20th Anniversary Culinary Road Trip
Valrico, FL
Leave house 10. It take 2 hours and 48 minutes to drive to lunch.
The Collector is a very nice, upscale hotel with a quaint little bar where we met Guerlliermo, a nice young bartender that shared some helpful immigration information with us. Being in St. Augustine together with Dennis was amazing and we will go back again soon but we will stay closer to the action and spend a bit less on a room. My opinion was that the property was overpriced for the amenities offered.
Check in at 3. Happy hour and breakfast included. Leave to head to Charleston by 8:30. It's a 2 hour drive to St. Simon's Island where we have lunch and there an additional 3 hour drive to Charleston.
6 Aviles Street, Saint Augustine, Florida, United States
We went to happy hour at the restaurant Forgotten Tonic where we had wine (of course), beer, and delicious truffle fries. The restaurant was recommended to us by the front desk at the hotel. Initially, we thought we might not have dinner there but after tasting the truffle fries we decided we would. What a great move. We shared a meal of Chicken Beverly. It was amazing. Dennis had an apple martini. We must try and make one of these for mom.
Lunch on the way to Charleston. Lunch around 12. It's a 3 hour drive from here to Charleston.
This place is exquisite. There is nothing lacking and it is better appointed than any place we have ever stayed. The staff go above and beyond to make sure that every need or desire is met. They offer a Covid friendly cocktail hour where we chatted with two other couples and then ran into both couples at dinner in the restaurant on the property at Circa 1886, Breakfast is also included in the room rate. Frankly, the restaurant is good but I believe I ordered wrong so I didn't love my meal but the experience was nice. The staff upgraded our room before we even arrived so our time here was wonderful.
Cocktail hour and breakfast included each day. Dinner on 10/31 at the hotel 6:30. Reservations made. Check in at 4.
We arrived by 10:45 AM and we already had to wait in line. It was a memorable meal. So far, possibly the best bbq we have ever eaten.
Lunch on November 1.
Poogan's Porch was delicious. We had fried chicken, collard greens (which we don't normally eat but they weren't bad), mashed potatoes, she crab soup (a little fishy for my taste), and the most amazing mac and cheese I have ever tasted. The mac and cheese was made with smoked guoda cheese, heavy cream, country ham and bacon. I need to duplicate that.
Reservations for dinner at 6:30 on November 1.
51 South Market Street, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Curio Collection, The Foundry Hotel, Hilton
We had fried chicken and it was very good but we still liked Poogans Porch better.
1056 Patton Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Bonfire BBQ for dinner.
Dinner reservations on November 3 at 6:30.
8909 Oak Ridge Hwy, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Lunch on the way to Nashville. D & B's opens at 9.
3 pm reservations. Tickets already purchased.
118 7th Ave N, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Holston House Nashville. Breakfast both days. Check to be sure.
Dinner on the 4th. No reservations.
Banner Photo Credit: rrvest