Pub 5 Preview

I've been wanting to try the new Pub 5 downtown on 5th Ave. On Saturday, we waded through rainwater and Parrot Heads in town for the Jimmy Buffet concert to test it out. I am not sorry we did!

I will post more later, but I wanted to offer a peek inside. I'm in love with the architecture, the accessories, and the overall vibe this place evokes. As I tweeted on-location on Saturday night, it's a great atmosphere in which to drink some pretty great (craft) beer.

Inside view of Pub 5 on 5th Ave., Nashville

Memories....cue the Cats soundtrack

Places hold memories. That is not uncommon, nor unexpected really. What is unexpected is the force with which the memories can hit you when you enter a place.

I have mentioned before my affinity for The Patterson House, Nashville's homage to Prohibition-era cocktails, couture, and way of life. In this old-fashioned establishment popular with the hip-and-trendy crowd, I feel at home. The traditionalist in me loves it.

So did one of my former best friends.

Together, this was our unofficial official place for cocktails and conversation. We had some of our most deep and meaningful conversations while perched on the barstools watching James, our favorite mixologist, craft creations seemingly out of thin air.

And now we are no longer friends. But The Patterson House remains, beckoning Nashvillians who want more out of their evenings than vodka tonics and shots of Fireball. It beckoned me and a new group of friends on Saturday evening.

I was excited, because one of our group had never been before (he is new to town). I always need a good excuse to show off my favorite places to new people. I busied myself with chatter of the blue curtain, the house rules, and the Japanese ice molds.

But when I ordered a cocktail I had discovered with Former Friend, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I ended the evening with my signature drink, The Bacon Old Fashioned,  and instead of getting  teased for drinking such a manly drink, the guys each ordered one too, initiating me into their club.

I should've loved it. I should've savored every moment. Instead, I felt like I'd been sucker-punched. How could I enjoy something with such good memories attached with someone else? Is that part of growing up? Learning to enjoy life with different people?

Maybe. Or maybe it's just learning to savor the sweet concoctions of life with new people and new attitudes. Maybe what's old can become new again.

And maybe The Patterson House will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter whom I chose to drink with.

Coffee from a Truck

You know those days when things don't go exactly the way you planned them? When something is not quite right, but when someone asks what is wrong you have nothing specific to say? I felt that way today, and have for awhile actually. Which partially explains my blogging hiatus. (Hiatus? Oh, you didn't notice...well, in that case, forget what I just said and keep reading!) 

Some people (the movie Office Space, the author of The Phantom Tollbooth, wannabe psychologists looking everywhere for a diagnosis) might call this feeling a Case of the Mondays, or The Doldrums, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Whatever it is, I might have found a cure. At least for today!

Today, I heard about a new food truck. Food trucks seem to be the new cupcakeries of Nashville and I have had great intentions of posting about my favorites and my not-so-faves.

Quick list: 

• Brake For: Hoss' Loaded Burgers, Grilled Cheeserie.
•  Keep Rollin' For: Mere Bulles, Ken's Hot Spot. 
• I'm Looking to Stop For: Mas Tacos, Deg Thai, and Smoke Et Al 

Anyway, thanks to good ole' Twitter, I learned of a new truck today: The Coffee Truck. The perfect thing to cure my Moody Monday. Yes, there are 5-7 great coffee shops within a 5-mile radius of my office that I theoretically could patron anytime I choose. But something about knowing The Coffee Truck was in my vicinity today raised my spirits. So I changed my lunch plans to include a  direct route passed where the mobile coffee shop was parked and off I went. 

The Coffee Truck, courtesy of thecoffeetrucknashville.com

I'd done by research ahead of time and learned that it is run by a passionate bro & sis duo from Costa Rica and the truck boasts a "One Planet, One Coffee" motto. I was immediately impressed by the true coffee house feel the truck exudes. Dark wood cabinets, shiny silver coffee equipment. You'd never  guess this place rolls around Music City! 

The menu offered your standard fare: cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, etc. All for about $2. I could've gone the more frugal route, but I can get that anywhere! At The Coffee Truck I wanted to try the specialty, so I shelled out $3.57 for Today's Special, the Cubanito. A blend of espresso, sweetened condensed milk, and steamed milk. Automatic pick-me-up!

I was disappointed in the size. 6 (or was it 8?) oz. for $3.57? The other cups were much larger and only $2. But the taste certainly didn't disappoint! (I mean, when you're buying coffee to brighten your mood you want to make sure you get something good, right?) Coming from a girl who typically drinks only black coffee, or a cafe au lait if I'm feeling really frisky, the sweetened condensed milk (Pet Milk) could've been too much sweet. But it was just the right amount to make it stand out from my morning coffee without making me want to bounce off walls. The coffee was rich and left you without a bitter aftertaste. Really, with all the sweet I couldn't have had a much bigger cup, it would've been dangerous. But you'd better believe I savored those 6 oz. of sweetness for a good hour at my desk!

My coffee, Cuban-style!

Apparently The Coffee Truck will be back at Friedman's Army Navy store on 21st Ave. again next Monday. I predict this working out very well for my spirits and not-so-very-well for my spending habits. I do want to return and try the coffee for coffee's sake, not muddle the flavors with rich milks and sugars. Stay tuned, I'll let you know how that goes. 

Until then, drink up! Slow down, and stop for a food truck or two. And be sure to let me know what you like. 

At the Copacabana

Those in search of a good bargain and girly gossip should pencil themselves in at Cabana on any given Wednesday night for Girls' Night Out. Every week, the cool Hillsboro Village hotspot opens its doors to gaggles of girls hoping to take advantage of $5 appetizers and $3 martinis. Yes, guys are allowed to come, but don’t suggest this as a first date; she’ll know you’re cheap!

On a recent Wednesday and sporting a sassy new hair ‘do, I met a friend for a much-needed catch-up sesh at Cabana. We were seated not in a cabana, but at one of the first cocktail tables inside the door. These tables were low to the ground and looked cute and cozy, but the oversized chairs were so oversized they were nearly impossible to sit in. Katie and I both had to sit on the very edge of our seats to even have a conversation. 

Seating situation aside, the night was fun and cheap. We sipped French martinis and munched on Cabana’s house-made chips topped with crumbles of gorgonzola and paired with a creamy cheesy dipping sauce. The drinking and the chatting caught up with us, though, so we ended up splitting a Margherita pizza. Even still, our bill was less than $20 with tip. (Note: the restaurant suggests over-tipping for the drastic price cuts. I couldn’t decide if this suggestion was necessary or not. Tacky? Or helpful? I’m leaning toward tacky... However, I did tip generously because our waitress was so good at her job. She had the right amount of balance between checking in on us and leaving us alone, which I greatly appreciated.)

The End Notes:

• For a fairly-priced and fun happy hour, head to Cabana on a Wednesday night.
• Great for a celebration of birthdays, promotions, anniversaries, or any other occasion worth celebrating. Even if you’re just excited you survived Hump Day.
• Valet parking makes navigating Hillsboro Village easier!

Brew You!

One of the best-kept secrets in our city is not the Yazoo beer itself; many a loyal Nashvillian enjoys a pint of Dos Perros, Pale Ale, or Hefeweizen at his favorite venue. But the secret is the tour of the brewery. After outgrowing its original location at Marathon Village, the well-loved beer company has moved to The Gulch and wants to show off its new home to thirsty locals and tourists alike.

In this warehouse on Division Street, Linus Hall brews up 6-8 different natural, preservative-free beers. And every Saturday from 2:30-6:30, Linus and his crew show off these beers and the brewing process in a fun, energetic tour. The brewery tour guide Kelly is as full of energy as she is knowledge and makes the 50-min. tour both entertaining and enlightening. Tourists walk amongst the actual tanks, tubes, and testing sites where all varieties of Yazoo are made. Oh, and they get to taste-test the beer too!

For only $6, visitors to the Yazoo Brewery get a tour, a souvenir glass, and 3 samples of beer. So as not to ruin the experience for you, I won't give all the details, but I will say this beer-loving girl loved it! This tour is one of the best values I've come across lately.

Hefeweizen in a Yazoo souvenir glass from the brewery tour!

Now, the weekend I chose to tour the brewery, it was slammed. This tour is widely popular and limited to a small group to keep it intimate and not overwhelming. My date and I made 3 different trips before finally getting our tour tickets for the 5:30 show. Of course, the Monday after we toured, the shop added an option to reserve your tour tickets online. Tickets can only be reserved for the following Saturday, but this option is much better than waiting in the long, long line hoping you make it into the winning group. (On our third trip, when we were finally walking in with our tour tickets in hand, I couldn't help feeling a little bit like Charlie Bucket on my way to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.)

While you wait for your tour (or if your 3 samples serve to whet your appetite for more), spend some time in the Yazoo Taproom, where you can sample the 6 different beers on tap for just  $8 or have a pint of your favorite drink. The taproom is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. for an after-work drink and Saturdays from 2-8 p.m. As the weather starts to warm up, the taproom's patio will surely be a popular watering hold. To add to the local color, order up a plate of local cheeses to go with your brew. Got a growler? Come by anytime the taproom is open to get a refill. The taproom is open for growler fills on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. so you don't have to wait til the weekend to open your own Yazoo at home.

Next time you need to entertain out-of-town guests or just want to something different to do on the weekend, head over to The Gulch and reserve your spot on the Yazoo Brewery tour. I challenge you to find a better way to spend $6 in Music City.

The End Notes:

• Yazoo Brewery Tours are a great value but online reservations are highly recommended to ensure your spot on the tour.
• Tour guide Kelly is spunky and will make you think twice next time you order a draught at your favorite happy hour.
• Fun for out-of-towners looking for a little taste of Nashville. (As a side note, also makes a great date spot!)
• Yazoo beer is now sold in grocery stores throughout Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi so your neighbors can enjoy Yazoo at home too!

The Art of the Acorn

On the edge of Centennial Park sits an old home-turned-day-care-center-turned-Nashville-fine-dining-landmark known as The Acorn. In homage to the symbol of southern hospitality, The Acorn offers quintessential dishes of Southern culture but with a little bit of grown up flair.

In a low-lit, comfortable environment, The Acorn serves up contemporary versions of dishes like mac and cheese, pimento cheese, and chicken 'n' waffles for starters. Entrees include a pork trio, filet, braised lamb, and roasted chicken with spoonbread. Our trio of development department diners ordered soon-to-be classics: a portabella mushroom stack with quinoa, chorizo-crusted grouper with a Jack Daniel's pecan cream sauce (which, let's be honest, the JD was the main reason for ordering that meal!), and pan fried trout. Simply plated, these dishes did not need a lot of accoutrements to bring out the flavor, the unique flavors shone on their own. Unfortunately my camera battery was dead this night, so I have no photographic proof of the lovely plating.

The cocktail menu accentuated these dinners as well. I had a cleverly-named bourbon, ginger ale, and lemon; Beth had a sparkling cocktail of St. Germaine and champagne, and Laura's Bad Girl was a mix of orange vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and sweet and sour. My memory fails me on the cute names of our drinks, and The Acorn's website is not helpful. I should start bringing a note pad when I dine out!

The dessert did not disappoint either. Laura chose the gelato of the day, maple. Served in a martini glass it was an elegant way to essentially eat ice cream! Beth and I indulged in a chocolate peanut butter pie, a creamy, sugary concoction on a chocolate crumb crust. After all, we were dining on National Peanut Butter Day so I had to try it! The dessert menu included a chocolate torte, a sorbet of the day (blood orange on the day we visited) and a few other traditional offerings.

I left just the right amount of full. Happy, but not miserable.

The End Notes:

• The food was good but the dining experience would have been much better if they had not sat us right next to the most. annoying. couple. EVER. In the entire empty restaurant, we were sandwiched between 2 loud and obnoxious tables.
• The hostess offered to check my coat, a luxury I love as much as valet parking. Naturally, I accepted. As we were leaving, I saw my coat lying haphazardly across a chair by the hostess stand. So much for "coat check." I thought this was an upscale restaurant?
• Prices are on the higher end. Entrees range from $16-32 and there was not enough on the plate for leftovers. But worth the splurge I think.
• Free parking lot across the street for restaurant patrons.

Some More Sambuca for your Buck

This week, I braved the snow to meet a friend for Happy Hour at Sambuca in The Gulch. It's been much too cold to think about going outside, but I had started to get a little stir crazy. What better way to cure the cold mid-week blues than cheap, delicious food and drinks?

I am a big fan of bargains. I'm an even bigger fan of establishments that offer Happy Hour specials on Fridays. Sambuca has both, plus a swanky, comfortable lounge area in which to imbibe. During "Rush Hour" as they call it, drinks and small plates and pizzas are 1/2 price from 4:30-6:30. Yes, 1/2 price! Plus their small plate menu boasts 16 different options and four varieties of pizzas. Priced anywhere from $4.50-12.50, these dishes are a steal on special. Where else can you get Shrimp & Crab Rangoon, Seared Tuna, Goat Cheese-Stuffed Artichokes, or Buca Beignets (Italian meat and cheese melted inside a sweet, flaky crust--yum yum!) for roughly $5?? I challenge you to find somewhere else that does it better.

A word of advice: arrive early. Don't dawdle after work, or you might have trouble finding a seat. No one wants to miss happy hour specials because they couldn't get a table in time, right? I will mention that in light of Arctic-tundra that has been Nashville this week, the lounge was relatively empty last night. But this meant we got our food and drinks quickly.

Last night I opted for a glass of Malbec, but once the warm weather hits I want to try some of Sambuca's creative cocktails, like the Cucumber Pineapple Crush, Call A Cab (made with Firefly Sweet Tea vodka, tequila, gin, rum, and Coke), Hibiscus Sangria, or the Double Standard (made with chocolate vodka, vanilla, and cherries). The thought of those drinks should warm anyone right up! Is it summertime yet????

The End Notes:

• Happy Hour specials from 4:30-6:30 every weekday make it easy and affordable to enjoy Sambuca's atmosphere and fare without the hefty price tag. Be thrifty in style!
• Arrive early to secure a good seat. If you ever need an excuse to leave at 5 on the nose, Sambuca's Rush Hour is a great reason to rush out of the office.
• Valet parking right outside makes it easy (and affordable) to visit The Gulch.
• I hear Sambuca's lunch specials are great too...

Two for the Price of One

Any spendthrift or savvy socialite knows the best way to get more bang out of your evening out is to hit up 2-4-1 specials. This week, I've had the chance to partake in two trendy hotspots' hot deals.

For anyone living west of the River, Tuesday night means Mafiaoza's. This 12th South staple offers BOGO pizza slices and beer all day every Tuesday  until closing time (well, the beer specials stop at 9--gotta be safe, right?). Anything you can pile on a pizza or pull from a tap can be yours for a low, low price. Well, actually the low price depends on how many toppings you choose. I had 2 slices of Mafiaoza's New York-style stone oven pizza topped with fresh basil, black olives, chopped prosciutto, and gooey mozzarella for just $5 and change. Add in a round of Blue Moon from the iconic Mason jars, and my Tuesday night was complete for less than $10. Plus, the slices were so big they took up the entire plate, and had I not had a such a lackluster lunch I could have easily saved one slice for the next day. (Wanna talk about being a spendthrift?)

I will say, the noise and crowd levels can get pretty high the closer the hour hand get to 12, so a quiet, romantic evening this is not. But if you're in the mood to hang out with some friends and get good food and beer for the same price as a meal at any chain restaurant, head on down to the bustling 12th South neighborhood for this Nashville favorite.

And when Wednesday rolls around and you are still looking for a great deal and a little less chaos, please check out Taco Mamacita, the anchor of the Edgehill Village area (between Belmont University and Music Row). Once a struggling strip of entrepreneurial ventures, Edgehill Village seems to have blossomed in the 6-8 months since Taco Mamacita took over the space formerly occupied by Rosario's. If you could classify a taco as "upscale" or "trendy" that's what you'll find here. Tacos are sold individually for about $4 each or as part a plate with your choice of side. (I'm partial to the sweet potato fries myself, but a friend recently introduced me to the Mexican street corn, which is also delicious.) Perhaps my favorite taco is the Memphis, an unexpected combination of flour tortilla, cole slaw, and pulled pork drenched in a tangy BBQ sauce. I also like Baja fish taco and the vegetarian jerk, if you're looking to complete your platter.

Unfortunately, the tacos are not twofers, but the margaritas certainly are! For $7, you get your choice of the Elvez or El Camino margaritas (pretty standard formula for the former, add a splash of OJ and you get the latter) in a 24oz. glass served over crushed ice. Yum! Also unfortunately, T.M.'s popular Skinny Margarita is not included in the special, but really, if you're gonna have pizza and beer one night and tacos and margs the next, does the skinny version really make that much difference?

Another trendy spot for the vaguely descriptive "young professionals sector", I recommend arriving early to secure both good parking and a good seat. We arrived tonight around 6 and nabbed a table outside in the shade, under a fan, and were glad to have a place to sit when the crowds started lining up down the sidewalk. On a night like this you can have as much or as little to eat or drink as you want and still come away with a bargain.

Oh, and for those of you who haven't been to Taco Mamacita in several weeks--yes, they do have their beer license now and can serve several beers on tap and many domestic and imports by the bottle. Yazoo's Dos Perros makes a nice compliment to a taco.

Next week, when you're planning your dinner menu, consider one of these Belmont-area nightspots. You won't regret it!

The End Notes:

• Good bargains are worth planning your calendar around
• Great for after-work drinks and dinner with friends, but arrive early to avoid ridiculously long wait-times.
• Anything goes as far as attire, so there should be no excuse not to visit (unless you don't like crowds and noise. Then maybe visit on another day.)

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.

Coffee in a Clutch

Spend any length of time with me, and you will know I have a penchant for coffee. More than a penchant, a passion. I can drink coffee at any given time of day during any given time of year (yes, even in the middle of a Tennessee summer day!), and I always drink it black. Unless I'm feeling really adventurous, and then I go for a non-fat au lait, and that's just about as fancy as I ever get. So to say that I am thrilled to work near a locally-owned (read: NOT a Starbucks) coffee shop is slightly misrepresenting the truth.

Berry Hill's Sam & Zoe's gets a lot of my money, as they are within almost-walking distance from my office. OK, so walking is unrealistic, but swinging quickly by the old house-turned-java joint is not. Sam & Zoe's is one of my favorite spots for quick cup of joe on the way to work or afternoon pick me up, but it's spot on my Top Ten list is due primarily to its location. Recently, the place has gone through yet-another change in the quest to find its true identity, and the menu (and the service) has not gotten back up to par.

For my standard afternoon pick-me-up, the medium non-fat au lait hold the cardboard sleeve because I'm trying to single-handedly save the environment, Sam & Zoe's is great. For a quick sandwich or salad, it's not so much anymore.

One of the best things I've found on the revamped lunch menu is the Tijuana Wrap, an overstuffed tortilla filled with black beans, melted cheese, avacado slices, and tomatillo salsa. The warm, gooey wrap is good and comforting, but it is too much. I always overeat and always regret it. For the money, I'd just as soon go next door to Baja Burrito.

The coffee shop offers a homemade chicken salad served on a cranberry pecan bread, which I thought was good until I had The Iroquois from Bread & Company, which is one of the only sandwiches I crave. S&Z's just doesn't quite have the same pizzaz.

My most upsetting Sam & Zoe's happened recently, on a day when I definitely could have and probably should have gone home for lunch instead of eating out. But I wasn't in the mood for PB&J so I opted for a quick bite here. I ordered the Chipotle Chicken sandwich, which I had always heard from really good. I thought it was really disappointing. I liked the chipotle sauce and the fresh sourdough bun but that was about it. The chicken was obviously the pre-packaged kind and had some questionable bits. Gross!  I don't quite know what I expected (because they obviously aren't firing up the grill in their tiny kitchen) but when their chicken salad always tastes good and their turkey is pulled and tastes fresh, I just expected more than iffy pre-packaged chicken. Not to mention, on this particular day I had to wait an excessively long time for this lackluster meal.

Despite what my coworker thinks about the quality of their menu, I think I'll save Sam & Zoe's for the quick cup of coffee and maybe the homemade chocolate chip cookies and spend my money on sandwiches elsewhere.

The End Notes:

• Good, reliable coffee
• Staff (almost) always serves with a smile
• Lunch menu is constantly in transition and not as reliable as other bakeries/sandwich joints in the neighborhood.
• I'm neutral about this one. 

The art of drinking well

I know I have already blogged about The Patterson House, but this time was different. This time, I was the one holding the ticket to get behind that illustrious blue curtain. This time, we sat at the bar and watched with great intensity the artistry and alchemy that goes into creating each classic cocktail. (As a side note, are you aware that raw brown eggs go into many a cocktail? Am I the only one who thinks this is gross?)

Sitting at the bar allowed me to appreciate the hand-crafted, molded ice balls (created from a unique Japanese mold) that go into the double old fashioned glasses. The multitude of utensils, the many accoutrements, the fresh-cut fruit garnishes combine to make cocktails Fitzgerald would be proud of.

The quarterly menu will be changing in a couple of weeks to better reflect the flavors of the spring . As I cannot attend the Kentucky Derby this year, I do hope the next menu will offer an authentic Mint Julep. I was hoping for something reminiscent of this in the Whiskey Smash, created with Rebel Yell bourbon, lemon juice, and garnished with mint. It was good, but too lemony for my taste and not minty enough. I think it might be a better drink served on a hot summer's day and not a cool, rainy evening in early March.

One of the most unique and manly drinks on the menu is the Bacon Old Fashioned (dubbed "The Bacon" by the Patterson mixologists behind the bar). Made with their own recipe of bacon-infused whiskey and flavored with coffee and earthy maple notes, drinking this cocktail transported me into an old, dusty library with men smoking cigars and talking politics. (I felt a bit like I was recreating Anne Stanton drinking with Jack Burden in All the King's Men.)

All literary references aside, this drink tasted like a perfectly-cooked slice of thick-cut bacon coated with bits of caramelized brown sugar. My favorite part was watching the mixologist stir and sample the drink until it was just right. Who else puts that much effort into crafting your cocktail? Definitely a drink for slipping slowly, it was delicious. You must try this, regardless of your prejudices.

The End Notes:

• Patterson House is a must for Nashvillians with an adventurous spirit for creative spirits.
• If you're looking for your every day Vodka and Sprite or Jaeger Bombs, this is NOT the place for you. 
• Channel your inner flapper and head to this hidden treasure as soon as you can.

Salmon on Tap

My mother's favorite restaurant in Nashville thus far is the 12th South Taproom & Grill, which she stumbled upon quite by accident. A year ago, she was in town for a conference and wanted to go "somewhere that my friends and I would go all the time." So of course I thought of Mafioza's. (I do love beer in those mason jars!) Unfortunately, it was a Monday, the place was closed, and being tired, hungry, and not that in favor of an adventure, we settled on the 12th South Taproom if only because the parking lots are adjacent. Having heretofore only patroned this 12th South neighborhood joint for the bar aspect of "bar & grill" I wasn't really sure what we would be getting in to, but Mom was game, so off we went.

With too many beers on tap to name (think of a scaled-down version of The Flying Saucer) and live music almost nightly, it's a fun place to hang out in the evenings. The menu, though, is not too shabby. The food always tastes fresh, the specials change daily, and there is a little something for everyone. Not your typical deep-fried pub grub. And it was on this menu that Mom found "the best salmon she has ever had."

Literally, she claims to think about this dish (she ordered the Grilled Salmon with a side of parmesan mashed potatoes and a baby green salad) all the time. Sometimes I wonder if it's not the impetus behind her decision to come visit me! When she and Dad came for my birthday this summer, of course we visited 12th South Taproom for the salmon (which she had added to the entree-sized baby green salad in the heat of June).

So it only seemed appropriate that when she and two of our best friends (second family?) cooked up a weekend visit, the trio of Alabamians barely had time to set down their monogrammed duffel bags before we all piled back in the Volvo and headed to 12th Ave. South.

As is Mom's modus operandi, she knew what she would order without looking at the menu. The rest of us, of course, took forever to make a decision. But I think that as in part because the waiter took forever in taking our order. He was one of those haughty types that wrote nothing down--which drives me crazy!--but he did get our order delivered accurately if not at all quickly. 

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich (remember, I do love pork!) with pasta salad, which I used to like until I stopped eating mushrooms. This bow-tie pasta with fresh basil, cubed squash, zucchini, and tomatoes, and fresh feta. Delicious, save for the mushrooms. Melanie ordered an avocado BLT with gouda mac (yum!) and Alisa got a jalepeno patty melt. Both orders typified their personalities. 

Everyone enjoyed their meals (and yes, Mom got her salmon fix!) but we hated the length of time we had to sit and wait. Wait for our order to be taken, wait for our food, wait for the check. It was much too long for a Saturday lunch. By the time we were finished, we hardly had time to shop til we dropped. 

The End Notes:

• While I will go back with Mom next time she visits, because its doubtful I'll have a choice, I think I'll save future visits to 12th South Taproom for good beer, live music, and the open-air patio seating.
• If your parents are visiting, and like to grab a beer with you, bring them here in the evening. If you're meeting friends for a casual night out, come here. For Saturday lunch, I'd find somewhere else.