The New & Improved Mellow Mushroom Restaurant in Boone, NC

It was a sad day when the beloved Mellow Mushroom here in Boone closed its doors. Since then, many people have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of this newly renovated restaurant. Not too far from their previous location, the new and improved Mellow Mushroom will reside right on King St. across from the courthouse. The days of anticipating the opening are almost over!

While they don't officially open until August 1st, Mellow Mushroom hosted a “soft opening” for family and friends last night. I was neither, however, Cody (my bf) did happen to work with a crew who did a lot of the woodwork seen throughout. The bar they completed is absolutely beautiful along with everything else they did. That's why we were invited.

It was a great deal bigger than I imagined it would be based on the outside of the building. The new dining room is definitely larger than the old Mellow Mushroom restaurant. And the décor is stunning! So many different people came together in order to make this place possible. It was wonderful being able to see the result of what I've heard some much about from Cody along the way. Really, the restaurant looks fabulous, and I love the finished product.

A perk of being invited to the “soft opening” was an opportunity to sample the food for free. We are very familiar with Mellow Mushroom food, so we already knew what to expect. However, there were a few new things that we tried. Our table ordered Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Cheesy Garlic Bread, the Stuffed Portabello Mushroom, & Doughnads for our appetizers. Everything tasted amazing! We also ordered a few pizzas, The Mega Veggie, The Magic Myster Tour, and the Mighty Meaty. I can only vouch for the Mighty Meaty, which I thought was really good, but the rest of the table had no complaints about the pies. We finished nearly everything. It was a great meal, and the service we received was stellar, too. Our server Zoe was awesome.

We'll definitely be going back, so that I can take proper pictures of the food and such. It's going to be a new favorite restaurant of ours here in Boone. I have no doubt that it will be extremely popular with other locals and tourists, too. The new and improved Mellow Mushroom will quickly become the fixture that Boone so dearly missed during this time of transition.

It's coming back bigger and better than ever! A big thank you goes out to the Mellow Mushroom team for a wonderful evening, and I offer my gratitude to all those who worked so hard to make it happen. You guys ROCK!

Are you excited about going to the new Mellow Mushroom in Boone? 

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Local Restaurant Guide to Downtown Asheville, NC

(MAYFEL'S CHALKBOARD)

It's refreshing to see a larger city like Asheville, NC so engrossed in the slow-food movement. I mean, it is what many foward-thinking food lovers are concerned with these days or so it seems. People who are consciously aware of where their food comes from want to know that ingredients have been sustainably obtained from local resources in a manner that will support the community as a whole. This farm-to-table mentality is regarded as a new trend, but what the heck do you think people did back in the day when there was no such thing as processed foods?! Really. You grew your own food and made meals based on what you had. Nothing more, nothing less. So, to see so many restaurants that have relationships with local farmers warms my heart like there's no tomorrow. That's the way it should be if you ask me.

Downtown Asheville, NC is home to a large number of independently owned and operated dining establishments that are embracing this way of doing business. The residents and visitors who insist on consuming food fresh from local farmers are helping to support this commitment in a big way. The strong grassroots support is very apparent in this radical little city. That's why I love Asheville!

(TUPELO HONEY CAFE)

The last time I took a trip down to Asheville, NC was the previous summer with Cody and my friend Christie. We were, literally, only there for a 24-hour period, so we didn't have as much time to explore the downtown area as we would have liked. Really, though, I just wanted to eat at more restaurants! Haha Cody and I talk about taking time to go down there more often, but it just doesn't happen. We let an entire year pass by before we made the short 2-hour drive to do some more exploring...I mean, eating. It's widely known that I have a slight obsession with food these days, so our main focus for this recent trip was to, quite simply, eat. Armed with a few suggestions from people who follow WW on Facebook, we set out to consume as much as we could.

Here are some of the notable restaurants with a focus on locally obtained ingredients that we ate at while in town for 3 days. All of these are in the downtown district, and were within walking distance of where we were staying.

(BISCUIT & FRIED EGG B.L.T.)

For the Best Homestyle Breakfast: Tupelo Honey Cafe — I was dying to eat at this popular eatery when we were in town the last time, but we just couldn't find the time. This time, I made sure that it was the first restaurant we ate at so as not to make the same mistake twice. I've heard that wait times can be extensive for this place, but we were seated right away. When you go mid-week for an early breakfast, I suppose that you can beat the crowds. They quickly won me over after bringing us a complimentary biscuit that I then drizzled with honey. It was fabulous! I ordered the Fried Egg B.L.T. with a side of goat cheese grits. The sandwich was hearty, and the grits were excellent. Someone on FB warned that I'd be stuffed all day long if we ate here. Boy, were they right! The meals we both had were very filling. Our next meal wasn't until dinnertime later that day.

(MAYFEL'S DIPTYCH – Dining Room & Flowers)

For the Best Brunch: Mayfel's — I was completely smitten by the eclectic décor in this restaurant. It reminded me of New Orleans with the brightly colored orange walls and sparkly chandeliers. Since this was the last restaurant that we'd be eating at before leaving Asheville, Cody and I kinda went all-out when ordering our meal. We started with a ½ order of Beignets and a helping of Fried Green Tomatoes. I know, FGT's aren't very breakfast-y, but we got some anyway! We gobbled down the plate in no time flat. They were unlike any other FGT's I'd ever had, topped with roasted red pepper aioli, goat cheese, & Mayfel's own sweet onion relish. It was an interesting and tasty twist on the classic recipe to say the least.

(MAYFEL'S FOOD DIPTYCH – FGT's & Lumberjack Burger)

We didn't stop there, though. Cody and I both got hamburgers to boot. Even though it was closer to breakfast time, I was craving something more substantial. My burger of choice was the Lumberjack, which had bacon and a fried egg on top among other things! So, it was sort of breakfast-y. I couldn't get over how delicious the bacon was. However, the entire burger was superb. I really enjoyed it. Would you believe that I finished it all?!? I told ya, this girl can eat :D.

(LAB STREET SHOT)

For the Best Pub Grub: The L.A.B. — The Lexington Avenue Brewery offers gastro pub fare and house-brewed beers. We popped in on our first evening while walking around downtown because it was suggested to us by a friend. We settled in on the large patio along the busy sidewalk, which ended up being a great place for people watching. I tried their Raspberry Wheat beer, and Cody had the American Nitro Stout, neither of us had any complaints about the brews. To munch on, we ordered the Venison Nachos because I saw someone near by with a plate that made me drool. They came covered in black beans, chimichurri-spiced venison, LAB's special nacho cheese, and chipotle sour cream. Talk about scrumptious, they were so yummy. I loved the nacho cheese and LAB's homemade hot sauce. Cody and I used almost half the bottle dousing our chips! Sadly, they didn't have any additional bottles for sale at the time.

(CURATE FRONT DOOR)

For the Best Tapas Bar: Cúrate — Practically right around the corner from where we stayed sat this hot spot that we walked by nearly everyday. On our last evening in Asheville, we finally made our way over there with a friend to test some of their authentic Spanish tapas. I loved how they had an open kitchen right in the middle of the restaurant. Next time, I want to sit at the bar where I can see all the action! Initially, we were almost scared off by the menu the day before because the titles are in Spanish while the descriptions are in English. It was slightly confusing at first, but our friendly waiter helped steer us in the right direction! It was tough making those decisions with so many options to choose from.

(TABLE SETTING & STUFFED PEPPERS)

Due to the small portions that are typical with tapas, our waiter proposed that we each get three items. However, the prices drove us to select only three to share between the two of us. We treated ourselves to the 'jamon iberico de bellota fermin', which was cured ham from the famous black-footed iberico pigs of Spain. The slivers of ham were very flavorful. I loved the hint of saltiness. Our favorites were the 'pimientos de piquillo con queso de cabra', piquillo peppers stuffed with cana de cabra cheese. The peppers were beautifully roasted and oozing cheese, a piquant combination that we both wanted more of!

Which of these restaurants sounds good to you?

In the next post about our trip to Asheville, NC, I'll share the places we popped into when in-between meals!
You're in for a special treat...hint...hint ;)

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My Favorite Islands of Adventure Theme Park Rides | Orlando, FL

Riding roller-coasters (or any other ride, for that matter) has been an excitement-filled thrill that I've enjoyed since I was the proper height. Yes, I would be completely terrified about what I was getting ready to encounter, but I would only hesitate for a brief moment before taking the plunge. It didn't take long before I became a full-fledged thrill-seeking junkie that required more than what the tame rides reserved for kiddies could offer. Anyone who enjoys going for a wild ride (or two) will discover that Islands of Adventure—part of the Universal Theme Park—does not disappoint when it comes to stimulating your senses to the point of overload.

In a previous post, Preview of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, I reminisced about the adolescent switch from Disney World to the Universal theme parks that took place when I was a teenager, and how it was my turn to introduce this familiar territory to my nephew. Over the years, my love for theme parks has never waned. I don't mind the long lines and large crowds. It is what it is. I can set aside my social anxieties and impatience for a day or two so that I can spend it in a fantasy land. After all, that's what Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios are, imagination brought to life. A place where you get to walk among cartoon characters and step into the pages of a children's book or comic strip. It's as if you become part of the story. A level of entertainment that you just can't get anywhere else!

So, starting from the beginning of our day, I'll take you on a tour of my favorite Islands of Adventure rides.

1. The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride — We started off in the opposite direction that the crowd was heading in, so our first stop was Seuss Landing. It's one of my favorite areas because I love Dr. Seuss's books, and they really did a great job of bringing them to life. It's so whimsical and colorful with tons of interesting things to grab your attention along the way. The trolley train ride was the second one we rode in Suess Landing. We walked right on without having to wait. I liked this kiddie ride because it gave you a great overview of the surrounding area, a different perspective in which to appreciate the park. It was a good one to start with because it also helped my nephew get used to the experience without being jarring like some of the other rides.

2. Poseidon's Fury — Next door to Suess Landing in the Lost Continent where we took a journey through an ancient temple. Poseidon's Fury isn't a ride as much as it is a theatrical tour that you walk through with a guide. At times, it was a little cheesy, but the seemingly scary situations you found yourself faced with were pretty intense. We hesitantly walked through a tunnel surrounded by rushing water without getting wet, and then watched in anticipation as the bad guy was defeated with fire balls and other theatrics. My nephew was so into it. It was exciting for me to see him all worked up. He was squeezing my hand while screaming as he anxiously awaited the outcome. To my surprise, Ju-ju picked Poseidon's Fury as his favorite ride of the day any time we asked.

3. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — Ever since I found out that Islands of Adventure would be opening the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I was determined to experience it firsthand. While I haven't finished all the books, I absolutely adore the movies, so to have an opportunity to walk down the streets of Hogsmeade and shuffle through the corridors of the Hogwarts castle was an extra-special treat for me. A little overcrowded, yes, but the other onlookers weren't going to tarnish my fun time. It was chaos when you walked into the castle, utter chaos! We found a locker as quickly as we could and hopped in the long and windy line. While this did require the longest wait of the day, the line consistently kept moving, which helped a lot.

Once we finally made it inside, I was amazed at how closely they portrayed what I remembered from the movies, the moving paintings were wicked awesome. Having all those neat things to look at made the rest of our wait bearable. The actual Forbidden Journey ride was definitely worth the lengthy line. Everything happened so quickly, though, it was over in a flash. My nephew didn't do as well on this ride. It was a little scary with the enormous dragons in your face and deadly dementors attempting to suck the life out of you. He cried the entire time. We felt so horrible, but he was a trooper. I, on the other hand, thought it was so much fun, although I wished that I could have ridden it a second time. (I'll be sharing more about the WW of HP next week, so be sure to subscribe or follow postings on Facebook)

4. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls — After spending time in the Jurassic Park area where we got soaked to the bone on a water ride, we decided to get the other water rides out of the way too, and headed over to Toon Lagoon. It was mid-day and sweltering outside, so relief came at the perfect time. This ride was probably the second longest wait we were required to endure. However, it was also one of the best rides of the day. You hop in a log and hold on as it travels through water-filled chutes. The real fun comes when it's time to take a daring drop, you know, the kind where your stomach gets left behind because you're barreling down a flume. It was awesome! And Ju-ju (my nephew) loved it. He actually wanted to ride it again, but the wait time was too extensive to do so.

5. The Incredible Hulk Coaster — I was on my own with this ride because no one else in my group wanted to go a bonafide roller-coaster that takes you upside down. With only a 5 minute wait time, I couldn't resist. It wasn't a problem for me to go alone because I didn't want to miss it and kick myself later for not going. I'm super glad I went, too. It was so exhilarating! I forgot how alive you feel when being launched through the air. This roller-coaster is no joke either, at the very beginning it catapults you from zero to 40 mph in only two seconds! It was the last thing I rode on our first day. What a ride!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about some of the Islands of Adventure rides that I relished during my recent trip to Orlando. As hard we tried, it was impossible to ride them all, even if you go during the week on a slow day like we did. Our wait times for the majority of the rides didn't exceed 20 minutes, typically, which is unheard of in those places. I've been during times where I've waited in excess of an hour for a 10 minute turn, that can suck the fun out of your day. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to not have to deal with such nonsense. It was much more enjoyable that way!

Which one of these 5 rides sounds like your speed?

Would you prefer something slow and steady like the trolley ride? 
Or would you rather go for something a little more daring like Dudley Do-Right's?
Please share in the comments or on the WW Facebook page!

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