Tag! You're it
Newscoma has tagged me on a food meme. Here are the rules:
1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)
miss kendra (los angeles, california, u.s.a)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA! USA! USA!)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Joe (NE Tennessee, USA)
10K Monkeys (Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA)
Big Stupid Tommy (Athens, Tennessee, USA)
Newscoma (Weakley County, Tennessee, USA)
Mine:
Russ McBee (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA)
2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location.
Oh, crap. This won't be easy.
For a city of its size, Knoxville has a surprising number of locally-owned restaurants. Sure, we have the usual collection of national chains, but Knoxville also has a fairly large number of families in the restaurant biz; some, like the Regas family, have been at it for generations. That means we have tons of great restaurants unique to this city.
I love that.
After looking through the list of folks who've already participated, I see that Joe Powell has already claimed three of my favorites: Nama, Italian Market, and Tomato Head. I guess that means I have to find subtitutes. I totally agree with his choices -- Nama makes the best sushi in town, and the second best I've ever had. Italian Market is pure heaven, and Tomato Head makes the best pizzas and veggie sandwiches on Earth.
After some reflection, here are my five:
1. Italian Market & Grill. Yes, I know Joe already listed it, but I have a different perspective on the place. Italian Market & Grill has a breakfast buffet on Saturdays that is absolutely killer. I've eaten breakfast there nearly every Saturday for the last couple of years, and I only miss that ritual if something Earth-shattering is happening. They have the best omelets in town, a killer Eggs Benedict, heavenly biscuits, and probably the best gravy I've ever eaten. It's even better than the gravy my great-grandmother made. I consider it a beverage.
2. Cha-Cha. This tapas restaurant in Homberg is best experienced with a group of friends; you have to sample lots of different tapas dishes, and the only reasonable way to do that is to order a dozen of them and share. They also have a great wine selection. Cha-Cha sits next door to my #3 choice:
3. By The Tracks Bistro. Their veal and trout dishes are out of this world.
4. Chesapeake's. Their seafood is flown in fresh daily. Their clam chowder is a classic, and their gumbo is so good, it'll make you slap your grandma down (as a former co-worker used to say). They make the best crab cakes I've ever tasted in my life, and I used to crawl Maryland's Eastern Shore on a fairly regular basis. The shrimp stuffed with crab imperial is cholesterol nirvana.
5. La Costa. This new joint on Market Square is owned by Greg White, the same dude who owns Nama. It's Latin-American inspired, combined with local ingredients. The duck is outstanding, and their specials are always a treat.
3. Tag five others.
OK, here goes:
Jack Lail, Whitescreek, Katie Allison Granju, Atomictumor, and R. Neal.