Terri and I were in Tennessee for our 40th Wedding Anniversary… and went into Knoxville for “Boomday”… the Labor Day fireworks show that the city puts on. We had walked all along the riverwalk… were hot… tired… and hungry. Now the Riverwalk was packed with food vendors… but it was all the kind of stuff we could get in San Diego. So we headed downtown to see if we could find some more “Local Favorite”… our favorite type of Restaurant. We were incredibly lucky to stumble on the “Market Square Kitchen”.

Right on the corner of the Square… at One Market Square… it looks more like an old general store… with an inviting front porch. We stepped inside… the AC was on and it was cool and cute. Spotless too!

Immediately we were the victim of Southern Hospitality again. Friendly… joking… and made us feel right at home. The old building is charming… and the views into the Square and along the street are enjoyable. The best part… the food.

I told the waitress that there was no decision to make at all as soon as I saw “Chicken and Dumplings” on the menu. You do not see “Chicken and Dumplings” on many menus these days… and I wondered how it would compare to my Grandma’s.

She later came back to the table to tell me that she had told Eddie the cook about my comparison… and he wanted me to know … that the recipe was from his Grandma. I believe it… and she must have been an excellent cook.

Terri had a sandwich… Chicken Salad… said it was great. Ice tea… unsweetened for us… and a bottomless glass of course.

The tables are covered in an oil cloth tablecloth… made me think of my childhood in Indiana. We had fun… and we had a meal that was one of the best of our trip. Charming… Quaint… Cozy… Friendly… and excellent food… how do you beat that?