Day 549: Echo

To celebrate my birhtday, we enjoyed appetizers, dinner, and after dinner drinks at 3 fabulous locations. The first was Echo. It was my first time at this upscale bistro and wine bar, which is conveniently located in the District in Bearden. It was worth the wait. It was also the perfect place to kick off what promises to be a wonderful weekend, celebrating my wonderful husband's birthday!

Here's a little more about Echo:

Legendary local Chef's Seth Simmerman & Deron Little have teamed up to bring you Echo Bistro & Wine Bar, Knoxville's newest upscale eatery.

As co-owners Seth & Deron bring over 50 years combined experience to your table every night. Serving "contemporary classics" ~ dishes you know and love from decades past ~ Steak Diane, Beef Wellington, & Dover Sole with a modern twist, and offering an extensive wine list.

Echo has an intimate, neighborhood feel that welcomes you the second you walk through the door. Sit down at the bar and you are sure to see a friend or make a new one!

Seth & Deron invite you to come enjoy all Echo has to offer. Once you try it, you are sure to become a regular!

Located in The Shops at Bearden Place - directly across from Buddy's BBQ - old Mango location.

Reservations Recommended. 865-602-2090

Source/www.echobistro.com


Then, we headed over to Chez Liberty, for another first time. It is also in our neighborhood. It's way trendier than anything we normally do, but such a distinct menu. Brad gave up meat on Fridays for Lent, so their seafood selections hit the spot. Here's more about Chez Liberty:

"Chez Liberty is a unique dining experience without the ordeal of dress, time, planning, or wait, with a menu that is gripping, fresh, seasonal, and diverse."

Located in Bearden's Homberg Place at the corner of Mohican and Kingston Pike, we opened our doors in March 2010 as a small dinner-only establishment. We soon added lunch to our line-up, and now offer brunch and Sunday Supper as well. What sets Chez Liberty apart from other restaurants in the area is our unique approach to food preparation. Our dinner menu changes every other Wednesday, with high-quality ingredients chosen specifically for their freshness and seasonal appeal. We also frequently rotate the wines on our wine menu to best complement our current food selections. Every Sunday, we host a family-style supper where our diners can all join together and enjoy home-style southern French cuisine, in serve-yourself, single-seating fashion. The courses change every week, so please sign up for our weekly email newsletter for a special preview of this week's Sunday Supper menu! **Sunday Supper is currently on hiatus, but will resume this summer. In the meantime, come enjoy our regular dinner menu every Sunday from 5-9pm.**

In addition to great food, Chez Liberty also hosts frequent special events such as wine dinners and live music by local talents, as well as private parties and catering. Please see our Food menu page for the latest special event menu. Call or email us for more information.

Source/chezliberty.com

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Finally, we ended the evening with friends at Crown and Goose. A favorite, with some of my favorite people.
Happy birthday to me!

Day 529: Stefano's

Chicago style pizza.
Lunch with my husband.
And it is UT spring break, so there is no traffic on the strip.

I'll take a slice with peppers and mushrooms.
Thanks!

Day 501: Bistro by the Tracks

By brother has great taste when it coming to dining out. He should after all, he is a chef and has been in the midst of the Knoxville restuarant seen for almost half his life. so, to celebrate that life on Friday night, we headed out to Bistro by the Tracks, a fabulous restuarant right in our neighborhood.

Here is what the birthday boy had to eat...

Calamari
Graham flour, smoked tomato sweet and sour, cucumber salad

Lobster Corndogs
Apple mustard dipping sauce

Rack of Lamb
Chermoula, Israeli couscous, cucumber mint salad

...and Humingbird Cake for dessert.

Yum. the rest of our meals were fabulous too. Happy birthday little brother!!

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Day 479: Panera (Confessions of a Chain Connoisseur)

I didn't know what to call this post...
...Confessions of a Chain Connoisseur?
...Kumbaya food?
...places where I secretly spend vast amount of time?

I honestly didn't really want to admit this. I want to be that person who only patronizes local businesses. I want to be cool and different. But I am not. I go here...



A lot.

I love to meet the girls from West High School at Panera in Merecedes Place. In fact, yesterday morning, I think we really made our presence known as we enjoyed breakfast there before school. i also love to meet other friends and church members there or at another Panera somewhere in town. They are everywhere and they are reliably a good choice. And the soups. I love the soups. I also love the new little card where they are tacking what I buy and trying to market to me in some complex fashion. I love it, cause I get lots free goodies.

So, yes, I confess.

My name is Katie and I frequent Panera Bread.

Next, well, tune in to see my other favorite. Hint: look across the street.

Day 470: Sweet Cece's

Their modo is "making sweet memories one cup at a time." That's exactly what we had today. I got to hang out with some of my favorite 2nd Pres girls at Knoxville's newest yogurt shop, Sweet Cece's. It is just down the street from the church, and we have did not hve church tonight. So, it was a perfect Wednesday for frozen yogurt. As Hyatt and I headed over, it was snowing. Yep, frozen yogurt in the snow. That's when you know that fun is more important than logic.
We laughed a lot and talked about our plans for the year...lunches, our small group, and pajamas. Then, we prayed for tests and spelling bees and snow days. Then, Elizabeth prayed, "Lord, let there be snow - snow up to my waist!" Elizabeth is about 3 and half feet tall. That is a lot of snow. It's 11pm now and I think there is still a chance that her wish just might come true!

Day 422: Brunch at the Bistro at the Bijio

There are about 17,481 things I love about my new husband...give or take a few.
One of them is that fact that he plans and picks fabulous things. We never get in a rut, especially when it comes to dining out. (Which is why restaurants is the #1 tag on this blog). Today he picked Bistro at the Bijio for lunch. We enjoyed their Sunday brunch menu in this historic building adjacent to the legendary Bijio Theatre. I'll do that egg and cheese panini any day, on it's perfectly pressed dense french bread. And I would love to go back Eggs Bijou, which is Carolina crab cakes, tomato, poached eggs and béarnaise sauce on an english muffin. The live jazz didn't hurt either.
Great choice!

Learn more about the restaurant, the world famous theatre, it's history and guests, including Andrew Jackson, Rutherford B. Hayes, James K. Polk, and Ulysses S. Grant here->

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Day 412: Old City Java

A perfect break from the Tuesday night Bible Study...a trip to Old City Java. There, under the wood ceiling painted with a stary atary night scene, we enjoyed some fair trade coffee and drinks made with milk from a local dairy, Cruze Farm. Perfect place to catch up and plot out out our next study. A great place to relax in the Old City for some coffee love!




Visit them online (source)->

Or on Facebook (source)->

Day 406: Bellacino's

I don't know how this is possible. But today was the first time we went to Bellacino's. It is steps away from our neighborhood, so i am so glad we finally went. Plus, I really always love gettting out for lunch with my husband!
Next time, I am trying Bellacino's pizza! They looked and smelled great!

Click here for their menu->

Day 404: Wok Hay

Q: What is better than lunch at Wok Hay?
A: Lunch at Wok Hay with Michele.

Q: What is better than lunch at Wok Hay with Michele?
A: Lunch at Wok Hay, with Michele, and a 2 for 1 coupon.

Q: What is better than lunch at Wok Hay, with Michele, and a 2 for 1 coupon?
A: Lunch Wok Hay, with Michele, and a 2 for 1 coupon...with the Mango Tea.

Next time I am getting that! Yum!

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Day 402: Sangria's on Market Square

When an impromptu guys night pops up. The only way to answer it...is with an impromptu girls night. And to top it off, we hit up a restaurant I have been wanting to try! So, Sangria on Market Square it was. It was Linnea and I's second night in a row on Market Square. My fabulous husband was across the way enjoying a Tennessee football win on the big screen. But meanwhile, we joined Mandy for an incredible meal! Ai-Oli Potatoes. Calamari. Roasted vegetables. Some sort of fabulous tuna. And a sweet White Wine Sangria. Knoxville's first and only authentic Spanish Tapas bar and restaurant exceeded even my highest of expectations!
Can't wait for the next girl's night!

Check them out on facebook (source)->

Day 399: 3 Spoons

It is new.
It is frozen yogurt.
It was the place to be after The Cross.
Precedes went to 2nd Pres Youth.

Obviously, we were there! 3 Spoons Frozen Yogurt.

Check them out at www.spoonsyogurt.com (photo credit)

Next Up? Zaxby's on the Strip. This Monday.

Day 379: Oodles Uncorked

Oodles Uncorked:
-an Italian American Restaurant with an award wining wine list
-a treasure of Market Square
-on July 8, 2010, the historic site of THE GREATEST SHOWER/BACHLORETTE NIGHT IN THE HISTORY OF WEDDINGS, featuring "The Katie-tini", my closest Ktown friends, my bridesmaids, a awkward glass window, great gifts, funny games where I proved I knew my groom, and THE WORLD'S MOST LOVELY MOH, MARCI!
-home of 1/2 price bottles on Wednesday nights
-site of a great Wednesday night with Linnea and Kelly!

Photo Credit: www.oodlesuncorked.com

Day 378: Tin Roof

During a college internship, I was a big fan or Tin Roof during a summer in Nashville. So, naturally, I was glad to see them make an appearance on "the strip" in here in Knoxville. But what I learned Wednesday was even more exciting. Tin Roof does a great lunch! And, on Wednesday, Tin Roof does one of there great quesadilla's for lunch...for $5! Wow. I had the California Quesadilla, topped off with corn and avocado. I think I could have split it with a friend too. So, so good! I'll be back another Wednesday real soon.

Photo Credit: www.tinroofbars.com

Day 376: Jason's Deli

Welcome to the Strip. Welcome to the closest, quickest lunch location from 2nd Pres. Welcome to free ice cream. Welcome to the neighborhood, Jason's Deli! I am such a fan!

Photo Credit

Day ???: Red Bones on the River

Driving down highway 70 West of Knoxville will take you though Kingston. Plenty of history and plenty of fun on the water. Perfectly placed in that mix is Red Bones on the Water. A colonial home has been converted into this laid back barbeque and good times venue with the slogan, "Get Your Happy On."
We sat on the patio and were surrounded by a great crowd. A couple enjoying a bottle of wine on a very long, romantic date. A hilarious group of old friends who seem to drive in from various parts of East Tennessee to ""Get Your Happy On"" quite regularly. A table of ladies having a girls night out, complete with lots of laughter and maybe some sort of announcement. Anyway, everyone was having a great time. So were we. It's been a busy couple months of twists and turn and busyness, it was so nice to get just out of town for a relaxing dinner on a later summer evening. (It still feels like late summer and Red Bones would always seem to have that carefree feel.)
All that and a great meal of ribs, chicken strips, chocolate cobbler, great service...for under #30. Wow.
Visit Red Bones online at redboneskingston.com->

Photo Credit: Mike Berry - my favorite local artist!

Day ???: One Tree Grille

No, it's not a CW favorite, it's a new restaurant right in our neighborhood. Sunday after church, we headed to One Tree Grille, to see if it would be our new favorite. Brad loved the hamburger (which is his ultimate test) and my crab cake egg benedict, from the brunch menu, were perfect. And their fresh fruit was simply amazing. It takes a lot for fresh fruit in a restaurant to really be that good, but this was.
As this new location looks exactly like the restaurant that formerly occupied the space, it still must be doing something right, because it is still unique. There was a fun crowd, with lots of folks we knew, from ages 25 to 75. And it carried a very neighborhood feel.
The Shops at Western Plaza is one of my favorite strips in all of Knoxville, with the Fresh Market, Mary (aka Day 20), Runner's Market (how have I not blogged about Runner's Market???), and Natural Alternatives (aka Day 34). And One Tree Grille will be a welcome addition!



Oh, wait, I almost forgot - we also had the key lime pie for dessert. Yum!! You've got to check this place out!

Click here for the website and menu at www.onetreegrille.com->
Check out the facebook/photo credit->

Day 272: Smoothie King

As if the precious gardens, the proximity to work and church, the cool arcitechture, the nice neighbors, or the parties busting free BBQ or hotdog vendors where not enough...there is one more thing to love about our new home.

It is right next to Smoothie King.

What better way to get your chocolate fix!

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Day 270: Fountain City Creamery

Perfect Saturday. Lazy lunch. Cute new place.
Conversation about our wedding and plans for remodeling our house.
I love Saturdays and I love having a couple hours with nothing scheduled todo.

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Note: the "nothing scheduled todo" part is probably even more revolutionary for me than anything else. Falling in love and moving to Knoxville and growing in a knowledge of God's grace has really relaxed me this year.

Day 271: Sweet Pea's

" This one of a kind blend of Tennessee and North Carolina flavors combines the best of both worlds the sweet and the tang. And if it is hot you crave we have got that too."

Nestled on the Knox and Blount county line, with parking for cars and boats, in the midst of a very chill, chill, chill marina, is Sweet P's barbecue. Along with classic pulled pork and chicken, there is the notorious BBQ burrito or the farm burger (a brunch favorite that is topped off with an egg), and 4 good sauces to choose from. Brad is generally a restaurant hopper and doesn't like to hit the same place twice. But he wanted Sweet P's twice in 10 days. That proves that it is good!

And their banana pudding might deserve it's own blog entree.

Visit them online at www.sweetpbbq.com

Day 261: Lenny's

A great place for lunch with sweet and fabulous Laurie!

Convenient. Good. Easy. Lenny's.

Here is their "Top 10 List" from www.lenny.com:
1. Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks Hot Off the Grill
2. Premium Deli Meats Sliced to Order
3. Plentiful Portions of Meat and Cheese
4. Chicken & Tuna Salad Made from Scratch
5. Crowd Pleasing Catering and Party Platters
6. Signature Hot Pepper Relish
7. Fun, Friendly Service
8. Bread & Cookies Baked Fresh Daily
9. Great for Kids, Bring the Whole Family
10. Don't Worry about Trash, We Clean the Tables

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