – 7pm, and will feature traditional Mexican dishes, a turkey and ham carving station, traditional Thanksgiving dishes, and a pasta bar along with salads and desserts. Pricing varies by location: El Torito in Hawthorne will offer the buffet for $23.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids; El Torito in Redondo Beach, Dana Point, Monterey and San Leandro will offer the buffet for $29.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids; all other El Torito locations open on Thanksgiving, including Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Lakewood, Westminster, Torrance, Tustin, West Covina, Woodland Hills, Anaheim, Northridge, Laguna Hills, Stockton, Sherman Oaks, La Mesa, Ontario, San Bernardino, Irvine, Long Beach Atlantic, Pasadena, Milpitas, Yorba Linda, Orange, Cypress, Palmdale, Corona, and Riverside Plaza will offer the buffet for $26.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids. El Torito’s Marina del Rey location will be open with the regular menu. All other El Torito locations will be closed.

FATZ is open Thanksgiving at 11am.

Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill – Joe’s Turkey Deal for $14.99! Over a half pound of oven roasted turkey breast, mounds of mashed potatoes and stuffing with giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, Caesar Salad, rolls and a beverage.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse opens at 11am serving a three course Thanksgiving meal for $42.00 per adult. Main Course includes Mixed Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with turkey gravy, and Housemade Sage and Brioche Bread Stuffing or Sliced Beef Tenderloin. Children under 12 Thanksgiving Menu available for $19.00.

Fogo de Chão is open on Thanksgiving and will offer a unique menu on that day, which, in addition to fire-roasted meats and Market Table offerings, include Roasted Turkey Breast, Turkey Au Jus, Cranberry Relish, Brazilian Sausage and Apple Dressing and Sweet Potato Casserole. Reservations can be made at fogo.com; children 6 and under dine free, children 7 to 12 are half price

source http://www.restaurantnews.com/restaurant-chains-open-thanksgiving-day-111218/

[foodie-out-loud-blog]

Food You Should Have To Beat The Cold This Holiday Season

Everyone loves to take this time of year to soak up much needed R & R, also known as rest and recovery. Family time is essential, and what better than to celebrate this beautiful time of year in the most beautiful places, kick back, and indulge in the most delicious food to take your mind off the brutal drops in temperature that we are about to face. 

NUTELLA LOVE TRIANGLE 

The Nutella Love Triangle is made at Broad Street Dough Co. If you follow them, you are pretty much committing to a relationship with their Instagram feed too, because it will be the first thing you look deeply into after waking up and the final thing you look deeply into prior to hitting the hay. Broad Street Dough Co is located in Oakhurst, NJ, very close to the Monmouth Mall on Route 35 N. You guys.... they make every doughnut to order, and what can at first look to be an overwhelming experience making your dough-cision, will result in a warm, sweet ending. You can never go wrong with one of their daily specials, or this love triangle, also known as a croissant doughnut. Served warm, this thing has crunch, has the consistency of a fluffy cloud, and oozes with Nutella. Its what Nutella dreams are made of. Get it. @broadstdoughco 

LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE 

Lobster Mac & Cheese at a great price, and great cheese for your buck is closer than you think. Wegmans has the goods, and have a few friends over for some friends-giving, secret santa gift swap, or just wine, and this Lobster Mac & Cheese will be the star of the party. Distributed amongst this land of decadent al dente Fusilli pasta is smothered in cheese, and meaty lobster, then finished off with crunchy crackers. It is dangerously cheesy, and you just can’t get enough. @wegmans 

BANANAS FOSTER PAN PANCAKE

Upon ordering this, we had no idea what to expect. When The Bananas Foster Pancakes at Le Peep arrived to our table, we were mind blown prior to the first bite. This pancake is cooked in a cast iron pan, and it is massive! This goes beyond your usual stack of Buttermilk pancakes, which are always a never go wrong classic. These are a little darker than the usual buttermilk stack, and swirled throughout is a cinnamon-y, brown sugar-y, caramel like consistency, warm bananas, and walnuts. They were impossible to finish in one sitting, though after achieving that car ride home without exploding, we finished the rest because they were irresistible to leave for someone else to. @lepeep 

CHICKEN WINGS

You all know that chain restaurant you pass all the time during your commute to work, but have never stepped foot into? For us that was always Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. Boy, were we regretful for not stepping foot in sooner. It now is a weekly visit, because of their coal fired CHICKEN WINGS. Charred to perfection, these babies are topped with caramelized onions, and served with their famous focaccia bread. These are the ultimate party starter! One time we actually got catering just to have these chicken wings as part of our Easter celebration. They are so simply done, but done so well. They are on every table, now get them on yours. @anthonyscoalfiredpizza 

BACON & BEER

Bacon & Beer ought to warm you up in New York City at the sight alone instantly. Bar Bacon is where you go for this delectable combination. Get the Bacon Flight to pair with your flight of beer. The bacons are served sweet to spicy, and one is better than the next. The sweet ones are made with maple and brown sugar, and the spicy ones have a chipotle and hint of jalepeno to them. Killer. @barbacon 

CAKE TRUFFLES 

Say what? These things are ridiculously amazing. A cake truffle is a creation made and distributed at the Milk Bar Store in NYC. You might catch them at the Union Square Holiday Market, otherwise you can find them in the financial district in Lower Manhattan. If you have a contact that works in this area, tell them you will venmo them if they pick up a few sleeves of these. Our favorite are the original Birthday Cake truffles, though a great one too is the seasonal Pumpkin Pie cake truffles. The way these melt in your mouth is heavenly and indescribable beyond that. You will get lost as you savor this sweetness, and all of a sudden nothing else troubling you in your life will matter. @milkbarstore  

CHICKEN PAD THAI

Oodles of noodles, noodles and more noodles ought to warm you up this winter. The Chicken Pad Thai was one for the books after experiencing it at Thai Shangri La in Old Bridge, NJ. WOW! Thai food is so good in that you can actually taste what is constructed, versus just tasting sauce or oil, or grease. This decadent noodle dish is tangy, cooked to perfection, hearty, and finished off with just the perfect crunch! Apparently we have to return for the Drunken Noodle, a favorite amongst many regulars and staff! Check this place out!

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Shoot us a message or check out our feed to end your struggle to find restaurants for any occasion. 

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[marquisderad]

New Orleans | January 2017 | 5 Days in 1 Minute

Day 1

Central Business District

·         SAN to MSY | Direct flight. Stop-overs are unfun. Uber or cab, don’t shuttle.

·         Hyatt Regency - Check out the spots in the hotel. Chef John Besh has eatery Borgne in the lobby.  Woke up to the sight of the Superdome. Didn’t see Drew Brees.

·         It’s a small city. Uber it. Or walk everywhere, but not at night…as suggested by one of our Uber drivers, Ayesha – “Tis daaangerous!”

Warehouse District

·         Cochon Restaurant – Lots of eateries established from abandoned warehouses. Fancy-ish pork-centric food by Chef Donald Link. Vague [hip] menu descriptions.

o   Fried gator

o   Rabbit & dumplings

o   Porchetta w/ slaw

Day 2

French Quarter

·         Jackson Square – Music everywhere. Stop & listen to all the performers even for just a little bit. Hip hop brass, country blues, old skool jazz, 10 year old kids playing drums on plastic tubs w/ the cadence of pros 3 times their age.

·         Café Du Monde | Beignets & café au laits…b/c you have to. Grab it to-go & eat on a bench next to the Mississippi River.

·         The Presbytere | Louisiana State Museum – The horrors of Hurricane Katrina & the resolve of the people of NOLA. The history of Mardi Gras, carnivals & interesting costumes – some like whoa & some absolutely frightening. Fats Domino’s piano is there as well.

·         Walk around the Quarter. Take in the architecture. See all the street performers. Notice all the ‘buzzed’ people. You can walk the streets w/ an open container of alcohol. Bars serve drinks in plastic cups. Horses. Tours on horse carriages - if that’s your thing.

·         Laffite’s Blacksmith Shop | 200 year old blacksmith shop that is now a bar. Get a pint. Do not get a ‘Cup of Cherries’…cherries soaked in everclear.

·         Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo | Souvenirs & stuff.

·         Doreen Ketchens aka Queen Clarinet | She plays w/ her band on the street. Rad.

·         Carousel Lounge at the Hotel Monteleone | The bar seriously is a ‘carousel’ that spins. Or grab a posh lounge chair or couch w/ your significant other. Order a New Orleans classic – The Sazerac.

·         The Faulkner House | Author William Faulkner wrote his 1st book ‘Soldiers Pay’ in this house. Now it is a bookstore. Neat.

Warehouse District

·         Emeril’s | Chef ‘BAM!!!’ Lagasse’s original resto. Hospitality was excellent. So was the boar.

o   House made andouille & boudin sausages – braised collard greens, turbodog onions, whole grain mustard, house worcestershire sauce

o   Andouille crusted gulf drum – grilled veggies, shoestring potatoes, glazed pecans, creole meuniere

o   Local wild boar – fettuccine verde, cocoa tomato sauce, pumpkin, holy trinity salsa

o   Emeril’s banana cream pie – graham cracker crust, caramel sauce, chocolate shavings

Frenchmen Street

·         Frenchmen Art Market | Street art, vendors, twinkle lights. Jazz clubs & bars surrounding.

·         The Spotted Cat Music Club | Fun jazz club in a dive bar setting. Way rad.

Bourbon Street

·         Hidden within the Erin Rose Irish Pub is the tiny sammich counter Killer Po-Boys. Grab a pint & a late nite pork belly po-boy.

Day 3

Central Business District

·         Mother’s Restaurant –  A walk from the hotel. Stand in line at this old skool NOLA staple for non-fussy creole eats served by happy peeps.

o   The Famous Ferdi Special Po-Boy – ham, roast beef, the original debris w/ au jus gravy.

o   Shrimp + Oyster Po-Boy – cabbage, pickle, mayo, creole & yellow mustard, tartar & hot cocktail sauce on the side.

o   Grits

Arts District of New Orleans

·         The National World War II Museum – See everything. Spend a few hours. Amazing museum.

·         Walk around the Arts District. Museums and galleries. Rad graffiti. The General Lee statue. Walk into Louisiana’s own Rouses Grocery & check out the produce & meats. Pick up some seasoning spices as souvenirs.

Warehouse District

·         Restaurant August | Chef John Besh’s fine dining flagship restaurant. Order a la carte…OR SPLURGE and get both the tasting menus. See & taste what the best chefs in NOLA can do.

o   Tasting of Farmers Market Vegetables

o   The Restaurant August Degustation Menu

Day 4

Garden District

·         The Lafayette Cemetery – Search for the undead or re-enact scenes from the action comedy “Double Jeopardy” starring Ashley Judd which was filmed here.

·         Commander’s Palace| A NOLA institution since 1880. Old skool, elegant, kinda gaudy but fun. There was a Travel Channel camera crew filming when we had lunch. Our server said that they film so much in here that he doesn’t bother to ask “for what” anymore.

o   Plaquemine satsuma citrus salad

o   Creole gumbo du jour – Andouille & chicken gumbo, scratch stocks, dark roux, holy trinity & rum barrel hot sauce

o   Cornbread crusted Des Allemands catfish – sauté of Cajun andouille, Vidalia onions, red beans, roasted tomato, tomato red butter & smoked corn grits

o   Sugarcane lacquered south Texas quail – charred chili & popcorn rice boudin w/ tasso braised cabbage, sugarcane-rum vinegar glaze & Crystal hot sauce pepper jelly

o   Ponchatoula strawberry shortcake – strawberries macerated w/ cane sugar, warm buttermilk biscuit & Chantilly whipped cream

o   25 cent martinis. A tradition & a must [limit 3 per person – you won’t need any more].

·         Garden District Houses – Stroll around & check out the 19th century homes & try to burn off some of the butter, cream & calories you’ve eaten so far on this trip. Can’t believe the amount of butter that everyone serves just w/ the bread starter down here.

·         Garden District Book Shop – Neat little shop. Signed copies of everything. Guest author events all the time. Also…Anne Rice everything…everything.

Magazine Street

·         La Petite Grocery | Another James Beard Award hype resto [like all the places in this list – minus Mother’s] by Chef Justin Devillier housed in a building that used to be an 1800s grocery store. Made from scratch elevated classics.

o   Fried green tomatoes

o   Pickle jar

o   Snapper special

o   Seafood stew

French Quarter

·         Preservation Hall – Stand in line & wait to watch & listen to the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Mos def a highlight on this trip. Amazing 1 hour set of up-tempo New Orleans style jazz.

o   They only let 100 people in per show. People watch while in line– it’s the best. We saw Satan trying to get into the Pat O’Brien Pub next door.  There was also a dude selling beers from a cooler in the front of the line at the entrance of the building. “They don’t sell beer up in there, get it here!” People did. The hall did not stop him at all – good business trade.

Day 5

Central Business District

·         Willa Jean | A bakery & restaurant by Chef John Besh. He has like 12 restaurants.

o   Roasted beet salad – arugula, pistachio, citrus, goat cheese vinaigrette [by this point in this trip, our stomachs were screaming for salads, salt & acid to cut thru all the butter]

o   Smoked salmon tartine – fresh cheese, capers, red onion, hardboiled egg, marbled rye

o   Fried chicken sammich – serrano slaw, Hawaiian roll

o   Cold brew coffee

o   The WJ bloody mary

·         MSY to SAN | Direct flight. Stop-overs are super lame. Sleep on the plane. Or watch ‘Deadpool’ on your iPhone.

[eliaddmends]

This is how mother’s day afternoon went with making food for my special old lady. The rice and peas went down really fast with my friends @_ghog @specsphoto after I carted off her food to her. • • I hope you guys enjoy the visuals as much I liked making and eating this with virtually with my family and physically with my two good friends. So I made an oven baked chicken with a lemon-ginger drizzle with a side of grilled pineapple salad with some homemade pickled onions and honey buttermilk vinaigrette. Not forgetting the starter chips with a mango salsa and a key lime pie for dessert. I really enjoyed making an ice cream with the filling and the extra crust bits. Thank you teacher @booveey Unfortunately, we couldn’t add the rice and peas, jerk chicken and the brown stew because we ate it all before the shoot , and these boys like to EAT!😂😂 Thank you @urbanfreshgh for the dehydrated fruits. They were a great addition and garnish too. • • 📸: @l.kayku 🎬: @specsphoto • • • #cocktails #cocktail #beautifulpeople #coke #mixology #ghanaianevents #ghweddings #love #photooftheday #ahuofebridal #hennessy #instafollow #craftedcocktail #cocktailsinaccra #ghanacocktails #lagoscocktails #bellanaija #bellanaijaweddings #follow #weddingroyalty #instalike #garnishgame #martini #alcohol #thirsty #yummy #cocacola #enjoy #glass #liquor (at East Legon, Accra-Ghana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAU8TMAJeI7/?igshid=aeagc7588x1x

[charllieeldridge]

21 Best Things To Do in Asheville, NC

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and located along the French Broad River, Asheville just might be the most beautiful city in the United States.

Take in the views of the city from the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and you’ll quickly see why it’s referred to as the Land of the Sky.

There are numerous things to do in Asheville and for such a small city, it really packs a punch when it comes to activities on offer.

Hiking in the mountains, feasting on southern cuisine, relaxing in hot springs, and sampling craft beer are just a few of the things you won’t want to miss. 

I’ve spent a lot of time in Ashville over the last decade, and in fact, my wife and I got married and had our honeymoon in here! It’s easily one of my favourite cities in the USA and a place I always look forward to visiting.

In this Asheville travel blog, I’m excited to share some of the best activities, attractions, and places to visit in the city!

1. Visit the Biltmore Estate

A visit to the Biltmore Estate definitely deserves the top spot on this list of things to do in Asheville.

This historic mansion was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Vanderbilt. It’s a great example of the Gilded Age and an absolutely stunning place to explore.

The Biltmore Estate is actually the largest privately-owned home in the US.

It features an astounding 250 rooms and is surrounded by picturesque gardens, ponds, and a lovely conservatory full of various plants and flowers.

After touring the estate and the grounds, be sure to drop by the winery. You can take a tour of the underground cellars, sample several different types, and pick up a bottle of your favourite wine to take home.

You can visit the Biltmore Estate every day from 9AM to 5PM. Tickets cost $70 for adults and $35 for youth with a free audio guide.

Pro tip – if you book your tickets at least a week in advance, you save $10! It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown to reach the estate, which you can find on the map here.  

⇒ See Also: 15 Denver Attractions You Don’t Want To Miss

2. Take a Walking Tour

Whenever I’m in a new city, I love going on a walking tour to get to know the place. Asheville is a small city and is very walkable, so you can easily explore downtown on your own two feet.

Thanks to Explore Asheville, you can choose between two excellent self-guided walking tours of Asheville. They have an urban trail as well as an architecture trail that you can follow.

Both have interactive and printable maps, and the urban trail even has an audio guide as well.

If you’d prefer to go with a guide, you can sign up for the Tip-Based Asheville Walking Tour.

This excellent walking tour is about 2.5 hours long, taking you through downtown Asheville while covering all the highlights and insider tips on where to eat and drink (plus, some samples along the way). The cost is based on tips, so whatever you feel is appropriate. 

3. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway

If you’re wondering what to do in Asheville, just jump in your car and take a cruise on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This National Parkway and All-American Road is part of the Appalachian Mountains and one of the most scenic drives in the country.

The Blue Ridge Parkway actually stretches through both Virginia and North Carolina. It’s 755 km (496 miles) long and is full of viewpoints, hiking trails, historic sites, and so much more. This is one of the most incredible places to visit on your trip to Asheville.

Every time we have people come to visit when we’re in Asheville, one of the first things we do is head out for a drive on the Blue Ridge. These amazing views really never get old, so I don’t mind going back every time we’re in town.

4. Climb Mt. Pisgah

As I mentioned, there’s a lot to see and do along the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the best things to do in Asheville NC is hiking up the trail at Ms. Pisgah, which is easily accessible via the Parkway.

It’s about a 45 minute to hour-long hike to reach the top of Mt. Pisgah. While it’s not exactly an easy hike, it’s not too difficult. The hike is about 1.2 miles (1.85 km) to the top and there are plenty of places to rest along the way.

There’s a large TV tower at the top and an observation deck. From here, you can enjoy some of the best views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the city off in the distance. You can find the trailhead for Mt. Pisgah on the map here.

⇒ See Also: 21 Fun Things To Do in Detroit – An Insider’s Guide

5. Dinner With a View at Pisgah Inn

After hiking up Mt. Pisgah, you’re sure to work up an appetite. While you can certainly bring a picnic lunch to have on the Parkway, my vote goes to enjoying a meal at the nearby Pisgah Inn.

Grab a drink and head out to their observation deck while you wait for a table. They have plenty of rocking chairs where you can kick back and soak in the amazing views.

Having eaten here several times, I’ll give my recommendations for the fried green tomatoes and the walnut crusted mountain trout.

They’re open from 11:30-4 for lunch and then again from 5-9 for dinner. You can get directions and find the Pisgah Inn on the map here.

If you’d rather be up in the mountains than down in town, you might want to look into booking a room here. It’s pretty awesome when you can wake up and have the Blue Ridge Mountains right outside your window! 

6. Play Disc Golf

If you enjoy the great outdoors, one of the top things to do in Asheville is playing a round of disc golf.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, it’s just like golf but with a frisbee instead. The goal is to get your disc into a basket with the least amount of throws, and you can use a variety of different discs in the process.

The biggest difference between disc golf and regular golf is that it’s almost always totally free! That’s the case at nearby Richmond Hill, an excellent course and local hangout. Get directions and find the park on the map here.

If you’ve never played disc golf before and don’t have any gear, there are plenty of shops in Asheville where you can pick up a starter kit.

For about $10, you can get a driver, a mid-range disc, and a putter. Just try not to lose them on your first round. Most people write their name and phone number on discs as a precautionary measure.

⇒ See Also: 21 Top Things To Do in New Orleans

7. Feast on Southern Food

Asheville is home to plenty of amazing restaurants of all different styles. If you’re travelling here for the first time, I recommend sticking mostly to southern fare. After all, you’re in the south even though the State is North Carolina!

For brunch, a solid choice is Biscuit Head. Their slogan is “put some south in your mouth” and that’s exactly what you’ll do here. Choose your favourite biscuit (I love the pulled pork) and top it off with their various jams and butters. 

One of the best restaurants in Ashville, in my humble opinion, is Home Grown. This local eatery serves local food cooked by local people, so you know your money is going right into the local economy when you eat here.

I personally love their Redneck Pot Pie or buttermilk fried chicken. You can see Home Grown and much more in our “Streets, Beats & Eats” video on Asheville.

8. Drink Local Craft Beer

Asheville has been named Beer City USA on several occasions. There are over 40 breweries and beer pubs here in total! As such, sampling local craft beer should be high atop your list of things to do in Asheville NC.

Walking around Asheville, you’re never too far from a brewery. Some of the best places for a beer include Asheville Brewing Company, Burial, and Green Man. The best way to find your favourite brew is ordering up a flight to sample 4-5 different styles.

While they’re not exactly microbreweries, it’s also worth it to visit the Asheville locations of New Belgium and Sierra Nevada. The former has a scenic location right along the French Broad River, while the latter is a bit of a hike as it’s out by the airport.

If you want to take a tour of either, be sure to sign up well in advance! I’ve been to a lot of breweries, and these are two of the best I’ve ever seen.

9. Visit a Few Museums

If you’re downtown and aren’t quite sure what to do in Asheville, why not drop into one of the city’s museums for a bit? Whether you’re interested in art, science, or even pinball, there’s a museum for you here.

The Asheville Art Museum has recently had some major renovations and is bigger and better than ever!

It’s open from 10-5 Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 on Sunday. It’s totally free to visit, but donations are very much appreciated. You can find the museum on the map here.

Just a block away, you’ll find the Asheville Museum of Science. They’ve got lots of cool exhibitions and displays that are fun for all ages. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 10-5 and from 1-5 on Sunday and costs $7-8 to visit.

If you love a good retro pinball machine or video game, you’ll definitely want to check out the Asheville Pinball Museum.

For $15, you can play as many games as you want on their 80+ machines. Hours vary depending on the day, but they’re typically open until 9PM. Get directions to the museum here.

⇒ See Also: How To Spend 24 Hours in New York City

10. Explore the RAD (River Arts District)

For art lovers, one of the top things to do in Asheville NC is visiting the RAD (River Arts District).

Hundreds of artists have galleries and studios in this area along the French Broad River. It’s a really fun place to explore for a while, especially on the weekends.

On the second Saturday of each month, the RAD is a very lively place. There are demonstrations, workshops, wine tastings, live music, and a lot more. There’s even a free trolley that you can ride as you bounce around the different venues.

Whether you’re interested in painting, ceramics, photography, or jewelry, you’ll find something to enjoy in the RAD.

While you’re over here, be sure to drop in another excellent local craft brewery — Wedge. You can find the River Arts District on the map here. 

11. Fun on the River

Speaking of the French Broad River, there are lots of fun things to do there. Well, at least during the warmer months. There’s not much going on in the dead of winter…

One of my absolute favourite things to do in Asheville is tubing down the river.

The best way to enjoy the Homer Simpson of water sports is by signing up with this tubing experience. It’s like a floating pub crawl!

I won’t’ give it all away, but it’s a lot of fun and you can also bring your own beverages to put in the onboard cooler. Click here for details.

If you’d prefer a bit more activity than just lazily floating down the river, you can also rent a kayak or a SUP (stand up paddleboard). There are a few different places that rent boards as well as tours you can sign up for to get out and enjoy a day on the river.

12. Listen to Buskers

Walking around downtown Asheville, you’re sure to hear a lot of music. Some of it may be coming out of shops and bars, but more often than not, it’s actual musicians jamming in the street!

It’s very common to see people “busking” on the streets of Asheville. Busking is when you play music in public and simply open your guitar/violin/keyboard case to take tips from passersby. 

The various musicians busking around downtown Asheville really add to the eclectic atmosphere of the city. If you enjoy the music, stop for a while to listen and toss a few bucks in to show your appreciation. 

13. Day Trip to Hot Springs

If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned R&R on your trip to Asheville, then you may want to add in a day trip out to the town of Hot Springs, NC. It’s not just a clever name, as the small town is home to some amazing hot springs.

It’s about a 45-minute drive from downtown Asheville out there, and it’s well worth it.

The Hot Springs Resort & Spa has amazing mineral baths and spa services. After a busy couple of days exploring the city, a nice massage and a soak in the hot springs is just what you need.

The resort has a variety of different options, so be sure to check their website for details.

Just be sure to book in advance, as it’s a popular place. They also have several different choices for on-site accommodation if you’re interested. You can get directions to the Hot Springs resort on the map here.

⇒ See Also: 27 Top Things To Do in Chicago – The Ultimate List For Travellers

14. Join the Friday Drum Circle

One of the coolest things to do in Asheville NC, for both visitors and locals alike, is joining in the weekly drum circle. People of all ages and backgrounds come out to enjoy this fun and free event.

The drum circle goes on every Friday at Pritchard Park downtown. People usually start showing up around 5 and it gets bigger and bigger until the whole park is packed with people drumming, dancing, and singing.

Even if you don’t have a drum of any kind, it’s a good time. You can just dance to the music and enjoy connecting with people. Once the drum circle wraps up, you’re smack dab in the middle of downtown Asheville on a Friday night.

⇒ See Also: Top 10 Best Bars in Chicago –  A Guide To The City’s Nightlife

15. Shop at the Grove Arcade

If you’re looking to do a little shopping before you leave Asheville, be sure to swing by the Grove Arcade downtown. This building has a very interesting history, which I recommend you read before going there!

At the Grove Arcade, you’ll find a very diverse array of shops, including the Batter Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, Nutz About Fudge, the Woodrow Instrument Company, and much more.

In addition to all the great shops inside, there’s also the Outdoor Artists Market. You’ll find paintings, clothing, jewelry, and local honey, among other things. The Grove Arcade is open from 10-6 Monday-Saturday and noon-5 on Sunday.

16. Treat Yourself at the Grove Park Inn

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, a trip out to the Grove Park Inn is a must when visiting Asheville. In case you were wondering, yes, it is the same Grove who started the shopping arcade.

E.W. Grove is known as the “father of modern Asheville.” He was a self-made millionaire who moved here in 1910 and opened this grand inn soon thereafter. A hundred years later, and it’s still going strong as one of Asheville’s premier resorts.

Even if you don’t splurge on a room at the inn, it’s well worth it to pay a visit here.

Book yourself a nice spa treatment and then grab a hand-crafted cocktail and a bite to eat at their Sunset Terrace Lounge, or choose one of the many other options for wining and dining. 

⇒ See Also: 21 Best Places to Eat in Chicago – A Guide For Foodies

17. Take a Hike

By far one of the most popular things to do in Asheville is hiking.

If you’ve got your own wheels and are willing to drive 45 minutes to an hour outside of town, you have tons of options for excellent hiking trails.

In addition to the aforementioned Mt. Pisgah trail, other great options include Catawba Falls, the Devil’s Courthouse, or Max Patch. A hike to the latter can be rewarded with a trip to the hot springs, as it’s a pretty short drive between the two.

There really are tons of options for hiking in Asheville with varying difficulty and distance from town. Just check this awesome Asheville trail finder to figure out which option is best for you!

18. Explore the North Carolina Arboretum

Another fantastic choice for spending time outdoors in Asheville is the North Carolina Arboretum. Here you’ll find some lovely cultivated gardens, a bonsai exhibit, hiking & biking paths, and much more.

It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially on a nice day.

Actually, the arboretum is also a solid choice in the colder months thanks to the Winter Lights display they put up. The place really turns into a winter wonderland from late November until the end of the year.

The arboretum is open from 8-7 in the fall/winter and from 8-9 in the spring/summer. They don’t charge an entrance fee per person, but rather charge a flat fee of $14 per vehicle to enter. You can find them on the map here.  

⇒ See Also: Chicago Architecture River Cruise – A Guide For Travellers

19. Go on a Ghost Tour

One of the spookiest things to do in Asheville is going on a ghost tour. Haunted Asheville has a few different options for chilling, thrilling tours that are fun for the whole family.

On their classic walking tour, you’ll learn the stories behind some of Asheville’s most haunted spots from a resident ghost expert. Tours usually run at 8PM and sometimes there’s another one at 9. Tickets cost $23 for adults and $15 for children 9-14, while those under 8 go for free.

Another option is their Biltmore Village Mystery Tour. Apparently, you learn about a kangaroo that appeared from another dimension on this tour. Sounds cool to me!

⇒ See Also: Where To Eat in Meredith New Hampshire: A Guide To The Best Restaurants

20. Sundowners at Sky Bar

After a busy day of exploring Asheville, there’s no better place to watch the sun go down with a nice adult beverage than SkyBAR.

Grab a cocktail and take in the amazing views from this rooftop bar, and you’ll see why Asheville really is the Land of the Sky.

While there are some quality beer and wine choices on the menu, this place is all about the cocktails. I personally recommend their Mixed Berry Mule or the Peach Ginger Whiskey Sour. You really can’t go wrong with any of the options.

SkyBAR is located in the historic Flatiron Building in downtown Asheville.

Half the fun of visiting there is going up in the old school elevator, which still requires an operator. They open at 5 during the week and an hour earlier on the weekends. 

21. See a Show

No matter what night of the week it is, there are plenty of shows going on in Asheville. Take your pick between theatrical performances, stand-up comedy, live music, and more. 

The live music scene is one of the things I love the most about Asheville.

The city has several venues that range in size and style, so you get all sorts of different acts coming to town. Some of the best places to see music here include the Asheville Music Hall, Salvage Station, and the Orange Peel.

Be sure to check the calendar and see what’s playing when you’re in town.

During the warmer months, you’ll also find many different outdoor events and festivals happening in Asheville.

One such festival is Shindig on the Green, which takes place all throughout the summer at Pack Square Park. There are free shows most Saturdays as well as lots of informal jam sessions and other fun things going on.

Now You Know What to Do in Asheville NC!

Well there you have it. I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at one of my many homes away from home.

Asheville is such a cool city with so much to offer, whether you’re into the great outdoors, epic adventures, the arts, or just chilling out. Whatever you do, there’s always lots of amazing beer, food, views, and music!

Images in this article courtesy of Shutterstock.com. 

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This is how mother’s day afternoon went with making food for my special old lady. The rice and peas went down really fast with my friends @_ghog @specsphoto after I carted off her food to her. • • I hope you guys enjoy the visuals as much I liked making and eating this with virtually with my family and physically with my two good friends. So I made an oven baked chicken with a lemon-ginger drizzle with a side of grilled pineapple salad with some homemade pickled onions and honey buttermilk vinaigrette. Not forgetting the starter chips with a mango salsa and a key lime pie for dessert. I really enjoyed making an ice cream with the filling and the extra crust bits. Thank you teacher @booveey Unfortunately, we couldn’t add the rice and peas, jerk chicken and the brown stew because we ate it all before the shoot , and these boys like to EAT!😂😂 Thank you @urbanfreshgh for the dehydrated fruits. They were a great addition and garnish too. • • 📸: @l.kayku 🎬: @specsphoto • • • #cocktails #cocktail #beautifulpeople #coke #mixology #ghanaianevents #ghweddings #love #photooftheday #ahuofebridal #hennessy #instafollow #craftedcocktail #cocktailsinaccra #ghanacocktails #lagoscocktails #bellanaija #bellanaijaweddings #follow #weddingroyalty #instalike #garnishgame #martini #alcohol #thirsty #yummy #cocacola #enjoy #glass #liquor (at East Legon, Accra-Ghana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAU8g_IpF2_/?igshid=sph4yheppo5w