Sweet P's vs. Man vs. Food vs. Me: The Great BBQ Debate That I Don't Belong In

I'm going to have to start this entry with an apology. It's not to Sweet P's, or Travel Channel, or even my increasingly cool in-laws for paying for my meal, but to the real BBQ junkies, flunkies and enthusiasts out there. I'm sorry I have no discerning tongue for this stuff. I can't tell you if the brisket has been smoked with applewood chips, maple planks, or cherry-wood chunks, and based on the flavor of the char, if the smoker was older than 1955. I do, however recognize that people who can do that are out there; and reading this may make them mad as hell. So for that, in addition to being a Yankee reviewing a BBQ place, (with a bullet) I'm sorry. Also, i'm not going to touch on the burrito challenge featured on the Travel Channel, because this picture of Sweet P's owner is way sweeter. PBR for life!

The more I talk about this place to other Knoxvilians, the more I get the same story: "I didn't even know it was there until I saw it on the Man vs. Food: Knoxville". And I, always answer with the same reply, "Me too, but i'm sure glad I found it." That's because Sweet P's had it all; the meat, the sides, the Southern Hospitality, and the water-side locale that lets hungry boaters go dockside for a meat-fest only beer, sunshine and coca-cola can conjure up. 

Naturally, after being south of the Mason-Dixon Line for the better part of 5 years, I have had my fair share of BBQ. I'm talking ribs, chicken, smoked wings, brisket, pulled everything, and sauces to be categorized as thick, thin, Carolina-style, Texas-style and my #1 favorite (in black marker on the side of the bottle: 'GOOD'. (It was!) Sweet P's had all the major players, including thick and thin sauces, and the better part of 10 sides to pick from. I went for the ribs (seriously, i'm NOT here to try your chicken,) and the mixed beans. A huge slab of ribs and 2 sections of my paper plate was now covered with steaming hot BBQ goodness, and grabbing my unsweet tea was all there was left to do before the carnage could ensue. The ribs were cooked PERFECTLY. Did you hear that? PERFECTLY! (Like, WOW!...These ribs actually couldn't be cooked ANY better). They were juicy and tender and had so much meat on them that my father in-law gave me 'the look' when I said "These ribs are really meaty!". Good for him, it was a stupid thing to say out loud. Now, as for the beans, they were just kinda there. They were hot, they were beany, but as for flavor... I took my husband's advice on beans at a BBQ place: "They're never over the top, just put some salt & pepper and sauce on them and they get GREAT!" So I did, and of course, they were. Yes, Sweet P's...this means I like your sauce. Alot.
I'm now taking a moment to interrupt this review with a quick side note. I am NOT 'Southern', therefore NOT qualified to make remarks about secret seasoning rubs, sauces, and injecting methods of cooking BBQ, and I know that. I will, however say that the flavor of the ribs was smokey, and meaty, but I'll have to leave it at that. The rub did not blow my mind out of the back of my head, but the quality of the ribs and the attention to how well they were cooked did. The flavor was most definitely there, but it left me begging for more. And, this is where the great BBQ debate begins, and I gracefully have to bow out. I have no business fighting in this ring, and my two cents hold no water. Thankfully, I have become acclimated enough to know that, and it makes me giggle every time I say it. With that, I will say that Sweet P's was a great meal, and probably does the best BBQ I have had since moving to Knoxville. There are some other key players in town, but as Dolly Parton says in 'Steel Magnolias, "If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit next to me", so those places will be discussed at a later date. This review now holds a very special place in my heart, as I have laid all my true Yankee cards on the table. Sweet P's is a flavor debate that I could not win. Actually, I had no business trying in the first place. 

I'll be back to Sweet P's though! Hopefully, it'll be on a boat, and hopefully with some people who want to let me know that I know absolutely nothing about BBQ.
Check out their menus/site here.

Colleen yummy food rating= 4.5/5.

Sitar's Far East Production On The West Side Of Town

I was pretty skeptical pulling up to Sitar because the mere thought of good Indian food in Knoxville just wasn't adding up in my head. After all, I used to live next to a  giant Indian mecca right outside Atlanta, so this meal was either going to really really great, or really forgetable. Thankfully, I made it out of my car, past the front door and into a chair, because this meal played out perfectly; like one of those cool dance scenes in a 60's Bollywood movie.

It kinda went like this: BOOM! The music started <enter wait staff stage right>, then the spot light hits me <enter drink order here>, then a plate of mixed Tandori treats arrives <start heavy drooling..NOW!>, and Scene. A Blockbuster Overseas.
I couldn't even pretend. I was right in the thick of it, my eyes were swirling. I was overwhelmed with exotic Indian mouth-flavor delights. I was only an appetizer and an ice water in, and I was sold- this food was amazing! Unfortunately, I quickly found myself in no mood to try to decide what entree to get, I was completely focused on how good my mouth tasted. But, thankfully my hubby (Best supporting actor in this role) made a quick suggestion of trying a vegetarian, chicken and a chef speciality. Good call hubby, good call. Now, I'm not going to pretend I didn't order the Chicken Tikka Masala. I always order it. Anywhere I go, I order it. I love to taste different interpretations of it, because it's ALWAYS good. And Sitar's was some of the best I'd ever had. It was spicy and creamy and as dreamy as ever: the rice was perfectly spiced to boot, and there was plenty of it. Now, the vegetarian dish (Allo Gohbi: Curried Cauliflower and po's) was actually my second favorite of the three. I'll start this by saying, it's hard for me to enjoy cauliflower out of my house- it's never cooked right, it always a little well, 'farty' to me. Not this though. It was sweet and soft and melted perfectly into the electric yellow/green curry sauce. Crisis Averted.
The Chef Speciality dish (Chicken Karahai : A special gravy with onions, tomatoes and bell pepper; tossed in Indian iron skillet) was the by far the winner of the Indian Cuisine trilogy that was last Thursday night's dinner. In all honesty,it was the most delicious and flavorful silver boat of Indian fare that I have ever eaten. Each spice was subtle enough to not over power the next, but was also so gleamingly apparent that my mouth felt like the Bollywood dance scenes were starting to happen each time I took another bite. It never got old.
There is no doubt that this restaurant experience carried me well beyond it's East Tennessee location. The service was perfect (Either the manager or owner came over to talk with us for a few minutes and thanked us for coming in-totally nice!), and the prices were right on point for portion size and quality. Go eat there already. I'm getting hungry just reliving this.
Check out their menu/site here.
Colleen yummy food rating 5/5.

Hard Knox Pizza's Sunday Punch To My Pie Hole

I'm going to start off by saying that this pizza is by far the best thing going in Knoxville. Since I am after all from NY, therefore a self-proclaimed pizza authority, I'd know! Ha, take that Urbanspooners and Yelpies. I mean, face it. Most pizza in the South has either a Papa John's box around it, or is served on a cracker crust full of antipasto toppings, and will cost you $12.95. No thanks...so lame.
But, thankfully Hard Knox Pizza takes the title belt in the local pizza ring by using the most simple, freshest ingredients that are cooked and treated properly. They do NOT artfully arrange them on the pie, but actually arranged them by how they would cook best, and therefore taste good, and nice and not like everything else on the pie. Maybe we need an example.. Let's break this down:
I got the Iron Mike (Coolest named pie on the menu- only reason I got it), check this baby out: Fresh Mozz, Baby Spinach, Caramelized Garlic, Shaved Parm Reggiano, and EVoo.

You're gonna wanna notice the garlic on top of the cheese, so it gets a little char, and tastes like garlic heaven in your mouth hole. Then the shaved parm, then spinach, then the mozz.... this made the most amazing little light sauce on the pie since the spinach leaked some veggie water through the cheese.
Yes, that is a PBR can in the near background.
The big, bubbly, chewy, light as air crust with a nice outter crispiness was perfectly thin, but held up great to the toppings.
Great taste, great crust, great construction: TKO.

Now, my hubby got the Carnera... because I think he may have a pepper addiction, but overall he said his was top notch, and I could tell he wasn't lying, b/c he ate his whole pie to my 3 slices.
Here's his Sweet Crust shot. I tasted only the sauce on his, and it was  light, fresh and simple. Maybe a little San Marzano tomato, fresh basil and magic sauce love?...or at least that's what it tasted like. I have no idea.

The space was cool, and simple and the guys behind the counter were your average pizza slingers, but had a professional air about them. I actually appreciated it. Decent prices for the pies, considering they tasted like pizza heaven, and didn't give me or Brian a Cauliflower Ear.

Check out their menus/site here.
Colleen yummy food rating 5/5.

Ole'? Try, Just Okay. Soccer Taco Missed The Goal For Me

I'll usually push between 5 and 7 people out of my way to get to an authentic Mexican menu, and generally take pride in this character flaw of mine, but Soccer Taco on Bearden Hill, was the first time I wish I would have stopped, looked over to the sideline at the signs the coaches were throwing at me, and then ran off the pitch.
I'm not going to slam the joint, I don't think that's the right thing to do to a local restaurant, but I will say that the fryer grease covered parking lot and large-box rat traps should have given me a clue as to the meal that was to follow.
Truth be told, I think the language barrier actually turned out to be my favorite part of the whole experience- it left room for interpretation, laughter and the mutual agreement that extra sauce on the side doesn't mean 'Please bring my chicken wings dry, with a HUGE bowl of Tabasco sauce on a separate plate", and "I'll have the mushroom and cheese tacos" means 1 just mushroom and 1 just cheese taco. OOOooof.
I'm going to invite your comments on this one.. only because I really wanted to like the place. Actually I wanted to really like food, but unfortunately that didn't happen either. Perhaps the Market Square locale has something more to offer...  Your thoughts on this one?