Taste-O-Texas Review

Good evening good people!!! It has been a little while and I am glad to be back!!! Happy Father's Day to all and I hope it was a blessing to all.

Today, we are going to talk a restaurant that holds a special place in my heart. This place is not just special because of its food. This place is special because of the great atmosphere and family bond that we found. Let's take a trip to Texas,  Taste-O-Texas that is.

Now this restaurant is located in Loudon, TN. A little bit of a ride but if you are driving on Interstate 75, it's not too far off the interstate and you can stop by, pick up food to go or sit and stay awhile. 

The owners, Mark and Marge, run the restaurant with their 2 sons and their daughter-in-law.  They also have a granddaughter waiting in the wings to join in the fun. The restaurant has a cozy family-friendly restaurant that not only will you get great food, you will also be treated like family. 

But without further ado,  let's get to talking about this food. Let's say we received a spread that has us comatose at the table. We started out with some a great appetizer, Tachos. These morsels of goodness set it of.  Tater tots topped of with queso, tomatoes,  pinto beans,  brisket, lettuce and well let's just say it could be a meal within itself. 

Our next menu item was the Texas Two-Step. We had heard a little about and well, this sandwich was a hit. Brisket, sausage and coleslaw on a branded bun. It was a great combination, just a little more burn on the sausage for me.

Next the brought us an entree called The Longhorn. It consisted of three meats: sausage, brisket and pulled pork,  along with 2 sides. The potato salad was very good. It's dill-based and I took it all in. They also gave us some Mac and cheese that was very good. We also had some more coleslaw and they gave us a house salad.  Now when talking about the salad,  they only have a lime-cilantro ranch. For a person who doesn't like ranch, this little combo was not bad. (One thing I am learning is to be open to new things since embarking on this new journey.)

And final, the main event,  dessert!!! Now they have 2 desserts they serve and l tell you you will get both.  Now you remember I told you I have been open to new things,  both of these desserts I have really not eaten or tried in a long time. But I can say they both pleasantly surprised me. 

Let's start with the chocolate chip banana pudding.  This combo was something different.  The flavor of the chocolate with the banana pudding was amazing.  Also, the way they layer the pudding, then the crumbles of wafers, then whip cream, whoaaaaaaaaaa!!! This worked so perfectly together. 

Then to follow up they bring out cheesecake with a blueberry sauce. Again,  it was another pleasant surprise. The blueberry sauce was a great compliment to the cheesecake. (My palate is expanding more and more each place we go. Lol)

Oh, before I wrap this up. I have to mention the 4 homemade barbecue sauces. These sauces will give every person something they will love. From sweet and tangy to a super spicy sauce that sneaks up on you and punches you in your face.(Each sauce has great flavor for sure.)

So all in all, this restaurant was one I was impressed with. From the family hospitality to the great food, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  If you are out on 75 and looking for some BBQ the Texas way, stop in at Taste-O-Texas. 

My score for Taste-O-Texas is 4X Tees. And if you go, tell them we sent you.

Well, this wraps up another installment of Fat Boy Problems. I want to thank Taste-O-Texas for having us and wish them nothing but the best. Until the next time, make sure to love the ones you love but most importantly make sure you treat yourself!!

Review for the Chicken Coop

Good evening good people and thank you for joining me for another Fat Boy Problems' blog. We have been to a lot of great places, we have enjoyed some great food and the wins don't stop this week!!! This week we will be highlighting the Chicken Coop.!!!

The Chicken Coop is another husband and wife duo who are killing the game. They have found a way to take one thing that everyone loves, chicken, and put their own little twist on the delicious entree!!!

We traveled back to Wears Valley and the scenery was once again amazing.  A nice beautiful day to enjoy some of the best food you will have in the East Tennessee area. The Chicken Coop is a mainstay at Wears Valley Social so anytime you are that way, stop on in for some good food and entertainment. 

Now the specialty of the Chicken Coop is chicken, of course, but we must start out with sides. We had the Fried Mashed Potatoes and the Honey Sriracha Fries.  Let me tell you, each of these held a special place in my heart!!! 

Let's start with the Fried Mashed Potatoes.  This was a pleasant surprise.  How they came up with the idea of placing mashed potatoes, cheese and bacon, place it in an egg roll wrap and fry it to perfection.  This combo was phenomenal and left you wanting more. Then we moved on to the Honey Sriracha Fries and it took fries to another level.  Honey Sriracha, beer battered fries with that extra crisp and bacon.  Now tell me you don't want to try either of those right now? I'll wait.

Next we had some healthier alternatives.  We had the Island Chicken Wrap with the cucumber salad and the Orange Chicken with mango coleslaw.  Both of these combos were amazing.  The wrap had a great crunch from the chicken,  sweetness from the mango coleslaw. It just worked.  The cucumber salad was refreshing as well. The Orange Chicken was a pleasant surprise of sweet and spicy.  But the mango coleslaw was the king. If you enjoy coleslaw this will not disappoint.  The only bad thing is the mangos are ripe only one time a year that they use.

We finished of the day with two more of the favorites,  the Chicken Salad Wrap and the Drunken Nachos.  Now we had so much already but we had to finish strong.  The Chicken Salad Wrap was crazy. The chicken salad itself was worth of the highest praise. And the Drunken Nachos were out of bounds too. The portion they give you could  be a meal by itself. 

To wrap this all up, the Chicken Coop didn't disappoint.  The hospitality, the great food, you can't miss. It will definitely get a return trip!!!

The Chicken Coop gets 5X Tee with no doubt.  If you are disappointed after having their great cuisine,  I don't know what to tell you!!!

So, make sure you go show some love and support your local businesses.  Visit Wears Valley Social and check out all the trucks and vendors. 

Make sure to take care of the ones that you love but most importantly make sure you treat yourself!!!!

Review for The Mac Food Truck

Hello again and thank you as always for rocking with me. It has been a while but got new things in the works and had to hold off on this particular blog. I am excited, to say the least, to tell you about The Mac Food Truck.

Before we go any further, I just want to let you know that I am now doing a vlog as well. The name of the vlog is Hanger MGMT.  My co-host Alonzo and I are out to show off the growing food industry we have in Knoxville and the surrounding areas. Find us on Facebook and YouTube.

So where do we begin when it comes to The Mac Food Truck. Let's just talk about the owners first and foremost. Mac and Terri are transplants from Destin, FL. They began as car salesmen and got out of the car business to come to Tennessee and join the food industry. And let me tell you it's working.

Not only are the bringing you a great product with their food, their  hospitality is something that can't be matched.  These are some of the most polite, humble people you will know and they will take good care of you. I could talk more about these two amazing people but we must talk about the food they are serving. 

If you are a seafood lover, this place will bring you much joy. They are bringing fresh seafood from the coast and you can tell the difference.  You also can tell how much they love serving the people with the love they put into their food.

Let's start with the fish. They serve up 2 different types of fish, Mahi Mahi and Grouper. Each piece of fish is seasoned to perfection and fried lightly.  Next you jump to the shrimp.  These shrimp may be my favorite part of the menu. Anything dealing with the shrimp you are going to receive a proper portion. Also, he makes a shrimp salad that will ow the roof off the building. When I say it's that good, it really is that good.

I also stepped out of my comfort zone and had some items I never had before. First, I tried fried oysters for the first time.  This delicacy was fantastic.  You could taste the ocean in every bite literally.  I also had cucumber salad for the first time and let me say, it was such a delicious surprise. It's a great alternative if you are trying to eat better or have restrictions. 

The rest of the sides were amazing as well. Fried corn on the cob, coleslaw and the daddy of them all, the seasoned crinkle fries. (I almost made those a meal by themself because I ate so many #fatboyproblems)

So, all in all, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The menu is awesome and continually expanding.  The people were so good to me and the crew. And the scenery was breathtaking. (When you have a food truck, the world is your oyster lol)

The Mac Food Truck gets a super 5X Tee and it's well deserved.  You guys are the cream of the crop.

As always I want to thank you again for the support.  I will keep these going because I have a passion for it and I love to share my experiences with you guys and gals.

I hope everyone has a great day, show love to the ones who around you but .most importantly make sure to treat yourself!!!!

Here's a little sneak peek of the vlog!!! Hanger MGMT,  hope you enjoy!!!!

https://youtu.be/BXmf16x22hw

Review for Last Days of Autumn Brewing

Good evening good people!!! I know it has been a while but man it's been a wild and crazy few months.  We made it into another year and slowly but surely we will be able to venture out to these great restaurants around the area and enjoy good food and great company!!

Tonight I finally got to check out a place I have heard a lot of good things about and finally got to taste it for myself.  I took a trip to Last Days of Autumn Brewing and partook in Taco Tuesday!!! They didn't disappoint!!

I got two different types of taco's tonight. (Greedy, I know but someone has to make the sacrifice.) I started the evening with the birria style tacos. I have seen this so much lately and wanted to know for myself why people were crazy about these tacos. Man, I get it!!! The the meat itself is so good. Tender and juicy and the seasoning was on point.  The cruch of the tortillas after being dipped and fried on griddle. The melting of the cheese to were each bite gave you some gooey happiness.  And we can't finish without recognizing the broth and hot sauce that both played a key roll in making this an excellent meal.  And I  almost forgot about the pickled onions that gave you the perfect balance to the heat form the hot sauce. 

I then had the Korean pork tacos. These tacos were also delicious.  The pork and the coleslaw complimented each othe very well. Also for 8.00, you got a lot of bang for your buck.

The overall atmosphere was great. Once summer comes around,  they have plenty of outdoor seating.  They had a couple TVs for sports and had a nice selection of crafts for you to partake in. I would recommend this place for a small gathering for friends or even a date.

I know for sure I will be back to enjoy another Taco Tuesday and I will also be back to see what other good eats I can find.

Today,  Last Days of Autumn Brewing gets a 5X Tee for their tacos and hospitality. 

As always I thank you for rocking with me and hope you enjoy the reviews. If you will share, comment and let me know what you think. As always take the time to tell the ones around you love them but most importantly, make sure to treat yourself!!!

Review for Connors Steak and Seafood Turkey Drive Knoxville

Good evening good people and Happy Monday to you!!!! Today was a good day!!! After being blessed to see another year this Saturday I decided to go with my motto and treat myself!!! Today we are going to talk about a restaurant that I heard a lot about and well it lived up to the hype.

Connors had a variety of different cuts of steak. And well, I felt I deserved a steak!!! Lol. But steak is not the only thing that will catch your eye. Their seafood options were pretty tempting as well.  They give a nice selection of sides that will perfectly go with whatever entree you decide on. 

Today I went with the ribeye and loaded baked potato.  Before crushing the entree like a champ, I had a side salad made with fresh greens, lettuce, carrots, almonds and tomato. You can never go wrong with a good salad. 

Now let's talk about this steak.  The steak was cooked exactly how I requested. The seasoning used was simple and there was no need to use any type of sauce. (Great steaks need no sauce.) And the loaded baked potato was just the side to compliment this beautiful piece of meat. I had to take picks to make sure to cherish this meal and the happiness I felt after eating this deliciousness. 

Now you would think they would be more than enough but I messed up and asked the server about the dessert menu. He begins the list by advising they have a chocolate mousse cake. After hearing the word chocolate my ears went deaf, a piece for me for the road please and thank you. 

All in all it was a great experience. The service was top notch.  The homie Bryan Cook joined me and we had some A-1 food. I know eventually I will be back for sure.

Today's review is going to be a phenomenal 5X Tee and I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy this experience once in your life.

Well, I  stayed awake long enough to give my review.  I hope you all are staying safe and taking care of your loved ones. Make sure to tell someone you love them but most importantly, make sure you treat yourself!!!!!

Review for Tastee's

Good evening good people!!! It has been  while but I am back and have a review for a small company that is about to change the game.

The company I am talking about is Tastee's.  They can be found on Facebook and Instagram and the menu is growing daily. It's a local company that right now specializes in lumpias, but looks forward to other items the people want. The lumpias are sold frozen, which gives you the space to make how many you need at that time. And they are always looking for suggestions. 

So let's talk about these lumpias shall we!!!! These things are phenomenal!! I have always heard about them but never got around to trying them. I was blown away with the three different kinds I got to taste. Each one was one I would recommend to anyone. My favorite would be the Philly Cheesesteak. 

If you are looking for something new or ready to support your local community,  reach out to Toshi Williams on Facebook or Instagram under Tastee's.  She will be more than happy to fulfill your needs.

So as you can tell,  I enjoyed these lumpias with no question.  They are getting a 5X Tee without a question.  I recommend you get you orders in and have a treat. 

As always I want to say thank you as always for taking a little time to read my review.  I hope you enjoyed and will give Tastee's a try. As always show love to the ones who are near and dear to you but make sure to treat yourself!!!!!

Review for Wings on Knox Cumberland Avenue

Hello and thank you for coming back to the blog good people.  Today I have a review for you for a wing spot I have been wanting to got to for a while and finally got the chance to check them out. Wings Over Knox has been open for a few months now and I have heard mixed reviews.  But everybody should know, good or bad, you have to try things for yourself. 

Let's talk about the environment.  This place is a spot for all ages. (Late night I would say the younger crowd because it's on campus.) Now most places you go for wings are going to have bars so you can wash down these wings with some suds but not Wings Over Knox and that's not a bad thing. This place is there to provide you good food minus the extra, which we all can use at times.

The hours are accommodating to all types of schedules.  Lunch, dinner and even late night they got you covered.  On the weekends they are open until 4 AM and I know enough people who need them wings to end the festivities on a good note. (And yes people is me. I am people. )

So let's talk about the food,  the main attraction. I can into the meal a little skeptic but was very pleased with the size of the wings. As I have said before,  in most place around the city there has been a wing epidemic. They have a good selection of sauces and dry rubs to choose from. It's a very simple menu and the pricing is actually pretty good for what you get, all and all on the same level as the other spots. 

So, I got the chance to get some free wings for joining their email group so I got three flavors on my plate today. (In true Fat Boy style) I had the Lemon Pepper, Sweet Chili and Korean Fire. All three were very good. I was surprised by the Lemon Pepper and have to say they were some of the better ones I have had.  They gave you just enough rub to were you got the flavor and didn't feel like you were eating wings dipped in mop cleaner.  The Sweet Chili were the perfect blend of sweet glaze with the right amount of kick. The Korean Fire was the surprise but it didn't disappoint and I was glad I got them. The waffle fries were a excellent compliment to the wings but you can also get tots or onion rings. The only thing missing was some celery but that's minor in the scheme of things.

All in all, this place I will go back to. Tje wings were good,. The atmosphere is laid back and I would recommend this place to my people. Wings Over Knox gets a 4X Tee from me and next time I hope we can catch the game.

As always, make sure to enjoy the people around you but most importantly make sure you treat yourself!!!! Thanks as always for checking me out!!!!