Good morning & happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a fabulous Monday and survived the Christmas crowds. It’s almost Christmas and I have yet to buy gifts for anyone. I am going to make a giant shopping list today and try to knock it all out this week. Luckily, I don’t have to drive twenty hours home this year. My parents are going to drive up from Charleston and spend the holiday at my place.
After shutting down my computer and separating myself from work, Nick and I met up with Emilee at Nan & Byron’s for dinner. We got there before Emilee, so we ordered an appetizer. It was around nine and we were super hungry. They have a special after nine that we decided to split. You get one appetizer, a drink, an entree and a side for $20. Nan and Byrons is a pretty pricy place and so that was an awesome deal.
I get really excited for the popcorn because it reminds me of my grandpa’s popcorn he used to make for us. He’d pop a bunch on Sundays, and use the old bread bag to put it in and give it to all the grandchildren. The flavors are savory with a little spicy kick. We ate like two baskets before Emilee got there. We are suckers for chicken wings and ordered dry rub and cholula lime. Â They par bake them and then finish them off in the fryer.
When Emilee got there, we ordered our entree. We decided to split a burger and sweet potato fries. We went with the build your own burger option and chose lettuce, tomato, onion, white american cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. Their burgers were awesome! I hadn’t ordered a burger in a long time. I forgot how good they were. I’m glad we split it thought, because heavy entrees like that fill you up fast.
Nan and Byrons have hands down the best sweet potato fries in Charlotte. Emilee and I usually get sweet potato fries everywhere we go. She’s the sweet potato fries queen. Theirs are waffled, crisp, and flavored to perfection. I have to literally have to force myself to stop eating them. I’m kind of sad they have this new after nine deal because I’ll be in there more often loading up on these devilish treasures.
As I said before, you cannot go to Nan  & Byrons without ordering their brownie. Don’t bother showing me the dessert menu because I already know what I want. I still don’t understand it. I just don’t get how one food can taste so good, better than anything I’ve ever eaten, and almost too good to be true. I stated in my last post about this brownie that if I had to choose one dessert to have for the rest of my life, it would be their brownie. It’s crispy on the outside, warm and moist in the middle, it’s not overly sweet, but it’s sweet! They top the brownie with coffee ice cream and a chocolate chili sauce. I actually took a picture of it before everyone devoured it this time I’m usually waiting for someone to pinch me while I’m eating it because it’s like a dream baked into a dessert. If you can’t tell, I’m love-struck for this thing! Taylor Swift would probably write a song about this brownie if she were to try it. It could be the end of her depressing breakup songs.
After spending some time eating desserts in France, I’ve learned to appreciate the power of espresso with dessert. Taking a sip of espresso before taking a bite of dessert brings out the flavors even more. Don’t bother asking for cream or milk after breakfast in France, they won’t have it. I learned my lesson by watching the lady in front of me at a cafe in Marseille ask for cream with her espresso. Your taste buds start to get used to the powerful espresso and you begin to enjoy it more and more. It helps to chase it with a dessert. I have been using my espresso machine more and more since leaving. I was shocked to see how much Nick enjoyed straight espresso. We definitely share the love for coffee.
Last night was fun, but it’s time to buckle down and get some Christmas stuff done!
Have a great day!
I am so mad!!!! I was at N&B’s last night around six. I could have seen you there! I would have died to meet you Taralynn. Will you be doing a meet and greet in Charlotte??????
Now I want a brownie!
I have had this brownie before and you are so right about it! My mom and I share it every month when she visits me.
Get Nick to cook a full course dinner for you sometime. 🙂 if he can cook! Gosh, I love the places you visit.
lol he’s Italian…which means he’s a better cook than me!
love your blog
Using him for his cooking skills then? 😉 jk jk
I am a sucker for good brownies too even though I am not a huge chocolate fan … and with coffee ice cream yea that looks addicting …. I think there is an unmentioned connection between coffee lovers … the coffee lovers that really get coffee … I wish my husband loved coffee like that I think we would be closer as a couple lol
I’m not a coffee drinker at all, but I also love it with dessert when eating out!
After hearing the description of the brownie, I might just have to drive up to charlotte and try it!
if your parents are coming to yours for Christmas i’m guessing you’ll cook? please do a healthy xmas dinner post! that would be so awesome 🙂
Those sweet potato waffle fries look amazing!
That all looks delicious.
I particularly thought the wings looked good.
I’m adding that to my list of places to go if we move to Charlotte!
That brownie looks good
Ahhh this looks unreal.
Wish they learnt how to do burgers better here in London!!
xx
Hey Taralynn, Well one I love the name and two you are so freakin pretty! You know I have read your testimony and its amazing! You are a very strong and beautiful girl and I think that people who are strongest its because they have been through some stuff and that is what makes them so strong.. Im not talkin about the GRRR strong either. Im talkin about the way we handle life and the things that have come our way. 🙂 Well you are very inspirational and dont let those trolls get you down!
How do you afford that?