Dining Out Southeast: Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House, Lynchburg, TN

Last week we took a day trip to Lynchburg, TN the home of the Jack Daniel's Distillery.  While that is the destination for many when visiting Lynchburg, we chose to make reservations for a lunch meal at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House.  The home was build in the 1820s and became a boarding house in 1908.  She died in 1983 just before her 102nd birthday.  Her family converted the boarding house into a restaurant where meals are (pre-Covid) served family-style with 10 diners along with a hostess who dines with you and entertains with stories of the history of the area.

The menu changes daily.  Here is the menu board on the day we visited.

Diners can choose between the meat options and then choose which vegetables to add to their meal.  A vegetable plate is also offered.  If you are like us and realize it's impossible to choose, they have you covered!  How about a sample of ALL the goodness!

The chicken was perfectly fried, crunchy, and well seasoned. The pork roast was tender and the gravy was the perfect accompaniment.  The okra was exactly as I fry it at my house:  cornmeal battered and definitely cooked in a cast-iron skillet.  The mac and cheese, while technically not a vegetable in other parts of the country, is a mainstay of meat and threes in the South.  This version was super creamy and rich with cheesiness.    

The black eye peas were cooked with pork and were well seasoned and these mini cornbread muffins were delicious.

When the menu tells you that the fried apples include Jack Daniel's, they're serious!  The collard greens didn't have that bitter taste that's sometimes obvious with this kind of greens.  These were tender and well-cooked. 

At this point, we were stuffed, but wait there was dessert! Classic pecan pie with Jack Daniel's flavored whipped cream was the ending this meal deserved.

If you plan on visiting, check out their Facebook page to view the weekly menu and to make reservations.  There's a neat gift shop on site and the downtown square is within easy walking distance with a number of shops worth visiting.

Dining Out Southeast: Vittorino's Cucina, Sweetwater, TN

This past weekend we took a road trip to the Lost Sea in Sweetwater, TN.  After touring the cave and enjoying a boat ride in the lake 140 feet below ground level, we were hungry and headed into the Historic Downtown area for a late lunch.  Italian food is always near and dear to our hearts so we selected Vittorino's Cucina.

After a brief wait at the door, we were greeted and taken to our booth.  The menu is extensive and we ordered drinks and cheese sticks while we pondered.  The sweet tea was excellent and the cheese sticks were served piping hot with a nice cup of marinara for dipping.

Complimentary bread was provided with a nice sauce served alongside.

We both decided we would choose items from the lunch menu.  I ordered spaghetti and asked if I could substitute the regular salad with a Caesar salad.  Our server explained that they couldn't do that because the lunch special was spaghetti with a regular salad.  Okay, got it.  So I went with the regular salad with creamy Italian dressing.  The salad with Iceberg lettuce with a tomato slice, slivers of red onion, black olives, green bell pepper strips, fresh mushroom slices, and shredded mozzarella cheese.  It was an excellent salad with a very tasty dressing.

Now, on to my spaghetti.  This was a very large serving for a lunch portion.  I declined the offer to order a meatball.  The sauce was mildly seasoned and served nice and hot.

Sweet Harold ordered the lunch lasagna.  The sauce was deeper and richer than the sauce on my spaghetti.  It was delicious.  The lasagna was a two-layer version with mildly seasoned beef.

There was no room for dessert this visit.  The restaurant is located near several antique stores and boutiques.  It was a nice lunch after a fun morning.

Zatarain's Bourbon Chicken

 

I spied a new Zatarain's product in the grocery store last week:  Zatarain's Bourbon Chicken and Rice Mix. This one will definitely have a place in the meal rotation here at Chez Lolly.

I cubed one pound of boneless skinless chicken thighs into 1/2" pieces. Then, in a 3-quart saucepan, I heated a couple of tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.  Then, into the pot went the chicken thighs.  I diced half of a green bell pepper and added those to the pot.  I browned the chicken for about 5 minutes.  Next, I added the mix and 2 1/4 cups of water along with 1 T. of butter.  When it reached a gentle boil, I turned the heat down so the mixture would simmer with the cover on the pot.  At the end of 25 minutes, the rice was tender.  I gave the rice a stir, removed it from the heat, and let rest for 5 minutes.  

This was a great weeknight meal!  The ONLY thing I'd change would be to add mushrooms next time.  

Next time you're in the grocery store, look for this boxed mix.  If you're not a fan of spicy food, Zatarain's has stepped up and given you the convenience of their other products with a flavorful, easy-on-the-taste-buds meal.