The Perks of Dating a Chef

Last week Marshall and I went to Gulf Shores, Alabama for our one year anniversary trip. I am one lucky girl to have such an incredible boyfriend and of course I am so lucky that he is a chef and cooks incredible dinners for me! I wanted to post a few pictures from our trip to showcase his food!

Grouper with risotto and a white wine beurre blanc

 Left over risotto cakes with a fresh spring salad.

 A German Riesling and a beautiful sunset

Spicy Vodka Marinara Sauce

Husk Nashville

Husk is finally in Nashville! After months of rumors, Chef Sean Brock has brought his world renowned Charleston restaurant to the area. Husk is known for its daily changing menu that uses ingredients specifically from the south. When you walk in the door of Husk, you will see a large blackboard that lists exactly where their ingredients come from. There aren't any secrets at Husk, except what the menu the next day will be. The daily changing menu keeps Husk ahead of the game. In fact, some may say they CHANGED the game.

From the moment I walk up to Husk, I instantly feel like I am in a southern house for a family meal. Of course I already live in the south, but this restaurant looks exactly like a house from Gone with the Wind. There is a stack of firewood at the entrance and a garden that surrounds the entire restaurant.

When Husk opened a lot of people from Marshalls restaurant, Watermark, left to work at the up and coming best restaurant in Nashville. Because of this, when we walked in Marshall knew EVERYONE. It was adorable how he spoke with everyone about the latest changes in the watermark kitchen. As soon as we sat down I realized I was starving. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese.

With so many amazing choices for lunch, Marshall and I finally made our choice. I choose the Plate of Southern Vegetables. This came with thick  mashed risotto, mushrooms, jalepeno grits, and Anson Mills farro.

Marshall chose the NC catfish, cooked over embers, swiss chard, Anson Mills farro, and tomato-corn meal gravy! 

Feeling like we needed to go big or go home, especially because it was his birthday lunch, Marshall and I orded a variety of desserts to enjoy! We ordered a strawberry and rhubarb shortcake with  homemade vanilla ice cream and a strawberry buttermilk cake! 

 Overall, I think Husk is challenging all of the southern restaurants in Nashville who strive to produce locally sourced foods, but aren't doing it correctly. Husk is setting the bar high and Nashville restaurants will not be able to keep up if they don't take notice. Not only is Chef Brock's menu creative, but he is combining ingredients together in a new and exciting way by putting a spin on southern classics. 

It's Silly how Goose it is: Silly Goose

It's Marshalls birthday week and he has made a list of restaurants he wants to try. Since I work at Jenis Splendid Ice Creams, which is next door to Silly Goose, I always talk with customers about where they ate for dinner and Silly Goose is ALWAYS mentioned. Silly Goose has taken Nashville by storm. They are known for their artisan sandwiches, creative sodas and teas, and their herb garden located in front of their store. We got to the restaurant right when it opened to be sure to get a spot! The restaurant is decorated with Nashville Print work and has a chic country feel about it. With their delicious Rosemary Lemonade to start with, I was already in heaven. The menu is relatively simple, divided into sandwiches, salads and couscous. I can't say no to a great sandwich, no matter how "healthy" I am trying to be. I ordered the Sparky. A sun-dried tomato wrap with turkey breast, basil aioli, dried cranberries, brie, roasted walnuts and baby greens. IT WAS AMAZING. I've had great sandwiches in Nashville, but this was amazing. I really love the warm brie paired with the cranberries and turkey. It was thanksgiving in a wrap, and I can have it all year long. I will definitely return to Silly Goose.... Maybe on my break at work, especially since I get 15% off!

Safire; A Southern Gem in the Historic Franklin Factory

This summer I am interning at a food magazine in Nashville called Relish. I've only be here two days, but I am adjusting quite well to the office flow. It is a lot slower paced than many other places I have worked at, so I attempting to teach myself to sit still longer.... But maybe in the end I will just have to buy an exercise ball to sit on like the editors from Spry, a fitness magazine that is also part of our publishing group, so that I can bounce around while I type. 

One of the nice things about working here is that I get an hour lunch break! Since I don't spend anytime in Cool Springs for various reasons, many of them having to do with the abundance of corporations, traffic, and the lack of trees. However, there are quite a few local 'gems' near my office that are known around Nashville to be exceptionally delicious. Today I ventured to the Factory of Franklin to try a southern restaurant called Safire. 

Nestled inside the historic old factory is Saffie. Decked out with country slangs on wooden panels and large window panes, the restaurant clearly reflects the southern flaire of their food and the historic aspects of the building. The tables are mismatched truly reflecting an old southern charm. Safire also has an open kitchen which is one of my favorite things to see in a restaurant  The lunch menu is relatively simple with a few salad items, sandwiches, grits, and traditional side items. Normally if I see shrimp & grits on a menu I will orden them without thinking, but I went to Cabana, in Hillsboro Village last night and ordered spicy grits there, so I thought it may be time for a change. Instead I ordered the 1/2 size of the safire ribbon salad that came with iceberg and romaine, crumbled bleu cheese and spicy fried walnuts tossed in a white peach and vinaigrette dressing and topped with crispy veggie chips. The salad was simple, sweet, and pretty good! I especially like the seasoned walnuts. They were sweet & spicy! The salad reminded me of my absolute salad from the Loveless Cafe, the blue ribbon. 

For my entree I ordered the daily pasta which was cooked in a brown butter and white wine herb sauce and it came with mushrooms, red peppers, and onions all seasoned to perfection. I loved everything about this dish EXCEPT for the noodles. The dish came with penne which I do not particularly like.... The noodles did not do the sauce any justice. . . I would have preferred a thin and long noodle like angel hair. Marshall ordered the cajun sandwich with a side of Mac n Cheese. Both were to his liking and he happily ate all of them. 

All and all I would definitely return, especially to try the shrimp and grits!

But, if you're in Franklin and looking for some classic southern food, I recommend Mack and Kate's Cafe. It is the best!