tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41940981255328220432024-02-07T17:44:45.632-08:00Foodie's Eye ViewI'm just a girl who loves to eat good food! I travel Nashville with a group of other foodies trying new restaurants and repeating old favorites.
I generally lean toward the ethnic, but as long as it's good food, then sign me up!Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-9836782704407120882015-09-09T20:07:00.005-07:002015-09-25T15:39:38.395-07:00Picadillo: Cuban Hash<div class="_4_j7" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.4667px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
One of my best friends, <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1636186756" href="https://www.facebook.com/marirae.mathis" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Marirae Mathis</a>, called this afternoon to get my picadillo recipe to make for her & hubby Bob for dinner.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.4667px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I feel quite honored since she is an amazing Chef and owner of <a aria-describedby="js_3o" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_3n" class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=119541593401" href="https://www.facebook.com/whocooksforyou" id="js_3p" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Who Cooks For You? Professional Chef Services by Marirae Mathis</a>. She introduced me to Hasenpfeffer. <span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I'm even happier after she texted me to tell me it was delicious. </span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.4667px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLKjybC8BTPsSAjBT9_yT6hKaYVgMyo7Mt1314MeDvojKGoH6rRP70OJE4mM7xQNWFjSbDyDGp4e4Th7c-B3IPkx2-dDd14i8TdtQc9FlwBIWci5Vpi4s7p6aA4NMvgm63a4VYxuvwg/s1600/piccadillo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLKjybC8BTPsSAjBT9_yT6hKaYVgMyo7Mt1314MeDvojKGoH6rRP70OJE4mM7xQNWFjSbDyDGp4e4Th7c-B3IPkx2-dDd14i8TdtQc9FlwBIWci5Vpi4s7p6aA4NMvgm63a4VYxuvwg/s320/piccadillo2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;">I've been told that many times by my Cuban ex-boyfriend and other friends who are familiar with Cuban foods, but coming from her it is quite an honor.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/what-the-pho/picadillo-cuban-hash/10152034907205494" style="color: #232937; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Picadillo: Cuban Hash</a></div>
</div>
<div class="_4_j7" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">
Picadillo is a traditional Cuban hash, popular throughout Latin countries. It is known in The Philippines as “giniling”. It is made with ground meat (usually beef) and tomatoes or tomato sauce – I use both. Other ingredients vary by country/region incl. fried egg, chopped carrots, etc. Every household has its own variation. </div>
<div class="mbm _4_j8 _3bs0" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_55f0ef3ec6c3a6e21884629" style="display: inline;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
<br />
It is typically served wit<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">h rice and is also be used as a filling for empanadas. Mine is a basic, traditional picadillo recipe that I hijacked from a Cuban friend and tweaked to suit my love of spicy foods (meaning peppers). I love the salty, sweet flavors of the olives & raisins. The hot peppers are the one item that makes this recipe “non-traditional”. </span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
Olive Oil, just enough to coat the bottom of your skillet (add more later if needed)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
1.5 - 2 lbs petite red potatoes, chopped (approx. 1/2-1" cubes, be consistent so they cook evenly)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
5-6 garlic cloves(more or less to taste)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
1 small Spanish onion, chopped</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
5-6 Serrano peppers, sliced thinly (I leave in the seeds)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
1 lb of ground beef (I use ground sirloin)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
1/4 cup white wine (optional)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
1 TBS of ground cumin</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
26.5 oz box of Pomì brand chopped tomatoes (no preservatives), do not drain</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
8 oz (approx.) of Pomì brand tomato sauce ( no preservatives)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
5.25 oz jar of sliced green olives</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
A couple handfuls of raisins (I use 8 oz for this recipe)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
Black pepper, to taste</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
<b><br />Preparation:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
In a very large skillet over medium heat, sauté chopped potatoes in olive oil on medium heat until tender and slightly browned (about 20 minutes). I just cover the pan and let the heat do the work. I check it every 4-5 minutes to stir. Push potatoes to the side of the pan and add garlic, onions and peppers in the center, continue to sauté until onions are tender and the peppers burn your nasal passages (about another 5 minutes).<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
In a separate skillet, brown ground beef and cumin when beef is almost cooked through add wine, continue to cook a couple more minutes. Turn off the heat. Drain excess oil. Add to the potato mixture. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and combine. Add green olives and raisins (both to taste). You can also use a little of the olive juice to add some extra saltiness.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
Let simmer on low for about 20 minutes. I simmer the picadillo while making my rice (also about 20 minutes).<br />
<b><br />The key to good rice: </b>Bring water and rice to a boil, reduce heat and <b>NEVER LIFT HE LID</b> until cooking time is through. Serve with Cuban bread (available at Publix) and fried, sweet plantains (frozen at Publix).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;">
<b><br />Now just invite over a few friends (including me) to try your dish…</b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-8440856061551960982015-05-02T10:10:00.001-07:002015-05-02T10:10:49.231-07:00Rose's Greek Potato Salad<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I've decided to share some of my favorite recipes on my blog. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I love to cook & bake, but I am not so much of a fan of cooking for one person. I have taken so many cooking classes that I have lost count - knife skills, sushi, Indian, Indian street foods, French desserts, and the list goes on. I know how to make a crêpe and a tarte Tatin. </span><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -24px;">I grew up thinking my mom made the best potato salad ever. And she did, for first 34 years of my life. I struggled for years after she passed away to recreate her version. I finally gave up and started experimenting with my own version. <br /><br />Sorry mom, but you have been bumped to the #2 spot after my potato salad. Every time I make this, I get asked by 2-3 people for the recipe. I tell them that you can count the number of ingredients on one hand (salt and pepper don't count). </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />This is my "go-to" recipe for large gatherings like office potlucks, picnics/cookouts and meetups with the family. The fact that it is not mayonnaise based makes it perfect for outdoor gatherings. It's easy, basic and can be made in about 20 minutes. Prep time is less than 5 minutes.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -24px;"><br />I think my mom would be proud! </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rose's Greek Potato Salad</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 9pt; letter-spacing: 1.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">INGREDIENTS</span><span style="color: #9fb819;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2 lbs. Red Potatoes, cubed,
with skins<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">3 Shallots, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">4 oz. of feta cheese<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">1 cup Extra Virgin
Olive Oil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Juice of one lemon<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Salt & Pepper<span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 9pt; letter-spacing: 1.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">DIRECTIONS</span><span style="color: #9fb819;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Bring a large pot of
salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, bring back to a boil, and cook until barely
soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine potatoes, shallots
and feta cheese in a large bowl. Mix olive oil and lemon juice and pour over
potato and shallots. Mix lightly. Add salt & pepper to taste. <br />
<br />
Serve immediately or chill. Potato salad may be kept in a sealed container in
refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-33002718649003292682014-11-23T18:00:00.000-08:002014-12-23T18:22:40.295-08:00Love, Peace & Pho!<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.670588); font-family: Whitney, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 15.4545450210571px;">There is no better time for pho than when the weather starts getting cold and winter is closing in! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15.4545450210571px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px;">I had the pleasure of dining at </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Peace-and-Pho/781355065258594" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">Love, Peace and Pho</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"> recently after catching a TPAC matinee with three of my girlfriends/fellow </span><a href="http://www.meetup.com/What-the-Pho/" style="font-size: 15px;">What the Pho</a><span style="font-size: 15px;"> members. The décor is clean and bright and the wait staff very friendly and attentive. I'll admit when I heard about this place weeks ago and was hesitant since they own the nail salon next door. I could NOT have been more wrong! They do know their food... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
There's lots of controversy surrounding the pronunciation of pho. It's "fuh" not "foe"! Maybe it depends on what part of South East Asia you are in. But, I grew up eating pho as a teen (30 years ago), thanks to the Vietnamese "Do" family who took me in and contributed to my conversion to Catholicism. It is "fuh" to me!<br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9gIltvoTwYJqYRbQKBFL2CkHbRYrqqfuwmeNpavjamQnhZ2l0LepuLz-DveoVcoDO2ZmQciGqWAVAaaGoxG0IbT5JeOv01cVfJuNtcDc6WGgu2yiUd9dak50FCzym-4j7zNG5CwRug/s1600/600_431839894.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9gIltvoTwYJqYRbQKBFL2CkHbRYrqqfuwmeNpavjamQnhZ2l0LepuLz-DveoVcoDO2ZmQciGqWAVAaaGoxG0IbT5JeOv01cVfJuNtcDc6WGgu2yiUd9dak50FCzym-4j7zNG5CwRug/s1600/600_431839894.jpeg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">fried egg bánh mì </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.670588); font-family: Whitney, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;">Love, Peace and Pho is the newest Vietnamese Restaurant in Nashville. Quite honestly, I've never seen a Vietnamese menu like it. It is vegetarian friendly (including the pho) and the bánh mì menu comes with six variations, with a vegetarian “pork” option (made with tofu). I ordered the fried egg bánh mì (pictured at left). It was absolutely delicious, the bread fresh and the egg was cooked to perfection with a slightly soft yolk - just the way I like it. The veggies on the sandwich as well as what was served with the pho were exceptionally FRESH.</span><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKhDeTYEzVR4_iIpJGKTn8sPrvPUR7IQnuvur0SAgvpiML2xMgW-66bI3etVxe-OjAxefWxC1mFo_uNgbQDJQN2DimyhJlUgN8P0XEew1LXSTGO5nQiS01NAP2GnejMnkqInkMrPn6w/s1600/600_431957307.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKhDeTYEzVR4_iIpJGKTn8sPrvPUR7IQnuvur0SAgvpiML2xMgW-66bI3etVxe-OjAxefWxC1mFo_uNgbQDJQN2DimyhJlUgN8P0XEew1LXSTGO5nQiS01NAP2GnejMnkqInkMrPn6w/s1600/600_431957307.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of Sun Tzu Photo </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">by James Quach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.670588); font-family: Whitney, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
We had a chance to chat with the owner who explained that the broth for the pho (beef & vegetarian options) is a two day process. They worked with a chef in Oregon to design the bánh mì menu. He checked in on us twice to make sure we were enjoying our meal. And yes, we were. My girlfriend ordered the lemongrass chicken <span style="font-size: 15.4545450210571px;">bánh mì to go for her lunch the next day and approved, although </span><span style="font-size: 15.4545450210571px;">bánh mì are best eaten fresh.</span><br />
<br />
I recently sent my Meetup group here. I was supposed to attend but had to miss while waiting on a house call from Piedmont gas. One member just responded, "Yum, yum!" But wanted more star anise in his broth. Another member said her ribs were a little tough, but loved the veggie bánh mì. One pho "virgin" was pleased and described it as tasty and said the traditional egg rolls were the best he's ever had. The reviews were overall good with five stars overall.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XRw8BQadNKsb_eEmFoULStLmhyZcZaYR7uEdkfwVZ4RqeOhbRZa6-zIZjX419dnmJLAAsIODyVSIwdE4v7lZODvLNLkQz1ZZaimHG2YhAKM3SoNHiOjE1MAMAPb8mQBcyQCgYs1tXw/s1600/600_431957303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XRw8BQadNKsb_eEmFoULStLmhyZcZaYR7uEdkfwVZ4RqeOhbRZa6-zIZjX419dnmJLAAsIODyVSIwdE4v7lZODvLNLkQz1ZZaimHG2YhAKM3SoNHiOjE1MAMAPb8mQBcyQCgYs1tXw/s1600/600_431957303.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of Sun Tzu Photo </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">by James Quach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;">Nashville Scene:</span><a href="http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/nashvilles-latest-vietnamese-restaurant-is-a-stone-gas/Content?oid=4797491" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/nashvilles-latest-vietnamese-restaurant-is-a-stone-gas/Content?oid=4797491</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.670588); font-family: Whitney, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;">Facebook:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Peace-and-Pho/781355065258594" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Peace-and-Pho/781355065258594</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.670588); font-family: Whitney, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 700;">Location & Parking:</span> 2112 8th Avenue South, just south of Wedgewood Avenue across from Zanies Comedy Club – next door to The Nail Place. Parking is a little challenging. Good luck finding parking in front. I parked across the street in the lot by the antique store next to Dollar General. But you can also park along the side streets. </div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-28286967894578919802014-11-04T19:04:00.000-08:002014-11-05T19:20:39.554-08:00Island Vibes: Authentic Caribbean Food!It's been too long since I blogged about my favorite restaurants in Nashville, so here goes...<br />
<br />
I discovered <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/islandvibesrestaurantnashville?rf=147427962073899">Island Vibes</a></b> mid-to-late summer. I stopped in alone one day for lunch to check it out for my Meetup group and indulged in the Curry Chicken. It was heavenly and "fell off the bone". If you can make chicken fall off the bone, then I am hooked...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVWcQl5nj00thgls5Vi8VLPazmuHp7kGbCBTZ5tnidUCoN4ESsTJNEQh7PvhYKZCZFy-AwrKMNoFUPmLXpUR49o4WWeE3UraW7lgzXOOCPsY9NXqeHTQFqeTDdX6_NU5vnDjEOZCvxQ/s1600/curry+chicken.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVWcQl5nj00thgls5Vi8VLPazmuHp7kGbCBTZ5tnidUCoN4ESsTJNEQh7PvhYKZCZFy-AwrKMNoFUPmLXpUR49o4WWeE3UraW7lgzXOOCPsY9NXqeHTQFqeTDdX6_NU5vnDjEOZCvxQ/s1600/curry+chicken.jpeg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curry Chicken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This place is small and can easily be missed if you close your eyes. It's located on Antioch Pike behind Sam's Club, in a small house next door to the 1310 Plaza which houses equally exceptional Korean and Ethiopian restaurants. I love that Antioch is such a melting pot of ethnic cuisine.<br />
<br />
I quickly became friends with Loverna Semple-Burnett and her husband Mark Burnett who are owners (along with Mark's brothers). This is truly a family owned restaurant. My friend Aubrey Dasilva is the chef. They are from the same village in Georgetown, Guyana. You really don't get much more Caribbean than that...<br />
<br />
<b>First visit: </b>I opted for the curry chicken (see above). I took home leftovers (which I always do) and actually ate them later that night - which I rarely do. I eat out so often that most of my leftovers go to waste. These leftovers did not go to waste.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgKzMCpP3O5_xgTLNZpft6KbKkvj-gEVknF-7D6WfTTgtkanOLRA_XMxHHjSeWzSuTKqb6pDeLEKCP9bKLNlMTjoAegXgg_NfvLhyCS9ECzZW_sqTu5754xTD7MztDRCeXOWxMoUmog/s1600/oxtails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgKzMCpP3O5_xgTLNZpft6KbKkvj-gEVknF-7D6WfTTgtkanOLRA_XMxHHjSeWzSuTKqb6pDeLEKCP9bKLNlMTjoAegXgg_NfvLhyCS9ECzZW_sqTu5754xTD7MztDRCeXOWxMoUmog/s1600/oxtails.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxtails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Second visit:</b> I brought my Meetup group. They scheduled live music for us on a Saturday night - steelpan music. I opted for oxtails which I love. It's definitely a "finger food" but worth the effort. I actually got reprimanded by a Jamaican woman for trying to eat it with a knife & fork about two years ago. Lesson learned! Think of the most deeply braised beef you could ever imagine. I'm not much of a beef eater, but if you offer me oxtail, I'm in!<br />
<br />
<b>Third visit: </b>Jerk chicken, only because the jerk pork wasn't ready. It was delicious, but I am still holding out for the pork. A member said it was the best jerk chicken she ever had. Another member, with family in Jamaica, had the goat curry and devoured her plate. She said she rarely eats red meat unless it's goat - and she gave the thumbs up. Several members said it was above and beyond JamaicaWay - the only other Caribbean in Nashville until now.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYUgMr_sPeXsBdUzWNJwwHKfm8a1q6XaO3WjGK0vX-_KUcN4rOTDogPFWgU7kai3det1SsPNj_fzKs6IFObuZrS8HIzPnUu9GNvyQBKTyEKHseo-IxHCMvUgNFaN8dvwJ4YrUBEXDRQ/s1600/jerk+pork.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYUgMr_sPeXsBdUzWNJwwHKfm8a1q6XaO3WjGK0vX-_KUcN4rOTDogPFWgU7kai3det1SsPNj_fzKs6IFObuZrS8HIzPnUu9GNvyQBKTyEKHseo-IxHCMvUgNFaN8dvwJ4YrUBEXDRQ/s1600/jerk+pork.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerk Pork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Don't miss the weekend specials on the board - including saltfish & bake and bullfoot soup. "Bake" is a type of bread. I am still trying to convince Loverna to make me "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bake_and_Shark">shark & bake</a>" once I can get my hands on shark meat in Nashville. Otherwise, I will have to schedule a trip to Trinidad for my most expensive "fish sandwich" ever!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Island Vibes</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address:</span> <span style="font-size: 13px;">1316 Antioch Pike, </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">Nashville, TN 37211</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 4px;">Phone:</span><a class="fl r-rhscol4" data-number="+16157396900" data-rtid="rhscol4" data-ved="0CKQBEJAIKAEwEA" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" jsaction="r.oVdbr2mIpA8" jsl="$x 0;$t t-z54Ez16XnYc;$x 0;" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" title="Call via Hangouts">(</a>615) 454-6085<br />
<b>Prices:</b> $<br />
<br />
<b>On FaceBook:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/islandvibesrestaurantnashville">https://www.facebook.com/islandvibesrestaurantnashville</a></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-20394519642522753252014-07-28T13:56:00.000-07:002014-08-05T09:43:14.178-07:00My dinner with Maneet Chauhan!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't get "star struck" very easily unless it comes to celebrity chefs. My first celebrity chef encounter was with Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert in February 2012 in Louisville, KY. My heart skipped several beats that evening - an evening made possible by my friend Marirae Mathis of <b><a href="http://www.whocooksforyou.net/">Who Cooks For You?</a></b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On July 28th, I had the pleasure to be in the company of <b><a href="http://www.maneetchauhan.com/">Maneet Chauhan</a></b>. You probably know Maneet as one of the celebrity chefs from the Food Network show "<b><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped.html">Chopped</a></b>". I didn't actually have dinner with her, but rather she cooked dinner for me and a small group of Nashvillians as she prepares for the opening of her new Nashville restaurant, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chauhannashville">Chauhan Ale & Masala House</a></b> in late August. <b><a href="http://www.popnashville.com/events/">POP Nashville</a></b> hosted Maneet on this evening. Maneet promised I would get the chance to meet <b><a href="http://www.viveksepicureanadventures.com/">Vivek Surti</a></b>, a Nashville chef, food critic (he wears many titles) who helped in the back of the kitchen, but it was a school night and I needed to get home. I still hope to meet him someday...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I delve into the details, let me just say... Maneet stopped by our table three times during the evening, posing for pictures with me and even signing my menu as I apologized for being "such a groupie". She is beautiful and gracious. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL5aTlAEm_dBIuRFYffavmWqwCoUnGkqWl8HeeqISRSfz5QWNJf3lkZ2_v86vp8SVl_vsTM5i3g4biHYSfNY2koYZNqnbW17QOhL181sXY43PFBhEjHZ9-CWdQNCh0JOlGhNiaPdFHQ/s1600/10552577_322444007914075_1134227780127250537_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL5aTlAEm_dBIuRFYffavmWqwCoUnGkqWl8HeeqISRSfz5QWNJf3lkZ2_v86vp8SVl_vsTM5i3g4biHYSfNY2koYZNqnbW17QOhL181sXY43PFBhEjHZ9-CWdQNCh0JOlGhNiaPdFHQ/s1600/10552577_322444007914075_1134227780127250537_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Duo of charred peach </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">and heirloom tomato</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 30.600000381469727px;">gazpacho + salad</span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>First up the pani puri: </b>I would have been completely lost on this dish except for the fact that I brought my friend Vivek, who is Indian, and educated me on the fact that this is Indian "street food" and how to eat it. It is an open puff pastry filled with potato and chick pea served with a cup of layered sauce - cilantro chu</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">tney, tamarind sauce & mint water. Pour the sauce into the open pastry and devour in one bite. Yes, it is a little messy. That is why it is "street food". I wanted another... but only one was served, kind of an <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">amuse</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">-</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">bouche</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>First Course:</b> Curried scallops, perfectly seared - melt in your mouth. I couldn't taste the habanero. But that was ok. Again, I still wanted another, or two or three more!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>Second Course</b>:</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> This was one of my favorites. The salad was made of charred peach and heirloom tomatoes with a dressing of cucumber raita with roasted cumin. The </span><span style="text-align: center;">gazpacho caught me off-guard - delicious, fresh, and tangy. I want the recipe! Maneet, help girl out here! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsGwFv9cznuOGd1tfh0eFxGTsLLAUjtXdXxqMZMPdWL5XO5azmmCB2Gd8NdXUIHQi5Z8Ydt5RC606UQLuY0-jsw37n-6eAykUUmvEZ4yBJ8nll_hFVw3wqtBcgf_qtDjgYrIUbsXd4g/s1600/10469230_322444101247399_4243036489343095719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsGwFv9cznuOGd1tfh0eFxGTsLLAUjtXdXxqMZMPdWL5XO5azmmCB2Gd8NdXUIHQi5Z8Ydt5RC606UQLuY0-jsw37n-6eAykUUmvEZ4yBJ8nll_hFVw3wqtBcgf_qtDjgYrIUbsXd4g/s1600/10469230_322444101247399_4243036489343095719_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kashmiri lamb shank</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>Third Course:</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b> </b>The lamb shank... definitely my favorite dish of the evening served along side basmati rice and </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">daal makhani. The servers brought out knives and just as I was cutting into mine, Austin, the owner of Anthem and co-owner of Chauhan Ale & Masala House, walked up. I asked him why they brought me a knife because the lamb succumbed to my fork so easily. He just smiled, shook his head and walked away. I have never devoured a lamb shank until now. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNF1S5pysZTdqq9QrvQS8cKot6wm86J0dCK-XC2sjoMNqWxtJhnP3C3As-KLIQppiWOzDw5yokdLpo65xOASgMMq6Vnivc0IVou-FLgO704t6JIoW5gfqlBqOspAcE4V91M5VWDVMQA/s1600/10570395_322444031247406_8426836470555745895_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNF1S5pysZTdqq9QrvQS8cKot6wm86J0dCK-XC2sjoMNqWxtJhnP3C3As-KLIQppiWOzDw5yokdLpo65xOASgMMq6Vnivc0IVou-FLgO704t6JIoW5gfqlBqOspAcE4V91M5VWDVMQA/s1600/10570395_322444031247406_8426836470555745895_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Gajar halwa whoopee </b></span><span style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>pie</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Dessert Course:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> Do I even need to tell you it was the best "whoopie pie" ever? Indian carrot pudding nestled between two saffron cardamom cakes. And the whipped cream, also infused with saffron was "to die for". I could have eaten a bowl it.<br /><b></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>Overall: </b>The best $75 I ever spent on a meal (no drinks). Would I do it again? Definitely! <br /><br />I can't wait until Maneet opens her restaurant, if the food is even half this good, I will be there in a heartbeat... </span><br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>MENU</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>PASSED</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>pani puri (v)</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">flavor explosion: semolina puffs | stuffed with potato | black garbanzo beans </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">cilantro | spices </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tamarind chutney | tangy mint water</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"></strong></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">1ST COURSE</span></strong></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">
</strong><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"></strong></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">curried scallops pau bhaji</span></strong></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">
</strong></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">pickled onion habanero relish</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b>2ND<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>COURSE</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">duo of charred peach and heirloom tomato </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.600000381469727px;">gazpacho + salad</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.600000381469727px;">charred peach | ginger | freshly roasted cumin | cilantro | jalapeno</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
<strong></strong></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong><strong>3RD COURSE</strong></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>
</strong><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">kashmiri lamb shank</span></strong></div>
</strong><div style="text-align: center;">
yogurt | cinnamon | cardamom | cashew | star anise | tellicherry pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ripped cilantro leaves | nuts | raisins<br />
<br /></div>
<strong><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>SIDES/ACCOMPANIMENTS</strong></div>
</strong><div style="text-align: center;">
jeweled basmati | saffron | pomegranate
seeds | pistachio | currants</div>
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;">
daal makhani</div>
</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;">
grape raita | curry leaves | coconut<br />
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>DESSERT</b></div>
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">gajar halwa whoopee pie</span></strong></div>
</strong><div style="text-align: center;">
indian carrot pudding sandwiched in a saffron cardamom cake</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-25868131452020958252014-07-20T18:30:00.000-07:002014-07-25T14:44:22.451-07:00Girls' Day Out: Table 3 Restaurant & Market<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been to <b><a href="http://www.table3nashville.com/">Table 3 Restaurant and Market</a></b> many times over the years for both brunch and dinner. I have had hit and miss experiences here, but I continue to go back. I do love their <a href="http://table3nashville.com/editor-assets/BRUNCH%20070814.pdf">Sunday brunch menu</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On my most recent visit, I visited Table 3 with two of my best friends for a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">"Girls' Day Out"</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I ordered the "Croque Madame", my usual go-to dish at most French restaurants in the United States, because I have yet to find a French restaurant that serves a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Boeuf Bourguignon that lives up to my expectations. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgJsl-A5iu7L8b7cjq_DaaQirSrkNEETttgpC4oTksW6zQFsflEwwSDYAeBPDWxk-sTBqmnC3BvBZYQwg_iIbC1VZpy4l1BkCfCM3X06LRJk3Rf0eGO_-MFZ_jtRegrMrh-glqx2qUQ/s1600/10492535_10152535236094337_478667787496742170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgJsl-A5iu7L8b7cjq_DaaQirSrkNEETttgpC4oTksW6zQFsflEwwSDYAeBPDWxk-sTBqmnC3BvBZYQwg_iIbC1VZpy4l1BkCfCM3X06LRJk3Rf0eGO_-MFZ_jtRegrMrh-glqx2qUQ/s1600/10492535_10152535236094337_478667787496742170_n.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Croque Madame: </b>Ham, Swiss, <br />
Béchamel, Sunny Side Up Egg <br />
with Baby Greens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">I first had </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Boeuf Bourguignon </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">in the </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Bourgogne </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">region of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">France when I was 14 years old, in a little cafe on the way from Lucerne, Switzerland to Paris</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. No single meal has ever lived up to that experience. Almost thirty years later, I have never forgotten that dish - the melt in your mouth beef with the perfect hint of burgundy. I have yet to experience it again, even returning to France in search of that dish. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But if you can serve me a consistently great Croque Madame, I will come back - and Table 3 does that very well. I recently ate at another French restaurant for brunch and was served a "Croque Madame" without an egg. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was very disappointed and will never return. If you serve me a </span>"Croque Madame" <span style="font-family: inherit;">without the egg it becomes a "Croque</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Monsieur". I hate false advertising! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, I should have sent it back, but I was in no mood for a war of words with the "classically" trained French chef. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At Table 3, my friends ordered the "Omelette au Fromage" and the "Oeufs sur la Plat" (literally</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUceIpYdS_ou2BvgEXSDXTiHKDBolZX7DKyeFY0zcz0PQnmU8gCR7d2EQJNUZT9ZSubE1s_yDZAK2rBKySQe6IKyMJBRfDnt0LUGmgbWfryTohU91MBHCGJsIWSwqZNKUq48XMbYP0w/s1600/unnamed+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUceIpYdS_ou2BvgEXSDXTiHKDBolZX7DKyeFY0zcz0PQnmU8gCR7d2EQJNUZT9ZSubE1s_yDZAK2rBKySQe6IKyMJBRfDnt0LUGmgbWfryTohU91MBHCGJsIWSwqZNKUq48XMbYP0w/s1600/unnamed+(1).jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Omelette au Fromage</b> with Baby Greens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Eggs on a plate"). </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had the Oeufs sur la Plat here a year ago and disliked it very much. I did not send it back since it was my first time trying it in a French restaurant. I had no idea what it was supposed taste or look like. The chef was heavy handed on the cream, so much so that I thought I was eating a soup and the duck too salty. The leftovers (which I never had any intention of eating) were banished to the garbage. I took them home hoping I could recreate them into something edible, but my creative side failed me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As my friend was ordering this, I almost stopped her. I am so happy that I didn't. As soon as it was delivered to the table, I realized it looked nothing like what I had order just a year ago. She let me taste and it was amazing - the duck confit with just the right amount of salty and the perfectly cooked eggs. I'm sure any French chef would have been proud of this dish. I will be ordering this on my next trip. And yes, there will be another brunch at Table 3.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE80tHFEXXWkYjAwlXs8j3TdULVNEdupQ-yCJuC8p82NVZjeeI8Tmgt_QyDFxq48TXDLLwxZuFfsbz61QKS-tyoUpO9S4NsIZN6T4F5grbwLNfwFuHkuzmLbYMGH6rUImIa55iowvsQ/s1600/unnamed+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE80tHFEXXWkYjAwlXs8j3TdULVNEdupQ-yCJuC8p82NVZjeeI8Tmgt_QyDFxq48TXDLLwxZuFfsbz61QKS-tyoUpO9S4NsIZN6T4F5grbwLNfwFuHkuzmLbYMGH6rUImIa55iowvsQ/s1600/unnamed+(2).jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Oeufs sur la Plat: </b>Eggs baked with <br />Duck Confit, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Creamed Spinach, Roasted <br />Tomatoes, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Herb Crème Fraiche</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And you must check out the market next door. Table 3 usually offers about 4-6 dessert options on their restaurant menu, all of which sound delicious - creme brulee, house made sorbets and ice cream. But walk next door to their market and you will experience tons of pastries not on their menu - tarts and cakes. Get them to go and savor later at home or in the market along with a cappuccino or latte.</span></span><br />
<div class="_ee" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Table 3 Restaurant & Market<br /> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address:</span> 3821 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 4px;">Phone:</span><a class="fl r-rhscol4" data-number="+16157396900" data-rtid="rhscol4" data-ved="0CKQBEJAIKAEwEA" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" jsaction="r.oVdbr2mIpA8" jsl="$x 0;$t t-z54Ez16XnYc;$x 0;" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" title="Call via Hangouts">(615) 739-6900</a>Prices:<br />
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">Reservations:</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><a class="fl" href="http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=70606&ref=1068" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">opentable.com</a></div>
$$<span style="color: #999999;">$$</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-15555812235955017802014-06-15T15:02:00.001-07:002014-06-16T12:10:00.642-07:00Ethiopian Cuisine<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ethiopian
Cuisine was probably the catalyst that encouraged me start my Meetup group <a href="http://www.meetup.com/What-the-Pho/">"What the Pho!"</a> six
years ago. I couldn't find anyone who would go out with me to eat it – not friends nor coworkers... unless I bribed them by offering to pay for their meal. So I
ate alone holding a book. Do you have any idea how hard it is to eat
Ethiopian food while reading a book? Six years later, “What the Pho!” has over
a thousand Meetup members. I never knew there were so many people eager to try
new cuisines and who loved getting their hands "dirty" while they eat.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4CrhBdeJO5dbVnkJWx31rebZ2zHw-WxCnbYQEOum1IbcniaWR1xFuXxvcsmTMf7n33R8SfT_uAwP7UABgfK2AEI2HbXcjWQboMDP-UVTb4CAkSnQnNlTwSPTj6X6UnsOtHAC40i1PA/s1600/highres_374824212.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4CrhBdeJO5dbVnkJWx31rebZ2zHw-WxCnbYQEOum1IbcniaWR1xFuXxvcsmTMf7n33R8SfT_uAwP7UABgfK2AEI2HbXcjWQboMDP-UVTb4CAkSnQnNlTwSPTj6X6UnsOtHAC40i1PA/s1600/highres_374824212.jpeg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Mesob Veggie & Meat Combo”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Chef’s
selection of vegetables and meat </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">samplers $14.99</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Since the
first time I tried Ethiopian food at the age of 17 (20++ years ago, shhh - a
lady never tells her age) in Washington DC, I fell in LOVE. I can only try
to explain it by saying, it's a happy marriage of my mother's
Southern/"soul food" cooking mixed with Indian spices. Little did I
know then that it would be almost another 17 years before I would eat it
again. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">African
nations are still emerging and pulling themselves out of poverty. But their
cuisines should never be overlooked. Their foods reflect a combination of
native cuisines mixed with the cuisines of countries who have occupied them
over time (France, Italy, Spain and Portugal to name a few), creating something new, unusual and amazing. <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
On my most recent visit to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mesobcuisine.com/">Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant</a>, I took a
plunge from my usual meat or veggie combo (which I would highly recommend to
anyone new to the cuisine). I ordered the Ethiopian spaghetti and it was
delicious... I finished every last bite. And anyone who knows me knows, I
always take home leftovers or leave a dish unfinished (if it's not suited to
leftovers). I'm addicted now... and yes, they served it with toasted Italian
bread and gave me a fork to eat it with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmnHX_9kXyZim5sgJXaG9XTtUm3L6fiyrplX4NsOV6vNnvcyCAoOo1LA-crO3w564BPlx7M2TNWivA9h8uRErRoLR4bLh0I8DaIUUhd0FsvUBudr9PDsagwP06iOqLZUXHwAErDFlwQ/s1600/highres_374824202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmnHX_9kXyZim5sgJXaG9XTtUm3L6fiyrplX4NsOV6vNnvcyCAoOo1LA-crO3w564BPlx7M2TNWivA9h8uRErRoLR4bLh0I8DaIUUhd0FsvUBudr9PDsagwP06iOqLZUXHwAErDFlwQ/s1600/highres_374824202.jpeg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vegetarian Entree Sampler"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chef’s
selection of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">freshly </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">prepared </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">vegetable dishes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Types $8.99 || 7 types for one $10.99 || </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 types for two $18.99</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yes,
there is "Ethiopian spaghetti". Although Ethiopia has never been
ruled by a foreign power, it was briefly occupied by the Italians in 1936.
During the brief occupation, Ethiopians adopted spaghetti and made it their own with the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berbere" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">berbere</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> commonly used in Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking. Then there's
the "Ethiopian fajitas" (as I like to call them) but more
appropriately on the menu known as "Mesob tibs". I have yet to try them but have seen them come out sizzling on the skillet. We finally asked what they were on our last trip.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHFQ5DEW4EJi5WZk4chJcJbcXBrzsxiqhX_4rnE2QHpRfck7UoJQUWdbuVV6ew4c48Qs7EKmHUPFyMNTGWP30kPoPxnNM6tfA1YqzoXpDD05IWphxLwQu57sHPqioH9-8n2cdIg8d3w/s1600/highres_374826842.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHFQ5DEW4EJi5WZk4chJcJbcXBrzsxiqhX_4rnE2QHpRfck7UoJQUWdbuVV6ew4c48Qs7EKmHUPFyMNTGWP30kPoPxnNM6tfA1YqzoXpDD05IWphxLwQu57sHPqioH9-8n2cdIg8d3w/s1600/highres_374826842.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Lega-Tibs”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Your
choice of lamb or beef cubes </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">sautéed in </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">herbed butter </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">with onions, green
pepper, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">tomato, and rosemary</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beef
$10.00 | Lamb $11.00</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo courtesy of Pamela Hundley)</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There are
a few amazing Ethiopian restaurants in Nashville, including </span><a href="http://www.gojoethiopiancafenashville.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gojo Ethiopian Café</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> and </span><a href="http://www.goharestaurant.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Goha Ethiopian Restaurant</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. I am well acquainted
with the owners and love that they treat me like family. The above are my favorites.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rules for
eating Ethiopian food:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. Wash
your hands.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. Injera
is the staple bread and is used as your utensil. It is a flat, spongy, slightly
sour bread (think giant crepe, made from teff flour and gluten free). Use small pieces to scoop
up your food and enjoy. <b>NOTE:</b> Injera is also common to Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan
and Yemen. My neighbors are Yemeni and call it “lahoh”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">3. You
can ask for a fork, but it’s not as much fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4. You
can order individual dishes or multiple people can join together and share
sampler platters (my suggestion), that's the concept of Ethiopian food
"sharing" - thus, wash your hands. Share your food and enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">5. Wash
your hands again (see a pattern here). They will smell like wonderful spices
for days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Those
who eat from the same plate will never betray each other.”<br />
- Ethiopian Proverb<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-13635883484758019542014-03-14T21:01:00.000-07:002014-04-14T19:16:26.942-07:00Steamboat Bill's Louisiana Seafood<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEB-oA-j3f4XeM_m93VQ4HK_U4_s-1eCf6Y58ul-IDkMKuKgjQFYJ4hUxBVIVh110m55leuvfuYyeAZvdxvVzrDp44MqWVa5Bl83hYp5dVk3PyHiTAelQkuQMwyv1s9TE4IyD3B8prA/s1600/10177853_10152314888749337_1973794338679047007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEB-oA-j3f4XeM_m93VQ4HK_U4_s-1eCf6Y58ul-IDkMKuKgjQFYJ4hUxBVIVh110m55leuvfuYyeAZvdxvVzrDp44MqWVa5Bl83hYp5dVk3PyHiTAelQkuQMwyv1s9TE4IyD3B8prA/s1600/10177853_10152314888749337_1973794338679047007_n.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Even Nashville's finest know where to find the best </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
crawfish in town!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most people look forward to football, baseball or even basketball
season. My favorite season of the year is “crawfish season” which usually runs
from late January to mid June.<br />
<b><br />Steamboat Bill's Louisiana Seafood </b>takes the utmost pride in the quality of their
crawfish. They’ve left me hanging a couple times this season – refusing to
bring molting crawfish to Nashville because they would die on the trip from
Louisiana. I respect that! Yes, they
make weekly trips to Louisiana to stock up on fresh seafood and other Louisiana
specialties like boudin, alligator sausage, blue crab and shrimp. The harsh 2014
winter in the South has stretched the beginning of “crawfish season” from late
January until mid-March this year. Apparently, crawfish hate winter as much as
I do.<br />
<br />
I’ve had some seriously bad experiences with crawfish in the ten plus years
since I first tried it, enough to turn the average person off. But I never gave up on the crawfish! Admittedly,
I am a relative “newbie” to crawfish. I
have no idea how I missed out on this delicious creature in my 44 years, but
then again I have yet to visit New Orleans. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRZ3GdH_ROT69LgCVO_2jRlgnHj-5nqokrwa-pruiOQ_E8Gdte1X3VcwWTiUp_xNW0NoGiwnAK0tyex1wLq_23y9K4o17SrLRS8P9sdLKF0IIp2UEkPky1AA-k8mL6fPRgO78ODjDw/s1600/946486_10151638806944337_1154828152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRZ3GdH_ROT69LgCVO_2jRlgnHj-5nqokrwa-pruiOQ_E8Gdte1X3VcwWTiUp_xNW0NoGiwnAK0tyex1wLq_23y9K4o17SrLRS8P9sdLKF0IIp2UEkPky1AA-k8mL6fPRgO78ODjDw/s1600/946486_10151638806944337_1154828152_n.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
You can watch them sort the fresh, live </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
crawfish prior to boiling time.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Crawfish are also called crayfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or
mudbugs and are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they
are related.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Last summer, I discovered and frequented <b>Steamboat Bill's Louisiana Seafood</b> almost every weekend during crawfish
season. I have stayed and watched them sort through the live crawfish prior to
the “boil”. I was utterly devastated at the end of the season. The last time I
had crawfish prior to now was the 4<sup>th</sup> of July weekend. That same weekend,
my friend purchased a dozen, live blue crab to boil at my house. It was our
first attempt. That was a disaster waiting to happen! Did you know that blue
crab can get quite ornery sitting inside a Styrofoam cooler awaiting their
demise? <br />
<br />
I took “home” ten lbs of Louisiana style crawfish last summer for my nephew who
grew up in Baton Rouge and now lives in Cookeville, TN. He had been in dire straits to get some
Louisiana style crawfish for over five years since his last visit to his home
state. His response: “Damn! Now this is how it’s supposed to be done!” I beamed
with excitement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVcPksWqoOzE9DF2oP4kekj0SHTzRIkf3GPRLrl2_1gPwT4eak6Z_QPFaRP_hcn_JZohQdFIhb-09VL4GK4TYwyJSI7QEV-MjAInhD0j2jMPWtUuiM6wcnX3CQtzUWzwhDJJmqDxXXg/s1600/1052483_10151654841504337_778214173_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVcPksWqoOzE9DF2oP4kekj0SHTzRIkf3GPRLrl2_1gPwT4eak6Z_QPFaRP_hcn_JZohQdFIhb-09VL4GK4TYwyJSI7QEV-MjAInhD0j2jMPWtUuiM6wcnX3CQtzUWzwhDJJmqDxXXg/s1600/1052483_10151654841504337_778214173_o.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">The end result!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>How to eat crawfish:</b> This is
a messy business, so prepare to get dirty, and don’t rub your eyes after until you’ve
washed your hands about a dozen times. Sadly, I know from experience. <br />
<br />
Freshly boiled are the best - NEVER frozen or off some Chinese buffet. I can
still eat them cold a day or two later, but they’re never as good as fresh from
the boil. It’s as easy as eating shrimp. Grab the body with two hands and twist
off the tail. You might need to peel away a bit of the shell to extract the
meat. Pinch the base of the tail to disconnect the meat. Now pull! If you do it
right, the vein (aka “digestive tract”) will come out when the shell is pulled
away (that similar vein runs through shrimp). I’ve gotten pretty good at this
part over the years. <br />
<br />
For most the tail meat is the most prized part, for me it’s the head. True
crawfish fans choose to suck out the juices from the head which contain a fair
amount of seasoning from the boil. Some people stop there. I actually pull the
head open in search of the mustard yellow stuff known as “crawfish butter”. No,
it is not the waste of the crawfish as many have suggested. It is crawfish fat
and, and in my opinion, the absolute best part of the crawfish. Personally, I would prefer to throw away the
tails and just eat the heads – the reverse is true of most people. Watching me
eat crawfish can be a pretty barbaric experience – so tread cautiously if you
choose to eat with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Steamboat Bill's has moved their East Nashville “food truck”
location this year (about a mile from the old location and across the street). I
had to be part of the first boil of the “season”. I showed up on opening day (after work rushing
from Franklin). My original order was for 3 pounds of crawfish but as it was
being filled, I had “reverse buyer’s remorse” – or was feeling greedy – and order
2 more pounds.<br />
<br />
It is best to check their Facebook page for actual hours and items available at
the Food Truck. If you are experienced and wish to boil your own crawfish, you
can also order them live, but there is a cutoff time is mid-week for live
orders, so plan ahead. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Locations:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
311 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Phone:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(615) 243-7482<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> Bill + Moni</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(615) 499-6865<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> Mark</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hours:<br />
Friday & Saturday: 10am - 7pm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Sunday: 10am - 6pm <o:p></o:p><br />
Boiled crawfish starting at 11am or until SOLD OUT! And they DO sell out!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Coming soon:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
840 NW Broad St, Murfreesboro, TN<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Phone: <o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(615) 499-6865</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"> Mark</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hours TBD</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>On Facebook:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Steamboat-Bills/117121998315979?hc_location=timelineRose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-59295377221556689582014-02-23T17:44:00.001-08:002014-02-23T18:36:25.091-08:00Our Kids Soup Sunday at LP Field!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">It was an awesome day! I met up with three friends at <b>"<a href="http://ourkidscenter.com/events/soup-sunday/">Our Kids Soup Sunday</a>" </b>at LP
Field Club level. I have been going to this event for about four years now (mark
your calendars for every February), but this was actually their 20<sup>th</sup>
year hosting this event. I received an email from one of the Board of Directors
and she sent me a free “media pass” for me and my friend, Vivek. Therefore, I
feel an obligation to blog about my experience in hopes that it will encourage
you to contribute to the cause or attend future events. <br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://ourkidscenter.com/">Our Kids Center</a></b> is a Nashville-based
charity who’s mission is to: provide expert medical evaluations and crisis
counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse, and to
increase community awareness, conduct research and offer education and training
about child maltreatment.</span> They have locations in 5 cities throughout
Tennessee to help children & families coping with the ramifications of childhood
sexual abuse. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The cost of the annual event is $20 for singles
and $40 for the family pack (two adults plus kids). If you wait to purchase
your tickets at the door, the price increases by $5 for each ticket type. Every
year celebrity judges and culinary judges rate the soups. Celebrity judges have
included actors from the show <b>“Nashville”</b>
as well as sports celebrities including the Tennessee Titans and the newest
Vanderbilt coach. Culinary judges include food critics and well known Nashville
chefs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fifty plus (50+) locally owned Nashville area
restaurants & catering companies provide samplings (about 1 oz each) of
their best soups for you to try – although they will gladly have you take more
than one. This is an all you can eat event – so I challenge you to get through
50+ ounces of soup and go back for 2nds (that’s 6.25 cups of soup). Bread is
also provided at each table along with free sodas and water (stations located
throughout the event).<br />
<br />
Our Kids provides you with a small tray that will hold about 12 samples. If you’re
good at balancing, maybe more, me not so much, I almost had a couple disasters
on my hands. If you purchase the “Family Pack” you get a larger cafeteria tray.
With the small tray, I made a total of four trips. I missed out on a few since
they were sold out before I got there. By the end, I was taking only a sip or
two of each. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
We tasted some very creative soups and one that I really wanted to spit out
(surprisingly it was created by a very high end, reputable restaurant) - no
names mentioned other than it contained beer & cheese. I’m not averse to
beer-cheese soups but a couple friends agreed with me on this. Sometimes you
have to wonder if they follow the chef's code of "taste, taste, taste your
food before you serve it".<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Soups:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> The <b>Girl Scouts</b> served up a "Chocolate
Mint Bisque" (basically a Thin Mint cookie soup). How do you say no to a
little Girl Scout who asks you to try her soup? Actually, the soup was made by <b><a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/bnacs-franklin-marriott-cool-springs/">Lorraine's</a></b> at the Marriott in Franklin.
Shockingly it was actually very good. Vivek mentioned as we stood in line that
he hated chocolate and mint together, but admitted after trying that it was “actually
pretty good”. Not so much a soup as a dessert. Vandy Campus Dining won the
People's Choice first place with their "Princess Peach Shortcake
Soup" - again VERY good but more like a smoothie (very refreshing and a
palate cleanser).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">My personal savory favorite
was <b><a href="http://www.taqueriadelsol.com/">Taqueria del Sol's</a></b> "Shrimp
Corn Chowder" which won first place from the celebrity and culinary
judges. It is on their menu at their 12 South location. They were closely
followed as my favorite by <b><a href="http://cornermarketcatering.com/">Corner Market Catering</a></b> with their "Curried Yellow Squash Soup".<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br /><a href="http://www.antoniosofnashville.com/"><b>Antionio’s of Nashville</b></a> won second place “creative dish” from the judges as
well as third place in the “People’s choice” with their “Shrimp & Cognac Bisque”.
This was also a favorite of mine. <br />
<br />
I wish I could mention every soup individually but it would take me more space
than I am allowed. My favorites are listed above. If you attended the event,
please post your comments regarding your favorite soup.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The highlight of
the day is my friend, Vivek, gave me a Canon PowerShot S5 IS as an early
birthday present. Sorry I don't have any pics to share yet. I need to download
the software and get a matching USB cable to sync them up - hopefully I will
get that this week. Once I figure it out, I will have no excuse not to create some
amazing pictures of the foods we eat around Nashville.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Our Kids
Center<br />
</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">1804 Hayes Street<br />
Nashville, TN 37203<br />
Hours: Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-82743036225518610502014-02-22T12:34:00.000-08:002014-02-23T14:38:12.513-08:00Hai Woon Dai Korean Restaurant<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the food I
grew up eating as a kid, from the age of 6 YO until college. The
"perks" when your childhood best friend is Korean. I spent 3-4 nights
a week in the kitchen of my surrogate mom, Ok Cha Kim. When she would hand me
food and I asked what it was she would say “just eat” and I did. I never
questioned Momma Kim because I knew I could be kicked out of her kitchen at any
given time. She was the Korean “Gordon Ramsey”. <br />
<br />
Thanks to Momma Kim, I knew what sushi was by the time I was 8 years old,
chewed on dried octopus, ate raw stingray and became a kimchi aficionado. Her
cucumber kimchi was so amazing that I attempted it for years without success. She
taught me how to eat with chopsticks and even gave me my first official pair of
chopsticks (not the wooden pull apart kind) and I practiced on cheap ramen
noodles. <br />
<br />
I have been eating at <b>Hai Woon Dai</b>
(pronounced “Hay Woon Day”) for about 7-8 years, before I even conceived of my
Meetup group, <b>What the Pho!</b><br />
<br />
The food is above reproach, the service fast and exceptional. <b>THE BEST KOREAN</b>
in Nashville! I will stake my reputation on that. Assuming “Jean” is working
when you visit, mention my name. You won’t get any freebies but I’m sure she
will give you extra TLC.<br />
<br />
<b>Banchan:</b> First there’s the banchan,
small plates of condiments which include kimchi, cucumber kimchi, fish cake,
seaweed salad, etc, etc. These are free and are replenished when you run out.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTpNwCtg35REaIEYRv-1xr_Y6TfkyLfkWNwN99Im1j8HU5Vsvq2UbI2MsrZXE0P3eKTFmxEpIcI5DriYKDJiCBLdmcHV_f8bvDhr8_9TyYnWE1mEjD41BKBhJNmKVpTmaZGLGIvISIQ/s1600/600_331038812.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTpNwCtg35REaIEYRv-1xr_Y6TfkyLfkWNwN99Im1j8HU5Vsvq2UbI2MsrZXE0P3eKTFmxEpIcI5DriYKDJiCBLdmcHV_f8bvDhr8_9TyYnWE1mEjD41BKBhJNmKVpTmaZGLGIvISIQ/s1600/600_331038812.jpeg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banchan <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">(photo courtesy of Sun Tzu <br />Photos, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">James Quach)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b style="line-height: 13.45pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Appetizers:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt;"> I would highly recommend the “gyoza” which is vegetarian. I had
never ordered until recently because I expected them to be like Japanese gyoza
which I can take or leave. A Persian friend ordered them a few weeks ago and
shared, I fell in love. Had the menu said “Yaki Mandu” I would have known what
I was ordering. It’s like a little “empanda”. This is a staple on my visits
now. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtOT1X-jo-HgJurNSUE6_Em-5up5qZtRkLzzZKmzpYEARsKaYbUVei8stxvsQSRH36hyphenhyphensr8WWxyfr4HD85lXX10h5_E_kNb34i77lBGaa04Nq2Dr4TBCR3A_2N8AfVZlUB5A0ki7ZPQ/s1600/1795664_10152180846289337_251265686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtOT1X-jo-HgJurNSUE6_Em-5up5qZtRkLzzZKmzpYEARsKaYbUVei8stxvsQSRH36hyphenhyphensr8WWxyfr4HD85lXX10h5_E_kNb34i77lBGaa04Nq2Dr4TBCR3A_2N8AfVZlUB5A0ki7ZPQ/s1600/1795664_10152180846289337_251265686_n.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolsot Bibimbap <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">(photo courtesy of Sun Tzu<br />Photos, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">James Quach)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;">The “Seafood Pancake”, I’m not a fan of squid (for dietary reasons) but this one is
outrageously popular. It is HUGE and should be shared with about 8 people,
unless you plan to make it your primary meal.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;">Entrées</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt;">:</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;"> The (BBQ) chicken bulgogi is
some of the most tender chicken I've ever tasted. I also love the beef bulgogi
which is thinly sliced and tender. I haven’t tried the pork version which my friend Pam
swears by. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;">And </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.933334350585938px;">bibimbap</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;">, this is a staple, it includes rice, beef, veggies and a fried egg. Order the dolsot </span><span style="line-height: 17.933334350585938px;">bibimbap</span><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;"> for the hot stone pot experience. Think of it as fried rice to the n'th degree.This brings back memories.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;">I am also a fan of the Japchae
(sweet potato noodles stir fried in sesame oil with vegetables and beef), ask
them to cut the noodles or you might be in for the fight of your life.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #333333; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESgL08OToYmKRXlevXU_WeNtH6I0T7PYnay97Y9jFXysoQx6sgfVTRhgLZ1ehQz1vit2dyXvix_cc7hJumTZdnIpYMB68U8MNJK_YY5miZpEUsH9XM_HZe_t5LFb3DrAhXfcx9aHwIw/s1600/600_331038852.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESgL08OToYmKRXlevXU_WeNtH6I0T7PYnay97Y9jFXysoQx6sgfVTRhgLZ1ehQz1vit2dyXvix_cc7hJumTZdnIpYMB68U8MNJK_YY5miZpEUsH9XM_HZe_t5LFb3DrAhXfcx9aHwIw/s1600/600_331038852.jpeg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japchae <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">(photo courtesy of Sun Tzu <br />Photos, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">James Quach)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 13.45pt;">One of my go to favorites is their “</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt;">jjigae<span class="apple-converted-space">” which are their soups delivered at a rolling boil
in a hot pot. They have several variations with seafood, meat and tofu. They
are presented with a raw egg. As soon as the soup arrives, crack the egg and
stir. Jjigae is one of my comfort foods when I’m sad or happy. Momma Kim never made me jjigae.
But I ate a lot of bulgogi growing up and it was amazing. <br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 13.45pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space">
<b>Desserts: </b>None offered. But you will
be stuffed before you can finish all of the above. I don’t remember ever having
desserts in Kim’s house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hai Woon Dai<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Address: 2051 Antioch
Pike, Nashville, TN 37013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phone:(615) 333-9186<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hours: 11:00 am –
11:00 pm (closed Monday)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b>Moke ga </b></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Gulim","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">먹자</span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(Let’s eat!)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194098125532822043.post-77855814028713202822014-02-08T19:00:00.000-08:002014-02-17T17:06:16.233-08:00Epice: Lebanese Bistro!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNcRFcUqjiZRbMDZJP7ZEau52db9AnCjpz-MEog9CXLLn83XdIXgJgHOMkUsggmTuqoz7N1pB1QGPTQ7yLVoLI4KzbCIvq3lMlBUEL0hy4wrFD9m4PojCz1ccxjKwIvhuAQ5MPmfGhA/s1600/unnamed+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNcRFcUqjiZRbMDZJP7ZEau52db9AnCjpz-MEog9CXLLn83XdIXgJgHOMkUsggmTuqoz7N1pB1QGPTQ7yLVoLI4KzbCIvq3lMlBUEL0hy4wrFD9m4PojCz1ccxjKwIvhuAQ5MPmfGhA/s1600/unnamed+(5).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Tabouleh</b>: parsley • mint • tomatoes • bulgur wheat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The girls and I had an amazing
dinner tonight at the new Lebanese Bistro on 12 South in Nashville, appropriately named<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=685140504851360" href="http://www.epicenashville.com/" style="cursor: pointer;"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Epice</span></a></span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(French for <i>"Spice"</i>) just a couple weeks after their opening. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All I can say </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maher Fa<span class="textexposedshow"></span>waz</b><span class="textexposedshow" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is "Well done sir, well
done". Maher (the owner) stopped at our table a couple times to see how
everything was. The host followed us out after dinner to ask "Who is Rose?” Yes, I'm
the one who called you three times to change the # of attendees.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> We chatted for a bit and he thanked us for coming. </span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I can honestly say in my 20 years in Nashville and out of the 100's (or rather 1000's) of restaurants I have tried in Nashville, around the country and world-wide - this is one of my favorites by far. Normally, I cringe at the idea of $40-$50 for a meal (no drinks included). But Epice was worth every penny I spent, and then some. Not a single regret - except I wish I could have eaten more.</span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow" style="text-align: start;">Our server was very knowledgeable and beautiful - the spitting image of Zooey Deschanel. The appetizers came quickly. We ordered the Tabouleh, Al-Raheb (roasted eggplant purée), Fatayer (a trio of stuffed pies) and Sfeeha (flat bread with cured beef & cheese).</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-align: start;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD7CEOQHGyfGTF5or7MWkpegXnbmV_dLNYv5X47VACmHsCTYR5R890vbAROcGtbXO0xE8D_lF8btw4RNCjlKib8bpa-nYvmGOnyBa35Izcv5AHy0oGcsb8UHMXjhWIkt8qFcLjQvoqg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD7CEOQHGyfGTF5or7MWkpegXnbmV_dLNYv5X47VACmHsCTYR5R890vbAROcGtbXO0xE8D_lF8btw4RNCjlKib8bpa-nYvmGOnyBa35Izcv5AHy0oGcsb8UHMXjhWIkt8qFcLjQvoqg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; outline: none; text-align: left; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><b>Sfouf</b>: Lebanese yellow cake • seasonal fruit salad • <br />orange blossom syrup</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow"><b>Now for entrees:</b> Jie & I ordered the Sayadeya
(cumin dusted barramundi with caramelized onions) - this was absolutely
AMAZING. The fish was so tender you could hardly get it on a fork. Jie
completely cleaned her plate and took a picture to prove it. Hope &
Jennifer ordered the Tawook (marinated chicken brochette). Mary had the Epice Salad
with the marinated chicken. Donna ordered the Batinjan (roasted eggplant with
ground sirloin) and Cynthia had the Beyrouti (chickpea purée with ground
sirloin and pine nuts).</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow"><b>For dessert:</b> The seven of us split the Pots de crème, Katayef
(Lebanese crepes) and Sfouf (Lebanese yellow cake). The desserts were perfect,
not overly sweet. I loved the fresh fruit served with each dessert - and oh,
the fig. Loved the fig! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRiVrJxAdUEAo3ES8oyCycTNzgm2TN6m00QussbrmUA4wSVjOWzUKu0sR2oA1YfZJzkV7C5CTPwhibMoY3ULigVWTqgVMIaMLyk32lT0uZvqJkG_BzgQCL87lA4vcejtaI4AGAem8jg/s1600/unnamed+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRiVrJxAdUEAo3ES8oyCycTNzgm2TN6m00QussbrmUA4wSVjOWzUKu0sR2oA1YfZJzkV7C5CTPwhibMoY3ULigVWTqgVMIaMLyk32lT0uZvqJkG_BzgQCL87lA4vcejtaI4AGAem8jg/s1600/unnamed+(1).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Katayef</b>: Lebanese crepe • sweet cheese • walnuts • <br />orange blossom infusion</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span class="textexposedshow">Definitely an amazing dinner! Oh yea, I'll be back
and I see it being VERY soon! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow"><br /><b>General Info: </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Epice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow">2902 12th Avenue South</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow">Nashville, TN </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="textexposedshow">615-720-6765</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.epicenashville.com/">www.epicenashville.com</a></span></span></span></span></div>
Rose L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01925221943213530219noreply@blogger.com92902 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204, USA36.1212469 -86.79015500000002710.599212400000003 -128.09874900000003 61.643281400000006 -45.481561000000028