Marathons and Marché

This past weekend was the annual Country Music Marathon here in Nashville. It was also one of the rainiest days since the May Flood of 2010, or at least it seemed that way to those of us trying to run, walk, or wade through the flash flood waters on Saturday. I did not run the race because I was too busy snuggling under a blanket on my couch, watching it rain and feeling miserable. (I can only imagine the misery of those who did run--congrats to all of you on your determination and endurance!)

I had friends in town who had braved the elements to complete the half-marathon on Saturday. To celebrate their accomplishments and help them explore the city, we decided to brunch on Sunday before they left town. As I have mentioned at least five times before in this space, I love brunch. It's easily my favorite meal of the day.

For this brunching occasion, we ventured outside my usual repertoire and visited Marché in the Five Points area of East Nashville. Although we arrived at 10:30, which I would consider on the earlier side of the brunch hour, we had to wait for nearly 45 minutes to be seated. This proved to not be that problematic, as the staff at Marché allows you to purchase a bottle of bubbly to sip on while you wait! Forget diluting the sparkling wine with OJ for a mimosa, we went straight for the Prosecco. The runners deserved it, and I just needed to support them, right?

Brunch at Marche: Strata, Salad, & Potatoes

Waiting also gave us the opportunity to watch and smell every delectable dish that was brought out of the kitchen. Between the French pastries and the locally sourced bacon and eggs, it was going to be hard to make a decision!

When we sat down at the cozy table, we were ready to make our decisions. Although the five of us crowded around the small table was a little tight, we were just relieved to be sitting. We were able to bring our opened bottle of bubbly to the table with us. Our waiter was great--he had such a fun personality, which is sometimes rare when a restaurant is busy.

To start, we shared a Strawberry and Marscapone Tartine, which was a thick slice of crusty French bread, generously spread with marscapone cheese and topped with fresh berries drizzled in balsamic vinegar. Delicious! (And easily duplicated in your own kitchen.)

Brûléed Grapefruit

I opted for a strata of andouille sausage, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese. The strata was denser than I expected and the meat and veggies were chopped finely, in order to taste all of it in every bite. I ordered a side of roasted red potatoes to supplement the strata and the side of greens served with each entree, making for a colorful and wonderful meal.

The jewel of everyone else's meal was the brûléed grapefruit. Not being a grapefruit fan, I didn't order any, but I have to admit that the caramelized, sugary coating did make for a beautiful and enticing piece of fruit.

Though the wait was long, it was worth it. The food was fresh, locally sourced, and quite good. Don't try to brunch at Marché  if you are in a rush or need to catch an airplane. But if you have time to slow down, sit, and savor your food, set your sights on Marché. And if the wait gets too long, you can always go to the counter and buy a croissant and a bottle of champagne to tide you over. Talk about an affordable luxury! You'll feel like a little piece of a French bistro has fallen right into the middle of East Nashville.

Fresh French Fare

Allium: (n) any plant of the genus Allium, such as the onion, garlic, shallot, leek, or chive; French-inspired restaurant in East Nashville from the owners of Germantown Cafe.

I had been so looking forward to dining here, as I am a huge fan of the sister establishment. However, I was disappointed with the menu choices, honestly. I wanted to be overwhelmed but i was a little...underwhelmed. 

It started out when I ordered a fancy orange rye Manhattan instead of the gin and tonic I’d been craving. The Manhattan didn’t measure up to the flaming variety I’d ordered at The Patterson House. Gin and tonic would have more appropriately complimented my meal of choice: grouper with a tomatillo salsa atop grits and paired with steamed swiss chard. 

A true Southerner, I love turnip and collard greens. I find Swiss chard similar if not slightly more bitter. This lived up to my expectations. My Southern roots also expected cheese grits. These were not, although probably less bland than they could have been. And having grown up with fresh Gulf Coast seafood, I was disappointed to find my grouper tasted at least one day old. (Now, I should have expected this, what with now residing in a land-locked state and all, but I was hoping for something more.)

The other menu options either seemed too unspectacular (the pasta special was penne tossed with broccoli and chicken breasts in a creamy sauce--something even my kitchen could produce!) or too wintery for a warm July evening (pork roast or duck with plum sauce sounded yummy but a bit like breaking open a bottle of dry red in the middle of summer--not such a hot idea on such a hot night). So I opted for the fish dish. Next time I'm going to try the Croque Monsieur, though.

The dessert did live up to my Southerness, however. Peach tart a la mode. Plump, juicy fresh peaches in a simple glaze baked into a buttery tart crust. Topped with simple vanilla bean ice cream, it was the perfect way to end the evening. Unfortunately, my camera is currently on DL, so I have no pictures. Take my word for it; it was gorgeous.

I will say our waiter was refreshingly attentive and honest. He blatantly stated his opinion on every question we asked. Which dish do you prefer? What are your thoughts on dessert? The mocha cheesecake “underwhelmed” him. Perhaps he was able to pay us so much attention because of the utter lack of co-diners. Literally, we were the only paying customers until at least 7 p.m. A little unnerving, but perhaps Thursdays aren’t the nights to visit Allium. 

Don’t let it keep you from visiting, though. I hear their Sunday brunch is fantastic. 

The End Notes: 

• Great value--salad included! And fresh French bread (duh!) with a delicious garlicky butter that melts into every bread crevice.
• The lack of crowd made me feel a little nervous.
• Ask for an opinion on the artistic cocktail menu so you select the best one (or two).
• ...and listen when the waiter tells you one slice of pie that is really a candy bar masquerading as a pie is too much for one person. He was right!

The House of Illicit Liquors

 For the past few weeks, I've been receiving updates from my gin-loving coworker (the man wrote a Hendrick's haiku!) about the building of a new establishment that was to become The Holland House Bar & Refuge, a Patterson House for the East side.

Today, while Twittering, I noticed The Holland House is now open for business and offering daily Chalkboard Specials. Who can turn down a $5 Gin Rickey? Not this girl. So I called up an East Nashville friend and convinced her to meet me there for an after-work drink.

Although the drive across the river was stressful, I'm glad I made the trip because the experience was worth it. (Note to those unfamiliar with West Eastland--there is no sign distinguishing The Holland House, just the chalkboard out front.) I arrived first and grabbed a seat on the patio, where I struck up a conversation with the owners/head mixologist Case and Terrell. Case had a great mustache that curled on the edges and an accent I couldn't quite place. (Given the name--maybe Dutch???) Terrell is apparently quite creative, as he lends his name to several of the cocktails on the menu.

The Holland House offers a Chalkboard Special daily until 6:30 p.m., even on Fridays and Saturdays. (Next to valet parking, weekend happy hours are my favorite perk!) Today's list featured $5 gin rickies and gimlets, margaritas & mojitos, $3 high-gravity German beer, 1/2-priced wines, and 1/2-priced "snacks". Yep, that's how they're listed on the menu. "Snacks." Love it!

All cocktails are crafted in the style of the 1890s to the 1930s and are primarily concocted of gin, bourbon, or whisky. My trifecta! In fact, only one vodka and rum cocktail appeared on the menu. Katie ordered the Rum Swizzle which looked delightful but lacked sand and waves. I got the Rickey and we split some fried deliciousness with edamame sauce and fried vegetable deliciousness with garlic aioli sauce.

Our "Snacks":

My Gin Rickey:

I've been asked to compare The Holland House to its Midtown counterpart The Patterson House.

Here goes:

• Appearances:
• HH is housed in an old brick building which looks unimpressive from the outside but feels like a piece of an old mansion has been sliced off the historic registry and placed in the middle of East Nashville for us all to enjoy. With a four-sided bar in the middle, a longer bar in the back and chair rails for standing, milling about, and talking, the owners have anticipated the crowds yet to come.
• PH is housed in an actual old house, which you have to know of in order to find, and is tucked behind a blue curtain, like a true speakeasy. The interior resembles a library, with its dark, cozy booths and low lighting. PH also has a four-sided bar, but no place for milling about, as standing is prohibited in this Prohibition-era bar.
• Atmosphere:
• HH felt like any other bar from the outside, but I'd need to go back in the evening and sit inside to get the true HH experience. It definitely evokes an East Nashville vibe, but mixes in class with an abundance of crystal chandeliers, wooden accents, and private booths that would make a great environment for nearly any occasion.
• PH feels like a secret, like maybe you really will need a password to enter. The booths are also cozy, but I wouldn't go to PH for just any celebration. I personally think it's best for a date. A really romantic date.
• Cocktails:
• HH offers cocktails made mostly of gin, bourbon, and whisky but many include fruit. With the exception of the Chalkboard Specials, wines, and beers, all cocktails are $10.
• PH offers cocktails distinguished by spirit and listed in order from smoothest to most potent. The menu also features classic cordials and many concoctions featuring raw eggs. Cocktails are more a dollar or 2 more.
• Menu: 
• HH features a full dinner menu with snacks, small plates, salads, entrees, and desserts. Snacks range from $5-9 and entrees from $12-19. Cocktails are designed to complement the food.
• PH features small plates, which are actually quite small and not intended to substitute for dinner. These plates also highlight the cocktails, and are complementary in price to The Holland House.
• Both HH and PH mixologist wear period attire and both feature boutique ice to enhance the drinks. Both would love your business. 

The End Notes:

• Regardless of your location in town or your feelings towards Prohibition-era cocktails, you should venture cross-Cumberland to West Eastland and sip a signature drink. Go after work for a special deal, try out dinner, or end a special evening with a nightcap.
• Despite this post, I hope The Holland House will come into its own and not be perpetually compared to The Patterson House. Is Nashville big enough for 2 turn-of-the-20th-century cocktail lounges? I can't say.  You'll have to visit and make up your own mind about its worth. I suggest you go sooner rather than later.