Amazing Southern Restaurants

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Donald Citrano's Coffee Shop Cafe in McGregor, TX

2009-01-13T11:07:00.009-06:00

RESTAURANT: Donald Citrano's Coffee Shop Cafe, Phone: (254) 840-2027

LOCATION: 1005 W. George W. Bush Parkway (at Hwy 84), McGregor, TX

DATE WE VISITED: 1-3-09

FOOD WE ENJOYED: The "famous country breakfast buffet" was delicious. The breakfast quesadillas, migas casserole, and Spanish Omelet (Western with jalapenos) were great!

The menu is extensive with great sounding food throughout the day, though we were there only for breakfast.

They have a convenient drive-though window.

Their hours are Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is a lot of George W. Bush memorabilia and a number of items for sale.

SERVICE: The servers were attentive and our drinks and coffee cups were kept full.

COMMENTS: This is Pres. George W. Bush's favorite place to eat when he is at his Crawford, TX, ranch. Great food, we'll be back!

Complete your Southern eating experience!

1. Get This Amazing Southern Cookbook, Flavored with Love, Now!

2. Get the world's only cookbook devoted to collard greens and cornbread with stories of a Texas boy's misspent youth, The Collard Patch, while they are still available!

2008-10-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

Lin's Grand Buffet

What is the South? I suppose places east of Dallas are in the South and places west of Dallas are in the Southwest. Anyway I want to tell you about a great restaurant in Amarillo:

Lin’s Grand Buffet
8440 I40 West
Amarillo, TX 79121
806-350-5688
www. Linstexasbuffet.com
Open: Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The service was outstanding, the staff was pleasant, and every item we ate was excellent. The sushi bar and the Mongolian barbecue were very good. The boiled shrimp were fresh without the rubbery texture we sometimes see. Some other items we liked were the crab Rangoon, salads, General Tso’s Chicken, egg foo young, fried rice, and shrimp with broccoli. The food bars were unusually clean.

There’s too much good food, but we must limit our intake.

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Big Texan

2007-12-29T18:55:00.000-06:00

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For a great Christmas dinner, go to the Big Texan Steak Ranch. You may need to wait 30 minutes, but don't despair. While you wait, you and your loved ones can look at the stuff in the store. If you are by yourself, you'll be okay. You will not be alone. There are friendly folks there, including customers, servers, and mingling musicians.

You can look at the jackalopes (for any of you not familiar with jackalopes, those are jackrabbit heads with antlers on them!) or you can select a unique Lodge skillet. There are several designed to make cornbread muffins in all kinds of shapes.

There are endless things to look at: cactus jellies, cookbooks, leather suspenders with camo design, Texas souvenirs. . . .

The buffet is quite a spread. There are two kinds of turkey (be sure to try the Cajun kind), prime rib almost as good as my son-in-law's, tamales, mashed potatoes, an elaborate salad bar, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, dressing with fresh cranberry sauce, and delicious rolls.

On a regular night, you can buy a great steak, or if you have the constitution you can eat one free. The Big Texan is the home of the free 72 ounce steak.

7701 East I-40, Amarillo, Texas 79118
(800) 657-7177

Czech Stop in West, Texas

2007-11-28T16:25:00.000-06:00

The Czech Stop on I-35, Exit 353, West, Texas, 76691, is the place to be. (I-35 connects Dallas to Austin. West is south of Hillsboro and north of Waco.) The Czech Stop is open 24 hours.

Sometimes the Little Czech Bakery in the same building is also open. "Delicious is our Business" is their Unique Selling Proposition. Their telephone number is
254-826-5316.

There are a few tables and chairs by the windows, but most people stand in the long line to get their kolaches, sausages in rolls, eclairs, cookies, filled bundt cakes, and other incredibly delicious goodies after buying gasoline. They walk out with their sacks of the most delicious food in the world and hurry back to their cars.

Then they eat right there in the parking lot because it smells so good they can't wait. They plan to take things home, but it is impossible to take anything home except sausage that needs to be cooked. No matter how much they buy, they have to eat it all as fast as they can. The only thing left in the bag when they reach home is the paper wrapping.

Chech Stop is not really a restaurant with waiters although the people behind the counter are courteous, but it is one of the most amazing places to eat in the South.

Quoted from the Czech Stop website:
"For the past 17 years Czech Stop has been promoting that Czech Heritage spirit so popular in the small town of West, Texas.

Whether serving the neighbors down the street or travelers off of I-35 we take great pride in providing every customer with complete satisfaction." www.czechstop.net

To check out the menu, go here.

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La Bella Vita, 407 Constitution Drive, West Monroe, LA

2006-07-13T13:45:00.000-05:00

We're sorry that La Bella Vita has closed . . . .

Lunch at La Bella Vita
Lunch at La Bella Vita is one of the highlights of my week. The bottomless soup and salad specials are magnificent. On Tuesdays the special is spinach and artichoke soup. On Thursdays it's cream of mushroom soup.

On the back of the menu there is an entire page of lunch specials. It is really difficult to decide which one I want on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

Sometimes I simply want to select one of the appetizers for lunch, such as the fried alligator. I don't know how La Bella Vita is able to make their alligator tenderer than some other places do.

This week I had planned what I wanted for lunch, but when my friend and I arrived at La Bella Vita, I was disappointed and overwhelmed because making a decision had become more difficult than ever. There simply are not enough days in the week to eat all the good choices! Back to my overwhelming dilemma: The chalkboard at the front counter had a long list of new specials.

I narrowed the choice to the hot ham and cheese sandwich with an agreement to swap half of it with my friend, who decided to order the club.

As usual, the waiter brought us the complimentary appetizer--a square loaf of perfectly baked peasant bread with olive oil and seasonings.

Then to my amazement, generous salads appeared before us. By the time the sandwiches arrived, I really did not need another course, but the sandwiches were irresistible. One half sandwich was too much! The waiter cheerfully brought us carry-out boxes.

Now, I cannot wait to go back and try all those other specials!

One of these days I’m going to La Bella Vita for lunch and order nothing but one of those scrumptious desserts.

More about La Bella Vita:

A unique dining experience that takes you away to the quaint Italian countryside with Wines, classic Italian cuisine, Louisiana specialties and The Best Steak in Town
Dining room available for your parties, graduation, family reunion and wedding rehearsals
Catering in our party room or at your location
Wireless internet access
Coffee and Martini Bar come relax and enjoy dessert with you friends

From La Bella Vita's site http://www.labellavitagrill.com

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, Plano, TX

2005-06-11T22:53:00.000-05:00

Here are some ideas for combinations about which you likely never thought!

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine

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Fine Dining Tennessee Style

2005-06-09T06:54:00.000-05:00

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Bavarian Grill, Plano, TX

2005-06-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

The selection of food at the Bavarian Grill is excellent. Particularly good are their wurst plate and their jaegerschnitzel. There are various specials.

Amazon.com: Gourmet Food: EAT TONIGHT at Plano TX-Bavarian Grill-$25 Gift Certificate Buy Now, Print Now SENT BY EMAIL: EAT TONIGHT at Plano TX-Bavarian Grill-$25 Gift Certificate Buy Now, Print Now SENT BY EMAIL
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Average entree: . Location: 221 West Parker Road Plano, TX
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Brennan's New Orleans Cookbook

2005-06-03T17:26:00.000-05:00

by Hermann Deutsch

A Great New Orleans Cookbook

Reviewer: Jenny "ilovemylife" (Lafayette, LA USA) - See all my reviews
The Brennan's New Orleans Cookbook is a great, classic New Orleans cookbook. (Note: I was born in NO, live in South Louisiana, and lived in NO for 5 years.) Try the recipes for Stuffed Bell Peppers, Stuffed Mirletons (use shrimp instead of crabmeat), Red Beans, Redfish Courtboullion, and Creole Jambalaya. One day I'm going to start on Page 1 and cook everything in this book!

Amazing Cookbook: Flavored with Love

Fine Dining Georgia Style

2005-06-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

Fine Dining Georgia Style: Signature Recipes From Georgia's Restaurants And Bed & Breakfast Inns

2005-06-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Let me recommend a lovely cookbook, which is one I've recently obtained:

Fine Dining Georgia Style: Signature Recipes From Georgia's Restaurants And Bed & Breakfast Inns
by John M. Bailey

This cookbook is a coffee table treasure with its pretty pink and green cover. Inside there are six pages of photographs of subjects unique to Georgia. You will enjoy reading about Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady & Sons, as well as neat places throughout the state of Georgia.

Information from Amazon:
List Price: $24.95
Price: $16.47 & Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details
You Save: $8.48 (34%)
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours from Amazon.com. Sold by Amazon.com.

Product Details
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Quail Ridge Press (April 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN: 189306266X
Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds.

Other books in this series:

Fine Dining Mississippi Style
Fine Dining Louisiana Style
Fine Dining Tennessee Style
Fine Dining Georgia Style

Prize Recipes from Great Restaurants: The Southern States and the Tropics

2005-05-30T00:06:00.000-05:00

Book Description
Well-known chefs from fourteen Southern states and eight islands in the tropics share the secrets of their most famous dishes in this second volume of truly prize recipes from great restaurants.
Now, in one's own kitchen, under the guidance of these culinary experts, the savory delicacies served daily in renowned restaurants can be duplicated -- tasty entrees, mouth-watering appetizers, exciting salads, and delicious desserts.

Included in this volume are the best and most interesting recipes used at more than 100 notable restaurants in:

THE SOUTHERN STATES
-- Delaware
-- Florida
-- Georgia
-- Kentucky
-- Louisiana
-- Maryland
-- Mississippi
-- Missouri
-- North Carolina
-- South Carolina
-- Tennessee
-- Virginia
-- West Virginia
-- District of Columbia

THE TROPICS
-- The Bahamas
-- Dominican Republic
-- Haiti
-- Jamaica
-- Netherlands Antilles
-- Puerto Rico
-- Virgin Islands
-- West Indies

Product Details

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company (November 1, 1982)
Language: English
ISBN: 0882892932
Product Dimensions: 11.0 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches

San Francisco Bread Company

2005-05-22T14:44:00.000-05:00

San Francisco Bread Company
For sandwiches, salads, spuds, and wraps that are more than the ordinary, visit San Francisco Bread Company. We ate at the location across from the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, AR.

101 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72201; phone: 501.372.SFBC(7322); fax: 501.372.7328; Across from the Statehouse Convention Center. "Fee parking in the 2nd and Main St. parking garage Mon-Fri. Simply present your parking stub to the cashier before paying for your meal and we'll discount 1 hour worth of parking from your meal ($1.50)."

At the web site other locations are listed.

The greatest difficulty we had at San Francisco Bread was deciding what we wanted on our sandwiches.

Some sandwich menu items:
1. MEATS--Albacore, Tuna Salad, Honey Cured Ham, Chicken Salad, Choice Roast Beef, Smoked Turkey, Corned Beef, Salami, add bacon
2. BREADS--Cracked Wheat, French, Sourdough, Marble Rye, Croissant, Bagel Croissant, Focaccia
3. SPREADS--Mayonnaise, Mustard, Bill Spread, Honey Mustard, Horseradish, Chipotle Mayonnaise
4. CHEESE--American, Cheddar, Swiss, Pepperjack, Provolone
5. VEGGIES--Lettuce, Tomatoes, Red Onions, Sprouts, Cucumbers

Amazing Cookbook: Flavored with Love

Primos Cafe & Bake Shop Jackson, MS - Yahoo! Travel

2005-05-22T01:46:00.000-05:00

Primos Cafe & Bake Shop Jackson, MS - Yahoo! Travel: "2323 Lakeland Drive, Suite A, Located in Flowood, Jackson, MS 39232-9514 "

Jackson has been known for the outstanding Primos restaurants in various locations as long as I can remember. I like their Comeback Sauce on salad.

Also Primos does something extra special and inimitable with a plain green salad that tastes simply wonderful.

I've been taking my mother-in-law there forever. She always gets the shrimp remoulade--the sauce is always perfect. Now that I think about it, I believe that Primos consistently has the best salad dressings I've ever eaten.

Also the seafood and vegetables are good and the baked goods and the coffee.

Here is an online review of Primos:

Primos is Premiere
by Kris Gerling from Philadelphia, PA
09/06/04
"I was in Jackson for a speaking engagement for Presbyterian Women and my hostesses took me to Primos for the most wonderful carmamel cake int he whole world. I should have purchased a quart of the frosting to take home. I wish they would ship the frosting. The atmosphere was hometown diner and the service was quick and very friendly. I would go to Primos daily if I lived in Jackson."

Copeland's Of New Orleans and many other places such as Monroe, LA

2005-05-20T10:32:00.000-05:00

3851 Pecanland Mall Rd.
Monroe, LA 71203
(318) 324-1212

Visit the website for more locations:
Copeland's Of New Orleans

We recommend the oyster po boy for lunch there.

Copeland's

History...

Copeland's of New Orleans' roots are part of a culinary evolution that has sparked a revolution in cooking throughout the United States. The city called "The Big Easy" is renowned for its exciting cuisine, among other unique attributes.

New Orleans Creole and Cajun cooking heritage is basically city and country combined. The Creoles were descendants of the French and Spanish settlers, whose cooks added African and American Indian touches to this cooking tradition. The Cajuns were hunters, trappers and fisherman who favored freshly prepared game with heavier spices. Copeland's menu is resplendent with a marvelous combination of Creole and Cajun. The sauces, spices, freshness of every ingredient and pride of the cook, is evident in every Copeland's creation.

Ruth's Chris Steak House : Steak

2005-05-16T00:50:00.000-05:00

Ruth's Chris Steak House : Steak:

This is the place that showed the world how great a steak can be. Carefully selected and aged for tenderness. Cut thick to ensure juiciness. Seared to perfection at 1800 degrees. Seasoned simply with salt, black pepper and a touch of parsley, because a steak like this needs nothing else. Topped with fresh butter that sizzles seductively on your plate, announcing the arrival of a great steak.

Cowboy Chicken, Dallas

2005-04-06T21:56:00.000-05:00

Cowboy Chicken is listed by Texas Best Restaurants as TEXAS BEST CHICKEN RESTAURANT.

LOCATION: 17437 Preston Rd. ,Dallas, Texas 75252

TELEPHONE: 214-732-6281

As you walk inside, you won’t be able to miss the beautiful sight and aroma of rotisserie chickens in motion.

The chicken enchiladas are especially tasty.

Most of the vegetables are excellent, but some of them are bland.

Cowboy Chicken, Dallas, Plano, roasted, rotisserie, catering: "COWBOY CULTURE
From the beginning, Cowboy Chicken's philosophy was to provide excellent quality chicken and side dishes at a reasonable price with friendly and efficient service. We believe in treating each and every guest as if they were in our own home, it's the Cowboy way.

THE CHICKEN
The chicken has been, and always will be, the most important thing in the restaurant. The seasoning blend and cooking process have not changed since the first store. Above all else, the chicken quality and taste at Cowboy Chicken is the most important reason the guests keep returning. Quality is addressed in every step of the chicken process: receiving, seasoning, tying, cooking, holding, cutting and serving.

FAMOUS TWICE BAKED POTATERS
Over the years, a favorite side dish developed. The Famous Twice Baked Potaters won the hearts and palates of all the Cowboy Chicken guests. Cowboy Chicken has experimented with different side dishes throughout the years, but none could ever compare to the Potaters."

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits Restaurants

2005-04-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

For a limited time, Popeye's Fried Chicken is serving blackened naked chicken strips. We tried them today in Ruston, and they are goood! You can get a strip combo for $4.99. It includes 3 strips, Cajun fries or other side, a light and fluffy biscuit, a medium drink, and a sauce-your choice of ranch, barbecue, or honey mustard. The strips are seasoned with Chef Paul Prudhomme's® Magic Seasoning Blends®.Even if the food were not good, you would still need to go there a read all the clever sayings printed on the wall. That new wallpaper is wild.

Read more here: Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits Restaurants

Popeye's has been extolled by food critics as a one of the finest sources of true New Orleans style food anywhere. The story of the executive chef explains much about the reason this restaurant is so much more than a fast food place. Here is that story:

Billy Jacob
Executive Chef, Product Research and Development
Popeyes® Chicken & Biscuits
"Billy Jacob is the Executive Chef for Product Research and Development for Popeyes® Chicken & Biscuits, the world's second largest quick-service chicken chain. Jacob is responsible for the research and development in order to create the products that Popeyes locations serve throughout the world.

Jacob grew up deep in the heart of Cajun country in Lafayette, LA, and was raised on Acadian cuisine. In 1935, his parents established a local family restaurant called the Four Corners Cafe that quickly became an institution. The restaurant grew into the 400-seat Jacob's Restaurant serving a delicious blending of Cajun/Creole cooking with classical French dishes. Jacob learned a great deal about the restaurant industry working alongside his parents in the restaurant's kitchen and office.

After working in the family business for many years, Jacob spent some time working for ConAgra Foods before joining Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits in 1993. Since joining Popeyes, Jacob has developed many new products that have helped to establish the brand as the leader in the Cajun segment of the QSR industry. Jacob developed the award-winning Popeyes product line, Popeyes Louisiana Legends™, which features jambalayas, etouffées, stews, gumbos and chilis. Nation's Restaurant News honored the Popeyes Louisiana Legends menu category with the prestigious MenuMasters Award in 1999.

Jacob also played key roles in the creation of many Popeyes seafood items such as the flavorful Popeyes Firecracker Shrimp. In addition, he was instrumental in launching the brand's "Cajun Craver" in 2002 - a single-item, portable carryout product line offering bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken and seafood menu items.

His creativity in the kitchen and innovation in the development of new menu items has not gone unnoticed over the years. Nation's Restaurant News recently honored Jacob as part of The NRN 50: R&D Culinarians in 2003.

Jacob has been featured on The Food Network, CNN and numerous local television shows cooking-up a variety of Louisiana-inspired culinary delights including deep fried Cajun turkey.

He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America."

Have fun reading about Popeye's!

Semolina

2005-04-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

Semolina

Jr's Place, Simsboro, LA

2005-03-18T15:24:00.000-06:00

JR's Place®
2721 Martha Street
Simsboro, LA 71275
Pho: 318-247-6007
Fax: 318-247-1656

Serving you Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

North Louisiana people who know the Slocums know that Junior can cook especially well. Junior and Kathy Slocum have recently opened an intimate restaurant in Simsboro, Louisiana.

Where is Simsboro? It's just south of I-20 between Arcadia and Grambling.

What is amazing about it? In season the crawfish are. All year, you can eat steak, barbecued ribs, tasty brisket, cobbler,and hamburgers.

Visit JR's Place website! You'll find some funny pictures there.

Click here for one of Junior's recipes and an unbelievable story.
Crawfish Étouffée

Blue Light Café of Ruston, LA

2005-03-17T15:23:00.000-06:00

902 Arlington Street
Ruston, LA 71270
318-513-2230

Blue Light is a fine landmark in Louisiana—the melting pot of Lincoln Parish. It was founded in 1970 by Fannie Rushing.

It’s the place to go if you want smothered steak, pork chops, genuine Southern fried chicken, unforgettable vegetables, or hot water cornbread. The food is so good that it will disappear from your plate before you know what’s happened to it, and you’ll wish you had not eaten because you will wish you could do it all over again.

Over the years it has been frequented by two of the nation’s all-time greatest coaches—Eddie Robinson, Grambling’s renowned football coach, and Leon Barmore, LA Tech’s legendary basketball coach. If you look around while you are there, you will see some out-of-town celebrities, who are passing through Ruston.

The atmosphere is homey, unpretentious, and cheerful. Students who come to college here soon forget about being homesick as soon as they find the Blue Light. When people first arrive in Ruston, they say, “Show me the Blue Light.”

I regret to tell you that the Blue Light is open at lunch only.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant

2005-03-10T14:02:00.001-06:00

To eat great Sushi, visit Sakura Japanese Restaurant in Plano, Texas.

la Madeleine

2005-03-10T10:10:00.000-06:00

The la Madeleine experience is one you don't want to miss. At the website mentioned below, there is a list of all the restaurant locations.
la Madeleine French Bakery and Restaurant

Zach’s Blend of the Bayou

2005-03-09T19:37:00.000-06:00

Zach's
Farmerville Highway, Ruston, LA

Zach’s opened early in 2004 and closed a few months later. Zach Yates, the owner/manager, served a dish there like no other. He served it two ways—as an appetizer with toasted French bread and as a main dish with pasta. I preferred it as an appetizer.

Zach shared the recipe with me and gave me permission to share it with you. If you quote this most delicious recipe, please do not change it and please give Zach credit for it.

Shrimp Napoleon

2 pounds butter
6 cups chopped onions
3 cups celery, chopped finely
4 cups flour
1 quart rich seafood stock
12 cups diced artichoke hearts
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/8 cup garlic
2 cups Zinfandel® white wine
12 cups heavy cream
1 pound American or Velveeta® cheese, cubed
8 pounds shrimp, peeled (150/200 count)
butter (for cooking shrimp)
Tony Cachere’s® (for cooking shrimp)
pasta

Start by making the roux. (Note: do not brown this roux. Leave it light!) Sauté veggies in butter. Add flour and stir constantly for a couple of minutes. Put broth in. Cook until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer. Don’t let it stick to the bottom of pot.

Add artichokes and cook.

Add seasoning, wine, and cream. Let it come to a light boil.

Remove from heat. Put cheese in it. Stir until melted.

Immediately before serving, sear shrimp in Tony Cacherie’s and butter.

Stir the shrimp into the mix.
Serve over cooked pasta.

Serves about 24

Notes

1. Adding shrimp too early will make compromise their texture.
2. Use purchased seafood stock or make you own by cooking left over seafood ingredients such as shrimp heads, crawfish heads, and fish bones.
3. Shrimp Napoleon served with seasoned garlic toast makes an excellent appetizer.
4. Sprinkle garlic toast lightly with paprika and celery flakes to add color.
5. Make sure that all servings have adequate amounts of shrimp included.
6. I believe Zach sprinkled parmesan cheese over each portion.

The Spaghetti Warehouse

2005-03-05T22:21:00.000-06:00

The Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant