5-16-10 Sunday (Dedicated To Our Friend Steve)

Jim read something about recommended Asheville restaurants and found that the Tupelo Honey Cafe made the list for Southern Country breakfasts.  This place is in the heart of downtown Asheville and had a 30 minute wait.  We waited.  It was worth it.

Above: On the way downtown.

Above: The skyline.  The photo didn’t capture the mountain (it was hazy) on the left.  I’ll try again.

 

Above: More people who can’t park.  We parked all on top of them – Jim had to slide out the passenger side.

Above: Think of Alix over at Casa Hice.

Above: Jim poses in front of the cafe where we’ll eventually get to eat.

Above: We.

I realize it’s “strange” to have an appetizer at breakfast but Jim suggested:

Candied Ginger Cornbread
(with Peach Butter) 3.25

These were 2 small muffins.  It was good but nothing “spectacular”.

For our main entrees, here’s what I had.

Sweet Potato Pancake » One large buttermilk pancake flavored
with cinnamon and sweet potatoes, topped with whipped peach
butter and spiced pecans 5.50

This was absolutely delicious!  Jim had several bites of mine.  He enjoyed it.  He ordered an omelet that was ordinary.

He said it was tasty.  I did taste the rosemary potatoes which were good.

After breakfast, Jim and I re-explored the downtown area.  We stopped into the Woolworth Walk I mentioned yesterday.  Check out the original flooring.

Here’s the exterior of an interesting building:

Above: I’m not quite sure what the architectural style is called but it reminded me of Egyptian.  Anyone?

Above: Inside the Grove Arcade.  You can check out the link for some interesting history tidbits.

Jim and I then walked around, stopping in several unique stores while viewing the many local “characters” that roam the streets here.  A few humorous things in store front windows:

Above: We laughed.  This poster drew us into the store.

 Above: Ugly.

  Above: Sounds weird and fun!

Later in the afternoon Ann, Morgan, and Tonia met us downtown for lunch.  Patti who had arrived the day prior was off with some friends who live nearby.  The rest of us had a late lunch at  The Flying Frog Cafe.  The service sucked.  Really.  They had attitudes and were just terrible.  The food?  Wonderful.  I have no photos from lunch.

Since the crew had just arrived into town, they needed to check into their hotel and settle in.  Later we met them in Patti’s room for some conversation.  Tonia brought wine and I brought wine glasses!

Above: Trader Joe’s wine is about $2 a bottle and is pretty good!

 Above: Tonia – Jim’s sister-in-law.  The only one who doesn’t mind being photographed.  Everyone else “bitches” about it.

  

At dinner time, we all shuffled in to a Mexican restaurant called “Cocula”.   Good food!

The “old folks” returned to their rooms while Tonia, Jim and I went back into downtown Asheville.  Unfortunately most everything was closed.  It was after 9 on a Sunday so I guess it’s no surprise.  We did go to the “Asheville Yacht Club” which was not a yacht club but rather a bar.  Tonia was craving a chocolate martini.  I’ve never had a martini before so I got a raspberry martini that was pretty good.  Tonia got  her martini.  Jim?  Diet soda.  We did have a banana in tempura batter type dessert with ice cream that was pretty damn tasty. 

Since downtown was pretty dead, we returned home.

Downtown Bisbee is cool!  We viewed an old mining pit.  Some old vehicles using unconventional parking brakes.  Jim erroneously tries to escape the United States.  Creative dinner.  Fantastic photos.  Check it all out here.

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