Out & About

Recommendations and reviews for dining out, shopping and other external culinary experiences.

Sampling Carolina style BBQ at the Dillsboro Smokehouse

February 24, 2011

Our review of the Dillsboro Smokehouse, located in an adorable historic North Carolina town located at the base of the Smoky Mountains.

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The Cowboy Way Bar-B-Que in Palm Springs

February 19, 2011

The Cowboy Way BBQ is a great restaurant in Palm Springs that we first discovered at the bbq competition at the Stagecoach Festival. Unbelievably good brisket chili and chili mac, but the pulled pork and brisket is pretty excellent, too!

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The Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Distillery–Drinkin’ Across Tennessee, Part 3

February 8, 2011

A trip to the Gatlinburg’s Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery–the first legal moonshine distillery in Tennessee! Not as nice or elaborate as our previous tours of Jack Daniels and Maker’s Mark, but if you’re in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area or Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is worth stopping by and reading about the cultural and historical importance of moonshine to the region and getting a few free tastes while you’re there!

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Eating in Wears Valley, Tennessee — Or trying to, at least!

January 23, 2011

Wears Valley, Tennessee is a beautiful place to stay if you want to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but other than a road-side stand called the “Smokin’ Pig BBQ”, the eating options in town are few and far between.

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Dining on Music Row in Downtown Nashville

January 20, 2011

A journey up and down Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, as we visit some of the most famous historical honky-tonks, bars, and restaurants, including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Merchant’s Restaurant and Bar, Robert’s Western World, and Rippy’s Smokin’ Bar and Grill.

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Touring the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee

January 8, 2011

An entertaining and educational tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery and nearby Lynchburg is worth the trip when you are in Tennessee whether you are a whiskey drinker or not!

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Dining with the Pope (Buca di Beppo’s Pope Table) — perfect for holiday celebrations!

December 12, 2010

This past Friday evening, Jeff and I celebrated Christmas with five of the other couples from our Thursday night Bible study group — seated at the fun kitschy Pope table in Buca di Beppo’s Brea restaurant.

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