Bistro by the Tracks

Today is my last day in Knoxville. I think I am sad...no, I am sad, but I guess it's about time. It is the five year mark after all.

I couldn't sleep as late as desired so I woke up and went for a walk doing random errands along the way. Eventually, I meandered through campus with the intention of snapping some pictures. I didn't actually do that save for one photo as I walked away from the Torchbearer...

However, it's not all sad. For my last weekend in town M^2, my sister, her boyfriend, and I headed out to fancy dinner. Yeah, that's what we were calling it: fancy dinner. Our chosen location? Bistro by the Tracks on Kingston...

Dinner started off a little iffy as we had reservations for 8 and got seated sometime around 9, all the while being assured by the hostess there was nothing she could do and that this was not normal. We weren't really bothered by the delay, things happen, but we could have done without the third or fourth defense by the hostess. The photo above is right when you walk in, bathrooms are to the right....

...and here is a shot to the left of the restaurant. You can see the beginning of the wine cabinet...

...and here's the rest of it.

Eventually we were seated....

and ready to dine.

By the Tracks has an extensive wine list, with some very high end bottles for those who are interested. We're in college, we stuck to the lighter end of the list. Here is the $30 bottle of King Estate Pinot Gris that M^2 and I split....

Here is the $18 bottle of Beringer White Zin that my sister and her boyfriend split...

...both were delicious.
After the wine, the bread arrived. Two baskets later everyone agreed it was grand.

For our wait the restaurant offered us a free appetizer. I guess here is where I'll get into the vegan issue of the meal. I went in hoping to eat vegan, but well aware this may or may not be possible. Back when I became vegan I said I may only ever by 90%. I do my best, but I want to become really good at wine tasting, the cheese aspect as well, and then certain situations like this arise. In day to day life if I cannot eat at a restaurant because there is nothing to make vegan, I will just wait and get something later. There's no point in being vegan if you give in all the time. However, I didn't agree to a fancy dinner, just the four of us, and a lot of money spent, to sit at the table and not eat. So unfortunately, for this meal I was unable to be vegan, but of course maintained vegetarian. I'll never not be a vegetarian.

Anyways, the point of that was to say that for the free appetizer I just didn't partake. The others really wanted the BLT Stack and I wasn't about to make them get a cheese plate just so I could eat it when that would make the night even more un-vegan. So I have no idea how this appetizer actually tasted, but I can tell you that everyone enjoyed the experience of trying it.

Next up were our salads. The excitement of the salad was picking out the dressings. M^2 had been eyeing the Lime Chipotle Vinaigrette all night, my sister wanted to try the Southern Ranch, and I was all about the Champagne Poppy Seed....

We were not disappointed. All three dressings were amazing. They also have special cheese grit croutons which I passed on but which M^2 and my sister both declared interesting. My sister eventually tired of them, but I think M^2 enjoyed them well enough.

On to the main course. My sister's boyfriend got the Big Bistro Cheeseburger with Gorgonzola, something he had never had and enjoyed. He wasn't a fan of the cheese sprinkled fries, but everyone else was.
M^2 got the Peppercorn Pork Chop....he eventually threw dining decency out the window and attacked it like a dog so I think that's a compliment to the chef.

And finally the meal I can comment on best, the Butternut Squash Ravioli.

When I saw the Gorgonzola and walnuts on top I was at first excited because I thought at least if the cheese isn't stuffed in then I can pick around it and try for vegan-ish. HOWEVER, without the cheese this dish just falls flat. So bland and practically inedible. Add that Gorgonzola though, and the whole dish just comes together and is absolutely amazing. The Gorgonzola is absolutely key. So is life.

So our bills came, not Taco Bell that's for sure, but worth it none the less.

Enjoy!