Friday, October 29, 2010
Wine Wandering Wino: Wining Your Way Down Main Street
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Advance tickets are available online at www.WineDownMainStreet.com and are also available at several area businesses, including Hallmark Volkswagen, Faye Snodgrass Gallery, What’s in Store, Yarrow Acres and the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County.
The Downtown Franklin Merchants will again host thousands of consumers during the one of the most unique wine tasting events in the area. A complete list of participating merchants is listed on the event website at
www.winedownmainstreet.com. There will be approximately 40 wine tasting stations featuring hundreds of wines and 20 area restaurants. Tickets include all wine, beer and food tastings.
Since 2001, Wine Down Main Street has raised more than $840,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County and Fairview Boys & Girls Club. Both Clubs are United Way agencies and members of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
Open Thread Weekly Open Thread Wants a Bag of Kit Kats for Halloween
Posted by Nicki Wood on Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 7:38 AM
Got a little carried away by pumpkin enthusiasm and carved it on Oct. 15 (photo at right). With the warm weather, it became a mold-spore factory by Oct. 25, so we had to carve another. Which is how we discovered that Harris-Teeter has pumpkins for $6.99, rather than $20 at a roadside stand.
Holiday-wise, though, I've moved on, and we're testing turkey recipes — this week's was a brined, rubbed and smoke-roasted turkey recipe from the pages of Saveur. Complete success — crisp, bronze, smoky skin and juicy meat.
Also this week, Bites got word that the Uncle Bud's Catfish, across from Martin's Barbecue in Nolensville is really good, which wasn't our memory of Uncle Bud's. Can anyone here confirm or deny this impression?
And you? Did you shop the Farmers Market on its debut night last week (best.idea.ever). Are you going to the Haunted Loft Halloween party in the Gulch? And will you then drop by the new Gulch location of the Turnip Truck?
Come on, have a candy corn and tell the open thread what's in your Halloween candy bowl.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
News / Tombstones / restaurant openings On and Off the Menu, October Edition
Posted by Nicki Wood on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 9:33 AM
If you've missed the drama, here is the spark notes version: an establishment wanting to serve beer within 100 feet of a residence formerly had to go through the planning commission, pay $1,900 and wait four months. It was a process that aided in demise of Rosario's, the predecessor of Taco Mamacita.
Now, a restaurant that already has a license to serve liquor can apply for a beer permit. The neighbors are notified, and the council representative can offer a resolution that can be approved on first reading, if all goes according to plan. Schmoove! Buon appetito!
• Remember Bill's Catfish on Highway 12 in Ashland City? No? Well, it's been closed a while so that's understandable. The location is busy again, operating as Stables, a family restaurant with a sports bar attached. The restaurant was opened by Ginger Lewis and investor Joe Davis, who also has an interest in South Street and Bound'ry. The team brought over a South Street chef, so if you love South Street, go see what's possible with turkey and dressing, meatloaf and steaks. Or do like most diners and get the No. 1 seller: catfish. Hey, people around here have long memories.
• If you're looking to open a restaurant, there's a killer location available in the Village. Veranda restaurant, which opened in March, has been evicted from its spot at 2000 Belcourt Avenue, formerly home of The Trace and Faison's. Former Stockyard owner Wayne Fricks was behind the eatery.
• More sad news: Sweet Tea Diner, a meat-and-three on Nolensville Road near Harding Place, has closed. Marty and Lisa Hennis filed for liquidation of the restaurant's assets to pay accumulated debts. Sweet Tea was just about the only home cooking in that part of town — I know the neighbors will miss it. Best of luck to Marty and Lisa.
HT Adam Dread
Retail Bravo Gelato, You Are So Adventurous
Posted by Nicki Wood on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 7:41 AM
Hey, I won a Twitter contest! And the prize was a pint of Bravo Gelato's experimental corn, chipotle and lime gelato.
I love that BG is nimble enough to try small batches of experimental flavors. Just a couple of days ago, they asked Twitter followers what flavors would be good for a test-batch. I love how closely BG communicates with its customers. And their gelato flavors are mostly beyond deliciousness itself.
So I felt like I'd won the lottery when I picked up my corn, chipotle and lime. It's got that velvety BG texture, and it has a mild corn taste, with the surprise of pulverized corn hulls for another layer of texture. It was mild and mellow, tasting like a cross between eggnog and coconut. Of course we ate it all, though it wasn't the knockout I expected.
I was trying to think who would seek out this flavor. It's a fun surprise that would be good for someone wanting to shock a friend. It has vegetables where you don't expect them, so it'd be good for little kids. It would be the perfect ending to a late-summer corn dinner.
But the flavor-cravers who haunt BG and similar specialty places — they would expect more lime, and maybe a touch more chile. When next year's corn crop comes around, I hope a retooled corn, lime and chipotle gelato makes an appearance.
Events Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off Slated for Saturday October 30
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 5:51 AM
The Chili Cook-Off is one of Franklin Tomorrow’s annual fundraisers and has become a favorite feature of Pumpkinfest. As Chili Cook Off Chairman Lisa Gregory says, “In addition to enjoying great chili, we enjoy the team spirit and friendly competition of community groups, businesses, restaurants and non-profits who come together at this event as part of their commitment to our City and the work of Franklin Tomorrow.”
The 13 Chili Cook-Off Teams will cook to earn bragging rights for Best Chili, Best Booth Design, Team Spirit and The People’s Choice Awards. Winners will be announced throughout the day. Voting for The People’s Choice award ends at 2:30 p.m.
Competing this year will be first-time entrants AAA Auto Club South, Deer Run Retreat, First Community Mortage Inc, Vanderbilt Legends Club, 31 South Grille, Merridee’s Breadbasket, BooneDocks Distribution, Franklin Canoe & Kayak Company and previous winners Against the Grain 180 Program, VIP Williamson County Magazine, Franklin Firefighters Association L3758, Boxwood Bistro, and Franklin Men’s Club.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Events Sushi Master Masahiko Yanagihara to Offer Free Demonstration at Austin Peay This Friday October 30
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Best of all, guests will be able to enjoy a few samples of the sushi Chef Yanagihara prepares at this free event that is open to the public. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see a real craftsman at work.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Austin Peay State University
Morgan University Center, Rm 303/305
2 - 4 PM FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Seating is limited
For more information, call (615) 340-4300 x172
Wine Wine Wednesday — Free Terralsole Tasting Tonight at the Icon in the Gulch
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 8:19 AM
But if you want to brave the masses, here are the details. Jeanne Boone of Boonedocks Distribution, Inc. has invited Athena Bollag from Terralsole to visit Nashville and discuss her portfolio of fine Italian red wines from the Montalcino region. Originally from California, Athena is a world-renowned violin player with a strong background in wine as the result of her proximity to the Napa Valley. On a musical tour of Tuscany, she met her husband Mario at his winery near the hilltop town on Montalcino. Home to the noble Brunello wine and the slightly less noble Rosso di Montacino, this region produces some of the finest Sangiovese wines in all of Italy.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
People / Restaurants F. Scott's Promotes Ramquist to Chef de Cuisine
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Ramquist, who has worked at F. Scott's for five years, was promoted from sous chef to replace Will Uhlhorn. However, Uhlhorn is staying in the company and the neighborhood. He and F. Scott's co-owners Wendy Burch and Elise Loehr have opened a sister restaurant, Table 3, in space next to the Green Hills 16 movie theater. Table 3 is an ambitious French-influenced bistro/brasserie.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales culinary school in Virginia, Ramquist says he plans to keep F. Scott's on the path set by Uhlhorn. But he also hopes to begin "trying some new things, expanding our local sources even more and pushing the envelope a bit,” Ramquist said in a release.
Drinks / Events Crown Royal Reigns Over Special Dinner at The Palm
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 6:58 AM
So if you want to experience an evening of true Americana, consider attending the Crown Royal Affair at the Palm Restaurant downtown at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2.
Chef Lee Morris has created an original menu of tastings to pair with the Crown Royal Canadian Whisky family. Check out these delectable options:
Restaurants A Jewel Box on the Salad Plate at tayst
Posted by Nicki Wood on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 5:29 AM
Anyway, on a table crowded with fine drink and food, this pretty salad demanded attention. The little teeny late-season tomatoes in assorted colors, the bold drizzle of balsamic reduction, the brilliant white dollops of mellow goat cheese.
At the end of the sunny and hot late-October day, the salad was a reminder that summer isn't quite done with Middle Tennessee, thank goodness.
