Lannae's Food and Travel

A Desert Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:34:00 +0000

D only had one day off during the recent biz trip to Abu Dhabi, and D really wanted to enjoy the area, so D went on a UAE desert safari. Included was off roading on dunes, camel riding, sand boarding, dune buggy riding, trying on traditional outfits, henna tattoos, partaking in a really fantastic regional food buffet, hookah pipe smoking, viewing belly dancing, and lastly heading home. How the trip worked was D and crew got a desert tour outfitter to arrange the trip. The desert tour outfitter showed up at the hotel with a bunch of SUVs to drive the crew to the dunes about 80Km south of Abu Dhabi. There is a really good paved road most of the way. The SUV drivers stopped the cars right before entering the sand and deflated the tires. The drivers got back into the cars and started driving the rest of the way to camp site through the sand dunes. As D said, it was like an SUV roller coaster ride over the sand dunes for about 1/2 hr before getting to the camp.

camels for camel rides

The dunes for dune riding in SUVs

Buffet line after all the camel and dune riding fun

D's plate

D enjoyed the sandy fun and the buffet. The buffet was extensive and includes beef and lamb kebabs, kefta, and grilled chicken. To accompany the meats were rice pilaf, tabouli, hummas, olives, shirazi salad, spiced mixed veggies, grilled eggplant, and French fries and cole slaw for the American guests.

Happy New Year of the Dragon!

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Happy New Year of the Dragon!!

Good bye year of the bunny.

(photo by Jenni Palmer of one of her bunnies)

Guest Blogger D

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

It is no secret that I have flown in and out of CLE dozens of times over the past decade. I love Cleveland, I love the food scene, and I love our Great Lake Erie. When I was getting out of school, my pals all wanted to go to big cities to work like NY, Chicago, L.A. San Fran, Boston, and I wanted to go to Cleveland. There is no better place in the summer than Cleveland. The sun is shining, the kids are happy, there is low humidity, and the farmers markets are a bounty to behold. THEN there is winter, and I just am not a winter girl anymore.

Besides all the fun things to do in Cleveland, there is one of the best hospital systems in the USA, the Cleveland Clinic. Now, UAE has partnered with CC to create an uber hospital system in the UAE in the state capital city of Abu Dhabi in the state of Emirates. The best of the best of CC have flown over to Abu Dhabi to consult and direct the creation of the best hospital in the world. As an aside, if you ever find yourself in the Persian Gulf area, and in need of a hospital visit, feel assured by going to the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for medical help because it will be the best designed hospital in the world. Back to the story, as I stood in line at the CLE airport, I heard the best of cardiology taking to the best of files management discussing the best airlines to get into Abu Dhabi from CLE. Everyone says Singapore Air, but most take Qatar Air because they have the most direct flights into Abu Dhabi.

Well, I just so happen to have a pal, I will call D, who works for the CC who is representing the best of the best of the department. D is flying back and forth to Abu Dhabi to advise on the best of the best of setting up the department. D is taking Qatar Air because it is the shortest trip, 14 hrs or so one way. D tells me Qatar Air is terrific and ranked #3 in service, comfort and luxury. I have taken only USA based airlines to Hawaii and Europe, and they are NOT winning any awards in comfort or luxury, rather it may beat out school buses for comfort, but not much else.

Here is what my pal D has to say about how nice it was to take Qatar air. After hearing conversations about how much greater Singapore Air is, Singapore Air must be great because Qatar Air was that good, in D's opinion.

Qatar Air Western style breakfast

Breakfast included mushroom crepes with a baked tomato, chicken sausage, roasted corn hash browns, croissant, and wheat roll. There was sides of fresh pineapple, grapes, melon, yogurt, cheese, butter, jams and crackers. D said it was just very tasty, and no one is going to starve on this plane trip.

Granted it was only 6 hrs from Dallas to Maui on my last longer trip, but there was NO FOOD offered on that domestic flight, let alone fresh pineapple and chicken sausage. I see a check plus for Qatar Air

Qatar Air vegetarian Eastern style dinner

On the first flight we had two choices for dinner entrees, Creole Chicken with roasted new potatoes and veggies or Channa Masala with basmati rice and mixed vegetables in a mild curry sauce. I opted for the Punjabi dish. The airline’s version of channa masala was mashed chickpeas with mild spices mixed with spinach. The sides included a mixed bean salad that was vinegary but not sweet like American Three Bean Salad, Raita dipping sauce, a roll and Thai Rice Pudding for dessert. There was a tiny container of Indian-style pickled vegetables (achar) and a small box of crackers, butter, cheese and a piece of chocolate. There was also a small packet of Indian Mouth Freshener (fennel, anise and other seeds). It was a very interesting meal! Much more than you would ever expect on a U.S. airline.

Yes, I agree this is way more than you would ever expect on U.S. airline is correct because most U.S. airlines on domestic flights have done away with all meals! My 6 hour flight to Hawaii, without any meals offered, AND I did not have any food with me because it is illegal to bring fresh foods into the state of Hawaii, I was hungry and mad.

Qatar Air meat dinner

Dinner was a traditional local dish of boneless chicken bites baked in red, spicy jasmine rice with mixed vegetables in a spicy sauce on the side. It was served with a mini pita and a dinner roll, a small serving of hummus topped with an olive, a salad of cucumbers, shredded carrot and onion in a mild vinegar dressing and a creamy blueberry topped dessert. As usual, we had crackers, butter, cheese and a chocolate truffle.

Well, it looks like D is not going to starve on the flights back and forth from the US and UAE. I think it will be a delicious trip every time.

Budda C

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:20:00 +0000

oysters

ginger scallion lobster

Off the beaten path from Boston restaurants is a little place called Budda C in Brookline. This place is located a couple miles west of downtown Boston, and a few blocks east of Coolidge Corner Brookline in a fairly residential area. The T Green Line C has a stop right outside the restaurant. Budda C is really slick inside, the decor is Chinese Asian inspired with red, white, black and gold and modern minimalism as well. The low volume music in the background is industrial. I really love this place. But, it is also in a slight cursed location because it isn't in a high foot traffic area, and doesn't have the same walking traffic as other restaurants do in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge. The upswing is that the food is really good here, and there isn't a wait. I hope this delicious restaurant thrives long enough for my next visit to Boston.

Honestly, I went back to Budda C on two evenings in a row on Monday and Tuesday. Yup, that is how much I like this place. Budda C has really good specials on Monday and Tuesday which is twin lobsters for $20 and oysters for $1/per. Since I don't trust oysters in Nashville, except at Fish and Co, and I can't really get lobster in Nashville at all, I jumped on the opportunity to get these dishes and at a special price. What a good yummy deal!

The atmosphere here is also something I like too. It is hip and modern, and let's me suspend my disbelief of who I am. I look like some geeky version of a suburban soccer mom, but when I I was seated at Budda C, I became (in my mind) the hip, urban, skinny jean and pearl earring wearing Bostonian instead. Not bad for the price of two discounted dinner prices in a row.

The Best Little Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:10:00 +0000

The Best Little Restaurant

13A Hudson St

Boston, MA

617-338-4988

the sign

bean sprout greens

I once called Boston home. It has been many years since I called Boston home, and a lot has changed. The restaurants I liked are gone, the old buildings I liked have been renovated or torn down and a bigger building has been built, a major highway once there is now hidden and a city park, and there is a new subway line that I have never ridden on before. So many changes that I really have no idea what to do or where to go to get the best anything.

So, I told my mom that I wanted Chinese food in Boston Chinatown, and the old restaurant favorites of mine are long gone, making way for new ventures. She said to me, ok, let's go to the best little restaurant in Chinatown. I said, "Sure, what is the name of the restaurant so I can Yelp or Urbanspoon search it?" She said, "It is just the best little restaurant in Chinatown, ok." I asked again, and her reply was the same. It was like playing Who's on First. So, I let it go, and didn't search on the restaurant. To my surprise, the restaurant name is The Best Little Restaurant.

While in Boston, I wanted to get all the food I can't get in Nashville. We ordered Cantonese style roasted duck, garlic and scallion lobster, and mung bean sprout greens with garlic and salt. These are some of my favorite yummies. The lobster was a twin lobster deal for $15. The lobster was right off the boat from the dock in Boston, and was just delicious. While in Boston, I could eat lobster from the dock everyday. In Nashville, there are grocery store lobsters, but what bacteria is in the water in the tank and how long have the lobsters been there. It is just not right to eat a lobster that has been sitting in TN tank cared for by people who don't know a thing about lobsters.

The mung bean greens were tasty too, and similar to ong choy, long stem and water cress style green. I love the deceptively simple preparation of the garlic and salt green that can only be had in a restaurant with someone who knows how to cook in a very hot wok. Since I have an electric stove at home, I cannot get the BTUs hot enough to cook greens in this manner. I must wait for greens like this when I visit Chinatowns in Boston, S.F., L.A., N.Y., Chicago and Atlanta. I long for greens prepared this way.

I think we should have stopped at these 2 dishes for just the two of us, but we ordered Cantonese style roasted duck too because I cannot get that here in Nashville, and every attempt I have made (but one) to make it (it is a multi-day process) has ended in failure. I much rather not disrespect a duck, so I just don't attempt to make roasted duck anymore. Well, this duck was ok, but wasn't the best I have had. I am not sure if it was because I was full, and didn't want to eat anymore (so food becomes unappealing when full) or if it was just ok duck. I have a feeling that it was because I was so stuffed, I just didn't want to eat anymore.

The portions here are big, and we walked away with to-go boxes full of lobster, greens and duck. I hope my mom enjoyed many more meals from the leftovers.

Calling All Fruities!

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:23:00 +0000

Locavore Fruities of Nashville Listen Up! There is a new fruit farm in town! You read that right Fruit!

The new fruit farm is Stewart Orchard up in Bells Bend, the northwest area of Davidson County.

There is a delicious way you can help Stewart Orchard get up and running. They need some start up capital to buy some fruit trees and bushes and plant them. What they have in mind is that you offer a dollar amount this year, and you get local farm fresh fruit each year for 5 years.

The bonds will be issued as follows:

For $30, you may select one item from the following list.
For $60, you may select two items from the following list.
For $100, you will receive all three items plus a special gift

And the items are:
Two quarts of blackberries
Five pounds of peaches
One peck of apples

The bearer of the bond will receive their selected items every year for FIVE YEARS from the issuance of the bond, which will begin in June of 2012. Crop losses will be taken into account, with the bond simply extending for one more year. That is a lot of fruit! I mean yummy! So let's take a look at the break down, if you offer $30, you will get 10 quarts of black berries (average $3/quart very good deal) or 25 lbs of ripe peaches ($1.20/lb also a very good deal), or 5 pecks (5 heaping basket) of apples. There are a variety of apples to select, of which Arkansas Blacks are one of them. Arkansas Blacks are dark burgundy red and tart apples, excellent for an afternoon snack. That is a lot of fruity goodness.

If you are interested in helping your local agriculture expand by purchasing a fruit bond, please contact Stewart Orchard. You may mail a check and your selected item list (3305 Bell Street Ashland City, TN 37015). You may call anytime and Tatum and Jobeth would be happy to speak with you (615-792-9829). Stewart Orchard is even UPTOWN enough to take your credit card! (this is what I did with my bon, and it is super easy!) Or you may email Stewart Orchard: stewartorchard11@gmail.com

OK, so here is the deal, when Stewart Orchard Bells Bend is up and running, it will be a Pick Your Own fruit farm. It will be a nice place to take kids for a visit to pick fruit, a great place for apple cider in the fall, and a great place to go without driving very far from downtown Nashville. 15 minutes drive from downtown and you will be at Stewart Orchard.

I really can't wait for this fruit farm to open. Fruit has been the hardest local food group for me to find on a regular basis. Stewart Orchard will be quite helpful to me to get local fruit into my home. I will likely learn to can some pears and freeze some berries for the cold winter months when fruit is hard to come by. Thanks Stewart family! I am waiting with baited breath!

Happy New Year 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:27:00 +0000

bacon jam puff pastry treats

Happy New Year!

May the new year bring you happiness,

health and prosperity.

We are invited to a New Year's Day potluck and I decided to make bacon jam puff pastry treats. I got some bacon jam from a pal of mine, and I think this is the recipe for bacon jam. When I run out of bacon jam, I will be making more of it from that recipe. What is not to love about bacon jam, there is maple syrup, bacon and onions, one of the trinity of flavor perfection for salty, sweet and savory. Anyway, as simple as simple can be, I cut out little bite sized puff pastry pieces, and then I topped each with a small dollop of bacon jam. I baked the puff pastry in the oven as directed. The result is a really delicious bite sized treat.

Remember Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:49:00 +0000

Autumn 2008 at my local grocery store

Does anyone in Nashville remember the 2008 autumn season when there were vibrant leaf colors all over town? I remember driving, walking, jogging down our roads and being in awe at the beautiful fall colors. I am hoping that 2011 autumn season will bring the same.

Gallatin Rd is the New Porter Rd

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:43:00 +0000

A quick update, I stopped into Porter Road Butcher shop today during their soft opening. PRB was going to be on Porter Road, but took a detour to 501 Gallatin Rd, at the corner of Calvin and Gallatin, near the new Aldis. This is the only real butcher shop for at least 25 miles around. The meats here are from local organic farms.

I got a standing rib roast to cook up tonight for dinner. The beef is 21 day dry aged. I got to see the whole piece of rib roast, and was able to get the size cut I wanted, and I am thrilled. I am going to use an English prime rib dry rub and let it stand that why in fridge for a couple hours before I start roasting it. To accompany the rib roast will be rice pilaf, stir fried local bio dynamic organic mustard greens and butternut squash, and local bio dynamic organic salad greens made of mazuni, arugula, Boston bib and red leaf. We will likely pop open a Matanzas Creek red, but we don't know which one yet. Yeah, another typical Friday night dinner (ha ha just kidding).

Update Dec 4, 2011: I might have slightly over cooked the beef to medium instead of rare to medium rare. The beef was delicious anyway. I got some beef demiglace and heated that up with some Matanzas Creek Cab, local garlic, and herb de Provence to make a sauce. The beef was really good. The smell, texture and flavor is that of beef we remember from our childhood. While eating the meat, it was one of those sensations of familiarity from days gone by. I gotta get another roast sometime soon.

Local is Where I Go

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:38:00 +0000

Sandusky Bay Farmer's Market

Jackson St Parking Lot

Downtown Sandusky, OH

Wednesdays 3-6 pm

during the growing season

Goodbye Sandusky Bay Farmer's Market 2011, see you again in May or June 2012.

Port Clinton peaches

It was an exceptional year for peaches in North Ohio this year. Peaches were plentiful, sweet and flavorful. Last year, there was a freeze (and I think flood) after the bloom, and killed any chance of local peaches. This year, every chance I got, I went to the Sandusky Bay Farmer's market and bought farm fresh peaches. One of the days, everyone in my group were standing around eating these peaches for a snack. Seriously, everyone was saying, "yum" or ,"Ohio peaches are just the best this year!" with big smiles on their faces. It was a perfect moment of contentment as we ate our snack before moving on with our day. These peaches, so fleeting, are now all eaten, and only a memory in my mind, and a wish for another perfect peach growing season next year.

Perkins blackberries

This was a great fruit growing season in N. Ohio this year. The blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries have been outstanding. These are the last of the blackberries for me for the season. I hoarded these, and did not share the pint of blackberries with the crew. These sweet and juicy blackberries were my secret little snack in the evenings.

Local corn

I think this corn was from the Milan area of Ohio. It was picked that morning of my purchase. I got a 1/2 dozen. I bring Ziploc brand Zip and Steam bags with me when I travel, just in the case I can steam up some local veggies, like this corn. 3 minutes on high in the Zip and Steam bags, and I had a really nice focal point to my daily diet.

Local corn

It has been such a wonderful growing season this year in N. Ohio, and I ate really well while in N. Ohio because of the offerings from local farmers at the Sandusky Bay Farmer's Market. I look forward to next year's market and what I yummy local organic foods I can taste!

Really Good Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:06:00 +0000

This guy goes where I go to eat, and he even gets the same dishes I get!

Yum!

Enjoy the video!

It's Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It isn't a good Thanksgiving meal until something gets burnt. It isn't a REALLY good Thanksgiving meal until something catches on fire! As pictured above, the burnt and recently caught on fire garlic bread made with Sloco locally baked bread, locally grown Barefoot Farmer biodynamic organic garlic and Italian parsley, local JD Milk home churned butter, and salt.

Recipe for burning bread

Put butter, garlic, parsley and salt on bread.

Toast in the oven for a few minutes.

Turn on the broiler for a few seconds to finish.

Forget the bread is under the broiler.

Do other things while bread is burning.

Look into the oven and see bread on fire.

Pull flaming bread out of the oven and douse with a soaking wet towel

Put smoldering bread out on the front step.

Turn fan on and fan all the smoke out of the house.

Laugh and enjoy.

A Day in the 'Burgh

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:54:00 +0000

I learned that Pittsburgh is the only city with 3 major sports teams with the same team colors. That is right the Penguins, Pirates and the Steelers all are black and gold. So, many places in the city sells black and gold stuff. Yes, even the Mexican market sells black and gold chips.

Besides black and gold things available in the 'Burgh, there are some really really good food made in the traditional ways. Where I hang out in the city, there are virtually no chain restaurants. There are a lot of independently owned restaurants making traditional recipes, and there are a lot of independently owned specialty food stores that rock.

Olives

Wine

Parma Sausage Company, house made air dried prosciutto - Do I dare say this, the domestic Parma Sausage Company air dried prosciutto tastes better to me than Parma Italy prosciutto. It also costs a whole lot less than the Italy variety. I brought back about 10

lbs of dried cured salami and Parma Sausage Company prosciutto. I am in love with these meats.

Cheese from Pennsylvania Macaroni Company is the best cheese experience one can have. PennMac has the most extensive cheese counter in the USA. Thank goodness they mail deliver. If you are ever in the 'Burgh, go on a Saturday afternoon to the cheese counter at PennMac and fully experience the life of cheese. This trip, we got an Italian sheeps milk truffled cheese, an aged piave and a young piave.

Dinner - my pals have 1/2 a cow in the freezer. The meat is from the 4H cow they viewed at the local county fair, went to the farm where the boy walked the cow 2 miles every day, and went to learn more about the boy who raised their meat. Really, this beef was tender and delicious. Thanks 4H.

Glutton Free Clementine Cake. It think the cake is made from almond flour, clementines, and sugared clementine rinds. We called it Clementine Crack.

What I Saw in Boston

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

I recently went back to my home town of Boston. I got really lucky for the weather and travel. I went the day after the record breaking October 2011 snow storm, so my plane was on time, and full of people who were bumped from their snowed out flight from the day before. I landed, and downtown Boston snow had melted and it was actually felt warmer than Nashville. I made it to my destination, still within the urban zone, and there was plenty of power, hot water for showers, food, light etc. I turned on the TV, and west and north of Boston, people were without power, and the temps were dropping to 32F over night. It would be nearly a week for power to be restored because so many power line came down.

Since I was so very lucky to be in the Boston downtown area, I had all the luxuries that come with having power, so I got to enjoy myself! I decided to take some time to be a tourist, which I have not done for probably over 30 years. It was a delight! Here is some of what I saw.

Massachusetts State House

I love the gold dome

Hallow's Eve head

I93 Park. I93 used to be an overhead highway that ran right through downtown Boston. The highway divided Downtown Boston from the Famed North End. There was a dank, dark, drippy, drudgery, smelly, trashy walkway under I93 for as long as I could remember. To get to the North End was tricky because it was so disgusting. Then through the 1990s and 2000s, the big dig happened and I93 went underground and the gross disgusting walkway was reclaimed as a park. I93 has some problems, but the park is not one of them. The park as really opened up the North End making it look so much nicer!

In 1976, the Nation's Bicentennial, the Freedom Trail was installed throughout the city. This trail takes walkers to some of the historic "must see" places in the Boston. Many of the places to stop were marked by a marker like the one I photographed. Most of the sidewalk markers have been vandalized or stolen. This one has survived because it is near the end of the Freedom trail, where most Americans don't make it because they are too tired to go on to get to this point.

At Old North Church is still a working church. On the church grounds is a memorial in memory of the men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq during this war. There is one dog tag hanging for every dead soldier.

Hubway - the short ride bike rental experiment

Shaw, some revolutionary war hero

New England Holocaust Memorial

Haymarket Pizza - really spiffed up and looking good. This street used to be where farmers would pull up their horse drawn carts to sell fruits and veggies to the public and grocers. This building was more like horse stables, than it was a modern building. When I was in high school, Haymarket Pizza used to just be a window with a wooden hinged shutter, and no sign. When they had pizza, the shutter was propped open, and it is $0.50 per cheese slice, and $0.75 for pepperoni slice. The slices were big, hot and floppy, and perfect for a filling lunch. The price was right too. When they ran out of pizza, they would take the prop off the shutter, the shutter would slam shut, and you would have to wait until the next day business day to get a pizza. Well, things have changed, and Haymarket Pizza looks like a real deal pizza business with a sign now. The prices are still extremely reasonable, only $1.25 per slice. Now that is still is a good deal for lunch!

Paul Revere statue

MADD about Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:02:00 +0000

MADD About Tea, Nashville

Sunday Nov 13 12:30-3:30 pm

Shamblin Theatre

Lipscomb University

3901 Granny White Pike

Nashville, TN

www.MADDAboutTea.org

facebook: MADD About Tea

cost $35 single, $65 double

click here to get your tickets

Come join the MADD hatter tea party and try a variety of teas (for real, tea tasting)! Because it is a Madd hatter tea party, wear your craziest hat and win the best hat contest! Craft Store here I come! I need to make me a MADD as a hatter hat! So, how the crazy hat part is going to work is that there will be a Photo Booth set up during the event to get your hat photo taken. For the next week, Nov 14 - 21, the photos will be on the MADD About Tea Facebook page and the top 3 hat photos with the most "Likes" will win a prize!

Also included in this event is a silent auction including items from the fabulous list: Alegria Boutique, Elizabeth Sulkowski, Hilton Inn Downtown, J Bangs Hair Salon, J McLaughlin, Joseph Sulkowski, Kali Yuga Yoga, Kundalina Rinsing Yoga, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, MADD, Margot Cafe, Nashville Predators, Nuvo Burrito, Portland Brews, Rose Pepper Cantina, Sambucca, Silly Goose, The Dog Spot, and the Frist Center.

OK, about MADD, they are a group which protects people from drink driving, and supports victims and survivors of drunk driving. Did you know, on average, one person dies everyday in the Tennessee by the driving hands of a drunk driver. Sadly, statistics show that 1/3 of us will be a victim of drunk driving. MADD is trying to reduce this statistic. Do your part, don't drink and drive, get a ride with a designated driver, and get home safely.

Taste of Nashville Winner...

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:47:00 +0000

Thank you for entering the contest for 2 ticket to the Taste of Nashville Event. Don't let this stop you from going. Please buy your tickets in advance. Here are some details:

When: Friday November 18 7:00 pm - November 19 1:00 am

Where: The Cannery Ballroom, 1 Cannery Row off of 8th Ave So.,

Tickets: $50 in advance, $60 at the door, $75 VIP

NOW ON TO THE WINNER!

IT IS RANDOM NUMBER 9!

HETTAR7!

Thank you Hettar7 for the heads up for Cafe Rakka. I plan on trying Cafe Rakka in the coming year and blog about it! I plan on trying all the suggestions everyone left!

Chinese in the MS Delta

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:40:00 +0000

"Chinese came to America in the late nineteenth century in search of the fabled Gam Sahn or Golden Mountain. When they arrived to the alluvial plains of the Mississippi Delta all they found was back-breaking agricultural work. First introduced to the region as indentured servants by planters during Reconstruction, these early Chinese sojourners (mostly from the Guangdong or Canton province) soon became disenchanted with working the fields. They moved off the plantations. Some left to go back home to China, but others stayed and opened small neighborhood grocery stores. Serving as an alternative to plantation commissaries and catering to a predominately African American clientele, the Chinese American grocer was a mainstay in many Delta neighborhoods well into the 20th century." An oral history recorded by the Southern Foodway Alliance, photos and interviews by Jung Min (Kevin) Kim.

Frieda Quon, who offered an oral history, is from Greenville, MS. My father's parents immigrated from the Canton Region of China to Greenville, MS in search of the Golden Mountain. Some of Frieda's story is the story of my family. The difference between Frieda and my father and 3 of his siblings is that my family decided to leave Mississippi and never to return. I was born and raised in the North, and never did my parents ever take me to the South, and never to MS when I was a kid. I am guessing they did not take me to MS and the South because it was a hard life for my father, and he left MS the 1st day he could, and never planned on returning. If we were going on vacation, we were going to Wyoming, Hawaii, and California, etc and there wasn't time for Greenville, a town that my dad didn't want to see again. The 1st time I was in the South was the day I moved to Nashville. The 1st time I stepped foot into MS was 5 years ago, and I have yet to visit the Delta. It is not that I don't want to visit, it is the opportunity has not yet presented itself. Visiting Greenville is on my list of a "must see". I look forward to finding Frieda, and I think she knows my family. I look forward to finding the corner where my Grandmother's grocery store was, and seeing where my father was born. I look forward to seeing and knowing where my father's family first immigrated to in the USA.

Houston

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:36:00 +0000

I flew into Houston a couple months ago, and flew near some of the big fires engulfing Texas. One of the fires was so massive, I could not see the ground through the smoke for probably 100 miles. There was another one outside of Houston that made it hard to breathe while I was in NW Houston. There were smaller brush fires all over Texas that just burned on. I have never seen anything like the Texas fires ever before. Well, here are some lighter side photos from Texas.

the dog, waiting to be petted

the kid, waiting to ride the BMX course

the Chinese style pork belly

Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce on the side

braised pork belly with bitter melon

It is Chili Garlic Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:30:00 +0000

Starting today October 24th, it is National Chili Garlic Week! How are you going to celebrate?

I am going to celebrate by giving away one bottle of Cholula Chili Garlic Sauce! Yes, that's right, you have a chance to win this super yummy liquid. The flavor isn't too hot, and it has a lot of garlicky goodness infused throughout each bottle. The Cholula Chili Garlic Sauce would be great to drizzle on most anything like a hamburger, fried chicken, pizza, salad, soup, turkey, green beans, salad, you name it, try a few drops of Cholula Chili Garlic Sauce on most anything dish. It is so good, I could drink this stuff! Well, honestly, I did drink some of this sauce last a few days ago because I really like the tangy and garlicky flavor so much! It isn't too spicy hot, so you can really taste the complete flavor profile without burning out your tastebuds.

You can check out Cholula Hot Sauces in a bunch of different ways,

You can go to the website http://www.cholula.com/

You can LIKE on facebook at facebook.com/cholula

you can get on the tweet at twitter.com/cholulahotsauce

Go to the Facebook site right now and get your $1 off coupon by clicking on the coupon link. It is fast and easy! Then, for those of you in Mid-TN, go use that coupon at your local Kroger, BiLo or Piggly Wiggly and pick up some of this delicious chili garlic sauce.

I will pick a winner by randon number based on the comment number you are!

1) All you have to do is leave a comment, leave you NAME and EMAIL, and tell me your favorite spicy and garlic dish!

2) To increase you chances, go and LIKE Cholula on Facebook, and leave another comment with your NAME and EMAIL here telling me you LIKE Cholula on Facebook.

3) To increase your chances again, get on Cholula's tweet at Twitter.com, and leave another comment with your NAME and EAIL here telling me you got on the tweet!

This contest ends on Nov 2 at 11:59 pm, and the winner will be announced on November 3rd.

Now, go out and eat some chilis and garlic, and some chili garlic to celebrate this week!

Taste of Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:53:00 +0000

THANK YOU! The contest is now closed.

Folks, get ready for "THE" autumn foodie event of Nashville
Taste of Nashville
brought to you by the Phoenix Club of Nashville benefiting
the Boys and Girls Club of Middle TN

When: Friday November 18 7:00 pm - November 19 1:00 am
Where: The Cannery Ballroom, 1 Cannery Row off of 8th Ave So.,
Tickets: $50 in advance, $60 at the door, $75 VIP

100% of the proceeds from this event goes directly to
The Boys and Girls Club of Middle TN

I am so excited! I have 2 tickets to this event that I want to give away to you! All you have to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your NAME, EMAIL and what you think is the best hidden gem restaurant in Nashville and the best dish you have tried at the restaurant.

I will have a random number generator choose the comment number for the winner of the 2 tickets to this fantastic food party! The contest will run through November 2nd 11:59 pm. I will contact the winner by email on November 3rd. If I don't hear back from winner withing 48 hours, I will move on to the 2nd winner, and so on. One comment per person please.
Even if you don't win tickets from this blog post, you can still attend by buying tickets in advance here.

OK! Now, here is more about the event! There are going to be over 30 restaurants strutting their stuff including The Patterson House, Merchants, Paradise Park, Steve's, Pied Piper, Zumi Sushi, Maggie Moo's Virago, Whiskey Kitchen, Tavern, Fidos, Sam's Nashville City Club, Melrose Pub, Puckett's, Noshville, Sambucca, Frothy Monkey, Miel, Corner Pub, 1808 Grille, The Standard, Boscos, Local Taco, Kayne, Whitfields, Chappy's, Mere Bulles, Arnold's, Sperry's and More! There is something for everyone. You may have seen me at many of these wonderful establishments because I really like the food or beverage of most of these restaurants. With all these restaurants, and more to come, offering tastes of their yummiest yums, Taste of Nashville is going to be the Nashville food event of the year!

The Phoenix Club of Nashville, the organizers of the Taste of Nashville, is really a wonderful organization with a really cool mission: To significantly impact the direction of our community youth by raising funds in a social setting that challenges young professional men to be community leaders. I need to say, the Phoenix Club of Nashville knows how to throw a food social party, and last year, this single event raised $16,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Middle TN! Now that is a lot of funds, food, and fun!

Now get your typing keypad working, and leave me a comment with your NAME, EMAIL and best hidden gem restaurant in Nashville, and enter to win a change at 2 tickets to the Taste of Nashville 2011.

Pickled Green Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:31:00 +0000

some of the last take from my organic garden

green tomatoes, cayenne and basil

fresh green tomato pickles

OK. I went to hear Sandor Katz last weekend and he is the Wild Fermentation author, and kraut, yogurt, vinegar, food preserver extraordinaire! Well, I really learned a lot, and I am not scared to try and make my own now. Basically, all one needs to make pickles is salt, liquid and cucumbers. Any veggie will do he says.

Well, I went home after the workshop, and started to close down my veggie bed. I had a bunch of basil, cayenne and green tomatoes. I thought I would like to make some fresh green tomatoes. I found a recipe on the internet, and here it is.

Boil the jar.

Rinse the tomatoes and cayenne.

the ratio is

1 pint water

1/2 cup vinegar

2 tablespoons salt

1 minced garlic

dill

bring these to a sturdy simmer and make sure all the salt is dissolved

Put tomatoes and cayenne in a sterile jar

pour hot liquid over the tomatoes and cayenne

cool on the counter

close the lid and put in the fridge

Wait at least a few days before eating

Eat within a few months

Watch for mold etc, and don't eat if mold develops

Decisons!? Which one?

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:35:00 +0000

Decisions Decisions! Which one?! 2nd Annual Music City Chili Cookoff at Centennial Park, OR the 10th Annual Leipers Fork Chili Cookoff? Remember, we went last year to Leiper's Fork - Delicious and fun! Oh which one?!

(L)Erin of Erin's Food FIles,

(L) Vivek of Vivek's Epicurean Adventure

The winner of today's lunch is the 2nd Annual Music City Chili Cook Off at Centennial Park. I had a bunch of errands to run this morning, it was getting late, it would take too long to get to Leiper's Fork, so we went to the short 2 mile trip to Centennial Park. Plus, 2 of my favorite food bloggers are showing chili at the 2nd Annual Music City Chili Cook Off, so I wanted to try their wares. Erin of Erin's Food Files made a seasonal autumn chili with pumpkin in it. Vivek of Vivek's Epicurean Adventures made a dual brisket and pork chili flavored with home made ancho chili powder. AND! Who should I see in line at Erin and Vivek's table? Tabitha food blogger from Life A La Mode. Tabitha and I were having a ton of fun trying everyone's chili!

There were a lot of other chili offerings from Susan, Bellaterra, Wild Cow, Radio Free Nashville, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, 107.5 The River, Ryan, and many more. I wonder who is going to win. My votes go to Erin, Vivek, Susan and 107.5 The River (really it is the radio station's promotion manager putting a good spoon forward for this even).

Delicious! Thanks for tasty bites everyone! I loved every single bite!

Camping Out

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

We have some friends that are trying an experiment, the really big downsize from a 2 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom camper trailer. Their 2 bedroom house isn't big in today's mcmansion standards, but it was a typical 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen home. In today's words, their house was a good starter home for a double income no kids couple. Well, they decided to see if they can live even more stealthy, now they are in a 1 bedroom, small bathroom and one all purpose room camper. The bedroom is the size of a king sized bed with a double bed in it. That leaves about 1 ft on each side of the bed to walk around the bed. To get to the bedroom, you have to walk through the bathroom. There is a really small shower and a smaller than normal toilet. The multipurpose room a short couch, a dining table, a small kitchen and enough floor space to put a yoga mat. Living like this forces them to live minimally, live neat, live clean, and live with what really matters to them.

Our friends invited out to dinner at their place. It was really great! It was a nice evening, we sat outside, and we cooked out. Hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans and berry cobbler dessert. While we were cooking and chatting, some other neighbors took to the stage that is at one end of the camper park, and played all the good 70's and 80's standards. They were just far enough away that we could speak at normal levels, and the band was good enough that we really enjoyed having the free music while we relaxed. Our friends camper is near the laundry facilities, so other neighbors walking to do laundry came by to say hello. We had a good time chatting, eating, listening and saying hello to neighbors.

RV awning lights

fire ring

cooking on an open fire

dutch oven off the coals

cobbler inside the dutch oven

Best of Nashville 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Thank you so much Nashville Scene for the honor of a nice write up in the 2011 edition of the Best of Nashville (BON)! It is just an honor, and Thank You Thank You Thank You! I thank you for inviting me to the BON party too! What a trip! The party was catered by... who else?! The BON food winners! The party was catered by the best of Nashville restaurants! Now that is a fine catered party!

The Nashville Parthenon aka BON 2011 Party Central!

Beth from Beth's Eat.Drink.Smile blog.

Beth is #1 Food Blogger (tied with me) in my book!

If you want to know about food events and good food

in Nashville and where Beth travels, check out her blog!

Best Food Truck: Grilled Cheeserie was parked outside the food tent.

The man loves the tomato soup, and I love the gluten free grilled cheese.

Best Sushi: Samurai Sushi. I agree! Love your sushi!

Best Bagel: Star Bagel.

Best Cupcakes: 1.Gigi's, 2.Cupcake Collection, 3. Fiddlecakes

Fiddlecakes has a line of gluten free desserts, WOW!

Belmont Mascot: Bruin Bear. I took a photo of Bruin Bear because he is cute, not because he is part of the great Nashville food scene. BUT, I gotta tell ya, I have eaten in the Belmont Univ student cafe multiple times, and the pizza, the hot food options, the salad bar, ice cream bar,

skillet cook to order options are really good! The staff also eats at this cafeteria too because Belmont dining service is just that good!

Last Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Lannae) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Nashville Culture Fest

Culture Fest: the food scene, there were a ton of food tents!

There were a Soul, Southern USA, Columbian, Thai, Japanese,

Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, BBQ USA, Mexican, Indian, Greek

Egyptian, Caribbean, Ethiopian, Cajun, and much more!

I will be there next year, so join me!

Culture Fest: Columbian arepas

Where can I get arepas in Nashville?

Culture Fest: Indian naan and curries

Culture Fest: panda

Culture Fest: singer

Slutwalk Nashville 2011

Slutwalk Nashville: Stop blaming the victim,

and blame the perpetrator of crime against women.