Jesse C.'s Profile

"Our emotional relationship to food and drink is like some tenacious desert plant, its wiry, tough roots buried deep in our psyches."

My emotional relationship to slugburgers and the White Trolley go back many, many decades. For me it brings back memories of sitting at the counter as a boy with my dad, not so patiently waiting for my slugbuger to arrive.  It was always accompanied by a helping of french fries and an ice cold coke-cola.  This was back when they dipped the buns in the hot grease for a second... and of course, before we started paying attention to our cardiologist.

Don't let the name fool you. The name slugburger comes from the slang term for a nickel. During the Depression years cooks started adding cornmeal, potato flour or other extenders in an effort to make every pound of ground beef count. Today hamburger is mixed with cornmeal grits and a special blend of spices, pressed very thin and deep friend.  Traditionally, they're served topped with two slices of dill pickle, a smidgeon of onion and a dollop of mustard.

Today the Trolley is showing its age; the counters are worn in places from decades of arms and elbows rubbing the formica.  The floor is scuffed from the millions of feet that have shuffled across it.  Seating is limited to a handful of people; I've seen it standing room only more times than I can count. Don't be surprised at peak times to find patrons lined up outside the door. Yea, it's that good.

It's a local delicacy to be sure and there's no better place to get a slugburger than the White Trolley.  They do serve other things, but really it all pales in comparison to the slug.  Heck, we even have an entire festival devoted to the slugburger.  Next time you're in Corinth, stop by, say hi and give it a try.  You'll be glad you did.

If you're looking for a swallow-your-tongue catfish dinner, then look no further than the Catfish Hotel in Shiloh. Located just north of Shiloh National Military Park the restaurant is located on the banks of the Tennessee River and affords fantastic views and a rustic, down home character. It somewhat reminds me of a Cracker Barrel without the corporate feel.

I've eaten my weight in catfish here over the course of my time on this little blue rock and have never had a bad meal.  Tonight was no different; the catfish was hot and fresh with a cornmeal batter that is to die for.  Kathy had the melt-in-your-mouth baby back ribs while mom had a ribeye that was cooked to perfection.  Homemade hush puppies, their own original-recipe cole slaw, a dinner salad and ice cold sweat tea rounded out the meal.  

As good as that was, the Pièce de résistance was the incredible, rich, mind blowing Lemon Rub Pie (otherwise known as Chess Pie), a recipe dating back to when the original owners settled this piece of ground in 1838.

Great atmosphere, fantastic food and a genuinely friendly wait staff make this place one of my all time favorite restaurants.

Spaulding Interiors is an oasis of extraordinary estate quality furniture. Tamara Spaulding has been decorating and furnishing Fairbanks for many years and let me tell you, she does it very, very well. Hew new showroom is open on Illinois just south of Minnie Street.  If you're looking for a particular piece or furniture for an entire room, do yourself a favor and go see Tamara. You'll be glad you did!

Dr. Helmbrecht is a wonderful dentist... great staff, very friendly.  Would recommend to anyone.  She would get 5 stars, but I really just don't like dentists. ;)

It's hard to mess up a pizza... and these guys usually deliver.  Cleanliness is not their strong suit.  The dining rooms are usually in total disarray and the employees are in no hurry to clean things up.

The ribs can not be beaten.  Menu is somewhat limited but the food is authentic and has always been good.  Service is spotty but typically ok.  Full bar... haven't had breakfast but have heard it's excellent.

Located in the Golden Nugget Hotel it's one of the few choices in downtown Fairbanks. Regular menu plus daily specials, full bar.  Generally decent food... servers are friendly but it can be a bit of a wait sometimes if they are shorthanded, which does happen.

Small hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.  Limited seating but typically excellent good.  Very Italian... gotta love garlic to eat here.

It may have been a fluke, but we weren't really impressed.  The food was good... the service was just ok.  If you go on Friday or Saturday night be prepared for a wait and make sure you bring your earplugs.  Live music makes it impossible to have a conversation with your table mates.  Excellent wine selection.

Ok, so no one really goes to Hilltop for the atmosphere.  It is decidely Alaskan... i.e. a little rough around the edges.  Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu can be ordered anytime.  Servers are friendly.  They can get quite busy although it's usually not much of a wait.  If for no other reason, you should go just to try their pies.... in a word... delicious.