I love the new version of Mother Hubbard’s Café (read Jimmy Boegle’s review of the joint here), and have eaten there frequently during the past couple of months. It’s the only place in town brave enough to add red chiles to the biscuits-and-gravy, and the quirky little details they layer on traditional diner fare keeps me coming back for more.
This week, the quirky little detail is the addition of Cheerwine, which, if you haven’t heard, is quite the rage these days. Once only available in the Southeast, this cherry-flavored beverage has garnered a cult following in recent years, and Mother Hubbard’s Café is the only place in the state that currently has it on tap.
Even Krispy Kreme is in on the Cheerwine craze, and recently started filling doughnuts with syrup flavored like the beverage.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 6, 2011.
Because of Boegle’s mostly positive review, I had lunch @Ma Hubbard’s Cafe today: Cheerwine was a tasty cherry flavored soda, $2.75 was a little pricey – The reuben wasn’t $8, but rather $9.50; brined in house (w/o saltpeter according to the owner) it was quite tasty w/plenty of meat, but it was not very tender – the homemade cole slaw was mediocre (chopped into tiny pieces w/too much vinegar for my taste) I asked for mustard in lieu of thousand island dressing & it was generic yellow; I mentioned this to the owner & she brought me some made in house champagne dijon mustard that was incredible. Good friendly service & Mr Boegel stated that they didn’t serve butter or real maple syrup – the owner said that both were available (upon request). Overall experience: B-
I spent a few years living in Gastonia, NC (home of Cheerwine), and have to say it’s the BEST cherry-flavored cola out there. Smooth, sweet, tart and easy on the tastebuds and throat. If you’ve never had some, go treat yourself! Now, if we can only get the stores to start stocking it on the shelves….