There are few restaurant institutions in town more beloved than Patti Myint, who is the ebullient owner of International Market on Belmont Boulevard, as well as the mother of chef Arnold Myint. Between the two of them, the Myints represent the creative spirit behind local restaurants such as PM, blvd and Suzy Wong’s House of Yum in addition to Intternational Market, which she opened in 1975 and is the spot where a generation of Nashvillians were introduced to Thai cooking. Before PM, the location on the Boulevard was briefly occupied by another Patti project known as International House, where Mama Myint cooked dishes that were more upscale and elegant than the steam table fare of the Market across the street. A little ahead of the neighborhood’s tastes at the time, International House closed before many people realized the breadth of Patti Myint’s cooking chops.
WIth the recent announcement that the Myints have sold the property that houses International Market to Belmont University, fans are realizing that the clock is ticking until the time when the college takes over the space for educational use. Rather than lament the impending hole in the culinary canon, Arnold Myint has chosen to celebrate his mom and her cuisine instead.
Coincidental with the Nashville Restaurant Week that I told you about recently, Arnold Myint is throwing a pop-up for Patti at blvd. From Jan. 15 until Feb. 3, the menu at blvd will feature dishes inspired by Patti’s cooking. Arnold describes it this way: “The dinner menu will consist of a la carte items including hits from back in her days of International House, and special pre-order requests for Mama Myint's House Salad and Pla Lad Prik (whole fried market fish.)”
Reservations are suggested, and both the famous 20-ingredient House Salad and the whole fish will require prior reservations 48 hours in advance to prepare, but walk-ins will still be welcome.
On Saturday and Sunday, the regular blvd brunch menu will be served, so you have all sorts of choices over the next two weeks. Lunch will be a combination of some smaller dishes from the dinner menu like soups and curries plus blvd stalwarts.
Arnold collaborated with his mother on the menu, and you will probably catch a glimpse of Patti there most nights during the pop-ups. I've gotten a sneak peek at some of the menu items, and they look spectacular. Arnold promises these will be aggressively flavorful versions of authentic Thai street food that will be interesting and illustrative for mast Nashville diners. In other words, no pad Thai. Instead, you'll find dishes like that whole fish dish served with Panang, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Mee Krob Noodles, Scallions, Broccoli and Fried Garlic, and a Yen Ta Fo Pink Noodle Bowl of Rice Noodle Soup with Squid, Clams, Fish Balls, Tofu, Greens, Herbs, Fermented Bean Paste in a Tomato-Sriracha-Pink Broth. If you're not ready for a full-on dinner experience, Arnold recommends trying Nua Khem, an elevated bar snack of >Thai beef jerky, Thai chili lime sauce and sticky rice along with a beer or a nice whiskey. Don't mind if I do.
As busy as Arnold Myint has been over the past couple of years with television projects and special appearances across the country during his reign as Miss Gay America, we don’t get to enjoy his work in the kitchen that often anymore, and Patti Myint’s cuisine is a rare treat that most of us don’t get to experience at its full depth. So don’t miss out on this limited opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity to share in a chef’s heartfelt homage to his mother while you treat yourself at the same time!
