Monday, January 31, 2011
Well, it’s been about a year since Olive & Sinclair started it’s chocolate-making venture in Music City. We figured the post-holiday season was the right time to stop by, check in, and see if we could snag some chocolate samples under the disguise of writing a foodies article. Yep. It worked. Along with about forty lucky yuppies, Olive & Sinclair opened its doors to the local blogging community and shared its story.
The good people at Olive & Sinclair were first noticed by the Foodies team inside Davis Cookware and Cutlery in Hillsboro Village. Now, in case you haven’t noticed the knife-wielding pedestrians walking in and out of this store, you’re not alone. Actually, I lived here for years and had no idea of its existence. Much like J.K. Rowling’s mysterious buildings that appear out of nowhere, this storefront remains hidden in the bustle of the village strip, and hides just as much magic within. The owners delight in conversation and good-natured banter between the family. Anyway, one of the Sinclair team happened to be inside the store that day, and chatted up the friendly folks enough that we said hello. Out came an invitation to stop by, which never materialized due to weak-follow-up on our end, but luckily a friendly organization was hosting a special event at Olive & Sinclair, and we got to head inside.
The next siting was as a spectator at the wonderful Iron Chef competition held at the Country Music Hall of Fame. As we peered over chefs pureeing, chopping, stripping, stirring, squeezing, and dicing purple sweet potatoes – we noticed that same member of the Sinclair team had arrived to view the festivities. So, when we saw that Sinclair had been mentioned in Southern Living Magazine – we felt horrified that a national magazine had showed us up. Our turn needed to come. We had to talk to these Sinclair folks and see what they do.
So off we went, thrice delayed due to our shockingly un-Nashville icy winter, to see how things were done at Olive & Sinclair. The facility rests near the Village Pub in East Nashville, deeeep in the back side of East Nashville, where the artisan choclatiers spin their webs from bean to bar. They order beans fresh from Ghana and the Dominican Republic, favoring the fair trade options of the Dominican Republic, and roast their own beans on site. The de-frocked beans are roasted, combined with brown sugar (the sole added ingredient), pressurized to the micrometer for smoothness, and finalized in a process called tempering that gives chocolate the snap and smoothness that we all love. While the process seems quite complex from the description, and several high-tech machines are required, it all boils down to the simplicity of a fine product.
The funny thing is, Founder/Owner/Maker Scott Witherow appears absolutely astounded that Nashvillians enjoy learning about his craft. A lifetime in professional kitchens has generated a natural reluctance to take the stage; Scott was faced with about 40 eager patrons hoping to hear about his work. Perhaps that is the reason that our blog’s founding mother, Heather of Dr. HBar, could not coax him to talk to a room full of students almost a year ago. His most obvious passion is chocolate, but from the designs and his own descriptions, he adores things that have history, authenticity, and age. Hence, Olive & Sinclair – his family’s names, and his recognition that most olden-time firms or products come in names of two (Johnson & Murphy might be one example). I imagine a Western setting with dirt flowing past men with spurs on their boots as the time frame that Scott might be aiming for.
Despite his reluctance to take the spotlight, Scott knows his stuff, and has already taken the artisan world by storm. Scott happens to be one of the first in the Southeast to take on artisan chocolate. There just isn’t anyone else out there who is doing this right now. And therefore, he knew he had a market.
So what’s the take from the marketplace on Olive & Sinclair? Let’s start with the objective. Gweneth Paltrow, Southern Living Magazine, Food & Wine Magazine, and a host of specific awards have all laid glowing praise at their feet. Locally, Yelp reviews of Sinclair demonstrate a total perfect 5 of 5 rating across all reviews. People have been raving about this stuff, and I had yet to try it – one person I trust actually didn’t favor their initial bars – so I’ve been holding off for a while just to watch the wave grow. It’s growing, and it’s quickly becoming a name for itself after only a year.
To figure out what all the fuss was about, a few months ago, I sucked it up, covered my eyes, hid the receipt deep in the Produce Place bag, and bought four bars: Coffee, Salt&Pepper, 75% (Dark), and Cinnamon Chili. It all cost me about 25 bucks. Salt&Pepper has the most individual recognition, and the proprietors say that it came about by accident – and it worked so well – that after testing and mixing and testing again, they finally found the version they wanted. Both the Coffee and the 75% dark bars are alike in that they are explicitly a higher concentration of cacao. Cinnamon Chili can be used as hot chocolate, and there’s a recipie on the back. On all of my bars, I looked at the ingredients and noticed an oddity: handmade sharpie-black-out markings on the ingredient lists. Not bad, sounds like something I would think up. Why reprint all the labels? Just bring out the sharpie! And what did the guys do when they realized their bars needed something to bind the label? Scotch tape. I like the way they think.
Speaking of the labeling, the graphic design for these things makes me want to hire their designer immediately. The colors change slightly for each version, and it reminds me of old-timey labeling you might find at a general store. The branding is successful in that it leaves an instantaneous mark, and will likely separate its identity from the alternatively over-smooth or elitist designs that make you think of a venetian tower.
But anyway, what do these things taste like? Well, I wasn’t blown away by them all, so I think I’ll be more selective with my purchase next time. The 75% bars had a strong fruit juice flavor which I found intriguing at first, but bothersome after a few samples. Most of the time, with wines for example, the labeling will have some sophisticate pontificating “dry with a hint of blackberries, a full body wine with oak, and an earthy finish” and I’m like – bullshit – I get the wine, and I enjoy it, and I get the dry part – but the rest is a mystery where they’re pulling that from. (Although I’ve been improving lately). But here, thanks to our Olive & Sinclair test, I found a labeling that I could identify. They say that fruit juice is the flavor, and sure enough, it was strong enough that I sat there pondering the taste, and I felt “hey, there’s something like a juice, maybe,” – then – Aha! Fruit juice. Just like they said. So if you’re like me and have always wondered about the strength of your palate – check it out and see if you can tell.
All the bars have their strengths, as Cinnamon Chili can be used as a hot beverage – that was excellent. The coffee wasn’t much different from the plain 75%, but both were enjoyable – and the Salt&Pepper took the cake. That’s the best we tried. For all of their added ingredients, the extras are pushed into the backside of the bars, so you can actually knock off some coffee or salt or pepper if you put some effort into it. That’s unlike other small-batch specialty chocolates we’ve seen. A friend of ours in the chocolate world, Sophia (who is a true expert and we did an entire post on her chocolate tasting parties) sent as a gift two London-based chocolate bars. Rococo Artisan Bar, famed reputation that it enjoys, includes their additives within the bars themselves. So, for example, on their Orange & Geranium artisan bars, you can’t get to the orange flakes without digging in. The effect is noticeable if you place the morsel logo-up and back-side down when you taste it, like most of us do, as the first sensation is salt and pepper, then the chocolate.
On special display tonight was the Smoked Almond bar, which is a part of the specialty Williams-Sonoma collection. I think it was my favorite that I’ve tried. I tend to like all the versions with small samplings, but the Smoked Almond I could down a whole bar. And they’re big, so that’s saying something. Also on the list-of-must-tries is their collaboration with a local brewhouse to make a chocolate-inspired beer. It went over well and is coming back next fall for 2011.
So foodies, enjoy your wintry days, and if you get a free ten-spot give a Nashville artisan a shot for your favorite bean to bar maker. Thanks to all at Olive & Sinclair for letting us tour their facility.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Hello Nashville Foodie readers! We’re the ladies of Jackalope Brewing Company, a craft brewery that will be opening in town this spring, and we were invited by Adam to let you know about some delicious beers to get you through the season. Beer and food pairings are a major passion for us, and holiday meals can provide a fun platform for trying new combinations.
Miller High Life already has laid claim to the “champagne of beer” title, but luckily some fabulous craft beers are coming on to the market to take it back. There is a lovely trend in craft brewing right now, with brewers creating high gravity beers, packaging them in 750 ml bottles, and even putting on the finishing touch with champagne corks rather than bottle caps. The result is a fun festive drink that is sure to attract attention at your holiday gatherings. The Bière de Champagne (aka Bière Brute) getting the most press these days is Sam Adams’ Infinum. It was just released late last week, and it is in limited supply so -quick!- head to your local store and grab some. While we have yet to be lucky enough to try some (soon though, very soon), the reviews coming in are praising its notes of apple, pear, apricot and peach. You may think it’s some kind of magical beer/champagne hybrid, but make no mistake, as a collaboration between the Boston Beer Company and the Weihenstephan Brewery out of Germany, this brew adheres to the strict German Beer Purity Laws – the only ingredients are water, hops, malt, and yeast (in this case, champagne yeast), without any of the adjuncts that have become increasingly popular in American craft brews. If you like the idea of beer-as-champagne, other Bière de Champagnes to try include Deus (Brut Des Flandres) from Brouwerij Bosteels or Malheur Bière Brut (Brut Reserve) from Brouwerij De Landtsheer, both Belgian, and both outstanding. They pair nicely with almost anything, particularly goat cheese, seafood, and midnight toasts on New Years.
If you’re interested in more classic winter brews to warm you up, a great option is Highland Brewing’s spicy and malty Cold Mountain Winter Ale. It changes slightly every season, but always pairs beautifully with a hearty winter meal. Looking for something to go with dessert? Brewery Ommegang’s Chocolate Indulgence is also about as close to hot chocolate as a beer can get, so you can either pair it with dessert or just treat it as a dessert on it’s own! If you can’t find Ommegang brews where you live, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout from our friends across the pond is widely available and is also delicious. So bundle up, hunker down with one of these recommendations, and make the most out of these cold winter nights!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Foodies, I’m no expert when it comes to advanced drinks. But you don’t have to be to enjoy the offerings at the Holland House, a new epicurean restaurant and cocktail lounge in East Nashville. In case you know the new brick and mortar locale of Mas Tacos, Holland House is right across the street.
Unlike most of our reviews, where we concentrate on a single visit and experience, we’ve had the opportunity to try several of the offerings at the Holland House. The house itself is well decorated, planned, and inviting. Victorian-era chandeliers hang from the ceiling and an early 20th century sofa is stationed in front of the fire place. Entry sets you dead-center in the action, able to see all sides of the square bar which encompasses most of the front room. Your bartenders will be clad in striped dress shirts and suspenders, and playing in the background will be music of the same era – around the 20′s or 30′s – highlighting the speakeasy feel. We were lucky to run into the wonderful Beth from Eat. Drink. Smile. on our way out one night – so you know this place is worth a visit.
Holland House served us a fantastic meal in the back room for a private party. Right from the start we enjoyed the fare, with most of us having an exquisite meal. The real reason you will flock to the Holland House, however, is for the artistry of the drinks.
For serious connoseurs of the alcoholic beverage, you have met your match. I dare you to find a bartender who doesn’t know three times as much about what they are doing than other local establishments. Each time we’ve been here, one of our party has expressed an interest in a drink that they don’t see on the menu, and each time the bartender has risen to the occasion.
For casual drinkers, leave your preconceptions about cocktails at the door. The first time I looked at the four-page wine, cocktail, and other alcoholic beverage list – I actually said outloud “I am unworthy of this menu.” Here’s what you do, if you’ve got average experience like me…ask the waiter/bartender for something you’re in the mood for and immediately agree to whatever suggestion comes along. We have had a collective total of about twenty drinks at Holland House and we’ve yet to be disappointed with any selection. In fact, they each tend to blow us away. Another strategy – pick the selection with the most words that you have no idea what they mean. Then relax and enjoy the result.
Here are a few of our favorites… the Mai Tai, The Hot Toddie, Continental de Oro, Blood and Sand, and the Malaysian Sour. Our favorite flair came with the Blood and Sand, which finishes with the burnt oils ignited off of a flamed orange peel. If you’re looking for a conversation starter, the Blood and Sand is your ticket.
Due to Wes’s infatuation with Corsair Pumpkin Spice Moonshine, he inquired if the bartender would mix up a special off-the-menu drink containing the seasonal spicy spirits. Whether it was improvised, or out of his private recipe books, the definitely satisfied enlightened Wes of a new way to use the PSM.
I’ve been thinking for a long time that this would be a great place to hang out if I were a single man. The clientelle here seems to be a collection of outgoing yuppies, and who aren’t of the same ilk that has your stomache queezing from the obvious pretense. Our favorite moment was enjoying the flapper-headband on one attractive bar-goer, because it matched the decor of the Holland House speakeasy setting.
The ice-cubes are fantastic. Two important factors keep the cubes from melting and diluting your drink: 1)The are frozen at zero degrees Fahrenheit. 2)The water is filtered before freezing. All the minerals dissolved in water lowers the melting point, making it melt at a lower temperature. Filtering is another way to prevent premature melting. Therefore, these distilled cubes never melt in your drink, preventing a watered-down finish to a glass that would be an unthinkable inhibition on the experience given the time, thought, talent, and artistry that this team puts into their work.
And now they have, as of this week, added to their offerings with a beer license. They take pride in offering local products, featuring several Corsair selections, for example, and are on top of who are up-and-coming distillers in the area. Our bartender deemed this year, 2010, as the most important year in Tennessee for distilleries since Jack Daniels opened its doors. Coming soon are several talented teams, one of which, Jackalope Brewing Company, will share their Nashville story on this blog soon. The proprietor also looks at the blog scene and will be well-versed in Nashville food if you happen to strike up a conversation.
Finally, they are promoting their New Year’s reservation-only event right now, so if you jump on it, you might score a great night for your lucky friends. (Facebook link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holland-House-Bar-and-refuge/376835029849).
So here’s what we know about the Holland House – they are very good at what they do, and it represents the top place in Nashville to enjoy a relaxing evening and a drink. We believe it deserves the rave reviews it has been receiving, and adds to the spirit of East Nashville. They won Best New Bar in 2010 for a reason. The owner and senior bartender we spoke with have always been peerless in discussions about the food and artistic creations inherent in each drink, and take a down-to-earth approach that made us feel comfortable asking the simplest of questions.
Check it out very soon with friends, visitors, or family.
Holland House
935 W Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 27206
Thursday, November 18, 2010
I’m going to relate some unfortunate news – Davis-Kidd is closing. My memories of the place flooded in, as I rekindle them, and the news hit me. It’s like the memory of your grandparent’s place – even though you can’t get there anymore, it still brings back good memories. That’s the kind of feeling I get when I think of Davis-Kidd. This isn’t strictly about food, especially since Bronte is now closed (fair warning foodies), but it is very much about Nashville.
See, the thing is, I was a part of that lucky Nashville generation that grew up with Davis-Kidd. It’s only been around since the 80′s, so there aren’t too many of us like that. Every year we would be there on some occasion, either looking through the summer book lists for something that sounded adventuresome, with each school’s lists printed in a notebook to browse, or having lunch in the upstairs cafe. It represented one of those places that I just knew I was in Nashville, and the likelihood of running into friends was high. I would walk in, passing the newspapers which lined the passageway to the expansive interior, turn to see the light on that huge interior staircase, and begin my trek. I dashed straight for the fantasy fiction section where my best friends’ favorite novels were. We scoured every nook of the section, which unfortunately was right near the check-out lines so we couldn’t drop our attempts to look respectable and adult-like as we read about elves and dwarfs.
At Grace’s Plaza, the cafe’s locale was one of the most interesting in town. If you came up that massive stairway, wound your way through the greeting cards on the right, and got in line, you could look out over the entirety of the bookstore – through the massive square emptiness on the second floor which allowed the natural light to fill the first floor, with a second floor lined by balcony railing – your unobstructed vision passed all the way to the shelves and check-out lines beneath you on the first floor. You would grab a menu from atop the glass case which held some gorgeous pies and sides, and pick from the expansive menu of salads and lunch-items. Just after the ordering section, the tables flooded out into the main hallway of Grace’s Plaza, which enjoys a white marble flooring and several upper-class stores like a portrait gallery and watch repair store. It was an instant change from the green/brown theme of Kidd’s interior. The ceiling of the hallway is impressive: arched skylights span the length of the interior, reaching about fifteen foot across. My best memory is eating there when a rainstorm passed overhead and the rain pummeled the skylights as we ate.
I won’t discuss my shock and disappointment when they moved to the mall. Like the replacement of Opryland Themepark with Opry Mills, some things just aren’t worth beating your head against a wall. We’ve had that battle and it isn’t worth rehashing here.
I have several good memories of the location in Green Hills. I went back today, albeit to its new incarnation within the Green Hills Mall, upon hearing the news that the bookstore was closing its doors, hoping to catch a few of those memories and have lunch at Bronte for a final time. I looked around for a clerk to bother, putting my best junior school smirk on my face – finding none – I dove right into that same fantasy fiction section I had marauded as a youngster. There they were, my fantasy fiction series, no longer the entire-shelf-engulfing power that they once were, but at least still available for the next generation to enjoy. I aimed for downstairs and Bronte, and was reminded of another great series – Harry Potter.
More important than my private recollection, Davis-Kidd was the only place to be when Harry Potter was released. I actually went just to see what kind of a show they could put on, even though I would wait to get the book in a few days. I remember the animal shelter took part and brought their owls into the store, teaching everyone about their work. Live Owls, giving friendly hoots and looking around at the filled upper floor. Hundreds of people were there for this party, innumerable children, and volunteers played characters from the novels and read fortunes for kids – who had just waited in one of the longest lines I have ever seen. Everyone (except me it seemed) was in costume…one family had come fully prepared, mom and dad were in professorial Potter gear, and dressed their infant up in a black robe, and he fell asleep on his father’s shoulder, still grasping his wand. This event outclassed competing events by far, with the culminating moment being the midnight release. Huge crates, forklift sized and cellophane-wrapped, rolled in from the interior of the mall with the most recent release stored within. Kids noticed that they could see the covers through the protective wrapping, as the line twisted and turned with excitement upon their approach. It was a beautiful time to be at Davis-Kidd.
I thought of this as I wound my way down the interior staircase, obviously designed to imitate the landmark stairway at Grace’s Plaza. I noticed an atypical darkness as I descended. I was too late. Bronte is already closed. The store will be gone soon – December actually. But that doesn’t stop me from telling you about my favorite meals within those walls.
After eating there for years, I always knew what I wanted. The chicken pot pie. It was low-slung and enjoyed a flaky crust, and always seemed like one of the more hearty options on the luncheon-focused menu. I never quite felt that it was large enough to quiet my appetite, so I would pull the flaky crust from around the sides of the dish to make the most of the dregs of my pot pie. Wonderful.
The family often goes to Bronte after church, and we have enjoyed the fare. Particularly enjoyable was the pot roast, which surprised me with its strength, and once or twice outclassed my perennial favorite of the pot pie. Emily always selected the spinach artichoke quesadilla, which always made a good impression. The last two times we were there, in that back corner of the basement level of Davis-Kidd (much different from my skylights of old), I noticed the pot pie was off the menu. Alas, after all those years – looks like they took a champion and retired it early. They also knew their desserts, and I remember them having a staple of pies, brownies, or cobbler to put a finishing touch on the meal.
Of course, we at Nashville Foodies don’t know enough to participate adequately in honoring the literary aspect of Davis-Kidd’s work, but we’ll give our brief thoughts and point you toward the experts. Davis-Kidd has always been ground-central for nationally known authors to speak and offer book signings, ranging from our local talent right up to Stephen King. When locals produced works, Davis-Kidd would do its part, offering a speaking venue, signings and support as the venture got off the ground. But don’t take my word for it. (anyone get that reference?) If you’re interested in reading about Davis-Kidd from someone who is a local author and has first-hand knowledge about its impact on the community, check out this article from the Nashville scene: http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/at-stake-in-davis-kidds-closing-is-much-more-than-where-to-buy-books/Content?oid=1969155
It seems like a tough job to say goodbye.
Thanks for your indulgence, foodies, and we’re looking forward to some interesting features coming up in December.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
If you’re wondering what Taste of Nashville was like, and you weren’t lucky winner Gabe who scored free tickets to the event, we wanted to give you a sense of the scene. Hosted at the Cannery Ballroom attached to Mercy Lounge in downtown Nashville, visitors are first greeted by complimentary valet parking. Upon entering the main area, you’ll be greeted by several twenty-something yuppies, the majority of which would fit perfectly into the late night music crowd so commonly seen at the Mercy Lounge. These are exactly the type of people these restaurants are hoping to attract – young professionals with discretionary income to enjoy. These people know how to throw a party. Just know this isn’t a sit-down thing – you’ll scramble to find a table to lean on due to the hundreds of people who were there all evening. Bring your A-game for this social fluttering, which characterizes the evening, and has earned the event the nickname we heard from somewhere “the Steeplechase of the Fall.”
And then switch gears and focus on the food. Concentrate. There are a lot of options, and the obsessive-compulsive foodie can plan an avenue of attack that rivals some strategy guides to theme parks. Because we freely admit our addictions to fun food, it became an easy conversation starter with the bright-eyed staff of the attending establishments, that is, if you could carry on a conversation with the blaring band in the background. Choose wisely, don’t get bogged down with a full sandwich if you can avoid it, and watch for those single-bite specialties which are easy to snag. As we ate and observed and drank, it occurred to us to take some pictures and try and make it worth these charitable-venue’s while to be there. Several of these places opened up to a casual inquiry, and we can highlight some of the interesting gossip and knowledge we gained.
The hands-down winner for best food came from the GreenLight Market + Deli, which locates itself a few doors down from recently-honored Burger Up on 12th South. The two gents happily explained their philosophy on heirloom seeded tomatoes and local produce, and produced the coolest contraption of the evening. It was a smoked tomato bisque which, alone, would have been hard to resist, but also included a fun twist – they had us self-stir in a small helping of their local soft cheese (maybe a goat cheese, didn’t catch the specifics). This additional flair stole my heart, as the fresh power of local vine ripened tomatoes told my tastebuds I was in the right place. Foodie friends, I’m sure you’re familiar with the difference between a farmer’s market tomato and a run-of-the-mill store-bought version. Think of that difference when you imagine the flavor of this smoked bisque. Add on top of that the soft-cheese mellower that lets you feel a part of the process; the combination was fetching. Here’s a picture of our friends at Greenlight, who gave off a natural impression that they were enjoying themselves as much as I was. Another nice touch – they donate all unused orders to the Campus for Human Development.
A close second was Lime’s take on culinary bite-sized flair. Lime offered a banana mango shrimp ceviche – which had the foodie team making several returns. Shrimp on a chip doesn’t instinctively strike me as a winning combination, but this offering had strong inspiration behind it. The shrimp were lightly covered in the fruit topping, generating a quick-and-easy bite size accessibility which helped with the number of drinks we were carrying. I can’t say that I could distinquish the banana, but the mango and shrimp tag-team put this little chip near the top of the evening’s selections. Given Lime’s recent accolade of being a place in Nashville that makes you think you’re not in Nashville, this twist is an out-of-the-ordinary gemstone which speaks well of Lime’s adventures and creativity.
Lime, Virago, and Whiskey Kitchen tag-teamed it up for the evening, as they enjoy the same ownership, and all three establishments had steady traffic. We had the chance to talk with Ali, the General Manager of Virago – whose team put together a quickly-disappearing sushi roll that Emily and Wes continued to steal – and heard about their plans to change locations. Virago is in the process of moving nearer to Whiskey Kitchen on McGavock Street in the Gulch, and when completed, Virago will host the only Japanese style hardwood fire grill in Nashville (if I heard her right). A Robata Grill is what it’s called, and from the sound of it, it will replicate a century-old open-flame tradition that is native to Japan. The foodie team was intrigued, and in our constant quest to highlight unique cuisine in Nashville, this could prove to be a special addition to our foodie landscape. This move is a part of the M Street development that owner Chris Hyndman is orchestrating. We got a hint that we’ll be able to join them for their grand opening, so look for a later review of the new Virago.
Local Taco and La Paz tied in my book for third place, with Local Taco offering a thin-sliced Korean beef soft taco and La Paz pulling off excellent small-shell taco salads with guacamole and many other additions should someone be interested. The Local Taco, while lackluster upon opening, but seems to have improved in the last Groupon inspired visit, and continues to make good strides with their offerings here. La Paz is, of course, a new resident of the Elliston Ave location, and the foodie team learned about a common trend: skyrocketing rent in Green Hills. We heard that rent sits at around 30 grand per month for that location on the back side of the Green Hills Mall – so that’s why those meals cost so much at the old location! Our trip to the new location generated very positive vibes, and our sense of things is that La Paz is a good match for the Elliston cruiser.
Finally, some honorable mentions. Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant offers made-from-scratch meals and is opening a new location downtown at 500 Church Street – on schedule for November 5th for you downtowners. We thought their barbecue was the strongest of the night, and we hope to hear more about their plans soon. They are a family-owned restaurant and there’s nothing worth supporting more in our books. And it would be totally wrong to fail to mention Noshville, our institution, which is always a reminder of how we do things right down here.
Others included The Standard at the Stockhouse, Melrose Pub, QponDay (local Groupon competitor) McDougal’s. And of course the open bar the whole evening.
Bravo to the organization team that put this fine event together. We hope it will continue to grow throughout the years… look forward to more foodie adventures!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
And now for the long awaited announcement…
The faithful random number generator has determined that our lucky winner is commenter #11 – Gabe!
For everyone else, there are still some tickets available but they may be gone soon! You can get them by following this link: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/725028580
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Hey Foodies!! Nashville Foodies has snared an exclusive ticket giveaway for our readers…free tickets to Taste of Nashville.
Taste of Nashville is coming up next Friday October the 8th, with much anticipation and a very limited ticket base. This event shows off Nashville’s culinary prowess and is a foodie dream come true. A little later this week we’ll highlight a few of the attendees and tell you more about the highly anticipated annual event.
Only 500 tickets are being sold, and they’re going fast, but the organizers have kindly allowed Nashville Foodies to give away two tickets to a lucky winner. Leave a comment on this post within the week to get yourself included in the drawing, which will be done by random number generation next Wednesday. If your comment number is the winning number, you’ll snag those tickets and have a free ride to the big show.
The last qualifying comment will be accepted at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, October 5th, so make sure to comment on this post before then. In your comment, let us know your favorite Nashville restaurant, and if you’ve been to Taste of Nashville in past years, feel free to share some of the memories….
Have fun!
Adam
Monday, September 13, 2010
This week, the restaurants affiliated with the Nashville Originals will be offering a variety of specials. Most of these are multi-course dinners that you can preview on the website, but also check out those $2.10 drink specials at DrinkHaus to kick start your day.
Use the comments area to discuss the best deals and the tastiest offerings you’ve enjoyed this week.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Considering the Foodies’ recent preoccupation with all things tacos, it is no surprise that I rushed to try the Korean offerings of Peter Chinn soon after hearing about the restaurant opening. In the short time they have been open, they have already gained some great press and a Scene review.
Since they obviously have set up shop in an abandoned fast food restaurant, there are two car accessible drive through windows which apparently double as a walk-up ordering spot as well. When I walked up, I expected to be told to return to my car so that I would not be run over by eager taco lovers. Instead, I was greeted by some friendly staff who patiently took my order and answered questions.
Many copies of the short menu is posted multiple times with some curious (is there cheese on that kimchi quesadilla?) Chef specials which I will try on future visits. Their simple website has the same menu posted, with teeny tiny pictures. Having four varieties of tacos available, a taco sampler was in order. I tried a Kogi (beef), a spicy pork, and a fish. Fortunately for me, three was the perfect number as these tacos are served on two fresh corn tortillas and filled to the brim with meat, and korean slaw – shredded greens and red onions that in a sweet dressing. The fish and breading were quite nice but the tacos was drenched tartar sauce. It’s not that I hated the sauce, just would have preferred less of it.
In the picture, you can see a spicy sauce that I believe was intended to accompany the beef taco. The spicy pork, which was actually rather mild, was the clear winner in my book with tender meat and a sweet sauce that even shined through the load of toppings. This meal was a great value and I imagine I will be venturing to Bordeaux often to satiate my taco cravings.
Peter Chinn’s Korean BBQ Taco
2712 Clarksville Pk
Nashville, TN 37208
Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Having never visited the state of Montana, I had no preset expectations of what kind of food I would, or should, encounter in the Big Sky Country. I flew to Bozeman for a virology conference related to my graduate work. I had a few free afternoons, and, thanks to the free shuttle that ran practically all over the whole city, I was able to make a quick commute downtown from the campus of Montana State University for coffee and quick eats.
With a small unassuming space on Main St., La Tinga will draw you in nose first if you happen to catch a whiff of the fresh corn tortillas walking by. As you walk in you will be transiently hypnotized by the large mirror that helps to artificially expand the small space. A genial, tall middle-aged man will greet you and enthusiastically tell you about the menu if you’re a newcomer. If he recognizes you, he will probably even make an effort to get on a first name basis. This happened to me on my second visit; the wrong name was called but I still appreciated the effort.
Tap water sits around the counter from the cash register beside a large bowl filled with aromatic fresh cut onions and cilantro. The first day I ordered 3 tacos, sampling from the selections on the menu: carne asada, la tinga (pork), and chicken & potato. The latter included blunt warning on the menu that it was seriously spicy. Each taco cost no more than $1.50 with a bit more added for extras like sour cream.
On my second visit, I was happy to repeat a sampling of tacos, but the dry erase board with specials called my name with the special of the day: two adobo chicken tacos with beans and rice for $5.50. The rice was fried but didn’t have any tomato sauce or heavy spices, which was fine with the salty beans. It was another great plate with fresh tortillas, tender slow cooked meats, and a delicious, traditional, well cared for sauce. Rounded out a tamarindo agua fresca, this was truly satisfying meal.
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