A restaurant that probably is a chain

 It has nice seating where privacy is afforded. 

I neglected to take photos of our nice seafood lunches. We both had more than we could eat at one sitting, so it was great to have some boxes to take home. We did need a tutorial on how to use these little electronic pads that were at each table. 

The decor was somewhat tropical, I guess.

We could see these pretty "palm frond" fans slowly circuling vertically, to give the effect of having someone fanning you while you ate your tropical foods.

But Cheddars doesn't sound tropical to me. Nor was the menu.

It hasn't changed much since the one time I had gone way back before pandemic. Can we start saying BP for before pandemic? Or is there a better term? I'm sure pundits will spend precious hours when they could be convincing plastic manufacturers to switch to paper or glass, when they'll figure out the correct initials instead.

Today's quote:

The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there. 

-Robert M. Pirsig, author and philosopher (1928-2017)

Downtown Black Mountain

 I just noticed a new "Hemp" store.  Too bad it's not likely to change to a Marijuana Dispensary anytime soon.  I'm sure they have some CDB oils though.

 I don't know any fishermen here...but this store is all about them.

 At the end of this strip is a jeweler.  And the umbrellas signal the outdoor pottery venue, which is open just on weekends.  Morning Sky is a co-op of some friends of min.

One of the oldest pizza places in Black Mountain is My Father's Pizza.

 Let's say you're lucky enough to bag one of the parking spaces between the Dripolator Coffee Shop and Trailhead Restaurant...see below where people are parking illegally by the restaurant patio.

Travel notes

 A smog stayed along the highway until I got almost to Cincinnati, this was in Oragania, OH apparently.

About to cross the Little Miami River (so says the sign)

One of my favorite restaurants, but there's not one near me at home, so I stopped here for a favorite meal.  However, when using the rest room, I saw no toilet paper or towels had been installed, and I told myself, this is not a good sign.  I had to wait a long time to give my order, and the clerk shared that she is due to give birth in 4 days.  She said the restaurant is having some problems.  But the food was good.  How often do we think of what is going on in the lives of those who work to prepare our meals.

Yes, gas was amazingly low everywhere except North Carolina...where it's around $2.72 a gallon.  Forty three cents a gallon for traveling 500 miles makes a difference! Enough to buy several hamburgers.

PS, Black Mountain Ingles Gas is now wonderful 2.69 on Nov. 27!

Invitation to lunch

"Hi Barb, let's meet for lunch..."
And off I went to the nearby lovely restaurant, Ole's Guacamoles.

I settled on the patio overlooking Flat Creek, and waited for Cathy.  And waited.  And waited.

I wasn't alone, this duck kept me company.  Hadn't Cathy said Ole's for lunch?  I called her.  Had to leave a voice mail..."I'm sitting here waiting at Ole's."

There's my table by the duck...I was served my chips and refried bean dip...and Cathy called back saying "I'm sitting on the patio at Oakie Doakies, where are you?"

I had really messed up, thinking of one restaurant, going there, and all the time the invitation was to another one.  Mmmm.  How to fix this?  Order Mexican to go, thank the waiter and leave him a tip, then hightail it across town to the barbecue place to meet and eat with Cathy.

Both restaurants seemed to take it in stride.

But I didn't have time to take more pictures, my mouth was full, when I wasn't talking with Cathy.

A favorite restaurant...The Veranda

At busy times, there is sometimes a short wait for a table.

During your wait, there's some fun stuff to browse through.

And you may notice the same two women who are standing in the first picture on the sidewalk, here reflected on their backsides.

It's on Cherry St., downtown Black Mountain, but not open on Sun
http://www.verandacafeandgifts.com/

Coffee and pastries

Foodie Fridays

My favorite gorgeous view, in the ladies room

Not the kind of building I'm drawn to for food!

So it's an imposing stone building!  (I need to go back to learn about the architecture)

On US-70 in Osteen...aka East Asheville.  Right across the highway from the Veterans Hospital.

Ramp from parking area to entrance...still not impressed

A really large dining area...

A great selection of bakery items!

Most enjoyable art on the wall, and wi-fi for the computer/iPhone followers.

A new Pizza place

Foodie Fridays.  During the wintertime, there's a lot of eating out.  So I'm going to force myself to go someplace in the region at least once a week.  I'm suffering just for you!

Relatively speaking, Pepperoni Pizza opened sometime last fall.  I don't know who first said they liked the pizza there.  I have lots of pizza loving friends.  So I tried it out.  Pretty good!  And a hot ham and cheese sub that was delicious too.  As always, this is not meant as an endorsement, nor have they paid me in any way to post these pictures. 

A shopping center that's hard to find...

Most patrons are local folks, families.  Not exactly where you'd take a "first date."  The WNC Shopping center is located on US Highway 70, west of Black Mountain, on your right after the stop light at Blue Ridge Road.  But seeing where to turn takes a bit of practice.  If you get to Hopes and Dollar General, go back to the last shopping center before that.

There's Toy Yoda just back from it's 1000 mile jaunt to Indiana

Order take out or enjoy sitting around.

Another good restaurant

Wood fired pizza, pasta and great salads are dished up at "Fresh."  My friend Tim usually gets one of those half salads and asked for 2 skewers of grilled shrimp on the side.  Mmmm...good idea.

Sharing a quote with you:

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

Dakota proverb

Mellow Mushroom

One of the fun places to eat in Asheville, NC.