by ThallenBLiving on September 5, 2012
The next stop on my tour of the Gulch is Whiskey Kitchen. It’s a pub-like restaurant with open windows and a delightful outdoor patio. We went on a Friday night, and the crowd was lively. The place was packed, and while there was a 45-minute wait for indoor seating, the patio is no wait (if you can find a seat). As you probably guessed from the name, Whiskey Kitchen has a large selection of whiskey and other hard liquors. I’m not a whiskey drinker, so I went for a Shirley Temple, lol! They were pretty tasty and the refills were free 
Although the atmosphere was nice for a Friday night spot, the food was just ok. The menu is eclectic… ranging from hot dogs to seared ahi tuna! While this is great for a large group of friends who are looking for a good time, it’s not the place for foodies looking for a delicious meal. Here’s what I had:
We started with fried calamari and fried pickles with marinara sauce.
For my entree, I had a chicken Caesar salad which sounded much better on the menu than it actually was.
For dessert, I had the chocolate cake. I think it must be of the “heat-and-eat” variety… It was much too bland for a chef to have prepared it on site.
All in all, I’m in no rush to get back to Whiskey Kitchen (but keep in mind, I didn’t try the whiskey!). Have you ever been disappointed by a restaurant you thought would be really good?
by ThallenBLiving on September 4, 2012
by ThallenBLiving on August 5, 2012
While perusing Nashville Lifestyles Magazine online, I came across a list of the best brunch spots in Nashville. To me that sounded like a challenge… yes, a challenge to visit them all! I started with Noshville, a self-proclaimed “NY-style delicatessen” located on Broadway, close to Vanderbilt University. Well, Noshville did a pretty good job of recreating the ambiance of a NYC diner experience. The seating was grey and dingy, the condiment containers were sticky, and food was just as good as something you could make in your own kitchen! However, the ample leg room and southern accents were a dead giveaway! I had the “1 griddle cake (chocolate chip)-1 egg-1bacon” special and the price was right at $5.49!
I would visit Noshville again on a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning when I don’t feel like cooking. But, I’m not scratching to get back there any time soon!
What’s your favorite brunch spot? (Mine, by far, is Norma’s in NYC!) Do you prefer to make breakfast/brunch at home on the weekends?
by ThallenBLiving on July 30, 2012
Recently, I met up with an old friend at Cantina Laredo, a “gourmet” Mexican restaurant in “the Gulch” of Nashville, TN. The Gulch is one of Nashville’s trendiest new areas, complete with brand new condos, restaurants and shops. Cantina Laredo is just one of many hotspots in the Gulch that I’ve been wanting to try. I will definitely keep you posted as I make my way around to all that the Gulch has to offer.
Cantina Laredo is a chain restaurant with locations in 15 states, the UAE and the UK. According to our delightful waiter, Juan, all the food (even down to the salsa and guacamole) is made fresh each day at each location. I ordered the Enchilada de Camarone, which is an enchilada filled with shrimp, monterey jack cheese and roasted peppers on a bed of spinach and vegetables topped with sour cream poblano sauce, served with a side of rice. While the enchilada was a little skimpy on the fillings, the sour cream poblano sauce was delicious. I can’t rave enough about the attentive service and the ambiance was nice as well… especially for lunch time because the crowd seemed to include more than just “suits and ties.” I can imagine that it gets pretty lively on a Friday or Saturday night, and would be a great place to hang with friends at the bar… drinking margaritas and eating chips and salsa!
I would recommend Cantina Laredo generally, as well as the specific location I visited in the Gulch. It appears that Cantina Laredo in the Gulch has a mailing list that alerts patrons about deals and specials. If you’re interested, you can get on the list by clicking here.
by ThallenBLiving on July 24, 2012
It’s no secret that I love cake!!! So, it should be no surprise that I have found one of the best little bakeries in the country – “Nothing Bundt Cakes!” They have locations across the country and can even be ordered online. They offer nine delicious flavors and also sell cute little trinkets and baking accessories. You also have a choice in cake size depending on the occasion (i.e., the “bundtini” which is bite sized and sold by the dozen, all the way to tiered cakes, perfect for large gatherings).
I caught a terrific “buy 3, get 1 free” special! So I got 4 “bundlet” cakes (single serving) – Lemon, Pecan Praline, Red Velvet, and Pineapple Upside Down. Hubby and I have had two of the four already (Lemon and Pecan Praline) and I must say these cakes are moist, delicious and amazing! The standard frosting is a luscious and decadent cream cheese that I tried to spread over every bite… but according to the website, you can also opt for a lighter drizzle if frosting isn’t your thing. I can’t wait to try the other two flavors I bought! In fact, I can’t wait to go back to Nothing Bundt Cakes and try the flavors I didn’t buy!
Have you tried Nothing Bundt Cakes? Would you consider ordering cake online?
by ThallenBLiving on March 14, 2012
Recently I came across this YouTube video (and this one) about women who seem to defy the aging process by following a raw food vegan diet. Aside from the beauty benefits from consuming a balanced diet, there is no denying that the health benefits are also phenomenal! I’ve decided to start including more fruits and vegatables into my diet little by little. Perhaps one day I can become as disciplined and diligent as these ladies and totally embrace a vegan lifestyle. In the meantime, I am cutting back on the sweets and meats (hey, that rhymes!)… What type of diet do you follow? How does it make you feel?
by ThallenBLiving on January 3, 2012
I finally got reservations to Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem. The restaurant has been open for over a year now, and it’s still a little difficult to get reservations during prime time. This would lead you to believe that the food is so delicious people just can’t stay away. However, in line with many other reviews of Red Rooster, I found the ambiance and service to be nice, but the food a bit lackluster… We started off with crab cakes and cornbread as appetizers. The crab cakes were flavorful and delicious. The cornbread was served with a whipped butter and a tomato jam. The tomato jam had a “unique” flavor, but it wasn’t bad. I preferred the cornbread with just the whipped butter. Hubby and I were very excited about what was to come since the first course started off so promising… However, we were both disappointed with our entrees–the Fried Yardbird (fried chicken) and the Blackened Catfish. I felt that despite the eclectic use of garnishes, the food was terribly bland. Our waiter told us these were the most popular dishes, so I can’t imagine anything else on the menu tastes better.
In spite of our intuition, we decided to order dessert– Sweet Potato Doughnuts. Yet again, this dish lacked flavor. If “sweet potato” had not been in the name, I never would have known it was an ingredient. It was basically yeast rolls will sugar sprinkled on top.
At the end of the meal, I looked at my hubby and said “I should’ve had a V-8!”
Have you been to Red Rooster? How was your experience?
by ThallenBLiving on December 12, 2011
Last night, my hubby and I decided to have a late dinner. We’d had a pretty heavy lunch, so we wanted something light yet filling. I suggested we heat up some canned Hormel Veggie Chili… but Hubby decided that was too bland. Apparently, it needed a little bit of his own flare! He went into the kitchen and got to work… Hubby ended up seasoning and baking a chicken breast and cutting it up into the chili. He also tossed a few pieces of delicious garlic toast in the oven. The result? A hearty meal, packed full of flavor, yet light enough to keep me from feeling stuffed. I must say, he always impresses me with his creativity in the kitchen!
Do you have a favorite “made-up” meal?
by ThallenBLiving on November 30, 2011
I’ve found the perfect do-it-yourself gift idea: Cookies in a Jar! I came across this while browsing the internet the other day (the photo above is from www.Make-It-Do.com). The idea is simple… Fill mason jars with the ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe. All the gift recipients will have to do is pour out the ingredients and add egg, butter and vanilla. These are so simple to make and so unique because each giver’s recipe is different!
Here’s what you need:
- Quart size mason jars (these can be found at local craft stores)
- Festive fabric and ribbon
- Cookie ingredients
- Labels (or double-side tape and paper)
What to do:
- Clean and dry mason jars and lids. Measure and add ingredients to the jar. On a computer, print out what you want your label to say. It may be a good idea to include the ingredients in case someone is allergic. Cut and tape labels to jar. Cut fabric in squares large enough to cover the lid of the jar. Cut ribbon long enough to wrap around the fabric at the neck of the jars to hold the fabric in place. Tie the ribbon into a secure knot, then make a bow
by ThallenBLiving on November 29, 2011
Last week, Hubby offered to help out in the kitchen with dinner. Of course that meant we pulled out his favorite kitchen appliance – the George Forman Grill! We made Chicken & Spinach Quesdillas and boy were they delicious (and pretty healthy too!). Here’s what we used:
- Organic Chicken Breast
- Taco Seasoning
- Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Fresh Spinach
- Mozzerella Cheese
- Light Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Jalapeno Peppers
- George Foreman Grill
Here’s what to do:
- Season the chicken breast with taco seasoning and bake in the oven until done.
- Slice the chicken and place on a tortilla.
- Add spinach and mozzerella cheese.
- Cover with second tortilla, then place on George Forman Grill.
- All done when cheese appears melted and tortilla is brown!
- Cut into triangles, garnish with sour cream, salsa and jalapeno peppers.
We started with fried calamari and fried pickles with marinara sauce.
For my entree, I had a chicken Caesar salad which sounded much better on the menu than it actually was.
For dessert, I had the chocolate cake. I think it must be of the “heat-and-eat” variety… It was much too bland for a chef to have prepared it on site.
