American Press Travel News–12/15/18–at Taco Dive-Port St Lucie, FL–Bob & Barb “On The Road Again.” Great, really great taco’s and burritos are hard to find. Well, this place was no dive, it was a hit with us, and as we noticed many others in the area known as Tradition Square.
https://www.tacodive.comide
American Press travel News-Nov. 30th, Port St Lucie, FL.–Bob and Barb “Stopping to Smell the Deliciousness of Exotica Foods” This time at Ninja Thai Fusion Restaurant, a Prima Vista Blvd. delicious food spot!
When you leave our front entrance here at Kings Isle, make a left and head down over the bridge to Prima Vista and go towards US.1 Just before the turn look left and there is this great Asian Fusion Restaurant in that small shopping center. Promise, this Ninja Thai Asian Fusion spot is worth a luncheon or dinner stop. Barb and I really enjoyed our meals here. We jumped all over our mouth watering appetizers. The home made pot stickers made with pork, ginger, white onion and cabbage. Stuffed into pasta wrapper and dipped in ginger sauce it was a double WOW! The spring rolls were obviously home-made great, and then we dove into Pad Thai seafood. Shrimp, lobster and scallops adorned a wonderfully peanut flavored stir fried rice noodles. The green onion and bean sprouts blended with egg made this meal special, indeed. A slice of lime and a tall, green tasty Thai iced tea, had us spoiled. There are so many incredible dishes, that we’d like you to explore this great place and its offerings for yourself, and don’t forget the fried ice cream and Thai donuts, too! 899 E. Prima Vista Blvd. (772) 777-4377
Americanpresstravelnews- September 19th, Crossville, TN.-“Bob & Barb on the Road Again”–Crossville has several very good Mexican Restaurants, now it has Abuelas Cuban Café. No, not all Hispanic food emporiums are the same. There are many variations on rice and beans, pork and beef, spicing and marinating, etc,
What’s different? An island such as Cuba, and the little city within a city; Little Havana in S. Florida, has its own distinctive take from Mexican and Puerto Rican foods. Cubans grow Yucca, of course, as in other Hispanic foods; Plantains and black beans, yet marinated roast pork, seasoned chicken and Cuban Spice Veggies are usually distinctive to Cuban style foods, of course not always. Havana salad (use of fruits such as mango and papaya) has avocado and a very different take on citrus salad dressing. Piccadillo bowl has savory stewed beef with raisins and olives (Mexican piccadillo does not usually have raisins) white or yellow rice, yes, but seasoned differently. All of this is to say, Cuban foods are just different and savory too, in their own right.
We tried the Cuban sandwich, and the roast pork sandwich-they are definitely quite unique in their food genre. In true Cuban style, meats are usually marinated, and this not only softens them, but adds considerable flavor. The Cuban bread is toasted with the ingredients in between the bread, usually pressed solidly on the grill. Various items (pork, ham, salami, pickle and cheese) are melted and hot when brought to the table with a side of sweet plantains (banana’s) delicious!.
Mom Karen Reph (the Abuela- means Grandmother) and her daughters; Kelsey Green, and Karly opened the restaurant July 7th 2017. But first, they did a few “pop up” trials where they went into two other off-day restaurants, and showcased their dishes to the public. They had great responses, and so they “jumped the broom” so to say, on to, and into 595 Main Street in Crossville and opened Abuelas Cuban Café.
WOW! The café con leche (Coffee with hot milk) a very Cuban coffee presentation, is superb. Their flan custard dessert was delicious, and the empanadas (little fried pocket sandwiches like those fresh fried pies) were filled with ground, marinated beef with raisins and olives. The empanadas were terrific, and we know; Barb and I lived near some of the best Cuban restaurants in S. Florida, and frequented all of them from time to time several years ago. When you go, try the Yucca Fries with some tangy mojo mayo for dipping. The Havana Salad, try it for yourself-its got the goods for flavors of the islands.
We really like Cuban coffees, and starting out the day with a strong, sweet Espresso is a real mood, eye opener, and energy wake-up.
Karen Reph, mom and grandmother amongst the 3-co-owners said that: “We brought to Crossville our heritage foods we grew up with, and felt Crossville folks would love them too.”
We explored something new in Crossville, and found ourselves at a Cuban Restaurant, so reminiscent of what we enjoyed in South Florida and the Keys, and we are happy to recommend Abuelas for everyone looking to spice up their lives and palates, for a change of pace. Abuelas is Located at 595 Main Street, store #102 in Crossville.
By the way Barb and I wrote the book “Best Restaurants in the Florida Keys.”(Available at Amazon) Of the hundreds of restaurants, one of our favorites was a Cuban Restaurant.
American Press Travel News-May 2nd-Dillsboro, N.C. “Bob & Barb On The Road Again” at Haywood Smokehouse. Mm. good Brisket, Saturday night Rib Feast. Heck, we had ribs and brisket, naked pork, fine swine, smoked chicken, Andouille sausage, smoked turkey, beans ,salads and garlic bread. Check out the image, we truly pigged out, but we did not finish the big food layout, had take-home for another day. The deserts were incredible too. Haywood Smokehouse has it down to a science. I viewed their big rotating smoker that employee, friendly and knowledgeable Shamus showed us. The humongous smoker can take a thousand pounds of meat products, and rotate these items through their smoking cycle until the end product is perfect barbecue. The ribs and brisket were quite terrific! Actually, we had a chance to sample every item they offered. All, including the chicken and turkey were spoilers! Their desserts brought out by their baker, Carole Booth, were a treat that would be hard to beat! Carole has been a fixture at the Smokehouse. Brownie and ice cream, true Southern Pecan Pie and a Banana Pudding finished off a spectacular barbecue dinner. Kajol, a delightful young gal who had recently graduated college, with a personality as good as the offerings, presented our meals professionally, and with a huge smile. Give a call, although there are no reservations usually needed to 828-631-9797, and their other location is in Waynesville, N.C. 828-456-7275.