In Memoriam: Goodbye To Bob's Dairyland, Lynn Garden, Scratch, Stefano's & Guy's Cathead Biscuits

From time to time, I have to say goodbye to some restaurants that I know and love. This in memoriam is for five favorites of mine and one I didn't even get to try, and that is where we will start.

I had seen a Peruvian chicken place in Pigeon Forge called B5 Chicken. Since I first spotted it I have eaten there, and it was excellent, but before that, I learned there was one in Johnson City and since I'm there much more often so I decided to go to it. It was called Brassa 51, and this is no lie. It closed the very day I was going to eat there. 

Now the first place that I did get to sample was one that I discovered had closed by accident in Georgia, it was called Guy's Biscuit Barn. The place was in an old gas station and was a North Georgia treasure. It served what it says, biscuits. But not ordinary ones but Cathead Biscuits and they are called this because they are the size of a cat's head. This was one of those local spots that are being pushed out by cook-cutter corporate places. Damn, those biscuits were good! 

Guy's Biscuit Barn & the Cathead Biscuit.

Anyway, the next two places are pizza establishments. The first closed six months ago place and in some ways signaled the end of the Old Strip on Cumberland Avenue near the University of Tennessee, Stefano's Pizza. This location was special as it was where we would gather before heading over to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum for hockey. It was part of a Thanksgiving Weekend Tradition for over two decades. Because the Ice Bears moved the Thanksgiving game and the pandemic my last time eating, there was 2018. It was a sad day when it was closing at the end of 2022.

Hockey games will never be the same.

Next is another pizza place, and it's called Scratch Brick Oven. It was one of those local Johnson City places, the type I love. I first ate here before the pandemic it was a small place with a great build and tasty pizza. However, during the pandemic, I worried about Scratch making it. I went there a couple of times, but recently I looked at the restaurant, and what I feared might happen did. However, I did read that it might become a food truck, but I will miss the old place.

It was a cool place & excellent pizza.

The next restaurant was also kind of there and then gone, and that was the Lynn Garden Restaurant. This dinner-style restaurant's claim to fame was chicken...great fried chicken (their motto was "seven days without our chicken makes one weak"). Lynn Garden is one of Kingsport's oldest restaurants opening in 1946 and has been run by Mike Kerney for over three decades. But, from what I gather, he has been ill, so it hasn't been officially closed. However, it is looking that way as of now.

Even Johnny Cash needed the chicken.

The final one, an East Tennessee icon, was the toughest to take, and that was Bob's Dairyland in Roan Mountain. My history with it goes all the way back to my university days over three decades ago. However, for the citizens of Roan Mountain, it went back to 1956. It was such an institution to me that when I thought of Roan Mountain, I thought of the balds, the state park, and Bob's. After a pause, because I was living in Georgia, I rekindled my romance with this restaurant when I moved back to Tennessee. I would go here when returning from a visit to the Roan Highlands. To this day one of the five best burgers (Boss Burger: two patties, bacon, and a slice of ham) I have ever had was here after an overnight of the Appalachian Trail Section from Carvers Gap to 19E. Saying that I was gutted when I got the news it was closing was an understatement! So, goodbye to the Dairyland and the rest...you will be missed!

(T) The Roan Mountain Institution (B) A goodbye photo.

A More Wood Booger Proof Pour-Over For Coffee

I have written a number of times about making coffee and the different ways I accomplish this task. The last way I described was by pour-over and it had become my go-to style of coffee I make. It is simply my favorite. 

When I bought my original pour-over early in the pandemic I got a cheaper one because I wasn't sure how I would like it. You might have guessed it was all glass, except for the coffee basket. Because of this, I knew it wasn't Wood Booger proof so it was just a matter of time before it got broke. Time ran out recently and I knocked it off the counter by accident and it hit the floor in pieces. All that remained was the mid-handle and coffee basket.

My old pour-over

The inspiration for the new pour-over

So, as a replacement I decided to do what I did when I broke my glass French press...get one made of stainless steel. Like the French press, stainless steel pour-over is a little more expensive. Unlike the French press, I couldn't get it all stainless steel. The basket holder is glass, but I got one that screws out meaning I can replace it. Also, it is bigger and has a screw-on lid which is cool. 

Parts of the pour-over

Making coffee

The biggest difference is on the old one I knew how much water by the levels on the base. This one doesn't have that so I have to measure the water and then pour it over. But, I will say I have gotten the hang of it. I am pleased with my new Asobu Pour-Over...

Astronomical Spring Begins By The Fire

It is the first day of astronomical spring and there aren't too many ways better to enjoy it than sitting out by the fire pit today.

Some years I might be hiking, but I am doing that Monday. This time last year it was all about COVID-19. I guess it still is, but not the same unknowns that clouded things last year. Plus the vaccines are being administered so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway, I decided to take advantage of the fire and cook my dinner on it. That dinner would be a favorite... Shovel Lamb. I don't know if I have described before how it is made. In Australia, they use a shovel and put a piece of lamb on it and then on the fire. I don't have a clean shovel so I use a cast-iron skillet and season it with that excellent Sichuan peppercorn recipe I have (which I finish my roasted potatoes in after removing the lamb). It is really good! While tonight's was delicious I will admit to making it better back in December. 

Overall, it was a great dinner and a relaxing fire...what could be better!

Tusculum Trail, Fire Pit & A Great Meal...A December Sunday

It was a nice day on Sunday so, I decided to go out for a hike on an old favorite of mine the Tusculum Trail. The section of choice was the back half with the best views, well except that the mountains were covered in clouds. That was one of the reasons I settled on it because of rain, snowmelt, and clouds I decided on something easy. Anyway, I did about four miles and then came home and got the fire pit going to cook a dinner featuring lamb. A nice finish to a pleasant day...

Next Time When Grilling Think...Watermelon

During the Coronovirus Pandameic people have done a lot of stuff cooking. I guess it's because most people aren't eating out that much (I haven't eaten in a restaurant in almost six months). I really haven't posted any blogs on food in a while, so I will speak of something I tried recently...Grilled Watermelon

I know it sounds weird and you have my friend Marty to blame. He sent me an email about grilled watermelon burger it sounded interesting. However, before trying a burger with a watermelon I decided to try it plain first. So, I heated up the grill, got some watermelon and grilled. I did pieces at different amounts of doneness to test the results. I will say, when cooking, it reminded me of grilled salmon but tasted similar to grilled pineapple.

It was good but not as good as the aforementioned pineapple. So, if I was going to do a burger I would be more likely to use pineapple. I will finish by saying that I am glad I tried it plain first, but it is worth a go if you are adventures!

Pouring Over A New Coffee Maker Highlights This Week In COVIDworld

This week in the COVID-19 Crisis I discovered another new way to make coffee and mowing highlight this week.
This week I ordered a pour-over coffee maker. The reason I needed one was my regular coffee maker decided to finally breakdown for good. I knew it was on its last legs as it took it 30 minutes to brew a pot. As readers of this blog know I have several ways to make coffee. I have an espresso maker, a stainless steel french press sand somewhere a nice percolator, but I needed something that used filters for coffee. If you haven't read paper filtred coffee is better for you, so I needed something to replace my coffee maker.

I have had pour-over coffee many times and have thought about getting one to make this kind of coffee for some time. One of the things I like about it (and a french press) it isn't a coffee maker that can just stop working. It is a manual type of coffee which I like. You need five things...the pour-over coffee maker, filter, hot water, coffee, and a scale. A scale to make coffee, yes, it is used to measure the amount of coffee that goes in the basket. Luckily I had one for my eBay. I am proud to say that I got the coffee right the first time (that didn't happen with the percolator or French Press).

The main other thing happening this week was mowing. We got a new mower here a St. Clair...a Zero Turn Snapper. This was my third time mowing with it, but I am still getting used to it. I mean you drive it differently than a standard tractor style. Proof of this was I accidentally ran over a tree, I felt really bad. I will say I do like the fact that you can turn on a dime, so it is faster.

Well, I finished the weekend a little relaxing around the fire pit and finishing this blog. Anyway, maybe soon I will get out to some low traffic (not the Smokies it was a zoo when it opened back up) because right now is more dangerous than a two weeks ago. As always, stay safe...