tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post3611956540207486579..comments2024-03-28T22:59:24.437+11:00Comments on where's the beef? Vegetarians in Melbourne: July 12-18, 2008: ChattanoogaCindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-63563041004068510182011-07-20T04:34:31.953+10:002011-07-20T04:34:31.953+10:00ooh gotcha. cool. If I make it over to Australia...ooh gotcha. cool. If I make it over to Australia I will definitely consult your site first for culinary guidance! I was browsing past entries before lunchtime yesterday (bad timing) and it made me reaaally hungry.. <br />allieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-55751876941607453412011-07-19T11:38:55.255+10:002011-07-19T11:38:55.255+10:00Hi Allie! Thanks so much for all those suggestions...Hi Allie! Thanks so much for all those suggestions - there's a lot of things in that list that I wish I'd seen for myself. Regardless of whether Michael and I make it back, someone is sure to stumble across this page and appreciate your advice. :-)<br /><br />Oh, and by 'Central America' I did mean food originating from south of the U.S. border... the Mexican/Tex Mex/etc food available even in the northern-most states of the U.S. far outstrips anything we have here in Australia!Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-3373675130639104652011-07-19T00:26:29.033+10:002011-07-19T00:26:29.033+10:00Cindy and Michael,
Stumbled upon your blog and enj...Cindy and Michael,<br />Stumbled upon your blog and enjoyed reading this post, though I guess by now it's been a while since your Chattanooga visit! I've lived in Chattanooga for several years now, but I'm from Nashville originally, so I've lived in Tennessee all my life. (By the way, “Central America” only refers to the countries south of the U.S., as in lying between North and South America. Regions of the US are North, South, Deep South, Midwest, West coast, & East coast.) Sorry your trip here wasn't more stellar! Wish you'd had a local guide to show you cool stuff, cause there is a lot going on artistically and creatively in Chattanooga, not to mention good- I mean actually good- food. <br /><br />It's true that the US is hugely diverse in its population, even between different regions of the country. (I was recently in California and was confronted with Southern stereotypes. Very annoying.) Down-home Southern cooking, the likes of which Cracker Barrel serves up, can never be assumed to be vegetarian (they do tend to use fatback in everything. But damn that hashbrown casserole is tasty.) But there are increasingly more vegetarian, even vegan, options in urban locations, including Chattanooga. (Sluggo's is one that comes to mind.) Many new NON-chain restaurants have been opening up. <br />(May I also commend you on your decision NOT to buy canned cheese. That orange stuff is not cheese, it is an abomination, a scourge on the Earth.) <br /><br />Chattanooga, situated in the valley of Lookout and Signal Mountains, is known as the "Scenic City" because of its proximity to an abundance of outdoor activities, and the lovely scenery. You can be on a beautiful hiking trail or swimming in a cold mountain stream in a matter of minutes. (If you're into climbing/ bouldering, it actually is a world-class spot due to its natural topography and geography.) <br /><br />Some fun things to do/ parts of town to check out should you ever end up here again:<br />Nightfall (free outdoor concert series on Friday nights during the summer)<br />Chattanooga Market (during most of the year, open air market featuring local vendors selling jewelry, clothes, crafts, art, cheeses, jams, produce. Right now it’s peach season!! Also live music)<br />Walnut Street Bridge (I think it's the world's longest pedestrian bridge! the view is absolutely charming.)<br />North Shore/ Coolidge Park (lots of cute shops, an awesome public park with water works the kids can play in, and hand-crafted carousel)<br />Bluff View Art District (museums, coffee shops, restaurant, bakery, gorgeous overview from the bluff)<br />Southside/ Main Street (cool street that continues to bloom: hub of arts, sustainability initiatives, delicious Bluegrass Grill restaurant, etc.)<br />There’s always the uber touristy but somehow worth-it trip to Rock City, atop Lookout Mountain, and you can “ride the Incline” (cable car) up the mountain. <br />Local breweries/ microbreweries if you like the beer.<br /><br />Sorry to ramble, especially if it's not even relevant at this point, but I felt like someone should highlight some virtues of Chattanooga, rather than just complain at you. Hope y'all make it back!<br />~AllieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-36023424880222298782010-11-03T09:24:08.728+11:002010-11-03T09:24:08.728+11:00Don, it's true that my visit was short and my ...Don, it's true that my visit was short and my observations were no doubt superficial. Chattanooga's positive international exposure hasn't made it quite so far as us folks here in Melbourne so I'd welcome any tips you have for travelling through that part of the world.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-31685672009912335242010-11-02T11:51:59.841+11:002010-11-02T11:51:59.841+11:00Obviously, you're brief encounter and subseque...Obviously, you're brief encounter and subsequent review of Chattanooga lacks any kind of full understanding of the incredibly diverse city it has become. The immense positive INTERNATIONAL exposure Chattanooga has received over the last few years is well-documented, and covers the very things you say it does not have. Stay more than a few days, get a better understanding through knowledge and experience, then write another review. You'll see how wrong you were on this one.Don "Tree" Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16889533743715580348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-57405453794803210212009-06-13T18:10:42.255+10:002009-06-13T18:10:42.255+10:00Gee, really? I thought I gave the menu a good loo...Gee, really? I thought I gave the menu a good looking over but I guess not. It's unlikely I'll be back to make the same mistake again anyway. :-)Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-89293670093105592512009-06-13T06:05:17.948+10:002009-06-13T06:05:17.948+10:00note: the hash brown cassarole from cracker barrel...note: the hash brown cassarole from cracker barrel is not vegetarian...there is a lil note on the menu that lists the items they cook up using lard (liquid pig fat)...its used in the hash browns, corn muffins, green beans and a few other things that should be veggie only....petrahttp://www.xewmusic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-26648266284886911982008-08-18T10:58:00.000+10:002008-08-18T10:58:00.000+10:00Thank you, Hayley! I was surprised by how many no...Thank you, Hayley! I was surprised by how many novel eating experiences were on offer in the mother country. The high quality pub food was a constant temptation - be warned. :-)Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-22065830838471507432008-08-15T23:02:00.000+10:002008-08-15T23:02:00.000+10:00Cheese in a can: The rest of the world says "Oh de...Cheese in a can: The rest of the world says "Oh dear god, please, NO!"<BR/><BR/>Have been absolutely adoring all your overseas-eating posts. I have so many delicious ideas now for when I eventually get over to Britain.Hayleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136383350050942704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-40465881189867902572008-08-12T17:32:00.000+10:002008-08-12T17:32:00.000+10:00Brian, that is hilarious! As a friend just remind...Brian, that is hilarious! As a friend just reminded me, you should be equally afraid of <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Whip" REL="nofollow">Cool Whip</A>. Click at your own risk. :-)<BR/><BR/>Actually, I've had a number of very pleasant eating experiences in the US. In fact, my study semester there in 2004 inspired our current state as vegetarians! To anticipate the next question - it was some fine home cooking and *not* the scary over-sized ribs that converted us. :-DCindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-8803619547529762782008-08-11T15:37:00.000+10:002008-08-11T15:37:00.000+10:00Cheese in a can... as a teenager I had a recurring...Cheese in a can... as a teenager I had a recurring nightmare where I applied for a highschool exchange program and went to a small town in the US where they only ate stuff like this. Suffice it to say I did not apply for the program!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-3708449059461787822008-08-11T10:48:00.000+10:002008-08-11T10:48:00.000+10:00Agnes, I didn't buy the cheese-in-a-can! I was te...Agnes, I didn't buy the cheese-in-a-can! I was tempted, just for the gross-out factor, but decided that a photo would suffice. :-D<BR/><BR/>It is a funny place, Johanna, and with quite some regional variation. I was expecting the hotel to be overwhelmingly tacky but it had its pretty spots. :-)<BR/><BR/>Hi Cathy! Not all the food in the USA is awful, but constantly eating out in this part of the country poses challenges! I didn't expect to see anything of nature at all, so that was a pleasant surprise. :-)Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147906610629741961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-32547468430386282962008-08-10T14:04:00.000+10:002008-08-10T14:04:00.000+10:00What a mixed up country the USA seems to be! Looks...What a mixed up country the USA seems to be! Looks like the food is as awful as some of the nature is amazing. (both amazing in good and bad ways haha.) Your travels sound great!!cphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16212291689489887509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-66561491414767652352008-08-09T10:37:00.000+10:002008-08-09T10:37:00.000+10:00The USA seems like a country of such huge contrast...The USA seems like a country of such huge contrasts and weirdness - but a place that produces ben and jerry's can't be all bad - and that hotel looks amazing even if they can't get the breakfasts rightJohanna GGGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131521.post-11959265680904450862008-08-08T19:23:00.000+10:002008-08-08T19:23:00.000+10:00Not exactly a gourmet stay! But at least you got ...Not exactly a gourmet stay! But at least you got the Reese's peanut butter cups - yuuuuum.<BR/><BR/>And did you buy any cheese in a can? Weren't you tempted? Even a little bit? ;)Agneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02682199058521082342noreply@blogger.com