Big Shotz Tavern: Fish Tacos

I went to Big Shotz Tavern on Stratford Road for lunch* today and they have such a diverse menu in food and price point, it is easy to find something for everyone. I ordered the Fish Tacos, three soft flour tacos filled with grilled tilapia, fresh pineapple salsa, and Asian slaw. The ingredients were fresh and delicious. The pineapple salsa and Asian slaw are what makes this dish so unique from others I have tried. The flavors are sweet and the crunch from the Asian slaw gives the tacos a really nice texture. Three tacos is the perfect amount and the side of fresh fruit allowed me to be satisfied without feeling stuffed. Service was fast, in and out in less than an hour, which is important to those of us who have a tight lunch schedule.

Big Shotz has two locations:

Big Shotz Tavern - Clemmons Location
1480 River Ridge Drive, Clemmons

Big Shotz Tavern - Winston-Salem Location
109 South Stratford Road, Winston-Salem

*The lunch that I attended was a Lunch & Learn hosted by Professional Women of Winston-Salem. Lunch & Learns are a great way to learn about a topic of interest, while getting out of your dining comfort zone and trying someplace new. While I enjoyed my fish tacos, I learned about effective blogging tips from Sara Wilson, editor, skirt! Winston-Salem.

Washington Perk and Provision Co

O and I wanted to grab a quick bite and we kept meaning to check out our own little neighborhood store so we combined the two. We wandered the aisles to see what all we could buy to support our local spot and then we headed over to the counter to order dinner.

They have some great wines and beers to grab if you want to swing by and pick up something to go with dinner. They offer some great coffee selections to go or to enjoy there. They also support some local farms and have fresh, local veggies, eggs, milk, etc. I for one took home some ice-cream from Homeland Creamery.

We both ordered sandwiches. I ordered a basic grilled cheese and O ordered the ham sandwich. I also grabbed a bag of chips, which I begrudgingly shared with O. We both picked up bottles of yumminess from the cooler and then (after paying) headed outside to eat. I noticed on the way out that they offer a book exchange if you need to pick up (or drop off) some reading material.

The sandwiches were good. O picked up a Chai Cola, which reminded him of a drink he used to have as a child and I enjoyed a root beer - because really who doesn't enjoy a root beer - and we watched the traffic drive by as we ate.

Stop by and grab some groceries or a sandwich to go, or both. :)

Screaming Rooster: A Whole Lotta Fresh and Local Goodness

I have to admit, at times I take pictures of the food and then I get behind. I have eaten at the Screaming Rooster three times in the last two weeks, so I am doing a cumulative post. One of the things that I like about the Screaming Rooster is how fresh the food is every time I visit. When I go to a restaurant, I like to try a variety of things, but often I get "repeat" items to test for consistency.

The Rooster is consistent and the flavors are good. The menu has staples that many people like, but gets very creative with the specials that they offer- often based on ingredients that have been purchased at one of the local Farmer's Markets earlier in the week. As a result, there is a nice variety with a local and fresh combination. The Rooster is open for breakfast and lunch only, but they are open and have a special menu for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Below are some of the items that my dining companions and I have enjoyed.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns,
fruit and sourdough toast

Cranberry and Pecan Pancakes
with fruit & a side of scrambled eggs

Chicken and Waffles, fresh fruit, and Cheese Grits
(Brunch Special)

Bacon & Tomato Quiche, fresh fruit,
and apple cinnamon muffin

Lunch items



Tomato and Squash Quiche
with bluberry muffin
and fruit 



Chicken Salad with Walnuts,
served with a side salad and fruit



Breakfast of Course: Pear Streusel Coffee Cake

Pear Streusel Coffee Cake

While browsing updates on Facebook yesterday, I see a posting from Breakfast of Course, Mary's Too. I am usually a savory breakfast girl- bacon and eggs in some shape or form is what I usually go for- but I started planning my breakfast for the following day about 20 hours in advance after seeing the FB post for the Pear Streusel Coffee Cake. This is no ordinary coffee cake, it is made with pears from Walter Farm, from a tree that is over 100 years old. When you eat this coffee cake, you may be happy the it is all organic and whole grain, but there is the bonus of eating the fruit from a tree that has seen decades of sunshine. How can you top decades of sunshine? (Evidently with butter, sugar and cinnamon.) Nature never tasted so good.

Here is my personal slice, consumed with a cup of hot coffee. (Hot husband not pictured, but also made the dining experience a treat.) We arrived at 7:15am to assure that I would not miss out on such deliciousness. It was a wonderful way to start the day.

You can get your own updates of deliciousness from the BOC Facebook Page.  Local Dish is not responsible for cravings that this may create.

West End Cafe: Gumbo, Burrito, and Dessert-o

One of the things that I love about the West End Cafe is that they always have wonderful daily specials on their chalboards. There are always 3-4 desserts and a couple of soups to choose from each day. As we move into the cooler weather, our bodies start to crave the warmer, comfort foods. West End Cafe is sure to please.

I love a good soup and the sausage gumbo on the chalkboard was the perfect choice. This is a hearty soup with just the right amount of spicy kick, including celery, tomatoes, carrots, rice, and slices of a Kielbasa-type sausage. A cup was sufficient for dinner because this is a substantial soup. It was absolutely devine.

One of Joe's favorite meals at West End is the black bean burrito. It is a giant burrito, taking up most of the plate, filled with rice, black beans, and topped with green chili queso and pico di gallo. Great for vegetarians who are tired of the same old food. The ingredients are fresh which really makes a difference in the flavor and texture of the food. West End does this dish really well, and would be a great meal to split if you were trying to save room for one of their homemade desserts.

Ahh, dessert. This evening Joe and I split the Chocolate Praline Layer Cake, which is made by a local baker. Chocolate cake, whipped-creamish buttercream frosting with a hint of praline, and then more pralines in between layers. You would think that this would be super sweet, but surprisingly it was really well balanced. A moist cake with a bit of crunch, this is one of my new favorite desserts at West End Cafe.

The Screaming Rooster

We decided to try the Screaming Rooster for brunch on Saturday, a new place in the former location of Mary's, Of Course. When I visited their website I became quite excited about their use of local ingredients and commitment to seasonal flavors. Upon entry, we were met with a very pleasant and quaint atmosphere and friendly staff. The decor in the bright and airy dining room was reminescent of a well-appointed B&B or a cozy cafe. There are  fresh flowers at every table and a specials board that looked delicious. What else do you need?

Well, my brunch companion needed coffee and that quickly arrived. After the initial drink orders, we perused the menu for awhile and I was stuck between the French toast with marscapone cream and berries OR the Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche. I went with the quiche and it was a great choice. Served with a rasberry muffin on the side, the dish was also accompanied by a gorgeous fruit garnish with strawberries, orange, watermelon, plum, and raspberries.

(I took a bite as soon as I got my food before remembering to take a picture!)

My favorite brunch companion ordered "the Morning After" breakfast which included scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes (which were GREAT) , thick cut bacon, and thick-sliced toast. He was especially impressed with the toast- all the bread at the restaurant is provided by the local Three Sisters Bakery and this bread was GREAT- thick cut, poppyseed farmer's bread served with whatever type of jelly/jam you might like.

After we paid our bill (delicious brunch for 2 for less than $20!), the restuarant started filling up fast as the noon crowd moved in. I was pleased to see that business is going well! On the way out, I couldn't resist snapping a picture of these macaroons displayed at the register. Can you say beautiful?

Visit the Screaming Rooster's website at http://wsrooster.com/ for their ever-changing menu and more information.

Putter's Patio Bar and Grill

As a new contributor to the blog, I figured I should pay homage to the places and dishes I frequent most. Thus begins part 1 of the 5 restaurants in my workweek rotation: Putter’s Patio and Grill. As with the others in my short-but-sweet list of restaurants that no longer require any verbal exchange to produce “my usual”, I’ve tried quite a bit from the menu and finally settled on 1 favorite dish, in this case – the Steak and Cheese Sub with Soft Chips and Ranch, coupled with a sweet tea. Since I have been eating this sandwich for the last…oh, 6 years, I have to rave about their consistency – both in food and service. It always takes the same amount of time to complete a meal there, and it is always prepared the same. Staff is always friendly, prompt, and even the owner, Bill, is often there to greet or check in mid-meal. It’s a wonderful 30-40 minute lunch you can enjoy in front of a big screen TV (always on ESPN), or reading the WS Journal (several copies always laying around).

You will certainly enjoy this 8” sub, stuffed…no…overflowing with tender steak and melted cheese, with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. The soft chips have a tendency to get greasy, so if that’s not your bag, I’d get the hard chips. Another tip I can share, is to make sure to get a knife to push the contents down into the sub before eating it…otherwise it will be all over your plate and not in your mouth. If you’re not into the sandwhich thing, they also have an excellent lunch rib eye at an excellent lunch price.

Putter's is located at the corner of University Pkwy and Deacon Blvd (behind IHOP)

Cake and All Things Yummy: White Chocolate Almond Cupcake

I had some shopping to do in Kernersville this weekend and passed an adorable storefront at the corner of N. Main Street and W. Mountain Street. The pink and brown awning caught my eye and when I saw the cakes in the window, I parked the car asap.

The bakery has a variety of  large cupcakes (about 50% larger than your traditional cupcake), mini cupcakes, cookies, and a variety of chocolates and truffles. They are also know for the specialty cakes and there were a few people there picking up their cake orders.

Like many other Americans, I have a  slight obsession with cupcakes. I would love to have my own shop one day but for now, I will enjoy the inspiration of others. There were several flavors to choose from and I chose the white chocolate almond cupcake with buttercream icing. The cake was dense, like a poundcake, and had a wonderful white chocolate flavor with a hint of almond. These are two ofmy favorite flavors and had never seen them in a cupcake. The buttercream icing was sweet and delicious, but not overpowering to take any of the limelight away from the cupcake itself.

If you find yourself in downtown Kernersville (or if you want to make a special trip for someamazing dessert), please stop in and try one of these delicious confections.

Cake and All Things Yummy can be found at 108 N Main St, Kernersville, NC

Bahn Mi Saigon Sandwiches and Bakery

Ever since watching the great food truck race I have been craving a bahn mi sandwich, which I haven't had since I moved here from LA 5 years ago. Since this is not something one can find in Winston, I knew that I would have to look in Greensboro which has a much larger Asian population and greater variety of Asian food options, including a number of Vietnamese restaurants and shops. I had to make a run over there to drop of some dive gear for servicing, so I decided to go in search of a bahn mi for lunch.

I ended up at Bahn Mi Saigon Sandwiches and Bakery on High Point Rd. It is an easy place to miss, located in a run down, ugly strip mall, and the interior atmosphere isn't much better. But the sandwiches are good (and cheap - sandwich+ bottle of water for $4.50) I opted for the roasted pork, which was on the specials board and it seemed to have a hint of some type of curry. It is served on a house baked baguette. As I was telling Susan Morris in the morning, the Bahn Mi is all about the toppings and this one came with a healthy dose of cilantro, onions, carrots, daikons, jalapenos, and cucumber, plus the special mayo and soy sauce, all of which adds lots of crunch and wonderful texture and flavors. I typically go for a chicken bahn mi, so I will have to go back to try that one (there are about 6-7 different sandwiches on the menu, plus specials) and I would love to hear recommendations of other places to try for bahn mi.

-Contributed by Tari H.