Lunch at My Little Italy

Friends and I recently met at My Little Italy restaurant to have lunch with an Italian flavor. The restuarant is located in the small, former Cheesy Steaks building on Highway 66, but has plenty of parking and dining area. We could smell the wonderful aromas of tomato and garlic as we walked into the door, signaling a good meal to come. Here is what we found.

Within a moment of entering the restuarant, I recognized that the quiet soundtrack playing in the background was correct!

We sat inside the dining area closest to the kitchen and the side door. This is an additional dining area that should accommodate customers well.

I usually like to order lasagna at Italian restaurants so I kept it the same here. There are lots of dishes to choose from and something for everyone. The owner /chef of My Little Italy spent decades working in restaurants in the Little Italy neighborhood in New York City—and you can tell because the flavors really capture that experience.

Here are the dishes that we ordered for lunch.

Greek salad was a starter.

Lasagna with plenty of sauce was excellent.

Of course, spaghetti was very good. The meat sauce was very satisfying.

And the exclamation point at the end of the meal: an order of Tiramisu to share with tablemates.

Wrapping up our meal, I asked the server who was the little boy depicted in the restuarant rugs and signage. The picture of the little boy is the server’s son, the owner’s grandson. Truly, it is a nice representation of a local family business.

You can find My Little Italy restaurant on Facebook to get the latest news. For example, there is a lunch special going on right now between 11:00-3:00 that offers pasta, house salad, drink, and bread for $12.99 . Maybe check Facebook before you visit as they will alert you if there is a repair need and they may have to close, as is the case right now with a kitchen hood repair.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574463236974

My Little Italy is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Sunday.

My friends and I will return again before the summer is over to have another taste of Italy. Anyone who enjoys Italian food will enjoy dining at My Little Italy on 1758 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Dinner at Muchacho Alegre Mexican Restaurant

A friend and I decided to meet for dinner at Muchacho Alegre because I had not been there before, but I had noticed ‘a buzz’ online about it. Originally a Ruby Tuesday, it is now home to delicious Mexican cusine. Sevierville has a variety of Mexican restaurants in town and locals have their favorites, but this new entry on the scene has developed a following. Here were some things that I enjoyed during my first visit to Muchacho Alegre.

First, it is located at 630 Winfield Dunn Parkway. The name is upbeat because “muchacho alegre’ means cheerful/happy boy in Spanish.

The foyer is cute and follows the decorative theme of colors and happiness.

The waiting areas will hold a crowd. This is just one area for guests. There were more.

This looks like a nice background for photos. I am sure that the sombreros are in frequent use for birthdays and general merrymaking. We love the little bear carving in the left corner.

Chips and salsa are critical so I was very happy with what was brought to the table. The waiter brought us a larger than usual container of salsa and it was a little thicker than found at some restaurants—which I like a lot! It was nice having a small molcajete of my own in which to enjoy the salsa. Muy bien!

Janet ordered fajitas that were accompanied by…

…this! A generous portion of rice and fixings.

I ordered Birria tacos, which are sometimes hard to find in this area so I was happy to see it on the menu. Muy rico!

I dipped my tacos in the birria, pictured above. Birria is a broth / beef consomme with ingredients that create rich flavor. The sauce may have originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco and is prepared on special occasions like weddings and holidays— which may explain why it is not easy to find on menus. I did not ask for their recipe, but it may have included cumin, chiles, bay leaves, onion, and cilantro, etc. so be ready for rich flavors.

Other specialty sides include plantains and yucca. I want to try that next time.

Alas, there was no room to enjoy dessert, but you may like Pastel de Tres Leches, churros, flan or a banana chime.

The Dia de los Muertos themed custom wallpaper behind the bar area is both modern and eyecatching. In fact, it is visually spectacular. It was my favorite view.

As we were leaving, I think that we spotted a real muchacho alegre.

Muchacho Alegre served good food and the waiters were very attentive. The dining areas are spacious and you don’t feel like you are sitting too close to others. It is a place that you don’t want to be in a hurry; rather, take your time and linger over the meal. I enjoyed Muchacho Alegre and know that I will return muy pronto. But next time, I must invite muchos amigos para la cena.

Here is a link to the restaurant Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558580516704

Buen provecho!

Lunch and a Treat at Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream

It was busy for a Tuesday in July so I got lucky and found a parking space across the street, just in time to meet friends for lunch at the still new Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream in downtown Sevierville.

Red’s Soda Fountain is located at 114 Court Avenue, beside the Central Hotel and within steps of the courthouse and the Dolly Parton statue.

Clearly, this place will be a foodies dream!

I love a specialty entrance mat.

There are booths arranged along the left side of the room, extending to the back wall. Tables and stools are to the right. Red’s is a large, open space where you can see good things being made fresh at the fountain.

Several lunch options are provided by Seasons 101 and they looked excellent, as shown in this photo from Red’s Facebook page. They make the hotdogs there. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094535967980

Anita, Elaine, and I decided on the same thing for lunch: a ‘the Works Hot Dog’ and a Phosphate—a home made soda.They made Anita a Diet Cherry Coke and I had a Cherry Sprite. Very refreshing!

Good hot dog and I really enjoyed my phosphate!

I cannot tell the difference between malts, floats, and ice cream sodas, but the treats are amazing!

My friends opted for single scoop ice cream , which is very generous! They recommend the Espresso Crumble.

An old jukebox plays music for free and lends an authentic feel to your time in Red’s Soda Fountain.

A picture on the wall full of nostalgia.

This is a screenshot that I found in a search for more background on the original Red’s Cafe, containing photos of the original proprietor and the first location downtown. Anita says that the original location is where the piano lessons building is located on Bruce Street.

Here is a link to my previous story from 2021, the mural of Red’s Cafe in downtown Sevierville depicting Red Clevenger and his famous customer, Dolly Parton. The link also includes a video of Dolly retelling her memories of Red’s Cafe when she was young. https://outandaboutinsevierville.com/2021/10/10/reds-cafe-second-mural-in-downtown-sevierville/

On a back wall, there are two maps with pushpins to show visitors’ home countries. It looks like Red’s Soda Fountain has made fans from all over the world.

We ended up staying over an hour and a half for our lunch because Red’s Soda Fountain is a place where you want to linger and anticipate special order drinks and treats. We noticed a nice crowd during our visit, especially for a Tuesday, and know that it will be popular for a long time.

As we said our goodbyes, I glanced over at the courthouse and noticed visitors who had just had ice cream in Red’s, now taking photos with the Dolly Parton statue. Truly, the soda shop is in an excellent location in downtown Sevierville.

We enjoyed lunch and treats at Red’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream and I’ll bet you a single cone of chocolate that I will be back there next week. There are some new things on the menu to enjoy next time. Red’s is certainly a special place to go when you are out and about in Sevierville.

If you have already visited Red’s, leave a comment on what you tried and recommend!

Great Smoky Mountains Food Truck Rally & Show 2023

(Caution—the pictures in this article may make you quite hungry!)

We saw the announcement on Facebook and knew that a food truck rally would provide a fun lunch meeting. Smoky Mountain Foodie, Elaine, and I met Melinda around 1:15 at the Sevier County Fair Grounds to see what was cooking for lunch. It was quite a task making a choice. Here is what we found during the outing.

A nice crowd was gathering by 1:15, but lines were not too long. Several people had bought food and were tailgating in the parking lot. A good idea!

I was interested in brisket, but we kept walking to see what else was there.

A lady had ordered this extreme funnel cake so I had to take a picture.

I think that I have had a Lobster Dog from this truck before. We were pondering the stuffed avocado.

Elaine and I eventually settled on something from the Pommes Frites truck. I know that means ‘fries’ in French so I tried to make it sound that way when we ordered at the window. We found a table and chairs at the little pavilion and settled in for lunch. Top photo shows a brat with kraut and fries while the bottom photo shows fries with two dipping sauces. Pretty good, but eat them fast and don’t let them cool down.

We will definitely look for this truck next time. Looked really tempting.

A patron let me take a picture of his onion rings—a generous portion that the picture doesn’t quite do justice. I heard that the fried cherry pie (pictured right) was outstanding and had a cream cheese surprise inside with the fruit filling.

The Kettle Corn vendors were quite friendly and working hard. They have free samples too.

After lunch, I saw this food truck advertised ‘real ice cream’ —and it did not disappoint. They said that regular ice cream tends to be 4% milk fat, but theirs is 10% milk fat. In fact, they said that they have to go out of state to get their ingredients. Soft serve chocolate ice cream is a special treat and it may have been one of the best that I have tried in recent memory.

Soon, it was time to stroll back to the car so we could all get home in time for the Vols game. A nice crowd of people enjoyed the sunny weather and a variety of food options, something for every taste. We had a great time and hope to see more food truck rallies so close to home. Next time, we may even tailgate.

Bon appetit!

Dinner at Ristorante Della Santina

At long last, my friends and I finally made a reservation for dinner at Ristorante Della Santina. This restaurant has been open for a while so I was excited when it was time to go. The dinner at Ristorante Della Santina made for a nice summer evening—Italian style!

The restaurant is located at 2004 Red Bank Rd. so it was only minutes away from our meeting point.

We made a reservation for 6:00 on a Thursday evening because we heard that it can be busy on the weekends. This worked out well because we were seated immediately at a table of our choice.

My friends and I do appreciate a nice tablecloth for a dining experience.

The restaurant offers pasta, seafood, chicken, and other specialities. We decided on our entrees: lasagna and eggplant parmigiana. Spaghetti is always my second choice, but the lasagna was the entree for this first dinner at Della Santina.

We loved the fresh Cesar salad and homemade dressing. Delightful starter.

Anita’s eggplant parmigiana was excellent. I am looking at this picture and want some now.

This picture may not capture the height of the lasagna, but it was a generous portion. Leftovers later!

It is hard to find Spumoni so I had to order it. Spumoni is an Italian milk sherbet with 3 flavors: cherry, pistachio, and chocolate. Ristorante Della Santina serves Spumoni covered in a chocolate shell. Divine!

Always be sure to order Spumoni if you can find it!

Don’t you appreciate a nice to-go container? This is a good one.

We enjoyed our dinner at Ristorante Della Santina very much and plan to return soon to celebrate Elaine’s birthday. I would say that is the nicest Italian restaurant in Sevier County and a good destination for a special dinner. A little more than 5 miles from downtown, it is worth the drive through Dolly Parton Parkway to get your taste of Italy.

Buon appetito!

Tamale Express

We heard about a new restaurant at 1354 Dolly Parton Parkway, in the small strip mall east of Sevier County High School. I had heard good things about it so Lisa and I decided to give it a try on Thursday after work. I liked Tamale Express very much and recommend it for foodies and people who like to try new things. This is not a typical Mexican restaurant that has chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. No Margaritas and maybe no tamales on a regular basis. However, Tamale Express brings something new to the local food scene.

We entered the restaurant and ordered at the counter. I ordered a #1 and Lisa ordered a #2. Be ready because the portions are generous and filling.

Birria is a meat stew or soup made with meat (beef in this case) and marinated with adobo made of spices, dried chiles, garlic, herbs, vinegar and cooked in a broth. It was excellent and not too spicy at all.

To our great regret, the restaurant was out of Choco-Flan. Next time! Also, we will try the street corn next time as well.

The fresh add on station was very nice with two kinds of salsa, cilantro, and more. We admired the beautiful tiles on the side of the of station.

The cashier remembered me saying that I had a late afternoon snack so he cut the sandwich in half and thoughtfully put the other half in a to-go box. My barrio torta had the softest bread—delightful! Dipping it into the liquid reminded me of another favorite sandwich: the French Dip. Very nice and not too spicy. The sandwich was quite thick so half for me was perfect.

Lisa’s tacos were excellent and she was able to dip them into the broth as well. Order a Jarritos soft drink! We ordered lime soda as a treat.

We loved the small little add-ons on the fresh bar. A little bit of lime and cilantro makes it extra good.

Of course, we loved the Frida Kahlo art displayed in the restaurant.

Iconic!

Screenshots from Google Images had given me ideas of what to expect at the restaurant. Choco-Flan!

In summary, Tamale Express offers something special for those who crave Mexican food that is different from the other places in town. We arrived around 5:00, probably earlier than the usual dinner time so the restaurant was not busy. We enjoyed a quiet, very authentic dinner just yards away from the high school. We plan on going again soon—but next time we will make sure that they have some Choco-Flan waiting for us!

Penny’s Cafe in Downtown Sevierville

There is a new place to find coffee, smoothies, breakfast, and lunch in downtown Sevierville. Penny’s Cafe offers all those things and more. In addition, local artists display their work in this spacious area. I went by this summer and noticed that the cafe is already quite popular. Here are some quick observations.

First, Penny’s Cafe is located across the street from the gazebo on Bruce Street—an excellent location. In the picture above, you can see the cafe is located to the right of the old post office building. Park in the parking lot across the street, on the street, or down the street near the courthouse and just walk a short distance for a really nice cappuccino.

We got a friendly greeting as we walked into Penny’s Cafe. The menu is located on the wall to the left.

This is a nice little area to wait for a friend if you are early. The view across the street of Sims Barbershop may fo a local coming or going after a nice cut.

Young people have discovered the nice coffee and more at Penny’s Cafe. This sofa is a comfortable place to catch up with friends and refresh.

The new espresso machine makes one of the best cappuccinos that I have had this year in the U.S.
I learned to love avocado toast on a trip to California so I was excited to see several variations on the menu. I ordered “Everything Avocado Toast” on rye bread, but you can order it on two other kinds of bread as well. It had the Everything Bagel seasoning and was quite substancial. I was not able to eat both pieces and was not hungry for hours.
Penny’s Cafe is spacious and visually attractive, displaying work from local artists on the walls and in display cases. You will surely find a gift or personal treasure there.
I found myself browsing the art and wondering what would look good on my walls.
If you need a gift, one can be found in this display case…

Or this …

… or this display. I love the horse painting on the back wall and wonder where it could go in my home.
There is so much art to see at Penny’s Cafe so it would be a good idea to plan extra time to do so.

In closing, Penny’s Cafe in downtown Sevierville brings coffee, food, and art to Bruce Street that has missing for a while. The cafe has already been embraced by locals and visitors alike. Drop by and enjoy a morning drink or meal to start the day. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Here are some screen shots of the coffee menu from the Penny’s Cafe Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page to see more. Here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/pennyscafetn

Bon appetite!

Barbecue in the Mountains: Preacher’s Smokehouse

After visiting a friend in the area, we decided to try a little barbecue place that we found on our drive to Pittman Center. Located on 2929 Pittman Center Rd., the restaurant serves locals and visitors alike. As it turned out, we found some of the tastiest barbecue in the mountains.

A place to gather together and eat meat. A meat eatery.

Preacher’s Smokehouse

You will notice the gravel entrance and parking lot with a beautiful view of the mountains in the background.

Preacher’s Smokehouse is appropriately located in a cabin with a nice little front porch. The woodpile on the right side lets you know the authenticity of the food. In addition, I think that I remember some picnic tables outside to the right of the building.

I got a pork meal combo with two sides. Next time, I will try the brisket or burnt ends from the menu. I have never tried burnt ends, but they sound so good. We thought that the prices were reasonable too.

Step up to the window. Ordering is easy.

If you get here at the right time, then you can have what appears to be the ‘best seats in the house.’

The sides were excellent and the sizes were quite generous. If you have a light appetite, you could easily share with a friend. Later on, I realized that I had not taken many pictures of the food so the following are screenshots that I found online from other happy customers.

According to the Preacher’s Smokehouse Facebook page, it may be a good idea to check before you drive out there because they frequently sell out of barbecue— and that would be a monumental disappointment!

Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/preacherssmokehouse

Limited hours and limited days open make Preacher’s Smokehouse a particularly special place to get barbecue.

Monday:CLOSED, Tuesday:CLOSED, Wednesday:CLOSED

Thursday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Friday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday:11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday:CLOSED

Phone number: (865)332-9731

Writing this story has whet my appetite and I look forward to a return trip soon to Preacher’s Smokehouse.

Save some burnt ends for me!

Graze Burgers Opening in Downtown Sevierville

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I was excited to attend the pre-opening event for Graze Burgers downtown last night. After watching the construction going on all summer and fall, the moment had finally arrived to see the final product—and it didn’t disappoint! Come along as we got to experience one of the best new places in downtown Sevierville.

First, I am going to get straight to the point and list my top 10 reasons that Graze Burgers is going to be special. Maybe even my favorite burger place in Tennessee.

  1. The owners’ families have created restaurant legacies in East Tennessee: Angelos in Morristown, Angelos on the Point in Dandridge, and Stock and Barrel on Market Square in Knoxville. They have decades of experience in the restaurant industry and deliver a high quality experience.
  2. With a burger, you can order 1/2 fries and 1/2 onion rings! I have never seen that before because you usually have to choose one or the other. We can call them ‘frings.’
  3. The cocktail and beverage selections are excellent. (Check out the ‘Off the Rails cocktail.’)
  4. Spiked Shakes! I have never seen this before either. They make great desserts!
  5. Brioche bun!  There were many burger variations and each looked delish. There will be something for every taste. Even more, I love a brioche bun.
  6. There are windows behind the bar that will open to the outside alley and patio area. “Hello spring and summer dining al fresco!”
  7. The atmosphere inside is relaxed and fun. There are three large screen TVs on the wall and music playing in the background to keep the mood festive.
  8. The parking is plentiful nearby, both in the gazebo area and on the street.
  9. I can tell that the owners and the business will be great new neighbors downtown.
  10. I liked the water glasses. They were Duraclear or some other light material so there was no problem with breakage and they fit my hand quite well. I don’t like glasses that are too big to handle.

Let’s continue to our visit to Graze Burgers last Saturday evening in downtown Sevierville.

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Upon arrival, Melinda and I found the parking lot by the gazebo almost full of cars. We thought we were early, but there were others already there to experience Sevierville’s newest restaurant.

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Lights and signs were on. Street parking was filling up, which is rare for 5:30 on a Saturday evening downtown unless there is a special event.

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Friendly hosts and hostesses were ready to show us to a table. We got the last one available. The place was packed!

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This screenshot from the Graze Burgers Facebook page shows a sleek design, yet maintaining the original brick wall. I am not sure what to call it, but the combination of natural brick, wood, and metal makes me want to call it a ‘mountain industrial’ look. Notice the large windows behind the bar that can be rolled up in warm weather to serve customers in the alley/patio area later this year. Here is the link to the restaurant Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/grazeburgers1/

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We were lucky to arrive no later because tables were all taken.

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There is an interesting beverage list. Who doesn’t love a tall glass?

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I had researched the menu a few days before so not much time would be wasted on my selections.

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We always order fried pickles at the beach so we were not going to pass them up last night.

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Vince and Glenda Snider were ready for dinner at Graze.

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 Leesa and Jim McGill, Sevierville City Alderman.

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Ed and Bethany McCarter enjoying dinner at Graze.

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I love food served on a cookie sheet pan. Look—half fries and half onion rings. You can order one or the other, or both!

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Here is a screenshot of the main menu.

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One of the owners chats with Jim McGill after dinner. He has owned both Angelos locations in Morristown and Dandridge. Being from Morristown, that was all I needed to hear! When I grew up, Angelos in Morristown was the very best place to dine.

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Doyle Jones, local architect, and local artist/businesswoman, Bev Gwinn Jones.

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The Sevierville Commons board of directors are certainly excited to see new businesses downtown. SCA board members from left to right: Gigi Simonis, Austin Williams, and Jason Holliman.

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My favorite thing of the evening may have been the spiked shake called the Boozy S’mores because of the two roasted marshmallows on top and the ice cream delight in the glass. Oh my!

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Here is a screen shot of the beverage list.

IMG_3282What a great dinner! Afterward, Melinda and I worked our way through the crowd, said lots of ‘hellos’  and headed out the front door. It was great to finally see patrons sitting in the front windows after I watched the building progress all last summer. It came together beautifully.

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Keep an eye on the space next door because there is something going in there in the coming months. The manager told me that it is ‘top secret’ for now.

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For a Saturday evening in downtown Sevierville, cars lining both sides of the street will become more common with Graze and Bistro 109 open in the evenings.

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This screenshot from the Graze Burgers Facebook page shows some new neighbors that are most welcome in downtown Sevierville. We wish them much luck and can’t wait to visit them again while we are out and about in Sevierville. 

Save a seat for us!

Pastry Heaven at the Wildflour Bakehouse

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During the holidays, I allow myself to have a couple of pastries so last week was the perfect time to visit the Wildflour Bakehouse on the Parkway. It is located almost across the street from the K-mart shopping center, behind McDonalds and Long John Silver’s restaurant. You can also access the back of the building from Court Avenue. Come along with us for a holiday lunch to the Wildflour Bakehouse.

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First, you will notice that it is spacious and has a variety of seating areas.

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I liked the vintage sectional sofa on the left side of the room, under the flat screen TV that plays the Food Network. It is clearly the right color!

IMG_1995There is also a room to the right for sipping  coffee or relaxing. We loved the deep purple.

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Next, you will notice the abundance of pastries in the case. The owner and her friend will tell you the specials of the day and how things are made, if you like. They are very friendly and will tell you how their friendship and working situation actually began in Knox County when they worked together at the 911 Center.

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It can get a little busy during the lunch hour. David Verble works downtown and is a happy return customer.

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Several of us ordered the chicken salad sandwich on cranberry bread. You also receive a cookie with your lunch. We really enjoyed the mini cookie trays which were used to serve our lunches. So cute!

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That day, soup choices were tomato basil or chicken pot pie soup. Both were very good.

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Someone said that their cinnamon bun eaten later at home was very, very good!

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I actually returned to the Bakehouse with a friend a few days later for lunch. Here were the specials that day.

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I ordered the avocado toast and it was wonderful.

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A beautiful gold cake!

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Wildflour Bakehouse was ready for New Year’s Eve customers with these cute sugar cookies. During lunch about 8 people were in line to order so it was a busy.

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A special holiday cookie with peppermint—what a good idea !

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They make everything at the Wildflour Bakehouse, even scones!

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The shelves were freshly stocked with breads and other pastries for the New Year’s Eve and Day holidays.

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The Bakehouse also has a private room that can be used for different events. Talk to them about that when you visit. If you order a cake from them then you may get a very good deal on using the room for the first hour.

We really enjoyed our lunch(es) at the Wildflour Bakehouse and will return again soon. I was glad that we were there during our holiday and didn’t have to rush through lunch. You will want to linger a little with friends, but maybe sit a little farther from the pastry booth if your willpower is weak. There are many tempting treats at the Wildflour Bakehouse and you will want to try them all!

See you out and about in Sevierville.