One thing becomes abundantly clear as you leave the mainland behind and drive onto the Florida Keys: Unlike other areas of Florida, The Keys seem to keep the best of their seafood for themselves. I lived in Orlando for fourteen years and was constantly irritated by the shoddy selection of seafood, even though the city is only forty miles from the Atlantic shore. Last Thursday I pulled my rental car into the parking lot of a little joint called Mrs Mac's Kitchen, on Key Largo. It was around 2pm and my crew hadn't eaten since breakfast. This place looks like your typical Florida diner. Goofy, piratey memorabilia made of sea shells and beer cans hung from the cieling, and license plates from all corners of the country were pasted to the walls. The menu was pretty large but the specials board was HUGE. Everything from Yellowtail Snapper to Key West Pink shrimp was available. We started with the smoked fish dip, which was great and followed it with crab salad, hogfish, and shrimp. The portions were ridiculously large and the food was obviously prepared with love. You get the picture. This place, like so many others in the keys, was very solid. Seriously. It's hard to screw up seafood this fresh. If you ever find yourself crusing down US1 towards Key West, give Mrs Mac's Kitchen on Key Largo a try for breakfast or lunch. You won't be sorry. http://www.mrsmacskitchen.com/Mrs Mac's Kitchen
One thing becomes abundantly clear as you leave the mainland behind and drive onto the Florida Keys: Unlike other areas of Florida, The Keys seem to keep the best of their seafood for themselves. I lived in Orlando for fourteen years and was constantly irritated by the shoddy selection of seafood, even though the city is only forty miles from the Atlantic shore. Last Thursday I pulled my rental car into the parking lot of a little joint called Mrs Mac's Kitchen, on Key Largo. It was around 2pm and my crew hadn't eaten since breakfast. This place looks like your typical Florida diner. Goofy, piratey memorabilia made of sea shells and beer cans hung from the cieling, and license plates from all corners of the country were pasted to the walls. The menu was pretty large but the specials board was HUGE. Everything from Yellowtail Snapper to Key West Pink shrimp was available. We started with the smoked fish dip, which was great and followed it with crab salad, hogfish, and shrimp. The portions were ridiculously large and the food was obviously prepared with love. You get the picture. This place, like so many others in the keys, was very solid. Seriously. It's hard to screw up seafood this fresh. If you ever find yourself crusing down US1 towards Key West, give Mrs Mac's Kitchen on Key Largo a try for breakfast or lunch. You won't be sorry. http://www.mrsmacskitchen.com/L20 Chicago - Molecular Gastronomy?
This past week, I tasked my good friend in Chicago with setting up a dinner to impress a group of local clients. The chosen venue was L20. After reading the unbelievably honorable national reviews, I was stoked to say the least. This fine establishment, located in Lincoln Park is considered by many to be one of the top restaurants IN THE WORLD. The room is unbelievable and the service, sickening. I almost felt elitist being waited on in this manner. Our table of eight came complete with it's own army of black-clad service folk and sommoliers. A waterfall babbled in the background and and the room, draped in elegance reminded me a bit of Asia De Cuba, New York's jewel of culinary fusion. I had already perused the menu on-line and knew exactly my strategic position here. It definitely involved the lamb tartar, with ebi (sweet shrimp) foam. As the food arrived and I dug in, a feeling of sickening disappointment came over me. It was the same feeling that a few previous explorations into molecular gastronomy had produced. The thing about this type of cooking is the subtle flavors and accents that are supposed to make up the soul of this style. But the problem was indentifyable from the very first bite. I absolutely, unabashedly require that my food come complete with layers and depth. I prefer dark flavors, accented with brightness and somewhere rooted in ancient culture. The food at L20? Scientific, beautiful, sterile, subtle, pretentious and........ SOUL-LESS! What a disappointment.
Milwaukee's Hinterland Gastropub
I was recently scolded by a friend for neglecting to post about this place. It was this past spring that some friends and I discovered this bastion of pleasantry as we strolled the streets of Milwaukee en route to a more well-known eatery. It was the "gastropub" sign that caught my eye. The gastropub movement is a recent one here in the states, but the concept is rooted in European culture. The idea is to pair artisanal, and sometimes local or regional beers and wines with modern pub fare in a warm and comfortable venue. You'll often find small plates and modern renditions of classic bar food (see pub burger) in such places. At this particular joint, the menu was loaded with gamey delights such as venison, quail, and bison and everything we sampled was delightful. The room was cavernous and dimly lit by flickering candles, and was clad in warm, rich woods. It sounds classic, but actually it somehow felt very modern. The local brew list was impressive too, as Milwaukee's history is deeply rooted in the art of the brew. I must say, I've been nothing if not surprised by this city's progressive, European feel. This town has done an admirable job of marrying it's old-world infrastructure with the littany of shiny, modern residential buildings that have cropped up in recent times. I think I like this place and I definitely recommend Hinterland as a place to get you nosh on as you either start or finish your evening. http://www.hinterlandbeer.com/restaurantmilwaukee.shtml
GQ Rumours and The Patterson House
First order of business: Congrats Nashville. You made GQ's top ten list of drinking cities. Thanks to our friends at Grimey's for scanning the article: http://www.thebasementnashville.com/gq.pdf
Last evening we decided to dinner hop. We would start out at Rumours East in one of our favorite hoods, East Nashville. The plan was to drive to the East Side, have a glass of wine and a couple of small plates, then drive across the river to mid-town.
The Patterson House quietly opened it's doors this spring on Division Street in the stately old house that is the former home of Patrick's and Edisto. I was beginning to think this just might be a cursed venue before this joint's rave reviews began to accumulate. Believe me, the review's are well-deserved. Upon entrance, you're greeted, carded and escorted through a veiled doorway into the dark, rich and sophisticated main bar room. We were seated at the huge bar that is the obvious main attraction here. If you've ever felt an aversion to paying eleven bucks for a drink; Get over it. I started with a Blinker. It's a bourbon and grapefruit concoction tamed with housemade bitters and rasberry syrup. It was easily the most amazing mixed drink I've EVER put to my lips. The layers of flavors blew me away and the precision with which the barstuds do their thing is unbelieveable. Did I mention the food? The chef is an alumnus of Fat Duck in London and Craft in NYC, and trust me, this ISN'T your everyday bar food. What it IS, is amazing. Confit of chicken wing, Shrimp Corndogs with curry ketchup, Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, and the already legendary ELVIS. (peanut butter, banana and bacon panini?!) Don't wait to check this place out. http://www.rumourseast.com/
http://www.thepattersonhousenashville.com/
Sausage Party
Last evening as we dined at The Local Taco in Sylvan Park, my wife and I were amused to learn a bit about the newest stripclub in Nashvegas. It wasn't until the ride home that I realized the gravity of the situation as my wife began the early stages of planning an all-girl trip. What had, at first seemed to be another all-male, gayish review, turned out to be much more. Arrow is an all-nude, all-male joint. We're talking full frontal here and it's not only our beloved gay community that's buzzing over this. Women around the city are amending their groundrules that were originally penned to keep their men away from Nashville's admirable collection of all-nude female reviews. I'm suddenly feeling inadequate and combing the mail order ads for a nice new, or slightly used Swedish penis pump. Plastic Continent
A few years back I read an article in National Geographic about the "island of debris" that has formed in the Pacific Ocean over the years. It was a truly disturbing piece and really shed some light on human's level of reliance on plastics. Today I was shocked to learn that this "island" is very quickly becoming a continent and is now TWICE the size of TEXAS. Think about that for a moment. A collection of non-biodegradable garbage twice the size of Texas. No country wants to take responsibility for this environmental catastrophe and certainly no nation wants to shoulder the burden of cleaning this mess up, if that's even possible. Take a look at the short article attached and then do your own research on this. It's amazing, but a real eye-opener as to the impact we have on our environment.
Superman
I had a conversation with a friend recently about the classic Flaming Lips tune Waiting for a Superman. It's long been a favorite of mine and has been a very popular cover song for many groups. The conversation got me wondering what well-known groups have actually covered this song. This is what I came up with: Here are four links. The first one is the original by The Flaming Lips. The second by Coldplay, Third by Fightstar and lastly, Iron and Wine. I think all are well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY_L1AzSmhUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ--mpQeAQM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxoYo6Ug_dI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LboVlPVAxLQ
Budatai
Budatai is one of my favorite dinner spots in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I love Chef Roberto Trevino's often ambitious versions of Asian-inspired dishes supercharged with Latin and Carribean flavors. From my last visit, I vividly recall doubling up on one of the best dishes of hamachi I've eaten in recent years. Chef Trevino's version came as thin sliced sashimi in piquin chili oil and garlic. It was a fantastic combination of flavors. I just recently learned that chef Trevino will be competing in the Food Networks new primetime reality series, The Next Iron Chef. He will go head to head against a group of accomplished chefs for the coveted crown, and if he wins, he'll take his place alongside Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Masahura Morimoto, Michael Symon and Cat Cora as the newest Iron Chef. We wish you luck Chef Roberto! http://www.budatai.com/
Wonderific
Many west coasters have already experienced Luna and Larry's genius. Well call me late to the party because I have just recently had my world shaken by this product that many have labeled "groundbreaking". I'm not sure that term even comes anywhere near doing this treat justice. After years of fruitlessly scouring the freezer shelves in search of a tasty yet healthier stand-in for Ben and Jerry's masterful creamwork, I've hit paydirt. In 2004, Oregon couple Larry and Luna made a major discovery. Into a $1.50 Goodwill, hand-churn, ice cream machine they put coconut milk and agave nectar and the rest is soon-to-be mainstream history. It's only a matter of time before this product becomes a household name. It's simply that good. The nutrition info is almost not believeable. The flavor? Indescribably, Unbelievably, Ridiculous!
http://www.coconutbliss.com/
If You Can Find It... Drink It!
Bluegrass Brewing Company is located in Louisville, Kentucky and makes many wonderful beers. But there aren't many brews anywhere that stack up to their Jefferson Reserve, Bourbon Barrel Stout....simply amazing. As the name implies, this stout is aged in used whiskey barrels which gives this beer complexity and depth that produce many layers of glorious flavors. It's an absolute must drink. If you can find it, drink it! http://bluegrassbrew.com/bbstout.htm
Red Pony
Last night we made the thirty minute trek south to old downtown Franklin, Tennessee for a bit of semi-fine dining at Red Pony. I must say, my expectations were on the low side thanks to a bad review by some people very close to me. It's funny how having low expectations sometimes works in your favor. Regardless, the meal was very, very good and the service was also great. From the ceviche to the grilled, blue cheese-stuffed peach that accompanied a very nicely done skirt steak, my universe was in order, if only briefly. That order started to crumble late in my meal upon the arrival of two drunken, hefty fag hags and the skinny, unkempt objects of their want. It was like a bizarro, redneck version of Ina Garten and her entourage had plopped themselves down at the most prominent table in the house for a sloshed session of Queer Abby. But it did add a little zest to the experience, and it's nice to see such eclectic groups dining on downtown Franklin's surprisingly bustling scene. Check out Red Pony Restaurant at http://www.redponyrestaurant.com/
Amarone's Little Sister
Last night I had one of the best fifteen dollar bottles of wine EVER. It's a red wine called Ripasso from the winemaker Solane Santi in the Valpolicella province of Italy. If you've ever had Amarone you'll appreciate this wine. It's a much less expensive and lighter wine that is actually made from the unpressed skins and yeast left over from making Amarone. Amarone is made from dried grapes and has a really deep and complex flavor but typically costs in the $80 - $120 range. Trust me on this one. This wine is worth the fifteen bucks, and then some.
Pickin Watanabe
Tucked away in the Riverside Village strip in funky East Nashville, TN is Watanabe Sushi and Asian Restaurant. By all accounts the food is tremendous, but what blows my mind most about this place is Hide Watanbe, the chef. It's not neccessarily his blade-wielding skills or dead-on palate that have elevated him to cult status. It could be his finger picking skills that have everyone talking. This guy is such a talented banjo picker that he's played with the likes of legends such as Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe, just to name a couple. For more info on Hide Watanbe or Watanbe Sushi and Asian Restaurant please check out The Nashville Scene's fantastic writeup at http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-02-26/news/the-wasabi-cowboy/
AGUADITO
Really good Aguadito De Mariscos could be described as anything from comforting to orgasmic. For those of you not familiar with this Peruvian delight, it's a cilantro-based seafood soup with an amazing ability to eradicate a hangover. This soup is a deep green color with a slight spice thanks to Aji Amarillos (Amarillo Peppers) and is typically served in a large bowl crowned with shellfish limbs. I can only salivate thinking about it. The best aguadito I've had to date was at a hole-in-the wall Miami restaurant located in a strip mall in little Havana called Salmon Salmon. This place doesn't have a website but you'll find it at http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/12/155784/restaurant/Little-Havana/Salmon-Salmon-Miami
A really good Peruvian friend of mine who lives in San Francisco also swears by the Aguadito at his local joint, Mi Lindo Peru at 3226 Mission St. If Peruvian food has been off your radar, shame on you! Find a Peruvian restaurant and take my advice: Aguadito De Mariscos should be the first dish on your list. Hung over or not.
The Mayan Gypsy
A good friend of mine flew into Louisville, Kentucky today. Sambles is in the music business. He coordinates tours or something in that realm, but has worked with some pretty big names. Sambles and I share a passion for animal flesh, and we once had BarBQ together that was so good it inspired him to plan his wedding around it, even though he wasn't dating anyone. He made me think of a great cafe in Louisville called The Mayan Cafe. http://www.themayancafe.com/
I First ate at this place in 99, when it was called The Mayan Gypsy. It was amazing, and the food is just as good ten years later. Chef/owner Bruce Ucan is of Mayan descent and the food has a truly authentic feel. It's in Phoenix Hill, which is a very cool, old neighborhood with great French architecture and a funky vibe. I highly recommend The Mayan Cafe to anyone whose travels take them anywhere near Louisville.
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