We’ve had some seriously good eats of late. I have no photos, but last week, we finally visited Brixx. Their house salad is INCREDIBLE, especially in the little (unadvertised) “side” portion. I’ve informed the Knight that when he’s working in the area, I require one. Just bring it… no need to call and ask. Their pizza was also outstanding, and their tiramisu was fine-dining quality, even in the take-home box, several hours (and in three portions over the next few nights) later.
See the bacon on top???
Saturday night, I went back to the BBQ Exchange with some friends from out of town. They were good sports and tried the bacon brownie with me. It was worth the experience – I mean, how many of you have had a bacon brownie?! – but it couldn’t eclipse the pumpkin muffin or the cornbread as my “don’t leave Gordonsville without it” item. In case you’re wondering, you don’t taste the bacon per se. It’s almost like a stale bit of nut… you taste the salt (and who doesn’t love salt and sweet?!) and there’s a not-quite-crunchy chew for the bit of bacon, and that’s it.
Sunday night, we took advantage of restaurant week and hit (the original) Bavarian Chef with still more friends. They had a blueberry soup on the prix fix menu, but they didn’t disappoint… I didn’t want any of the entrees or desserts on the special menu, but I got the soup anyway.
Barbara's photo, but the presentation was similar... with drizzled cream
I wish I had photos. It wasn’t a really creamy-based, chilled soup. It was just pureed blueberries, something with a slow burn (we’re thinking white pepper and lots of it?) and some thinning agent, but I really don’t think it was the heavy cream Barbara’s recipe sports. (Karen! Look at Barbara’s photo… the soup was … bluer than that, wasn’t it? Could it just have had more white wine and less cream, or not a heavy cream?)
The rest of the meal consisted of our group’s favorites, minus a chicken entree that won’t be ordered again. Fabulous food and even better company in all three instances, although each place had a very different atmosphere and menu.
What makes a great meal for you?
Chan Knits 
Wow! Your weekend sounds fun and filling. For me – food that tastes good, that you want to eat slowly and savor along with good conversation, company and great service. The service can make up for mediocre food and vis-versa. g
Okay, while I like bacon, I just don’t know if I want it combined with anything other than meat or breakfast foods. With chocolate? I just don’t know.
One of my favorite places to eat is the Bavarian Inn in Sheperdstown, WV. The food is pricey, and I would consider it a ‘special occasion’ restaurant, but I still love it!
http://www.bavarianinnwv.com/
Food is my favorite subject!
Good food is even better when it’s shared with good company. Sounds like you’ve been having both.
I’ve recently found a bakery in the LA area called Sweet Lady Jane’s and it is to die for cakes and pies…. and I have finally had the chance to try Strawberry Rhubarb pie and I LOVE IT!!!!
A great meal out for me is having something I can or won’t go to the effort of making at home ~
As my father likes to say, How many meals do you eat in your life? Now, how many do you *remember*?
The Blueberry soup was definitely bluer at the Chef. It was really good too. Thanks for the sample. We alway enjoy dinner with you all wherever we go, but the Bavarian Chef is special. Hope we don’t wait until our annual New Year’s Eve to go there again. I’m on for The Barbeque Exchange next. Good Carolina style….Yum-O!
I think I’ll just say, what Gmarie said! Your weekend sounds delicious.
We used to eat out all the time but now its Tom’s cooking, Sunday night was ribs coleslaw, a few jumbo shrimp and a lovely French rose, and last night was a pecan crusted chicken with bruschetta topping and zucchini in lemon and basil with a fabulous chardonay. I hope tonights is just as memorable!
Looks like you had a nice weekend. Glad you tried the bacon brownie for me. I trust you that it was good, but I’ll keep my bacon out of the sweets, thank you. (You know I’m a food segregationalist, right?)
The Ozarks haven’t discovered spices yet, so the food in most restaurants is very bland. We like spices and I use them at home, so when we manage to find a restaurant that knows how to add spice to a dish, we’ll generally go back again.
Morgan and I could share the brownie. I’d eat the chocolate and she could have the bacon. The blueberry soup sounds wonderful.
Blueberry soup? And bacon brownies? hmmm….not so sure about either one but it would be worth a taste.
What makes a great meal for me? One I don’t have to cook 😉
MMMMMMM. Im a repeat eater…If I love something at a place we go to, then that is usually what I order…..
Fireman is all about atmosphere..not me. Make the food amazing and I ‘dont care if I am eating in a nursing home…..
What makes a meal? The bread should be amazing. THe meat should be tender as butter, and the coke needs to be from the fountain with free refills. I like a white tablecloth too…..and candles….
geez, sounds like I never eat at McDonalds…
oh but I do. ..>Double ham please no cheese….
Bacon and BBQ? YUM! I’m allergic to chocolate, so you can have the brownie.
I had a bacon pecan pie a few months ago and confess I didn’t like it much. What’s wrong with me?? I like bacon and syrup, so it’s not the salt/sweet thing. Wonder if I’d like it in brownie form better?
Amazing that blueberry soup was on the menu at Bavarian Chef…I don’t see it on menus often. My soup was grainy, kind of, you just can’t puree those berries completely. And too thick. Next time, I’ll add more cream, which would make it less blue. Hmmmm. Have to think about this one.
Potatoes!!! I love potatoes. oh, and pasta. (notice it’s all about carbs?!)
speaking of bacon… have you ever tried chicken fried bacon? yep, it’s just like chicken fried steak or chicken fried chicken but with bacon. oh, and another favorite here is bacon brittle. (good thing I’m not a bacon fan)
So. Hungry. Now. !!! Everything sounds delish – but a bacon brownie?!?! I MUST have one!
Mmm…sounds like good meals all around. Hubs and I like going to places that use local, fresh, ingredients. It makes all the difference, imo. That bacon brownie looks absolutely sinful. My two favorite foods…chocolate and bacon. LOL
That brownie looks sooooo good. And then I read that it has bacon on it. Bleeeech!
🙂