Porter Road Butcher. Local, Fresh, Healthier, and Happier!

Who really makes everything from scratch? Come on, I’m sure you’ve hosted a dinner party and instead of planning a menu you decided to watch Downton Abbey…or procrastinate in some other fashion. It happens to all of us and it’s all right.

After tonight, my motto is this: if you’re going to cheat, you might as well give it a go and do a good job at it.

No, no, I’m not talking about doing anything illegal. I am talking about “cheating” as in not wanting to labor over a boeuf bourguignon or a tarte aux pommes all afternoon. My point is if you decide that you don't feel like preparing something from scratch, you better make sure that your substitute is up to par.

And…. I have the perfect solution for all of you Nashvillians out there who are scrambling to prepare for your dinner party or just want to serve a gourmet meal, without all of the work.

Porter Road Butcher. 

They know what’s up when it comes to pork ossobucco. That’s for sure. The meat literally falls off the bone with just the slightest touch of your fork. 

Check it out. All I had to do was heat up the pork with my own vegetable broth, roast some rosemary potatoes and leeks, and wash a bunch of spinach. In thirty minutes, you can prep, roast, and get dressed for the evening! 

Pork Ossobucco 

Porter Road Butcher offers a variety of prepared foods such as: chili, BBQ pulled pork, breakfast casserole, meatballs and sauce, pate, and of course, pork ossobucco. You can buy baguettes, sauces, stocks, chowders, and choose from an assortment of cheeses.

They also sell beef, pork, chicken, and lamb that can be cut to your desire. Care for some catering? They do that too! 

Did I say that everything is locally produced? 

A ribeye right off the grill 

Support local farmers by making your way over to Porter Road Butcher. You will appreciate their friendly and helpful faces. And who knows when you’ll need that last minute gourmet ingredient for your next dinner party. 

Porter Road Butcher
501 Gallatin Ave.
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 650-4400

Monday-Friday: 11AM - 7PM
Saturday: 10AM - 6PM
Sunday: NOON - 4PM 

A visit to Rolph & Daughters in Germantown

I have this working list of restaurants that I want to visit in Nashville. Currently, there are 12 names on the list! Rolph & Daughters was next up, so I asked my friends, Amelia and Hallie, if they wanted to join and made a reservation for three. With all of the hype about Nashville's newest neighborhood restaurant, we were really anticipating our night out!

I certainly commend the chef and owner, Phillip Krajeck, for his masterful and dynamic menu. Many of the dishes were very intriguing and contained a unique blend of flavor and texture. For example, when was the last time you tasted seaweed butter? And what is a Jerusalem artichoke? I shared the pleasure of trying both of these items and let's just say that we polished them off without any problems. We may have ever licked the plate too.

Over the course of the evening, the kitchen received numerous complements from our table. The squid ink canestri pasta with gulf shrimp and chorizo was incomparable to any squid ink pasta I have tried. Its flavor was rich, yet not too overpowering. The garganelli verde with heritage pork ragout was hearty and perfect for the chilly temperatures outside. Even the skirt steak was interesting. Cooked to a perfect medium-rare, it came with a turnip and olive garnish that I surely do not know how to make at home. For dessert, we shared the Bambiloni's. These are sugar-coated, light, and fluffy doughnuts filled with vanilla cream and served with a side of chocolate dipping sauce. All of our food exceeded my expectations and I am already thinking about my next visit.

The thing is, while the kitchen's performance was practically flawless, we had to wait over 30 minutes to be seated; even with a reservation that was confirmed earlier in the day. Their website encourages parties to visit without a reservation, stating that the long community tables will be reserved for walk-ins, but unless you want to wait all night, I would certainly recommend a reservation. The other thing, which was a little unusual, was the aloof demeanor of our waitress as she presented various items from the menu. She used the word, "cool" four times! The strangest part was when she described the "hen of the woods" as a mushroom that is, quote: "really earthy, almost tasting like dirt." Who wants to eat something that tastes like dirt? Even though I am a supporter of trying new things, I probably don't have to explain why we didn't order the farro gemelli.

All in all, the atmosphere at Rolph & Daughters is bustling with hipsters, sophisticated men and women, and food enthusiasts like myself. The bar area is a great spot to grab drinks and dinner (if there is space) and offers an assortment of beer, cocktails, and wines. This is much more than your neighborhood restaurant and I foresee it becoming one of Nashville's finest.

Rolph & Daughters
700 Taylor Street
Nashville, TN 37208
Monday - Sunday 5:30 - 10:00

A Food-Focused Weekend in NYC: Momofuku Ssam Bar and Recette

"I try to make a trip to NYC every few years so that I can stay current with one of the most influential food scenes I know. During my most recent visit to the city, I followed a splendid lifestyle for three nights and ate at many marvelous restaurants.

It all started with a conversation, three weeks prior to my arrival in October, about where we should go for the first meal of the weekend. For the last few years, I have heard my food-connisseur friends and family members rave about Momofuku Ssam Bar in the East Village. Even after 3 visits to Manhattan in the last 4 years, I still hadn't had a chance to experience the quintessential New York restaurant. Finally, it was set: Thursday night's dinner was going to be at the Ssam Bar.

Momofuku Ssam Bar 

The anticipation about this restaurant had been developing for weeks; rather, years. The walk across town to the restaurant reminded me of the excitement you feel on your first day of school. I was absolutely psyched to be there. We arrived, put our name on the list for a table, and went to the restaurant's sidebar, Booker & Dax, for cocktails and appetizers. I was already in heaven by the time I had the first sip of my Basil Bixby, a precise mixture of of gin, lemon, and basil. Followed by the Hatchback, made of campari, tequila, lime, and grapefruit juice, I was ready to roll. Conveniently, my first bite into one of David Chang's masterpieces was a steamed bun filled with a juicy pork belly and garnished with hoisin sauce, coleslaw, cucumbers, and scallions. If I lived within a 10 mile radius of the Ssam Bar, these steamed buns would become a regular staple in my diet.

Steamed Buns with juicy pork belly 

My anticipation for the night's meal was building by the minute. After about an hour, we were seated at a corner table, ready for the menu. Now, I already knew that I wouldn't actually order any food this weekend. I wouldn't need to. My cousin's husband was the designated (and highly qualified) menu-master. After his long conversation with the waiter about this evening's selections,  we ordered multiple dishes, including: Spanish mackerel from the raw bar, Jerusalem artichoke soup with snails, pork jowl, and jalapeno, veal sweetbreads, beef tendon's topped with mustard seeds and many more exquisitely prepared dishes. With the enormous amout of excitement inside me, you might imagine that I consumed my food like a frenzied animal. Well, I can assure you that I refrained from such behavior and mindfully enjoyed the unparalleled flavors and textures as I slowly fell into a deep and satisfying food coma. As the dishes came and went, we all savored more than our fair share of wine and sake and my first experience at Momofuku Ssam Bar defined exceptional.

For dessert, it was suggested that we go to another restaurant. After all, I was only in the city for 3 nights and considering that the primary purpose of my visit was to fulfill my food-desires, I agreed to the idea. So, we hailed a cab and set out to the West Village to a little French restaurant named, Recette.

Let's be real here: after all of the cocktails, wine, and sake, none of us were really thinking clearly at this point. In any case, we sat down at Recette's cozy bar and starting discussing desserts. Were we going to order 1, 2, or 3? How can you say no to the creme brulee? I already had complete faith in my cousin's husband's ability to order the freshest and most extravagant items from a menu, so I excused myself to the powder room, letting him take charge.

When I returned, I didn't see any desserts on the table. There was nothing of the sort. Instead, I was looking at plates of foie gras terrine and sweetbreads! I wish I could comment on how delicious the foie gras was, but in all honesty, I cannot remember. I do know that we cleaned our plates, so it must have been great.

Little did I know that dessert wine and desserts were already ordered and they were quickly placed in front of us. Normal people would share 2 deserts among 4 people. Well, you already know that we are not "normal" eaters and so you're probably not surprised that we chowed down four desserts. These included the following: "bacon & eggs" creme brulee with roasted figs, brown butter almond cake with lemon cream and black raspberry sorbet, "smores" with a chocolate ganache, and a chocolate custard with a toffee sauce and malt ice cream. Everything was delicious and my food coma was feeling more and more like a deep trance.

Don't worry, Recette was the final restaurant of the evening. Even if we wanted to try another place, what would we be able to order that we hadn't already had? I was content and happy to be back in New York City.

One would imagine a quiet cab ride home, considering the food comas we were all experiencing. No. Not in the least bit. The question of the moment was: "What's on the agenda for lunch tomorrow?" And the suggestion was:

"How about lobster rolls?"

"Sure! Why not?"

Eye Spy Gourmet....cocktails!

As I searched for the best of the best in the Nashville food and drink scene, I immediately came across the Patterson House. Ever since, it has been on my list of places to visit and I finally made my way over there this past Friday night.

The Patterson House can be described in three words:

Swanky

Innovative

Noteworthy

As many reviews say, the atmosphere reminded me of an old speakeasy from the Prohibition Era. In fact, the next time I go, I should dress up in my 20's attire. That is, the 1920's, not the college student wardrobe. 

Everything about the Patterson House is thought out to a T and executed with the greatest sense of ease. Even the bills are presented in a unique way - they are brought inside the front cover of old books. 

Living only a few blocks away, this is the type of place where I could become a regular. The drinks are innovative and unique. The bartenders combine bitters with all types of liquor and create outstanding cocktails, some of which can be consumed all too quickly! I was with a group of 3 other girls and we were seated at a comfortable booth with a view of the bar and almost everyone in the house. With a cap at the door, there is often a wait to be seated. However, once you are inside, the mood is relaxed and easy going. Their motto should be, "Come. Stay a While." And that is exactly what you should do!

A sneak peak of their drink menu

Whether its a late night and you want to slowly sip on some whiskey, chat and snack with friends, bat your eyes at the attractive bartenders, or explore new flavors, you will have an enjoyable and exciting night at the Patterson House.

Patterson House
1711 Division St.
Nashville, TN 37203
Daily from 5:00pm - 3:00am

Bella Nashville: Serving Traditional Wood-Fired Pizza

For all of the pizza-lovers out there, go check out Bella Nashville. Located in the Market House at Nashville's Farmer's Market, they serve traditional wood fired pizza pies that will fill your belly and make your mouth water. 

Ever since I moved here in June, I have been wanting to try one of Bella Nashville's pizzas. The problem was, I didn't have enough time to wait in a long line for lunch during the middle of the week, and I always had something to do during the weekend. Well, today was the day. 12pm rolled around and I was hungry! I was inspired by a post to my Facebook news feed about Bella Nashville and decided to give it a try. (If you haven't "liked" Nashville Farmer's Market on Facebook yet, you should, because they frequently post information on upcoming events as well as delicious-looking pictures of food.) 

I must confess that I am a bit of a pizza-snob. In other words, you won't see my eating just any pizza. First and foremost, it has got to have fresh ingredients and a thin, crispy crust. With that said, my first pizza pie at Bella Nashville definitely passed the test! 

Meat pizza. Doesn't it just make your stomach growl? 

With local ingredients, including ham from Benton's Country Ham, my meat pizza was awesome. There was just the right amount of crushed tomatoes and mozzarella to keep the crust from becoming soggy and the basil was the perfect finish. With affordable prices and multiple options to choose from, I cannot imagine an unhappy customer at Bella Nashville. 

Take a peak at their menu and the next time you're craving a pizza, you know where to go.

Bella Nashville
900 Rosa L Parks. Blvd, Nashville, TN
Tuesday - Sunday 11:00AM-3:00PM

Not So Yum, Suzy Wong.

Finding a good Thai restaurant is harder than it sounds in Nashville and unfortunately, my first attempt did not pan out so well. I went to Suzy Wong's House of Yum twice within a few weeks of one another and it just doesn't satisfy my Thai-cravings. Here are a few reasons why I won't be returning to Suzy Wong's House of Yum:

It's not so yum: Lots of oil, strange mixture of flavors, and fast-food at its finest. Between the two visits to Suzy Wong's I tried about 7 things on the menu. Between seeing a puddle of oil at the bottom of my vegetable stir-fry with tofu, trying the obscure-tasting pulled-pork spring rolls, and receiving my curry approximately 30 seconds after placing my order with the waitress, I was not impressed. I don't know of anyone who can make a curry in 30 seconds. It was as if the chef was reading my mind. But, I know he wasn't so how did a bowl of curry come so quickly without being pre-served? I'm still wondering...

Less than pleasant atmosphere: I'm not that fussy, but when the restaurant isn't full and you seat me in a dark corner next to the busing station and dishwashers, that's unacceptable. Seat your guests where they can see the restaurant and what’s happening. While I faced some ugly paintings of seductive-looking geishas, my sister sat facing the dishwashing area. Not cool. 

Identity Crisis: I cannot tell you how many restaurants fail trying to execute a tapas menu. I'm no Spaniard, but I have spent many months in Spain and I know all about the tapas culture. Trust me, it was my time in Spain that really influenced my food interests. Anyway, getting back to the point I'd like to make, "tapas" are pronounced like this: /ˈtæp.əs/, according to the International Phonetic Alphabet. I cringed when I heard our waiter say, "Would you like to order from the "Tap-as" menu? I know I'm among southern accents, but let's get the pronunciation right, please. Another thing, tapas are small plates that come to the table when they're ready. Tapas are not served all at once. That's the beauty: you order a bunch of tapas and they arrive one after another.

Unpredictable Service: During my first meal, it took 15 minutes to for the bartender to serve three beers! Come one, it was the middle of the week and not very busy. During my second meal, the food came out way too quickly, all at once, and so it got cold. Time management might be something they should work on.

I don’t know, have you been? Everyone I talk to gives it mixed reviews. In my opinion, it just ain't up to snuff! Let the search for a Thai restaurant continue...

The Grilled Cheeserie

Waiting for cheese seems to be a current theme in my life. Whether it be for burrata in Telluride or for a grilled cheese in Nashville, I have spent a lot of my free time waiting for cheese.

This is the scoop on the Grilled Cheeserie. (It is a food truck, if you haven't heard.) They are very famous. 

Waiting in line for a grilled cheese.

Today, the line for the Grilled Cheeserie was very very long. Hungry people were waiting for over an hour! I too, waited for a long time so that I could try my second melt from the truck. Don't be discouraged. The line was long for two reasons: it is Labor Day weekend and it was parked at the first of many outdoor concerts at the Musicians Corner concert series in Centennial Park.

You can make your own melt by choosing your cheese, bread, and any extras such as bacon or tomato. Or, you can choose from various specialty melts, ranging from French-inspired to a Tex-Mex twist.

My experiences at the Grilled Cheeserie have been magical. I stumbled upon the truck at the Franklin Farmer's Market a few months ago and went for the classic gruyere/swiss blend and some tomato soup. I was equally impressed with the tomato soup as I was with the melt. It is obvious that their ingredients are fresh and local. Today, I created my own melt with buttermilk cheddar, bacon, and basil. The combination of sweet and salty was deeeeelicious!

Buttermilk cheddar, bacon, and basil melt

Honestly, I'm not so keen on long lines and don't think I'll wait that long again for a grilled cheese. But if you text "cheese" to 88000 or visit their website, you can track down this wonderful food truck and indulge in your own melt!

Another Shishito Pepper Sighting in Aspen: at Pacifica Restaurant & Oyster Bar

I'm telling you, shishito peppers really are the rage in Aspen this year. Last night I ate at Pacifica and not only were shishito peppers offered as an appetizer, but also served with a main dish and as a side option! Shishito peppers are so popular that Pacifica decided to put them on the menu three different times!

I must confess, I did not try the peppers last night; after all, I don't want to over do them. However, if you end up in Aspen and have a craving for seafood or oysters, Pacifica really does do a fabulous job. The lunch crowd is the typical "Aspen-chic" and if you want to see or be seen, the patio is the place to be. The dinner scene is far less crowded during the summer and last night was surprisingly nice and peaceful, especially for a Saturday night.

My boyfriend and I sat at the bar and were welcomed by a very nice female bartender who gave us the local's "hook up"with beer and wine. For dinner, we decided to share everything and ordered the following: a 1/2 dozen of east coast oysters, grilled calamari, moules frites, and the halibut as our main course. The food was fresh and flavorful. It was not mouth-watering or hands-down the best dinner in town, but for seafood in Colorado, it was good and our overall experience was very pleasing. Our only complaints were that the oysters were tiny and the flavor of the grilled calamari was overpowered by the blend of warm tomatoes and arugula that came with the dish. However, the poached halibut with a lobster reduction was cooked to perfection and the fish flaked off with every bite.

You probably already know this, but nine times out of ten, if I am going out for a special dinner, I am going to order dessert. The two of us shared the highly recommended butterscotch pudding and it was wonderfully rich with a silky texture. The flavor of the butterscotch was exquisite and my mouth is watering as I write about it.

Before last night it had been a while since I had dined at Pacifica. Considering the quality of the food and pleasant atmosphere, I will surely return.

If you go: check out their burger and beer lunch special and their famous mojito during happy hour from 3:30 - 5pm.

Battle of the Shishito Peppers, Aspen Style

Have you heard of the new thing? That is….shishito peppers, I’m referring to. I am visiting my former hometown, Aspen, and in less than 48 hours I’ve tried shishito peppers at three different restaurants. A few years ago, it was the battle of the truffle fries, you could order truffle fries at any restaurant. They made them by the tub-loads. Now, it looks like it is becoming the battle of the shishito peppers.

For those of you who don’t know, a shishito pepper is a green fingerling-sized Japanese pepper. They are green when harvested; but, turn red as they ripen. They say, (i.e. the waiters and waitresses), that 1 in 10 is spicy. Their name, shishito, comes from the fact that the tip of the pepper’s head looks like a lion (shishito).

Preparing shishito peppers is easy. The more difficult part is finding a place that sells them. Simply put, you heat olive oil or sesame oil in a cast iron skillet and add the peppers, turning them so that they are blistered, charred, and browned. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt to finish.

Back to Aspen’s battle of the shishito peppers. I always knew that they were on the menu at Matsuhisa, and this was where I first tried them over a year ago. Here, they are served with a side of coarse sea salt and a sweet sauce for dipping. There is rarely an occasion where I visit Matsuhisa without ordering their shishito peppers. I crave them. In fact, I recently arrived in Aspen and Matsuhisa was my first stop. Their peppers were the first thing ordered.

After a scrumptious dinner at Matsuhisa, I found myself ordering more shishito peppers the next day at AjaxTavern. I mean, they are fabulous; and, it is better to be hooked on grilled peppers than truffle fries, right? Ajax Tavern serves their peppers the classic way: grilled and sprinkled with coarse sea salt. A perfect mid-day snack to accompany a glass of wine and a bocce game with my friend, Jessica.

On Monday night, I enjoyed a delicious dinner on the patio at BB’s Kitchen. Once again, shishito peppers were on the menu. It is becoming a “thing” here in Aspen. Of course, I had to try them, and these were pretty spectacular. I ate 15 peppers, easily. BB’s Kitchen adds a little more creativity to their dish: they are grilled as usual, but topped with a soy-caramel sauce, sesame seeds, and sea salt. For $8 you get a heaping plate of peppers!

I did a little research and it definitely looks like shishito peppers are becoming the rage in Aspen. In addition to the three restaurants listed above, you can find them at Kenichi, 39 Degrees, and Takah Sushi. Bring it on, Aspen, I’m ready for some more peppers! 

Grilled Shishito Peppers thanks to Brooklyn Farmhouse