“What Does the Dietitian Order?” @ IHOP

Reviewed February 17, 2011 by Anna Gewecke, MS, RD, LDN

4 out of 5 Forks

My husband wanted sausage on a Thursday night, and I was game for breakfast for dinner, so we decided to go to IHOP. I ordered the garden omelet because of the number of vegetables it includes (mushrooms, onion, green pepper and tomato), because it has plenty of protein, and because it comes with pancakes. I could have gotten fresh fruit instead, but I really like pancakes! Many breakfast choices don’t contain veggies, and eating these as much as I can is important to me. The server gave me the butter on the side without any grief.  I noticed later that IHOP now has a whole wheat pancake with real blueberries - one of my favorite foods!  When my omelet came, I was disappointed in the amount of vegetables it actually contained. With so many listed, I expected it to be FULL of veggies, but they were really more of a condiment. If I had to do it over, I would have asked for extra veggies, and also for the blueberry pancakes (even though I suspect that would have cost more).  Another thing I did was order with the plan to eat less than half of the omelet, since IHOP’s omelets are HUGE. I took home about 2/3 of the omelet and 1/3 of the pancakes, and ate the leftovers for breakfast the next day!

IHOP has rolled out their “Simple & Fit” menu items since the last time I was there. I like that these are easily distinguished from the other menu items by a green circle with a strawberry and that all these items have the calories listed (although none of the others do).  I was surprised to see that IHOP actually has a lot of foods that qualify for “Simple & Fit” description.  Unfortunately, these menu items can be up to 600 calories, which is a bit high.  They also have suggestions on the menu for how to order your favorite menu items to make them lower calorie - like to order without butter or with sugar free syrup. Nutrition information is available online. 

“What Does the Dietitian Order?” @ Trio Café

Reviewed February 12, 2011 by UTK Nutrition Grad Student

4 out of 5 Forks

Healthy options for the conscious diner are available at Trio Café. Suggestions include the cinnamon oatmeal, custom salad with a variety of vegetable/fruit/nut toppings and an oil and vinegar dressing, veggie panini, pan-seared chicken breast, Alaskan salmon, and out of the garden pasta. No modifications were made; however, Trio is great at substitutions and modifying.

I ordered the veggie panini with French fries as a side. The veggie panini featured roasted portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, baby spinach, Havarti, and pesto aioli. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere is great for a nice dinner with family and/or friends. TVs make for a warm experience, and the set-up is comfortable and inviting.

I give Trio Café 4 out of 5 forks and would return. The ingredients are fresh, flavorful, and plentiful. The café offers a combination of interesting, new foods in addition to traditional comfort foods. I also enjoy that Trio also offers drinks, coffee, or desserts. The long hours are appealing because a diner can choose to eat any meal at the café (breakfast served until 11AM). Because it’s located right in Market Square, it is a great hangout or meeting spot. A greater amount of healthy options, such as vegetarian or seafood, would be welcomed.

Recipe: Romancing the Chili Cheese Fry

Chili cheese fries! Romantic, non???

Haha, no, not romantic at all. But not completely out of context because we are barely out of the throes of football season and just celebrated Valentine’s Day a few short weeks ago.  And now March Madness is upon us…

I've been craving chili cheese fries ever since the Booze Hound and I saw a steaming plate waft by us at a bar a few weeks ago. Living in TN is great, but it poses significant challenges for New England sports fans who want to watch their Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox dominate on the big screen. We have to watch many of the games at a bar because they're not always on regional TV. And going to a bar brings with it the unfortunate side effect of wanting nasty bar food. Not that it's all nasty, but once the Booze Hound and I knock a few back, we start wanting everything on the menu... and that is a nasty sight.

But really, what's so bad about chili cheese fries in the comfort of your own home? Homemade chili, oven fries, and gobs of cheese. Nothing wrong with this picture. But the secret to authenticity is to not get fancy. I know, I know... so hard for a Food Hound. But really, it's the only way to go. Basic chili, plain roasted fry-cut potatoes, and lotsa jack/cheddar cheese. Lucky for me I just happen to have a basic chili recipe that will knock your socks off and is great for young kids or otherwise unadventurous chili-lovers.

Fabulous Food Hound Chili Cheese Fries

Serves 4

Printable recipe here

4 cups prepared chili (awesome, speedy recipe below)

3 large baking potatoes

2 T olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups shredded Mexi-blend or cheddar or jack cheese (I use a whole bag, oink)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Warm the chili, set aside.

Leaving the peel on, slice the potatoes into fry-like slices (as below). Toss them with the olive oil, salt and pepper, and spread on a baking sheet in an even layer. Bake at 400 for about 20 mins. Stir, then increase oven temp to 450 degrees and roast for 10-20 more minutes, or until nicely browned and somewhat crispy.

Resist urge to eat fries as-is.

Divide fries between 4 broiler-safe dishes.* Ladle 1 c of warm chili over each portion of fries, and top with 1/2 c cheese. Broil on high for about 5 minutes, or until bubbly and fabulous-looking. Sit in front of game and eat! Hot pads might be a good idea since the dishes will be hot hot hot.

Knox Events for Weekend of March 11 - 13

Knoxville Food Tours
Fridays and Sundays

• Fridays, 2:30 - 4:30pm (Gay Street)
• Sundays, 2:30 - 4:30pm (Market Square)

Two-hour guided walking tours with food tastings from 6 to 10 locally-owned restaurants. Participating merchants on the Gay Street tour: The Parlor, Shonos in City, Bistro at the Bijou, Coolato Gelato, Sapphire, Downtown Grind, and Mast General Store and the Market Square tour: Lenny’s, Steamboat Sandwiches, Trio, La Costa, Cocoa Moon/Koi, Sangria's. Both tours start at the Knoxville Visitors Center on Gay Street and are less than 1 mile. 

Tickets ($39) must be purchased in advance.  

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Be Great Run 8K

Saturday, March 12 @ Tyson Park

• Packet Pick Up/Late Registration: 8:00 - 8:45am
• 8K Race: 9:00am
• 2-Mile Walk/Run: 9:10am

Club Blue, a social and professional networking group that drives awareness and raises funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, is hosting this race. You can register online or on the day of the race. 

$30 Registration, $20 Couch Potato Entry Fee (with shirt, no participation), children 12 and under free for 2 Mile Walk/Run (no shirt)

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Gluten Free Vendor Fair
Saturday, March 12 @ the Jacobs Building at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center

Celi-Act Knoxville will be holding its 3rd annual Gluten Free Vendor Fair this weekend.Visit Celi-Act's website for more information about the vendors as well as the speaking and cooking schedules.

Free parking; $5 cash (children 13 and under free) and $20 max per family

“What Does the Dietitian Order?” @ Veg-O-Rama

Reviewed February 25, 2011 by UTK Dietetic Intern

4 out of 5 Forks

What would a nutritionist order at a vegetarian restaurant featuring organic, locally-grown ingredients? Anything with a side of more! Still fairly new to the downtown Knoxville food scene, Veg-O-Rama has great potential as a niche eatery considering: (1) its proximity to a predominantly young, progressive-ish neighborhood in North Knoxville; and (2) its yum factor (sans the typical guilt among the health-conscious folks).  Veg-O-Rama uses wholesome ingredients to creatively manipulate menu standards, such as reubens, burgers, cheese steaks, and pasta, into meatless nutrient-dense dishes.  Vegetarian does not always mean healthy when high-fat sauces and/or salt- and sugar-laden ingredients replace meat to maintain heavy flavor, but Veg-O-Rama is conscious of preparing food with appropriate amounts of flavor-enhancing techniques.  The food tastes exactly the right degree of tasty.  Sometimes the combinations of ingredients are unexpected (example - sriracha on pasta salad and purple cabbage slaw on a [tofu] reuban), but they are always colorful and pleasing to the body and mind.

As far as pricing, Veg-O-Rama maintains a fairly competitive price structure considering the relatively high cost of organic and fresh ingredients.  A typical dish will sell in the $8-10 range. Their portion sizes are not like those you may get at a typical restaurant, but they are appropriate for satisfying (not stuffing) customers.  My tofu reuban was no bigger than your average sandwich (though perhaps a little thicker) but it, and my side of French onion soup, was just the right amount of food! Plus, the restaurant’s décor—antique with a modern art twist—makes for a fun and relaxing dining atmosphere.  There are couches and a wide selection of local and national publications with which to kill some time while waiting for your food, sipping tea, or just relaxing on a Saturday afternoon.

In terms of service, Veg-O-Rama’s staff is very friendly and accommodating.  On one occasion, I went into the restaurant just before closing, desperate for a meal after a particularly hectic day.  Despite being in the process of cleaning up for the night, the staff encouraged me to stay and fixed me a quality meal—and quickly.  I ate in the company of the cook and wait staff and had an all around great time.

Oh, and in case you need to be just a little bad, Veg-O-Rama does have beer on tap.

Submitted by:

UTK Dietetic Intern

Veg-O-Rama is a dine-in, full-service restaurant and bar on North Central Street in Knoxville.

Veg-O-Rama received 4 out of 5 forks because nutrition information is not available in store or online.