To Gabby's for a Good Burger

A few weeks ago, standing in line for grilled cheesy goodness, a coworker/friend and I started chatting up another coworker and giving our sandwich recommendations. He liked what we suggested, and thus, a foodie friendship was born. Our trio decided to start lunching monthly at places outside the confines of our office park, away from chain restaurants and the office cafeteria.

I was given the task of choosing the location for our first outing, After whittling down a list that started with about 17 spots, I finally settled on somewhere I'd always wanted to go but had never been: Gabby's Burgers and Fries.

Waiting in line for burgers & fries at Gabby's Burgers and Fries

The Seamus Burger topped with bleu cheese & grilled onion

May's Special Burger: The Politician
(Yes, there's a cheeseburger under all that bologna!)

Tucked away on Humphreys St. behind the Nashville Sounds' Greer Stadium, Gabby's is not hard to find if you know what you're looking for; the street pretty much dead-ends into the front door. Looking like not much more than a glorified trailer, it's the type of place that you can tell from the outside will be darn good. And that was pretty much Brian's initial reaction when we pulled up. Inside, it's a no-frills kind of place, with counter seating in front of the grill and tables squeezed in everywhere else.

I recommend arriving early. We were there by  11:30 and didn't have to wait too long, but the line was out the door by the time we were leaving. The line moves quickly, though, and you better know what you want because they don't allow for much dilly-dallying and indecisiveness once you make it to the register.

In a hurry, I ordered a classic cheeseburger, named The Seamus for the owner's son. I fancied up the single 5oz. patty by topping it with bleu cheese and grilled onions and opted for sweet potato fries as my side. 

Patti opted for the barbecue burger, and Brian chose to be adventurous with the monthly special, The Politician, a tongue-in-cheek name for an American cheeseburger topped with grilled bologna. 

Using only grass-fed beef, Gabby's prides itself on quality of food and quality of service. The meat itself was so good that the toppings served to enhance the flavor, not cover it up. The produce was fresh and the buns were the perfect vessel for conveying meat from plate to mouth. Not too dense to feel as though all you were eating was bread but flavorful enough to be noticed, and slightly sweet. Perfection!

I opted for sweet potato fries, mostly out of curiosity. This trend is becoming ubiquitous and not every shop does it right. But Gabby's certainly does. They used fresh sweet potatos, diced and cooked on site. They tasted almost candied--no frozen Ore-Ida nonsense here!

The menu features other non-burger items as well, but why would you want to go there? All the sandwiches are reasonably priced for the quality of food being served.

What makes me love Gabby's even more after the fact is the story of how this little place got started. When studying their website for this post, I learned that the proprietor, Doug, has a passion for food, which is evident from the first bite of burger. But more so than that, Doug has a passion for his family and for finding a way to "live the dream" as he says. That dream is to make money at a job he loves, make people happy doing it, and be able to spend time watching his kids grow up. I think this man's on to something! I will certainly return to help Doug's dreams come true.

As we were wrapping up our lunch, I heard Doug shout over the heads of all the hungry customers waiting in line: "Thank you, folks, for being willing to stand in line for a good burger."

Our pleasure, sir.

A heck of a Cuban sandwich

A Matter of Taste is the small little sandwich shop arm of a larger catering company located just a few miles away from my office. The only thing I've ever eaten there is the Cuban sandwich. I wait for the tweets to tell me it's on their specials list, then I head on over to Franklin Road and order myself one.

Their joint is eco-friendly (they use an iPad for a cash register and email your receipt to you!) and inspirational. The walls of this small little shop are plastered with feel-good quotes and mantras. I always leave A Matter of Taste with a brighter outlook on my day.

iPad cash register

Inspirational quotes written in chalk on the sliding doors leading to the kitchen.

Up close of quotes.

The Cuban Sandwich is pulled pork, ham, bread & butter pickles, melted Swiss cheese, and yellow mustard on a baguette. Unfortunately, AMOT used so much mustard on my last sandwich that with every bite, I was practically bathing in it. Because I took the sandwich back to work with me, I ended up with mustard all over my keyboard and desk. And I went through at least 3 napkins. Super messy! But...still delicious. 

The sandwich is priced at $7.95 and that does not include chips and a drink, so it's a little on the pricey side. But, it's hearty enough that you don't even need chips. While there are definitely better lunch deals out there, this one is delicious, locally-made, and available on gluten-free bread if you need it. 


I could continue on about the Cuban sandwich, but Rick Bragg does it so much more justice. 

Eat Local Challenge Day 17

Today is Wednesday, which means yesterday was Tuesday, which means I stocked up on fresh veggies from the 12th South Farmers Market. I made connections with a few of the vendors, including The Goat Cheese Man and Foxy Baking Co., who groaned in disappointment at herself for not having any zucchini bread to offer me. (On my first trip to the market, during Week 1 of the challenge, I bought a mini loaf of her fresh-baked zucchini bread. As a lover of all things “autumn spicey” or pumpkin-flavored, which this loaf hinted at, I couldn’t wait for my next trip to the market to get another. I even posted about it on her Facebook page. Then I got sick and had to miss a market day, so by the time I approached the Foxy tent yesterday, I was ready. 

Then she groaned. Then she told me zucchini is almost out of season. Then I got sad. Then I realized, why stop with zucchini bread? So I bought an adorable 5” bacon-and-onion quiche. I figured the portion would be just right for my breakfast for the next day or so. Delicious! Enough to be filling but light enough not to weigh me down so early in the morning. 

Tonight, I had a meeting at Panera, which I do not count as “local” so I drank some coffee and anxiously awaited coming home to my produce.

I had bought a 2 (or was it 4?) oz. serving of fettuccine noodles from Alfresco Pasta, freshly-made, flash-frozen, whole-wheat pasta. Only $2 for 1 serving, which made 2 portions for me. The frozen noodles did cook quickly (only 3-4 minutes) but were too long; I like to break my noodles up to take smaller bites. 

Pasta from Alfresco Pasta

I cooked the noodles and added yellow squash, eggplant, bell pepper and purple onion and topped it off with goat cheese feta, all from the market. I think my meal would’ve been better with fresh garlic but I used what I had. I also think it needed a fresh caprese salad to finish it off, but overall, not a bad dinner (and leftover lunch the next day!). 

Fettuccine with local veggies and feta, with a glass of Malbec.

I liked the noodles because they really did taste fresh and “wheaty” without the stiff almost corrugated feeling of most dried whole wheat pasta. $2 for 2 servings isn’t bad, but the same price gets you a lot more dried noodles...an eat local conundrum.

Why haven’t I been going to the market all summer? This could’ve been great! Well, now I know, and now I can start to build relationships and can continue to take advantage of this until winter, when I’ll go back to eating leftover Thanksgiving casseroles my grandma sends home with me. Maybe I’ll look into a winter CSA, but I bet it’s chock full of cabbage which i can’t stand. :p

Until next time, buon apetito!

Landmark Soda Shop Remains a Landmark!

Earlier this week, I read a devastating story saying the Elliston Place Soda Shop was closing on Saturday. As in, the day after tomorrow. Having driven by this iconic Nashville location on multiple occasions but never stopping to visit, I was upset for two reasons. One, the sentimentalist in me was crushed that another piece of history was falling victim to the modern age and modern problems. Two, having lived here for 3 years now, I was mad at myself for never going. So I vowed I would visit this week.

Actually, I had plans to go for lunch today. (And I still might. It's only 11:30, afterall.) Then, I read a wonderful update, courtesy of another Nashville foodie, courtesy of The Tennessean. An agreement has been reached and the shop is not closing!!At least not for another 5 years.

This begs the obvious question, when am I going to go and who wants to join? I hear they have great milkshakes. And their sign touts air conditioning, which, in this heat wave, should be reason enough to visit anywhere!

Sweet on Swett's

On a rainy day that necessitated comfort food, I knew the time had come to cash in a coupon for  $10 worth of food at Swett's newest location in the bottom of the Apartments for Retired Teachers complex in Green Hills. (There are several locations, including Clifton Ave., the Nashville Farmer's Market, and the Nashville airport.)

I had saved my coupon for such a day as this, and I am glad I made the effort. For my meat-and-two lunch, I chose meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and broccoli. I don't know what prompted me to order meatloaf, since I rarely eat it outside my mother's kitchen, but it sounded good to me that day, and I was not disappointed. It was very straightforward and comparable to a hamburger, just the way I like it! Other meat options included country fried steak, fried catfish, pork chops in gravy, and rotissiere chicken, although the offerings change daily.

The mac and cheese was made with elbow noodles in a creamy sauce, not the fluffy egg-based casserole most Southern meat-and-threes serve. As a true Southerner, I was a little disappointed but I like to think the non-egg based option was probably a little healthier. The broccoli was steamed with rosemary, oregano, Italian dressing, red onions and red peppers. The vegetable was light and crunchy but very flavorful. No cheese necessary to make this green veggie edible!

A meat and 2 veggies, plus a large corn muffin was only $7.85. Add a glass of fresh sweet tea for $1.80 and you're looking at just under $10 for a hearty, enjoyable lunch.The menu featured a wide variety of veggies, including corn casserole, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Swett's also offered tossed salads or a fruit salad with cantelope honeydew, pineapple and blackberries. Even the out-of-season, the blackberries tempted me but I opted to splurge a little to get up to my $10 coupon allotment on a slice of strawberry cake, you know, for research purposes only! :)  The cake was moist, delicious, and tasted of real strawberries. The generous slice was only $2.85, which is a bargain compared to many dessert shops here in town.

The southern-bred staff was super friendly; I can't remember the last time I'd been thanked so much for visiting a restaurant.  They specifically asked that I tell everyone I know to come in. When I told them about this blog, they were very excited and even handed me an itemized receipt so I could accurately report on the prices and comment on the value of the food. So I tell you, you've read about Swett's. Now, go!

The End Notes:

• Not every lunch is worthy of $10, but Swett's is the place to go if you want good quality comfort food at a reasonable price.
• The tea was fresh but the only to-go cup size was a 12 oz. plastic cup. In an age of over-indulgence, this seems too small.

• While there were plenty of places to sit inside (feel free to dine with the residents!), and the location is relatively easy to get to even for Green Hills, the parking lot is unbearable. There is only way in and one way out, and the number of parking spaces is considerably less than the number of seats inside. My recommendation: go through the cafeteria line and take it to-go, or carpool with your coworkers.

A Miss at Macke's

One of the first places I learned about when I first moved to Nashville was Macke's in Green Hills. Unlike all the other places I learned about when I first moved to Nashville, I have not been countless times and have not memorized the menu. Until today, when I was invited to a luncheon held under the skylight of Grace's Plaza restaurant.

Macke's, sister restaurant to Franklin's Mack and Kate's Cafe, creates an ambiance of sophisticated elegance despite its location directly across from a county clerk satellite office and several other retailers. With white linen tablecloths and napkins and hot tea served in delicate china teapots, any occasion would be deemed special at Macke's. Unfortunately, I didn't venture into the actual restaurant today, so I can't describe the interior, but the website boasts a few pretty pictures. It must be gorgeous, though, because diners can purchase the floral arrangements direct from Macke's.

As pretty as it all seemed to be when I sat down, I should have ordered something dainty and girly, befitting of a women's luncheon. Something like the Apple Pear Grilled Chicken Salad, featuring candied nuts, blue cheese, and a cinnamon mustard vinaigrette in addition to the titular ingredients. Or maybe the Patty Melt served atop rye bread with two kinds of cheeses, Russian dressing, and grilled onions. Or the Lobster BLT Wrap, consisting of lobster, goat cheese, caramelized onions wrapped up nicely with the bacon, lettuce and tomato part. In fact, as I peruse the menu now to proffer these suggestions, I wonder why I chose what I ordered: a club sandwich.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good club sandwich. It was made with deli-thin ham, dry shaved turkey, two cheeses, lettuce, bacon, and fresh red tomatoes on toasted sourdough bread. However, the bacon was undercooked and a little too fatty for my taste. And there was so much mayo that everything slipped and slid until all I was left with was a messy pile of food on my plate that I couldn't make heads or tails of how to eat. Meanwhile, everyone else had their prim and proper salads and were able to easily participate in the conversation because they were not trying to figure out how the most ladylike way to eat a 12" tall sandwich!

I love a good club sandwich, I really do! But not at a place that serves its tea in heirloom china. Why did I make this selection you ask? Well, I may have mentioned once or twice how loooong it takes me to select a meal from a menu full of many delicious choices. Overwhelmed and feeling the pressure to order quickly, I said the first thing that popped off the paper at me. Looking back, I would definitely have opted for something more unique to Macke's. I also think that if I was going to pay $13 for lunch I should have something like Lobster Mac & Cheese or the Crab Cake Baguette. Or at least asked for a to-go box so I could finish mutilating my sandwich in private.

The End Notes:

• Atmosphere seems welcoming for small intimate groups, lunch with the girlfriends, or a business dinner. 
• Unless someone else is picking up the tab (or you're trying to impress your dining partner) stay away from Macke's for lunch. It's a little on the pricey side.
• If you have more than an hour and don't mind indulging a little, though, then do go to Macke's for lunch. It'll be worth it. (As long as you order something unique.)
• In Franklin? Check out Mack and Kate's Cafe for a more upscale experience.
• Messy sandwiches and linen napkins don't mix!

I say no to Yolos

While I was glad to see a new restaurant open in The Mall at Green Hills shopping center, I have been skeptical of Yolos, as the only good things I had heard were compliments on its decor. Now, after having lunched there myself, I can say I agree. Judging a book by its cover, or in this case judging an eatery by its gravity-defying light fixtures and holographic video screens in the bathrooms, is never a good idea. More often than not, you'll be disappointed. And that is exactly how I felt after leaving Yolos.

Now, in defense of the place, perhaps lunch hour on a Sunday that just happened to be Valentine's Day was not the best time to visit. The parking lot was so busy the valet couldn't even keep up with the demands. However, we were politely told to expect only a 20 minute wait. Not terrible for a Sunday. The minutes ticked by. I ventured to the bathroom and saw not only the holographic video screen displaying the name of the artist whose music video I was watching, but I also spied several empty tables. Why, then, were we still waiting after 25...30...35 minutes?

We were finally seated in the far back corner of the restaurant, near what I presume will be open-air dining in the warmer months. My back was cold. My blood sugar levels were still reeling from the Donut Casserole we'd had in Sunday School and I needed to eat something substantial. I asked for bread or crackers when I ordered but the artisan loaves didn't arrive until 2 seconds before our meals came out. (I will say, though, that bread was darn good!)

Overall, I was disappointed with my choice. I ordered a chicken salad salad, expecting chicken salad on lettuce. No lettuce, just a lot of out-of-season fruit and a Morning Glory muffin. The muffin was yummy and warm...could have eaten the whole batch! And the orange-infused vat of butter that came on the side added a nice flavor too. But I really wanted the honey-orange marmalade dressing that was supposed to come on the side but apparently got left off my plate.

Leaving things off the plate seemed to be the day's theme, as several others ordered the Strawberry Chicken salad, which specifically mentioned mixed greens tossed with strawberries, cheese, almonds, and other fruits. Not a single person found a single strawberry in their salads, only strawberry-flavored dressing. Poor Stephanie left the chicken off her order, which then left her "Strawberry" salad with something to be desired.

I will say, the decor really is special. Mellow and contemporary, with a flourish. And some other menu items did look tempting. Maybe the crowds of people there that morning know something I don't. Maybe I need to give it another chance. Maybe. I mean, they do offer valet parking...!

The End Notes:

• Decent service, perky and attentive waitress (if not a little bit of a buttinsky).
• Swanky atmosphere
• Downside: have to fight with Green Hills traffic, but upside: valet parking!
• Overall impression: NOT impressed. 

A cure for the Mondays

In my last post, I mentioned one of my favorite Nashville mainstays. Yesterday, I had the privilege of visiting two of my favorite spots in one day. Urban Flats for lunch and Lime for happy hour. A lot for a Monday, but I enjoyed the little bit of frivolity. 

I have to say, though, that though I love both of these establishments, I did not like them for lunch or happy hour. One hour (or in my case, about 37 minutes) is too short to enjoy the atmosphere of Urban Flats. Plus, their wine bar is a bragging point and compliments every flat but cannot be touched during a working lunch. I was able to enjoy about three bites of the spinach/goat cheese/pear/chicken salad before I had to leave, but the waitress was very accommodating of my needs; she brought my check early and with a smile too! It was the first time I'd ever eaten there without ordering a flat (think personal-sized pizza on thin pita bread-style crust). But the salad was yummy, if not a little pricey--$16 for a salad and water is a little steep (including gratuity for a big party). 

But what I spent at lunch I saved at Lime's Happy Hour. The only complaints I have about this is the short length of time the specials are served. Lime's happiest hours are from 4-6 daily. Cocktails are only $5 and guac with chips only $4.50. I had the honey margarita, which was recommended by the waiter as "the best drink on the Happy Hour menu." And I have to agree. At first I was hesitant, worried it would be too sweet. But the little bit of honey cut the acid in the lime juice and made for a wonderfully enjoyable cocktail. And the best part? It comes served on crushed "Sonic Ice" & no salt is needed on this drink! (Which works perfectly for the girl who always orders her margaritas on the rocks with no salt. Which even annoys the girl placing the order!) Sadly, I arrived at about 5:35, with only enough time to order one drink at the happy hour price. But the menu also offers pitchers of Lime's famous red or white sangria for $15, as well as several tapas for munching. And with free valet parking, what could be better?

Like I said, this was a lot for a Monday, so I'm taking a break until much later in the week. Buon appetito, y'all!