Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch. It's the meal with a bad case of cankles: you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. Several restaurants in Nashville have started serving brunch on Sundays as an appetizing alternative to their everyday menus. One such restaurant that achieves a particularly classy and cohesive brunch atmosphere is Tin Angel.
Located on West End, this art deco speakeasy of contemporary cuisine has mastered the fusion of breakfast and lunch. The green eggs and ham frittata claims that Sam I Am would love it anywhere, and the same was true for my mom. Like an open-face omelette, this savory specialty was a pairing of eggs, cheese and sauteed spinach sprinkled with ham. My mom opted to substitute the ham for Tin Angel's homemade sausage and the kitchen was more than happy to oblige. Other savory options include huevos rancheros, quiche loren and several varieties of omelettes.
For those with a sweet tooth, the banana brulee French toast or waffles caribe are both excellent options. The French toast includes a lemon ricotta filling which adds just the right amount of zip and the waffles come with a banana rum syrup, turning the traditional breakfast item into more of a traditional dessert item, bananas foster. The sweet potato biscuits with cinammon butter make a nice addition to any brunch choice.
For those who just can't fathom the idea of breakfast after 10, there are also choices of soup, salad, sandwiches and even a burger. But for the mose part, Tin Angel's brunch menu is for those who can't quite decide. Breakfast or lunch, adventurous or traditional, savory or sweet, Tin Angel puts it all together into a fusion of fabulous dining.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Big Nick's in the Big Apple
When someone gives me the opportunity to go to New York City for a day, of course I'm going to take it. However, living in Nashville and not having an infinite amount of expendible income, this means a very long drive through the wee hours of the morning in a van with six other people. Needless to say after a drive like that, a person needs to eat. Enter: Big Nick's Burger and Pizza Joint.
Located on the Upper West Side, Big Nick's specializes in, you guessed it, burgers and pizza. And yes, I had a burger and, yes, it was incredible. Stuffed with bleu cheese, cooked to perfection and so big I only dared to finish half, it was everything I'd expect from a $10 New York burger but at half the price. Other impressive burger creations include the Burger Florentine with spinach, olives and feta and the Pizza Burger with mozzarella sauce on a toasted English muffin. The pizza menu is just as exotic, with toppings like tuna, clams, hot dogs and eggplant parmigiana.
When the seven of us first approached Big Nick's, we were worried. From the outside it looks like a kitchen inside with just four tiny tables on the sidewalk for customers. It was raining, and two of the tables were already taken. It looked like our best laid plans had been thwarted, but then I spotted a tiny sign on the door. "More seating in back." I figured we had come that far, we might as well check it out. When we squeezed through the narrow entry way, we found ourselves in a bustling diner with several booths and tables, two kitchen areas and headshots of famous and not-so-famous actors covering the walls. We were immediately seated, impressive for a group of seven, and handed the menu, a 27-page pamphlet printed front and back.
But if all they offer is burgers and pizza, why would they need a 27-page menu?
Because Big Nick's is so much more than burgers and pizza. Influenced by the owner's Mediterranean background, this diverse diner's menu offers a wide selection of Italian and Greek entrees like baked ziti, ravioli and souvlaki. Then there's the breakfast offerings, served all day. But perhaps the biggest selling point for us as a band was their creative and extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. Since five out of seven of us are vegetarian or vegan, finding a restaurant for all of us to enjoy takes a little thought. Big Nick's rose to the occasion, serving hot dogs, burgers, quesadillas, and sub sandwiches all made with tofu, soy or some other veggie-friendly substance. They also offer sweet potato fries and enormous salads.
So if you find yourself on the Upper West Side with a group of people who love food, no matter what kind, Big Nick's is the place to go. If you're hungry, chances are you can find something in Nick's encyclopedia (a.k.a. the menu) that you will enjoy. And if you aren't hungry, go anyway. Chances are something will intrigue you enough to give it a try. If nothing else, just sit and contemplate what might have happened to all the faces of aspiring stars staring back at you from the walls where they wait to be discovered, and maybe you'll discover a new favorite place to eat.
Located on the Upper West Side, Big Nick's specializes in, you guessed it, burgers and pizza. And yes, I had a burger and, yes, it was incredible. Stuffed with bleu cheese, cooked to perfection and so big I only dared to finish half, it was everything I'd expect from a $10 New York burger but at half the price. Other impressive burger creations include the Burger Florentine with spinach, olives and feta and the Pizza Burger with mozzarella sauce on a toasted English muffin. The pizza menu is just as exotic, with toppings like tuna, clams, hot dogs and eggplant parmigiana.
When the seven of us first approached Big Nick's, we were worried. From the outside it looks like a kitchen inside with just four tiny tables on the sidewalk for customers. It was raining, and two of the tables were already taken. It looked like our best laid plans had been thwarted, but then I spotted a tiny sign on the door. "More seating in back." I figured we had come that far, we might as well check it out. When we squeezed through the narrow entry way, we found ourselves in a bustling diner with several booths and tables, two kitchen areas and headshots of famous and not-so-famous actors covering the walls. We were immediately seated, impressive for a group of seven, and handed the menu, a 27-page pamphlet printed front and back.
But if all they offer is burgers and pizza, why would they need a 27-page menu?
Because Big Nick's is so much more than burgers and pizza. Influenced by the owner's Mediterranean background, this diverse diner's menu offers a wide selection of Italian and Greek entrees like baked ziti, ravioli and souvlaki. Then there's the breakfast offerings, served all day. But perhaps the biggest selling point for us as a band was their creative and extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. Since five out of seven of us are vegetarian or vegan, finding a restaurant for all of us to enjoy takes a little thought. Big Nick's rose to the occasion, serving hot dogs, burgers, quesadillas, and sub sandwiches all made with tofu, soy or some other veggie-friendly substance. They also offer sweet potato fries and enormous salads.
So if you find yourself on the Upper West Side with a group of people who love food, no matter what kind, Big Nick's is the place to go. If you're hungry, chances are you can find something in Nick's encyclopedia (a.k.a. the menu) that you will enjoy. And if you aren't hungry, go anyway. Chances are something will intrigue you enough to give it a try. If nothing else, just sit and contemplate what might have happened to all the faces of aspiring stars staring back at you from the walls where they wait to be discovered, and maybe you'll discover a new favorite place to eat.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Welcome home to Ellendale's
Restaurants located in old houses always appeal to me. They make me feel like I just stopped by someone's house for a cozy home-cooked meal. Of course, in most of these restaurants, it's more like I just stopped by someone's incredibly enormous and historic house for a cozy, elegant, creative and remarkably delicious home-cooked meal unlike anything I've had before. The latter is the case at Ellendale's.
Located off Donelson Pike just past the airport exit, this inconspicuous eatery offers elegance, ambiance and a menu strikingly reminiscent of the creations from Top Chef, only slightly less ostentatious. Named for the owner's great grandmother, a celebrated philanthropist, Ellendale's tries to honor her memory by welcoming the hungry and feeding them with kindness. The comfort and class of the establishment skillfully masks its somewhat unexpected surroundings (the closest thing to another restaurant in the area is a Wendy's and a gas station). Dim lighting, well-spoken servers and live jazz piano made my late dinner seem movie-worthy, and I'm sure an earlier dinner on their inviting patio in the upcoming fall weather will inevitably make its way to my calendar.
Atmosphere can speak volumes about a restaurant, but the food always ends up yelling quite a bit louder. The food at Ellendale's happens to yell in the style of a well-traveled Southern grandmother with impeccable taste for combining traditional home cooking with international and new continental cuisine.
I started out with the asiago crusted calamari and trio of dipping sauces. As a self-proclaimed calamari connoisseur, I will say it was one of the better batches I've had. Not chewy like so many, and the trio of marinara, garlic aioli and pesto sauces expanded the possibilities of this classic appetizer nicely. Paired with my glass of white zinfandel, another personal favorite, it started the evening off perfectly.
For the main course I went with an upscale version of an old standby: a glazed apple brandy pork chop. A long way from the Brady-esque pork chops and apple sauce, this perfectly prepared pork chop, topped with Vidalia onion rings and apple fries and served on a bed of sweet potatoes and spinach, was a delightful tribute to classic cuisine with a boost of sophistication. Absolutely no complaints here.
For dessert, I couldn't help but order the intriguing ganache and mascarpone agnalloti. Basically a chocolate-filled dessert ravioli, this dish reminded me of an Italian bistro and a state fair simultaneously. It was as if a pastry from an uppety cafe and a funnel cake had a love child and a star was born. Served with pistachio ice cream which was a strangely appetizing shade of green, this dessert was not only delicious, but fun to eat. The combination of hot and cold made for the cliche "party in my mouth" effect. A good time was had by all.
Other offerings at Ellendale's include exquisite salads, seafood, pasta, steak and chicken. And their homemade desserts menu keeps expanding, with five new offerings this month and options for dessert sampler plates. I did see the ice cream sampler go past my table with five colorful flavors and beautiful presentation, like a giant caterpillar of cold creamy goodness.
Ellendale's certainly merits a visit or several, and with events like the extensive Saturday and Sunday brunches, weekday happy hour with complimentary appetizers and live music nightly, you can always find an occasion to celebrate. Invite yourself in to Ellendale's house; I'm sure she would love to have you.
Located off Donelson Pike just past the airport exit, this inconspicuous eatery offers elegance, ambiance and a menu strikingly reminiscent of the creations from Top Chef, only slightly less ostentatious. Named for the owner's great grandmother, a celebrated philanthropist, Ellendale's tries to honor her memory by welcoming the hungry and feeding them with kindness. The comfort and class of the establishment skillfully masks its somewhat unexpected surroundings (the closest thing to another restaurant in the area is a Wendy's and a gas station). Dim lighting, well-spoken servers and live jazz piano made my late dinner seem movie-worthy, and I'm sure an earlier dinner on their inviting patio in the upcoming fall weather will inevitably make its way to my calendar.
Atmosphere can speak volumes about a restaurant, but the food always ends up yelling quite a bit louder. The food at Ellendale's happens to yell in the style of a well-traveled Southern grandmother with impeccable taste for combining traditional home cooking with international and new continental cuisine.
I started out with the asiago crusted calamari and trio of dipping sauces. As a self-proclaimed calamari connoisseur, I will say it was one of the better batches I've had. Not chewy like so many, and the trio of marinara, garlic aioli and pesto sauces expanded the possibilities of this classic appetizer nicely. Paired with my glass of white zinfandel, another personal favorite, it started the evening off perfectly.
For the main course I went with an upscale version of an old standby: a glazed apple brandy pork chop. A long way from the Brady-esque pork chops and apple sauce, this perfectly prepared pork chop, topped with Vidalia onion rings and apple fries and served on a bed of sweet potatoes and spinach, was a delightful tribute to classic cuisine with a boost of sophistication. Absolutely no complaints here.
For dessert, I couldn't help but order the intriguing ganache and mascarpone agnalloti. Basically a chocolate-filled dessert ravioli, this dish reminded me of an Italian bistro and a state fair simultaneously. It was as if a pastry from an uppety cafe and a funnel cake had a love child and a star was born. Served with pistachio ice cream which was a strangely appetizing shade of green, this dessert was not only delicious, but fun to eat. The combination of hot and cold made for the cliche "party in my mouth" effect. A good time was had by all.
Other offerings at Ellendale's include exquisite salads, seafood, pasta, steak and chicken. And their homemade desserts menu keeps expanding, with five new offerings this month and options for dessert sampler plates. I did see the ice cream sampler go past my table with five colorful flavors and beautiful presentation, like a giant caterpillar of cold creamy goodness.
Ellendale's certainly merits a visit or several, and with events like the extensive Saturday and Sunday brunches, weekday happy hour with complimentary appetizers and live music nightly, you can always find an occasion to celebrate. Invite yourself in to Ellendale's house; I'm sure she would love to have you.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The beginning
Job hunting. Does it send shivers down your spine? Well it should. I've been on the hunt for the elusive career, native to apparently everywhere but Nashville, for the past 3 months. I've e-mailed, called, faxed and dropped by every employer in the journalism, theater, music, public relations and random part-time fields that I can possibly think of. Most have not even responded with so much as a "We'll let you know." Now I realize my fields of study are not the easiest to break into. They all want experience, which I can't get until someone hires me, which no one will do until I get experience. Ah, the vicious cycle.
So, that's where this blog comes in. Between running errands, exercising, cooking and watching crime dramas, I've got to find some way to do something productive. I'm not nor will I ever be the housewife type. That's in no way condescending towards housewives, just a personality observation about myself. I need to make things happen. I need to be involved in a world outside my tiny apartment. So, I signed myself up for some Vanderbilt dance classes, registered to take the GRE in October and started this blog. And maybe between now and Christmas I can capture and tame the elusive career, gaining the coveted paycheck and basking in the wonders of the working world.
Don't worry though (all two of you reading this). My outlet will not be primarily focused on the misery of job hunting. I've decided that if I can't find a job, I'll create one! My dream job is to be an arts and entertainment critic, so my outlet is for reviews of restaurants, concerts, plays, and other various events around Nashville and hopefully other wonderful cities also. And perhaps one day, in a perfect world where chocolate has no calories but tastes just the same and people get famous for talent and not flashing their junk as they exit a cab, I'll be able to earn a paycheck for a task I truly enjoy. Until then, I guess I'll go back to watching more crime dramas.
So, that's where this blog comes in. Between running errands, exercising, cooking and watching crime dramas, I've got to find some way to do something productive. I'm not nor will I ever be the housewife type. That's in no way condescending towards housewives, just a personality observation about myself. I need to make things happen. I need to be involved in a world outside my tiny apartment. So, I signed myself up for some Vanderbilt dance classes, registered to take the GRE in October and started this blog. And maybe between now and Christmas I can capture and tame the elusive career, gaining the coveted paycheck and basking in the wonders of the working world.
Don't worry though (all two of you reading this). My outlet will not be primarily focused on the misery of job hunting. I've decided that if I can't find a job, I'll create one! My dream job is to be an arts and entertainment critic, so my outlet is for reviews of restaurants, concerts, plays, and other various events around Nashville and hopefully other wonderful cities also. And perhaps one day, in a perfect world where chocolate has no calories but tastes just the same and people get famous for talent and not flashing their junk as they exit a cab, I'll be able to earn a paycheck for a task I truly enjoy. Until then, I guess I'll go back to watching more crime dramas.
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