The Cracker Barrel Experience 2014

May 10, 2014 my friend Jayme and I decided to travel to Boise Idaho to eat at Cracker Barrel.  I have never been, but Jayme, knowing this is one of my favorite things to do, suggested we go check it out!

We left early on the 10th so we could make it to Boise by dinner time.  Sure enough, we were successful! 

My first thought, it really reminded me of the Country Cousin in Centralia, WA.  The store was quite a bit bigger at Cracker Barrel, however it smelled the same....downfall...no alcohol. BUMMER!  But, back to the good....the store inside Cracker Barrel is quaint and adorable.  You can get candies that remind you of your younger days, or your granny's younger days, and all sorts of nick knacks and boy howdy it is country bumpkin galore!  I LOVED IT!

Much to my absolute enjoyment our sweet waiter, Asa, let me know they have sweet tea!  Holy smokes I love sweet tea and the last time I had real sweet tea was at the Waffle House in Sumter South Carolina quite a few years back...yep sign me up for that!  Looking at the menu was overwhelming.  I knew I would only have one dinner, one dessert, and one breakfast, so I'd better make it good!  Luckily, they have a sampler plate!  Oh BOY! 

I sucked down the sweet tea rather swiftly and my sampler plate arrived (swiftly as well, which made me happier than a pig in poo).  I had chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and country fried ham with a side of mac n' cheese, green beans, and cheesy grits.  All of which was mostly excellent.  The chicken a hair dry and the beans may have been canned, but even though the mac n cheese tasted a LOT like velveeta, it was all extremely wonderful.  Our waiter was FLABBERGASTED we traveled all the way from Olympia to eat there, and he thought maybe I wrote about food for a living...which inspired this blog, so thank you Asa. ;)

By the time we were done with dinner we were practically movie stars because turns out, much like Asa, everyone else could hardly believe someone would drive all that way for some Cracker Barrel.

We told Asa we were heading to enjoy a swim in our hotel that was conveniently located next door (literally had a view of the restaurant, picture below), then we would return for late dessert and come back again for breakfast before making the trek home.

Dessert...oh goodness.  Double Fudge Coca-cola Cake with ice cream and milk in a cute little carton like elementary school...it does NOT get much better than that.  The cake was the most flavorful and moist I've probably ever had and the ice cream surely isn't homemade but it could have fooled me!  I devoured nearly the whole thing when the manager came up to ask us how our swim was.  At first I was a little freaked out, then remembered we were starlets there so of COURSE he knew we went for a swim.  Hilarious.

So, full bellies (again) we headed back for a nice night's rest just to return in the morning for breakfast.  I decided on one of my most favorite meals....French Toast.  It was fluffy, delicious, and full of flavor.  I remember Jayme had something similar to what I call "crack potatoes" but I think it was hash brown casserole...also amazingly fantastic according to Jayme.  It was mother's day morning so the place was crowded but still pretty swift with the service.  A little stingy with the creamer for our coffee, but all around a good experience.

Would I go to Cracker Barrel again, YES, for sure.  Would I recommend you travel to eat there, yes...why not...it's delicious down home goodness with sweet tea and grits and greens and smiles!  If all those things aren't worth your travels, well, I'm not sure why we know each other!

Cheers,
Andrea B.