Nashville: Avett Brothers, Arkansas vs. Vandy, and ohhh the food

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We got into Nashville this past Friday afternoon just in time for dinner before the Avett Brothers concert at Bridgestone Arena.  I have only been to Nashville once in the past and that was to look at Vanderbilt for college, so it doesn’t really count.  Fortunately for me, thanks to Corby’s fantastic ability to find amazing restaurants, and readers suggestions, we were all set!  As there were so many restaurants and so many yummy treats to eat, I will just provide a highlight as opposed to bogging you down with details of every morsel of food I put in my mouth.  First stop was City House (www.cityhousenashville.com). Corby had read an article in Garden and Gun about the 50 best dishes in the South, and the House Made Belly Ham Pizza was on the list (www.gardenandgun.com/article/southern-foods-meats).

The restaurant had such a great feel, the waiter was so helpful and friendly, and the pizza was really and truly special.  Also, if you do go there, and you should, there is an appetizer called Frico- cheese over potatoes baked in the wood oven that is a must.  Completely full and satisfied, we went to see the amazing Avett Brothers. I love them.  The next morning, we were supposed to go for a run before the Arkansas vs. Vanderbilt football game, but it was cold, so we opted for the Frothy Monkey http://www.frothymonkeynashville.com instead.  We saw a lot of runners on the way to this great coffee house, and they looked really cold, so I think skipping the run and getting an awesome hot chocolate and buttery croissant was a very good call.  Onto the game- I generally LOVE stadium food, but I knew we were not only checking out two spots after the game, but then we were headed to dinner with some friends, so I limited myself to one hot dog.  Arkansas won- yay!  Now more food.

After the game- thanks to a reader, Jessica, we went to SATCO- the San Antonio Taco Company (www.thesatco.com).  It was very near the Vanderbilt campus, and if any of you watch or care about college football and happened to catch the game this past Saturday- it was more than a little tense.  Tacos, queso and beer put all right with the world again.  We then made a quick stop at McDougal’s (www.mcdougalschicken.com) for some chicken fingers, and of the ranch, bbq, and house-made special sauce- special sauce wins- so good!  Dinner was at Taco Mamacita which is always a fav with their super fresh ingredients and amazing margaritas.  It was a very full day of eating.  To top off such a fun weekend, we went again to a suggestion from Jessia to brunch at The Loveless Cafe (www.lovelesscafe.com).  While there was a bit of a wait at this very popular place, the reason for the wait became very obvious when we were seated and the biscuits were brought out.  Oh so good.  We ordered the biscuit sampler as a side which came with a pulled pork BBQ biscuit, a steak biscuit, a chicken biscuit and country ham biscuit.  If Corby had not ordered the Pit Cooked Pork BBQ and two egg breakfast, we would have come to blows over that BBQ biscuit- the BBQ was that good.  Fortunately, this was Corby’s breakfast, and there was plenty of BBQ to go around.  It was such a fun trip, and Nashville is a great town but I will be eating salads for a week to combat the obnoxious numbers of calories I consumed 🙂

The Local Palate- Charleston is a town where bacon is considered a vegetable!!

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We have a new food magazine in Charleston called The Local Palate.  The first issues arrived in my mailbox last week, and it is fabulous!!  Here is their “about us” from their web page www.thelocalpalate.com and find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thelocalpalate :

We are a culinary magazine  that focuses on the food culture of Charleston.

Charleston is a town where bacon  is considered a vegetable, Sunday  suppers are an honored tradition,  farmers are revered community  leaders and white chefs’ coats  proliferate the cobblestone streets.

It is a town where African, Spanish,  French, Jewish, and English  influences meld seamlessly onto  the plate; a town where major  American food staples, such as  rice and tea originated; a town  where food knows no stranger and  hospitality is a way of life.

Welcome to Charleston.
We’ll save you a seat.

 

What’s better than that- bacon IS a vegetable!!  Will definitely be sharing recipes from this magazine- so excited to have it around!!

 

Feast in the Field

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Last night we went to a Feast in the Field event sponsored by Low Country Local First, FIG, and Garden and Gun Magazine. The setting was a beautiful spot on the river called Dirthugger Farm with lighted Live Oak trees, Spanish moss, and a sunset that was breathtaking.  The food was even better.  Passed hors d’oeurves were deep fried stone crab balls, chicken liver pate, and oysters (because as everybody knows, October 1st is the official day you can start harvesting local oysters here in Charleston).  The bluegrass band was fantastic, and they were giving boat rides on Scout crafts.  The whole evening was magical.  Dinner was family style and started off with Virginal Sheep’s Mil Ricotta and Oregano Grilled Sourdough bread- amazing!  I actually kept the bowl of the ricotta next to me, and continued to eat it for the whole night with everything else that was served.  At the same time, they brought out Escabeche of White Shrimp with Fall Vegetables and Fresh Ginger.  It was gone before I could get a good picture. The Porchetta Tomato Celery Heart Lemon Confit was divine as was the Butter Pea “Pasta e Fagioli”.  I could have eaten just that (and of course the ricotta) all night.  The Wood Grilled Keegan Filion Farms Chicken Al Mattone with Charred Lemon Jus and Dirthugger Bread Salad was if possible even better.

The evening was topped off with Pear Tartatin with Honey Syrup and Pistachio Creme and the Board of Lowcountry Local First gathering with Chef Mike Lata for a photograph in the live oak tree!

For good measure, here is the sunset and the river.  It was such a fun evening, and I can’t wait for next year!