Foodie road trip pt. 2;

After leaving Adairsville in the morning, we took the brief (1hr 20m) journey up I75 to Chattanooga, TN. Arriving midday, we quickly checked into our hotel, The Stonefort Inn, a quaint ‘elder year’ property located in the heart of the city (most specifically within walking distance of our dinner-dining choice – yes, walking in the South!).

Sous is also ‘press’ and had gotten us passes to the Tennessee Aquarium. Apparently the Southeast is all about two things; college football and who can build the biggest, baddest aquarium (we all need something)… As Atlanta now boasts the ‘biggest’, we figured we had to see the previous title holder and hopefully not the ‘baddest’.. (both aquarium links included for your perusing pleasure).  Two foodies walking through a collection of fish tanks feels a bit wrong, I kept wondering how the King Crab would taste in risotto and kept expecting around every turn to see the lobster tank so I could pick my entree. Inspiration achieved, we headed off to relax before dinner… stopping for a quick snack along the way; cappuccinos and house made rice pudding with brown sugar, an enticing, warm pick-me-up on a cold afternoon.

The centerpeice of the day was dinner. In all actuality, the driving force behind this driving tour was always St. Johns Restaurant, likely the most well-known and well-respected restaurant in Chattanooga, found along Market Street, the mainline of the city. Walking in from the cold, the dining room was bustling, inviting and filled with the aromas of our meal to come. We were seated upstairs, a small table along the railing with views over the square bar and restaurant entrance, great people watching all around. Menus and deliberations followed, gainfully aided by cocktails followed with even more menu deliberation (were we really going to try two pasta dishes… really?). We eventually settled, starting with a progression of appetizers. Handmade butternut squash ravioli with braised veal breast and a drizzle of reduced balsamic was placed before Sous… with more housemade tagliatelle, poached Maine lobster and fresh basil set before my eyes. The pastas were worth the gamble, al dente and a beautiful addition to both plates. A true split was all we could manage for our entree (we had dessert to consider); sesame crusted lamb tenderloin with braised cheeks and roasted portabellos in a sherry soy butter sauce was an decadent step up in richness before our sweets.

Two desserts it must be we decided (we also don’t mind doggie bags). A visceral disapproval of all things ‘molten cake’ nixed that particular option off our list.. opting instead for the more eccentric pineapple and butternut squash bread pudding with coconut gelato. A carrot cake souffle with cream cheese anglais rounded out our willy wonka-esque course with a pair of coffees, advanced guard against the chilly walk back through town, especially in a food coma state…

Ahhh…. to live and dine in Dixie.

-bryan