Category: Food critic

Swamp Tails(Tales)

Hello again everyone, thanks for all the response to my blog and all of the input on the new food finds. Next up for the Southern Dinner, Swamp Tales. I will have to give the credit were credit is due, thanks Izzy! This is not a croc, it’s legit. Actually it’s alligator sold 1/2 pound with fries, one pound, or two pounds if you are really hooked, haha.

Swamp Tales is located on the corner of Rt. 127 and Rt. 161. South of Carlyle, West of centralia and North of Nashville, the crossroads of the bayou. Sorry, not really but they sure do make the trip fun.

Once your inside you feel the clock slow and enjoy the feeling of sitting on grandpas front porch. The menu includes the regulars, burgers and fries, chicken tenders and pork tenderloins, but that’s where the norm stops. Next your hit with the Louisiana twist. Words like etouffee, crawfish and  gumbo start getting slung around.

I started my adventure diving in head first with some alligator. I tried the 1/2 pound with fries, what a different experience then expected. Golden brown crust not quite beer batter, but not corn meal either. The first bite also surprisingly unique, hot crunchy giving way to a chew not flaky bite. They always say it tastes like chicken, not hardly. It was more like pork, but it’s a subtle taste not over powering and to kick it up a notch. The alligator is served with a sauce that the spice lovers will enjoy.

The old stand by next, the cheeseburger. You can always get a good feel for a place by test driving their burger.  Swamp Tales did not disappoint. The fries came out done to perfection and the burger looked like a patty that Dad hand made and threw on the grill himself.  With that said it was no thin piece of meat, on the contrary, thick and juicy, done a nice medium, medium rare.

With our first trip in the books the Southern Dinner give Swamp Tales:

4 1/2 bends in the road

With more trips to come I’m sure our bayou adventure will not quit any time soon!

 

Guero’s Mexican Restaurant

This is my first post, so thanks for dropping by. This blog will focus on restaurants in and around Southern Illinois. So stay tuned for future posts.

The first stop Guero’s Mexican Restaurant. It’s located in the old 9th street grill in Mt. Vernon Illinois. The place has an inviting feel and nicely decorated for the Mexican theme. Friendly service, with a well rounded menu.

The meal started with my favorite, an Arnold Palmer. The drink for those who don’t know, a mix of lemonade and tea. The entree’s for my wife and I were Chicken Tacos for her and for myself the Downtown Quesadilla. The chicken in both dishes were done to perfection. My wife Gail was served three soft tacos and three small nachos in the shape of bowls. In one of the nacho bowls was refried beans and cheese. The other two bowls contained pico and tomatillo sauce and by the way the tomatillo sauce is fantastic. The sweet followed by the heat was just what the doctor, I’m sorry taco ordered.

On to the main stage of Guero’s, the Downtown Quesadilla. Bring your appetite, it’s over half of the plate. Filled with chicken, steak and shrimp and if that’s not enough it’s filled with refried beans, cheese, green peppers and onions. Everyone is in the pool! With that said the combination of flavors will make you feel like your suddenly in a small village south of the boarder. On the side of course is the ever present chips and salsa. Don’t take this to lightly though the salsa is outstanding. Use of fresh tomatoes and cilantro gives the excellent favor of made to order.

All in all a great experience that demands a return performance !

The southern Dinner gives Guero’s Mexican Restaurant:

Four bends in the road