Henrietta Red ~ A fine Welcome to Nashville

After a 9 hour drive from a -4 degree morning in Wisconsin, we arrived in Nashville to a balmy 21 degree evening where the hotel bellman bemoaned the cold winter weather. 

The warm, bright atmosphere of Henrietta Red, a small plates spot in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood was the perfect way to end the day. The place was bustling without a crowded feeling. A large marble top table in the center of the dining room served as an open station for table settings which helped the servers keep the small plate system running.

A Moscow Mule with two slices of fresh candied ginger was just what I needed to settle my slightly queasy stomach – a victim of the long drive.
The restaurant features a full Raw Bar with over a dozen varieties of Oysters and Clams with colorful names and origins like Saucy Lady Shells, Apalachicola FL; Murder Point, Irvington Alabama; Summerstone, Lilliwaup WA; and Mookie Blues, Damariscotta ME.

HR features an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven surrounded with handpainted decorative tiles. Wood Roasted Oysters may tempt you, if you’re not in the mood for raw. Try the Dill, Mustard Butter with thyme breadcrumbs or the Green Curry and pair it with the Sunchoke Salad, which features Honey Crisp Apple, Sunflower Seeds & Sprouts with Parmeasan and Lemon. The apples were so sliced paper thin and I could swear the chef added small raw fingerling potatoes to balance the fruit’s tartness. 

A Rabibit Cassoulet with White Runner Beans, Rabbit Confit, Pancetta, Chicken Sausage and Herbed Breadcrumb the and Braised Lamb with Beluga Lentils, Swiss Chard, Smoked Castleventrano, Olive, Labna, Corriander and Mint were hearty and well portioned winter courses. 

A modern small plates spot like Henrietta Red, named in honor of Chef Julia Sullivan’s grandparents Carolina low-country hospitality, fits right into a big food town like Nashville Tennessee.

Pecos River Church

Pecos River Church ~ shared by my friend Larry EmersonRiogranderivermap

I went to one of my “favorite churches” the other day. It was not a building made by hands, rather it was a Cathedral made by Elohim (The Creator), the One who spoke creation into being.
Its walls were not wood or steel, but the stone of canyon walls. Its ceiling was as high as the bright blue sky—it seemed that it touched the heavens. There were no icons or statues; but  trees there were. Light emanated from El-Roi (God of Seeing), the One who is above all and known by many names—The Light of the World.
The pews were slime-covered rocks embedded in the water of life. Finding a solid place to stand was the order of the day. Moving from rock to rock, the flowing water was a reminder of the pressures of life, and the slimy rocks a reminder of the need to move ever so cautiously. I used my staff to help with my stability—Yahweh-Rohi (The Lord Our Shepherd).
The music of the day came from the wind rustling through the trees and the water rushing over the rocks. As I got settled in, my feet and legs were planted in the water, with my right foot forward—it was as though I was connected with the One who made it all. Yahweh-Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) was all around me. We lovingly embraced. The only waving of hands in this service was the swaying of tree branches and the rhythmic movement of my fly rod as I swung it gracefully in the air, pointing it to El Elyon (Most High). Interjected in there were a few“prayers”…some, I must confess, were that the fish would take my fly….and I could set the hook quickly enough. I had a baptism that day. I took a fall, but only to be partially immersed, and then come forth to fish again—Yahweh-Rapha (The Lord Heals). I laughed; all creation chimed in with me. And we had communion that day too. Not unleavened bread, but green chili burgers (“dressed” as we say in N’awlins) and chips we ate. Not wine, but cool water we drank.
The congregation of the day was small, but diverse indeed: There was my “brother,” Tom. There was our “certified fly fishing guide dog,” Niko. And our human fly fishing guide, Marcus, led the way. There were the spirits of many who had worshiped in those waters before. No preacher was there, just the Spirit of the One who dwells within. And, there were the “rainbows” and “browns”— trout they are. As I caught and released them, I was able to momentarily admire their beauty. As I held them in my hands, I could feel the life within. We had wrestled together for a few minutes. Then, the fish’s life was in my hands….but they were hands that cared for it and wanted life for it. For a brief moment we were together as one. Then I gently caressed the fish, held it ever so gently in the water, allowed it to regain its strength, and then released it…a rebirth so to speak…hoping we would meet again at church on another day.
I was drawn to remember my journey with the great I AM. The pneuma I breathed that day was cool, fresh, and clean. As I inhaled each breath I sensed the very breath of God enveloping my soul. As I departed my “favorite church,” My mind thought, “It was good to be down by the riverside.” My body had a new pace. My spirit rejoiced. My heart was filled with gratitude. My vision was renewed. I was ready to go back into the world for another foray. I am ready to go back another day.
Paul E. Robertson
November 1, 2017

Food movies & friends

100_Foot-661x1024 100-Foot-Journey-movie-duoThe 100 Foot Journey is an appropriate title of a film that brought close friends a little closer. I’ve long been a fan of a good food movie.The list probably began when I read Like Water for Chocolate, and then enjoyed the film because it stayed so true to the short but sweet little novel. Then came, Big Night which we saw on New Year’s Eve, because we must have known it was going to be pretty special! That sets me off on a tangent, there is Mostly Martha, Tortilla Soup, Babette’s Feast, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Chocolat. What others have I missed?

So when a friend mentioned having her own little “foodie-movie” fest, she recommended that Chef and The 100 Foot Journey be added to my list. That’s all it took for me to think up an excuse to create a movie night around one of my favorite cuisines: Indian! I’m lucky to know a group of intrepid food lovers and they signed on right away.

The concept was simple. Place a carry-out order from a good Indian restaurant and watch The 100 Foot Journey after the feast. It didn’t hurt that I’m learning French and the film is set in Provence (although the script was dumbed down and Anglicized to the point where the French speaking locals would say “Hello” instead of “Bonjour” to each other!)  Mon dieu!

So here’s a look at what we shared from TAVA a gem of a place in Morton Grove, Illinois.

Appetizers

Momo – stuffed, steamed dumplings seasoned with Himalayan herbs and spices served with an exotic Nepalese sauce

Calamari Bhaji – tender calamari and chopped onions tossed in a chickpea, rice and corn-flour batter, lightly fried in canola oil and served with chutney

Entrees

Tava Fish Tandoori – fresh, tender morsels of catfish marianated with signature spice blend, and roasted to perfection in a tandoor

Samundri Mixed Grill – salmon, catfish and whitefish marinated in yogurt sauce, roasted in a clay oven, served with roasted onions, fresh bell peppers, tomoatoes and spicy chili peppers

Lamb Curry – Fresh tender boneless lamb cooked with traditional mughalai spices, onion and saffron.

Family Dinner for 4 – Tandoori chicken (6 pieces of dark meat) or Tandoori Vegetables, Chicken Makhani, Chicken Tikka Masala or Chana Saag, Dal Makhani or Dal Tadka, Peas Pulao

Steamed Basmati Rice & Bread Basket – Plyazi Kulcha, Paneer Kulcha, Roti, Garlic Naan, and Plain Naan

Desserts

Desi Kheer – fragrant, traditional rice pubbing with raisins and almonds

Carrot Halwa – homemade carrot pudding cooked with cashew and almond, served hot

God’s Majesty and Purple Mountains shared by Jan Oden

 We just returned from a whirlwind week in God’s country.  I have to say that I’m glad we waited until now to see Grand Tetons and Yellowstone…because each of us appreciated it so fully. I feel sorry for atheists of the world….you can’t possibly not believe that God had everything to do with the spectacular beauty that we witnessed (in every direction!!).

Our first two nights were spent in a 2 br condo in West Yellowstone…great location, close to the park. Then next 2 nights we moved south to Jackson Lake Lodge on Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton Natl Park. We toured as much of Yellowstone as we could on the 4th of July. On one stop after seeing Old Faithful geyser, we pulled over to enjoy the scenery of the mountains and the Yellowstone river, and lo and behold this beautiful bald eagle soars over the river right below us…all four of us just looked at each other and had an emotional moment of silence, just being thankful for this amazing country of ours.

All day Sunday and a good part of Monday were spent touring Yellowstone’s magnificent scenes AND animals…including a mother grizzly and her 2 cubs…several bison (2 very close up!)…elk, mule deer, prong horn sheep….Julia and Dylan would go wild every time we saw any wildlife… and we saw plenty! We headed to Grand Tetons to take in Jackson Lake, Jenny Lake (we can’t help but be drawn to lakes after growing up with Wisconsin and Michigan lakes in our lives)…absolutely stunning views.

We thought about taking a raft trip on the Snake River, but decided to do that next year instead. So we took a dinner boat tour on Jackson Lake overlooking the Tetons last Tues. night. The guide told us some great stories about the area and then we boated over to Elk Island, disembarked, walked over to picnic tables set up by a campfire and had a cowboy dinner of grilled steaks and lake trout, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, cowgirl beans, fresh salad, biscuits and apple cobbler for dessert, yummy!! Then we hiked up a trail on the island to an overlook of sunset on the lake.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing these wonders of our America, do. You will not be disappointed!

The Potato Chip Cookie: A Tale of Two Recipes

Family history comes in many forms. The recipes we find, save, and share become a part of a family’s legacy and it seems appropriate to write about the recipe collections of two wonderful cooks and loving mothers on Mother’s Day. The first time I had Grandma Pizel’s cookies was at a concert at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. There, she brought us a classic picnic supper with fried chicken, cucumber sandwiches, strawberry rhubarb pie and these salty-sweet cookies. Evelyn Pizel was my mother-in-law Carol’s mom.  Both of these ladies were natural-born cooks.

I recently went searching for this cookie recipe to bring to a friend’s Bridal Shower. Part of the fun at the shower was centered around the saying, “Life’s short, eat dessert first!” And so we did!

I found Carol’s recipe in a sky-blue binder titled “Menu for the Holidays – Seasoned Greetings” ~ compiled by Peggy Master 12/83. Grandma P’s was in a classic dark green metal recipe box.  Checking both, it surprised me to see two versions of the same cookie.  I decided to make both since they vary quite a bit.  I have a favorite, but will never tell!  I offer them here for you to compare and enjoy. One important caveat – both ladies put the single pecan half in the center of the cookie, even though Carol’s recipe calls for chopped nuts.  She did it like her mom always did!

Eveyln Pizel’s Potato Chip Cookie    1/2 lb. butter 1/2 c sugar 1 t. vanila (sic) 1 3/4 c flour Pecans in center Unbuttered cooky (sic) sheet 350 degree  20 min.

Carol’s Potato Chip Cookie 1 cup shortening 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 cups crushed potato chips 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 cup chopped nuts Cream shortening, add sugar & eggs & beat well. Add remaining ingredients. Bake 12 – 15 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 D.

Just finished…Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud_AtlasTruth be told, it was this book’s title and cover-art images that interested me. Pen and ink illustrations along with satellite and radar images of clouds all hint at the book’s central them of our inter-connected lives, especially through the passage of time.

Let yourself roll with Mitchell’s ability to write six unique stories from disparate places and times. You’ll be asking, how does this relate, right up until the time it all invariably does!

Adam Ewing – a Pacific Ocean adventure circa 1850 which starts and ends this novel;

Robert Frobisher – a roguish, tragically talented pianist who composes his masterpiece sextet ‘Cloud Atlas’ which resurfaces in two of the other stories;

Luisa Rey – a 1970’s era tough-as-nails LA journalist who is in way over her smart little head;

Timothy Cavendish – an unlucky, lucky Brit who steals the show while living through a true nightmare;

Sonmi-451 – one unique human clone in a future populated with clones who serve burgers, clean nuclear waste and don’t get any kind of retirement benefits;

Zachary – a boy’s wild adventure in postapocalyptic Hawaii, which reads more like Huck Finn meets Bladerunner;

Cloud Atlas was adapted into a film in 2012.

A Tale of Two Florida Restaurants: One Over the Top, the other Under the Radar

Over the Top: Bern’s Steak House, Tampa FLBern_wine_racks

The “circuses” in bread & circuses restaurant reviews was undoubtedly coined for Bern’s Steak House.  Bern’s is a unique, dining experience with a good dose of sensory overload. The Bern’s experience comes complete with an invitation to tour the entire bustling kitchen during serving hours at a place that can accommodate 350 guests. This behind-the-scenes view reveals an operation that runs like a well-oiled, clean machine. Imagine suddenly standing in the middle of a Broadway musical number and you are the only one who doesn’t dance! This place is choreographed down to the smallest detail, and no one misses a step.

Bern’s can boast of many things and here are a few highlights; eight dining rooms, the largest wine list in the world, and a wine-barrel themed dessert room. Owners Bern and Gert Laxer were definitely ahead of their time when it comes to farm-to-table by owning a farm which grows many of the vegetables served in house!  The rest of the long list of things that make Bern’s special can be found here!  Bern’s Steak House 1208 South Howard Avenue Tampa, Florida 33606

Under the Radar: Cafe Largo, Largo FL Christinis_Dominique_ Sebastien

And now, for something completely different. Think, small French circuses and breads from heaven! Cafe Largo is quite, bright and elegant. The food is superb and Chef Dominique Christini and son Sebastien are amiably creating, teaching and sharing their wonderful love of food, wine and hospitality. Cooking classes and special events are offered regularly.

A February Wine Pairing Dinner

Diver Scallops, dusted with alone flour & citrus beurre blanc ~ Paired with St Pierre de Mejans, Luberon white

Pheasant Consomme en Croute infused with Madeira

Veal Medallion and Rie de Veau ~ Paired with Cote de Nuits Village (Evening Land) 2010

Fromage & Salad ~ Paired with Chateau La Liguiere Fougeres 2006

Rasperry and White Chocolate Mousse ~ Paired with Muscate de Beaumes de Venise 2012

Cafe Largo 12551 Indian Rocks Road #18  Largo, Florida 33774