Friday, May 1, 2009
Open Thread Empty Plate: Hot From the Tandoori Oven, Our Weekly Open Thread
Posted by Jim Ridley on Fri, May 1, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Where to eat in midtown Atlanta, where to eat in Las Vegas, mixed feelings about Cantina Laredo, the business hours of meat-and-threes and the tater tots at Patterson House--there were just a few of the items on your mind last week on Bites' weekly open thread, where we turn the topics of discussion over to you. Been out this week? Tried something different, either in the kitchen or the grocery? Read a stimulating or irritating food book/article this week? We want to hear all about it. Here's one response to a request for Vegas restaurant tips, from WestEndGirl:
Sally - we were in Las Vegas last weekend. My husband got sidelined by a stomach thing, so we cancelled dinner at Bouchon on Friday night (I was so looking forward to this!) but did manage to make it to Enoteca San Marco in the Venetian on Saturday (Batali and Bastianich's casual Italian place). I started with the Caprese salad (roasted Roma tomatoes with house made Mozzarella and a delicious pesto) and then had the veal and ricotta meatballs as my entree. My husband tried to eat the pepper and pecorino pasta but could only manage a few bites, so I restrained myself from finishing his plate. Dessert was a trio of profiteroles with three gelatos - salted caramel, coconut and delicious Valrhona chocolate. Solid food - not too adventurous, but well executed. I also had an excellent, buttery almond croissant with coffee for breakfast at Payard in Caesars'.
As always, if you've got something you want to pass along in private, send it to cfox (at) nashvillescene (dot) com.
Comments (41)
Showing 1-41 of 41
Somebody PLEASE bring In-N-Out Burger to Nashville!!!! Better yet to Franklin. OMG there is just no comparison to their double-double animal style cheese burger and fries. This is the only thing I miss about California (except my family!).
In-N-Out Burger COME TO TN!!!!!!!!!!!
pretty please:)
like
dislike
anyone been to South Street for crawfish this year? I usually try to go once a year but last years experience was a little disappointing.
@Ulika: have you checked out Cajun Steamer yet? Their crawfish boil is about the best I've had at a restaurant.
OT: They don't serve crawfish that I know of, but I keep hearing good things about the Best Little Catfish Place in Pegram, from the folks who brought you Uncle Bud's. Anyone tried it out? I'm tempted to go tonight.
Had what has become at least a weekly meal from Satay last Friday. The steamed chicken bun is truly one of the great (cheap) dishes in Nashville. I feel like I have to get my fill because no one is ever there and I'm worried it could be gone at any moment. Come on, Bitesers, give Satay a lift.
The husband (yes, that's new!) went to Los Rosales Tuesday night and ran into some people filming in the restaurant. It was explained to me what was going on, but I'd had two glasses of wine (ahem, prior to arriving at the restaurant) and now I don't remember what was going on. A vlog or a YouTube promotion, maybe? Let's hope our cursing didn't ruin anything.
Dinner Monday night was convenience food from Trader Joe's and last night was a nice meal at Sonobana. I have cooked dinner exactly one time in nearly one week of being married. He's starting to think he's been the victim of a bait-and-switch.
"in nearly one week of being married..."
Talk about burying the lead! Congratulations, Lesley! So who catered your reception, and what did you have?
Lesley: I pulled the bait and switch on my wife. Oh sure honey, let's get married, I'm going to get a history degree, I'll be a teacher, I'll have great hours and be home with you at night... I do.
Okay hun, I'm going to culinary school, gonna work in restaurants. I won't be home before eleven during the week and past midnight on the weekends. Nice knowin' ya! ;)
@Bas Rutten: Peaceful Pastures sells grass-fed, locally raised ground lamb for $7.29 a pound, though they're evidently sold out until the middle of the month. Check out more here:
https://ssl24.chi.us.securedata.net/peacefulpastures.com/merchantmanager/index.php?cPath=3
@mr. pink: Does "married" have to mean "wedding"?
Congrats, Lesley!
Tried the Patterson House this week. Cocktails were good, atmosphere lively. Had the sweetbreads, shrimp dogs, gazpacho bruschetta, and black-eyed pea hummus. The hummus is probably the only thing I wouldn't get again (too acidic for me), though I loved the round sesame crackers. This place is a lot of fun.
@Bas Rutten
Wal-Mart has ground lamb, or did when I was there some time back. People tell me their meat supplies come and go -- I know I saw whole goose there once and only once.But they had packages of ground lamb in March.
Finally made it to Patterson House last night. Absolutely amazing! Got to chat with owner Ben Goldberg and he said that the nights to go to guarantee a seat are Sun, Tues - Thurs (they are closed on Mondays). He said Sat-Sun there will likely be a wait to get in. The cocktails were very creative and delicious, worth the $11 price tag. I had the Pimm's Cup and the Spanish Margarita. The food was as good or better than the drinks (and definitely not expensive).
Also, went this past Sunday (the 26th) to the City House Sunday Supper with John Fleer. Surprised that no one has written about this dinner, yet. They roasted a pig, served collard green kimchee, two different dishes featuring ramps, buttermilk granita and much more. It was probably the best meal I have ever had in Nashville. Not your typical Sunday Supper at City House as it was a flat price and each diner got every dish on the menu (a total of 10 dishes over four courses). Absolutely wonderful.
Daily Dish Grassland Community of Franklin:
Great Meat and Three with an expanded gourmet salad and sandwich menu. Monday-Saturday 10:30-8:30 Sunday Brunch 9:30-2:30
www.dailydishfranklin.com
Thanks for the congrats! But yes, in my case there was only a whisper of a wedding and no reception. I'm from around these parts, but it's unseemly to have a big shindig at my age. We did, however follow up the wedding ceremony with a nice meal at Automatic Slim's in Memphis. And before we left town, we had lunch at Panda Garden (formerly Formosa). Oh how I wish that Nashville had more "upscale" Chinese food instead of just PF Chang's, buffet, and takeout.
I have to agree with Andrea. The Fleer dinner at City House was amazing. Martin's BBQ roasted a whole pig, there was a fava bean, ricotta and sausage pizza I could eat every day and the buttermilk granita on rhubarb compote was flat out bad ass. The wine pairings were spot on and it didn't break the bank. Not much else one could ask for in a meal (though our service was quite slow come to think of it)
I have to agree with David M on the service aspect at City House. While the food has always been good, I finally gave up on that place due to service issues. Service has almost always been slow (not just the food, but everything), surly, or non-existent.
I realize that the restaurant is chef-driven, but can't they get someone to smooth out the service side? It is a shame to spoil a perfectly delicious meal with sub par service (I should never have to ask twice to PAY!)
Still though, the dinner sounds like it was amazing. Maybe I need to try the Sunday thing...
Disappointing to hear that the service is still below average at CH. It is also why I have not been back.
It's never an issue if you sit at that chef-counter thingie. It's too quick if anything there.
@Hazel: Sent an inquiry to In-N-Out Burger and got this reply:
"Thank you for your e-mail. Our customers have made In-N-Out Burger® the Company it is today, and we sincerely appreciate hearing from you.
"We would also like to thank you for your suggestion to open locations in Tennessee. We plan on expanding as far as we can, and particularly into areas in which our customers have expressed interest. As such, we are happy to let our Real Estate Department know that you are anxious to have an In-N-Out Burger® in your area!
"Thank you again for contacting us.
"Sincerely,
"Amir Marzouk
Customer Service Representative"
Umm... I've been to In-N-Out when I was in California, and I have to say, it really did NOT live up to all the hype I was told. For a "fast food" burger, honestly I'd rather have Hardee's Thickburger, and the fries weren't really any good either.
Now my question for the open thread is, I'm always reading on food blogs and stuff where they say "I got ____ at a restaurant supply store for a great price" and "Look for a restaurant supply store in your city." Can anyone point me towards a restaurant supply store that is good to go in and buy some stuff??? Thanks so much!
Barbara- I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't see myself having a $100.00+ dinner for 4 at that counter. Maybe if I am by myself, or having a quick dinner for two I will check it out. I did, after all, like my food on previous visits.
My bigger point: Do they not know that there are service issues? Or, do they not care? There is another restaurant in town with similar issues. I find the similarity of attitude striking.
Can't good food and good service co-exist in an upscale setting?
Maybe they know, maybe they don't - a crucial question is did you ask to see a manager about it? On the off chance they don't know, someone has to tell them. Most service issues are easily correctible but the chances of one manager being in the right place at the right time to just happen upon see them is pretty miniscule. Managers want your feedback.
Lesley,
Congrats if you are a discerning age and are brave enough to do it either again OR for the first time. Automatic Slim's rocks. Where did you guys have the ceremony/whisper? That's my old stomping ground, and sadly, as messed up as Memphis has become over the last 10 years, the restaurant scene makes Nashville look elementary in many ways. I second your emotion on the Chineses restaurant issue - Formosa was the BEST upscale Chinese ever. Obviously Panda Garden is keeping it up. Sigh.
Nashville (and surrounding) need a La Madeline. We came here from Dallas 11 years ago and think life would be complete with a La Madeline. That and a Container Store but that's a separate subject.
You'd think that with so many Texans here that after Blue Bell finally got here that La Madeline would be a natural. Where's the petition? Where's the stimulus plan to make it so. :)
We hosted a Derby party on Saturday. We served Burgoo, Broadbent’s Country Ham on Marshall’s biscuits (Publix finally started carrying these!), Chocolate Pecan tartlets, Pimento Cheese toasts, Cheese Straws and a fruit salad with a honey lime mint dressing. The husband made Maker’s Mark Mint Juleps, but the hit of the party were pitchers of John Daly’s made with fresh squeezed lemonade sweetened with just a touch of simple syrup and Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Wow – that stuff rocks! I was hesitant to even try it because I don’t like sweet tea (blasphemy, I know, for a true Southerner) but cutting it with the tart lemonade really made a difference. This is now my official drink of the summer.
West End Girl, your party sounds FABULOUS! I LOOOOVE Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. I first would drink it mixed with lemonade, but that I drink a little to quickly! I've found I really enjoy it just over ice, with a sprinkle of water, and a squeeze of lemon. That way I drink it slowly, and it gets a little easier to drink as the ice melts. I think it's my official drink of summer too, other than my standard pinot grigio! Or wait... mojitos. What the hell, I'll just drink it all.
PS. No one replied to my question! Does anyone recommend a restaurant supply store here in town? I want to check there to pick up some supplies, as I always hear those are good places to look.
West End Girl- I was born and raised in KY and I don't like sweet tea either, but man do I love burgoo! (my hubby does not understand my love for it- he thinks it's slop) You have given me the courage to try the Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka now. I think I'll whip up some for Steeplechase this weekend- just like you guys made it! What was the ratio of lemonade to vodka?
I would try L&L Restaurant Equipment on Charlotte. Here a link to a 2002 Scene article on the place:
http://www.nashvillescene.com/2002-06-06/stories/tools-of-the-trade/
I spent at least an hour last summer weaving through L&L's cavernous holdings. Quite an interesting hour to say the least.
Ooooh... Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Mr. Pink. That was a good article too. I can't wait to check it out!
I love L&L. I love to roam the aisles of spanking clean stainless steel cookware and imagine the action that the salvaged restaurant booths and tables saw. Sometimes when I'm alone back there among all the restaurant detritus, I think of Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs, when she crawls under the corrugated metal door at the storage warehouse. Every time I see that, I'm sure it's going to close and she's going to be trapped in the dark. Yeesh. Shivers. Still, I love that place.
Fresh Market is selling Prime Tenderloins (Angus). I was there today and could not believe the beef that was in the case. I think they have some of the best meat and veal in Nashville. The prime filets are 19.99 lb, but so worth it if you are a beef lover. And the beef is simply gorgeous. Incredibly fine marbling, so sexy. I prefer prime beef USDA over similar offerings of Wagyu and for about one third of the price.
http://www.morganranchinc.com/
I also purchased a couple of veal loin chops, they were fabulous. I am not a fan of the meat sold at Whole Foods. Their meat always looks like it's two or three days old. Maybe it's just me that thinks that. I dunno, but I cut meat for years with italian butchers and I know old beef when I see it. Fresh Market cuts fresh throughout the day.
Prime Tenderloin update!
Fresh Market will be selling Prime Angus whole tenderloins for 11.99lb. through Mother's Day. Cut filets will still be 19.99
Agreed about Fresh Market's appealing meat counter. I like the peppered bacon and thick-cut bacon. Been meaning to try those plump chicken cordon bleu filets and the Italian sausage.
Truth be told, I kinda prefer FM to WF--intimate scale, free coffee, cookies for the kids, etc.--but WF sure is closer and is still a lot of fun.
Mr. Pink.
Try the sausages, they are very very good. Last night I made a tomato, kale, sausage and white bean soup using FM sweet sausage. Wonderful!
Also!
Fresh herb lovers. Publix at Nippers Corner has been selling quart containers of beautiful sturdy healthy herbs that look like they've been in the ground for two months, they're so big. Lavander, purple basil, sweet basil, cilantro, tarragon, peppermint, chives, you name it. 4.99 ea. That's a really good deal especially if you do not have the time to nurse seedlings.
When in Atlanta, I always go to Malaya [(404) 609-9991, 857 Collier Rd Nw, Atlanta, GA 30318]. It’s near the IKEA and has EXCELLENT food. It is pan asian, but delicious. I’ve recommended it to several people and get many thanks from those who eat there. In Vegas I recommend eating at Ping Pang Pong. I ate at several other more expensive Asian establishments but didn’t see other Asians eating at those places, but I did at Ping Pang Pong!!! It’s fabulous!!!! They bring around carts filled with small plates of this and that. I recommend eating those things because they’re cheap and you won’t be able to eat your entrée one you fill up on that stuff! It’s located inside of a cheap casino which I believe is the Golden Nugget. I know it’s the one next to the Rio. Highly worth it! It’s what Chinese food should taste like!
Fresh Market is the place for FRESH ground lamb.
BTW...I am not an FM employee although you may think so by the way I promote them. I just like that store.
Fresh Market in Chapel Hill NC on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired. The Brentwood store has really nice employees, good service, along with very good deli/ meat/seafood/produce/bakery and CLEAN bathrooms (Whole Foods are you listening???)
