Just back from the Sunshine State

What I miss most is the salty aroma. I know I should say family and friends but the beach with it's warm sands and rolling surf comes a close second. Mike and I took our first trip in two years home to Miami. It was a great trip. We got to spend some time with my family and some of our close friends. We also got to try some of Miami's best new restaurants and a couple old favorites. Our first big supper was at Michael's in the happening regentrified Design District. If any of you happen to get there I recommend the 5 pound grilled whole snapper or the short ribs. They were both delicious. In the Design District we also went to Brosia, Soyka's & News Cafe for cocktails. Sorry Joyce.
There are now several great restaurants on Biscayne Blvd. Michey's, which just won the James Beard award has the cutest interior with orange banquets, floral chintz and an innovative menu. My favorite dish we tried was the ceviche. Yum. We also had a fabulous lunch at the Pineapple Blossom Tea Room. They have incredibly fresh sandwiches, wraps and salads. The owner Francis picks fresh mangos from her tree and brings them in still warm from the sun to serve with her creations. Double Yum!
Some of our old favorites... Mac's Club Deuce on Miami Beach, our favorite dive bar on the planet. T-mex across the street from the Deuce for Guacolocos with serious sauce. Vicki's Bakery in Hialeah for meat pastries called Pastelles. Fox's Sheridan Inn on US 1 for cocktails and a Greek salad. Jumbo's on 167 street for Dim Sum. And an old favorite of mine...Tark's on US1 in Dania for steamers and conch salad. There are more but I'm running out of space and my fingers are cramping.

Outfit of the day - June 6th

I know I'm not very good about taking my outfit pics but my friend Joi reminded me. I'm wearing a vintage Diane Von Furstenberg dress and my favorite orange glitter heels by Giuseppie Zanotti.

The garden saga continues...

O.K. I'm finally getting my yard under control. As I explained in past emails, I have a yard that is too much yard and not enough landscaping. I love a tropical feel and all I have are weeds and a huge black walnut tree in the front yard that kills everything I try and plant under it. This year I decided to tackle my problem differently. I divided my yard into areas and work on each area independently.For the front area I did a little research online to find some plants that will grow under the black walnut instead of randomly planting and hoping for the best. I found cinnamon ferns will grow. I planted some and they are starting to come up. I'm also laying a stone patio and moved some plants the walnut tree hadn't killed yet to better locations. Cutting back shrubs and weeding was needed in the bocce ball court area.

Now I'm deciding what to plant there. I would like some sort of aromatic herb but the area is shaded. In another area I'm building an outdoor chess set. That section has a lot of work to go. This sectioned approach has really worked for me. I hope I can get it all done before fall.

Hot Dog season is finally here!

There is nothing better than a noon baseball game when the sky is a clear blue and the sun shines. A crisp breeze blew over the Sounds Stadium today which is fresh and clean for this week's opening games. Michael and I love to take in a game. Today's game held a grand slam and another home run ending in three runs. The Sounds wound up winning 9-3 against the Omaha Royals. Go Sounds!

Woofer, get it?

This is genuis!!!

sander mulder, $775

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/business/yourmoney/21goods.html?_r=1&ex=157680000&en=fbb3a0cd315a817e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&oref=slogin

Rent at TPAC

I can't believe I never saw the gritty and moving remake of Verdi's La Boheme, Rent. Michael and I love the theater as most of you know. Last Sunday, my friend Joi arranged for a few of us to go see the show together. I had seen the movie and wasn't all that thrilled with it, so when she suggested we go I was like..."whatever". Wow! From the opening sequence we were riveted. The show is exciting and raw with fast-paced music and action. I can see why it has played for so long in so many venues, cities and countries.
The history of Rent is as moving as the script. It took 11 long years for Jonathan Larson to create his swansong. The night of January 26, 1996, the final dress rehearsal, Jonathan Larson thanked the cast in a heartfelt speech, returned to his tiny apartment and died an hour later of an aneurysm. The cast not knowing whether to go on the next day decided to open in Jonathan's memory and the rest is history.

Denver is a way cool town!

Mike and I went to visit my Mother who lives in downtown Denver. What a cool city! Back in 1991, Mike moved to Vail and lived there for four years. He says Denver is a completely different city from the one he remembers. One of their biggest problems back then was the smog. The air was so bad they had daily alerts. Now the city is sparkling clean. The air is clear and the streets are free of debris. People are moving to downtown Denver in droves. There are scores of independent restaurants, cool bars, historic buildings, hip shops, Museums and all within walking distance. Right off we managed to make it to a great Belgian Beer Cafe about two blocks from my mother's house called the Cheeky Monk. They have a huge selection of Belgian beers on tap and some in bottles. The happy hour delivers some fabulous deals. If we lived there Michael would have a cot. The Denver Art Museum has a beautiful new wing and superb restaurant, Palettes. For lunch I had the 4 cheese Mac & Cheese. My Mother had a beautifully roasted half chicken covered with fresh cut fries and Michael had scallops sandwiched between crispy potato cakes. To walk off all the delicious food and drink we went through Molly Brown's House. Yes, the unsinkable from Titanic fame. It was an interesting tour. I recommend it. We had dinner at Vesta Dipping Grill in Lodo. The menu consists of different meats or vegetables and a large selection of dipping sauces. I enjoyed the menu all though I found the sauces to be on the sweet side. I did have a fantastic drink made from Green Tea infused Vodka and Ginger Beer. Yummy.

Michael spent a day snowboarding in Vail so my Mother and I ran around downtown. We explored the state capitol which is having its 100 year anniversary. We had cocktails at the new Ritz-Carleton and wandered around the 16th Street Mall.

Michael came home the next morning, unbroken. We had brunch the next morning at home. In anticipation of our arrival my Mother made a cured salmon. She marinated it in Molasses and Soy Sauce and let it cure for a week. What a yummy breakfast. My Mother had an appointment so Michael and I had a cocktail at Parallel 17. It's a Modern Vietnamese Restaurant with a stylish interior and innovative menu. We made it to Jax's Seafood Restaurant for happy hour. They have Chesapeake Bay Oysters for .75 I love that. Dinner was at the most amazing Japanese restaurant called Domo. Their speciality is low country Japanese food and Wanko Sushi. The restaurant is attached to a domo and small museum. There is the most stunning garden patio area that in spring is perfect for outdoor seating. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.


That evening Michael and I went to the coolest bar in Lodo. The Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel seems frozen in time. Fashioned after one of the lounges on the Queen Mary it opened the day after prohibition was lifted in 1933. Its Art Deco interior is as stylish now as it was when it opened. Our final stop was the 114 year old Brown Palace. To me this is one of the most beautiful historic hotels I've ever been in. They were voted Best Martini in the Westworld, our version of the Scene.

We were leaving the next day so our final meal before we drove to the airport was at Steuben's on the corner of Pearl. What a fun place. It has a fun retro-modern interior and a funky Americana menu. Denver is a great town with a ton to offer. I have a whole list of places I want to check out next time a get there. I can't wait.

http://www.thecheekymonk.com/

http://www.coloradoeats.com/palettes/

http://www.mollybrown.org/

http://www.vestagrill.com/

http://www.parallelseventeen.com/

http://www.jaxfishhousedenver.com/

http://www.domorestaurant.com/

http://www.theoxfordhotel.com/cruise-room.htm

http://www.brownpalace.com/

http://www.steubens.com/

Outfit of the day

Those of you who know me, know I have a true passion for clothes. I say clothes and not fashion because to me when most people say fashion it connotes labels and names. Now don't get me wrong. I love a beautiful Gucci dress as much as the next girl but, I love all kinds of clothes. Any era, shape, label or lack of. Right now I'm obsessed with jumpsuits. Kind of like the one Olivia Newton John wore in Xanadu. Fabulous! Fortunately for me, I'm not shy when it comes to wearing all these outfits. I just love an excuse to throw on a party frock. With all that being said...I've decided to start documenting all my costume changes. I'm starting with my Elvis dress. I made this from one of those tacky wall hangings. I wore this Monday night. I forgot to take pictures again until tonight. Tonight is a H&M velvet suit with a military flair and my favorite shoes by Sam Edelman. Hopefully my friends will remind me to take a picture every night so we can document future costumes.

This is me looking at my friend Joi who thinks she's Ansel Adams telling her to take the picture already!

Great exhibit at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts

Mike and I decided to spend a nice quiet day at the Frist this last Sunday afternoon. Little did we know it was a free entry day. There were hoards of families. Loud families. There were so many people to see the major exhibit, Monet to Dali, a line went all the way out the back of the museum. The main show is generously on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art and the collection is very impressive. Because of the line, Mike and I decided to see the exhibit on the second floor. Aaron Douglas was described as an African American Modernist. His style was a blending of African tribal figures and Art Deco modernism. You only have until April 13th to check it out.
Even after starting upstairs the line was still all the way out the door. We decided to wait for the line to diminish with a cocktail at the newly renovated Union Station bar. The daytime bartender, Gretchen, is a hoot! She entertained us for about an hour and then we headed back to the museum. We were able to walk right in and enjoy the main show. Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Pissaro and many more master works are on display.
Even with all the masterpieces around us I was most impressed with the Contemporary Artists Project Gallery in the rear of the main exhibition floor. This small two room space houses the most incredible works by an embroidery artist named Angelo Filomeno. To say he's just an embroidery artist is not giving him justice. His works were spectacular. Vibrant silks are appliqued with metallic threads which are then interwoven with beads and rhinestones to create an an almost gossamer lace-like illusion.
You can see these spectacular works at the Frist until June 1st. Don't wait, you might miss it!

Below is a link I found on google of a gallery that featured Filomeno's work. The pieces aren't nearly as vibrant in pictures as they are in real life.
http://www.marianneboeskygallery.com/exhibitions/2006_2_angelo-filomeno/

Cocktails & Camelot

My mother loves musical theater. Growing up she took me to the ballet every time it came to Miami and the theater as often as we could. I had the great fortune to see some amazing performers like Yul Brenner in the King and I, Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady and Richard Burton in Camelot. Michael had never seen Camelot so I bid on and won a pair of opening night tickets at the Soup for Kids silent auction. We started at the Hermitage Hotel's Oak bar. The bartenders Deb and Kristy are a treat and make some great cocktails. After our cocktails it was off to the theater. Camelot starred Lou Diamond Phillips as King Arthur. I never knew Lou Diamond Phillips could sing and unfortunately he can't. His dramatic moments were fine but he doesn't have the rich baritone needed to carry the role. The supporting cast, especially the actress who played Genevive, was wonderful. The only other problem I had was with the sound. TPAC should be ashamed. Anytime a performer hit a high note, yelled or spoke loudly it was horribly distorted. It was very unpleasant. I think Camelot is a beautiful and moving musical. Even though Lou Diamond Phillips' singing could be much stronger his dramatic moments and some great cocktails still make for a fun evening.

I was sure the news stations were wrong and the snow wouldn't stick. Whoops! Things got covered fast. It was so beautiful Mike and I went for a walk in Sevier Park after we closed the restaurant. Leaving our yard we were ambushed by our snowball wielding friends Hal & Kim. Mike tried sledding down the hill in his trusty giant black garbage bag. X-games watch out!

Mike D's kitchen cam

Here's a quick glimpse into the kitchen on a busy night. Mike is making the seared rare tuna with sweet potato salad and the bacon wrapped crab cakes.  I love the crab cakes!

Soup for dreary weather

With March just a couple of days away we still have a month of cold dreary weather. Soup is the perfect cure for the deep down in your bones cold and it's not as hard to whip up a batch as you would think. Try steaming some vegetables. It can be any kind like broccoli, cauliflower, peas, beets, anything. Cook until tender then put in a blender. Add some liquid. Try bouillon, cream, milk even soy milk. Start with small amounts until you achieve the desired thickness. Add salt and pepper. Serve. Try different seasonings, herbs or infused oils for interesting flavor combinations. I like to drizzle a little truffle oil or sesame oil into the puree. Give it a try and let me know how it turned out.

Day O' Food

Off-tune karaoke, Strange and exotic foods, dragons marauding through the crowds. No, it wasn't a godzilla movie, it was our day O' food. El Manjar, Baraka Bakery and K & S market were the scenes.
Our first stop was El Manjar. It's an Oaxacan Mexican restaurant in the old Walmart, now Lowe's shopping center at Old Hickory Blvd and Nolensville Road. Michael and I always try the most unusual items on every menu and this was no exception. We had Cabesa (pork head) tacos, Lengua (tongue) in Red Sauce and Cuitlacoche (corn fungus) Quesadilla. The Cabesa and Lengua was so tender it practically melted in your mouth when you ate it. Cuitlacoche, also known as corn smut, is a fungus that attacks corn, swelling the kernels up to 10 times their size and turning them black. U.S. Farmers consider it a plague and destroy infected corn. The Aztecs however, considered it a delicacy. Michael and I have eaten several meals at El Manjar and every dish has been exceptional. The only down side is the extremely off-tune, non-relenting Spanish karaoke. I mean bad!!! Bring earplugs!!!
The next stop was the Bakara Bakery. It has a diverse selection of ethnic groceries leaning towards the middle eastern influences. They have assorted canned goods, Halal Meats, Produce and middle eastern bakery goods. We purchased dill water, orange flower water, blueberry juice and mayonnaise in a tube. Who could pass up mayo in a tube!!!
Our last food stop for the day was the K & S Market. It's just south of Harding Road on Nolensville Pike.They also have a sister restaurant on Charlotte just off White Bridge Road. It was the first day of the Chinese New Year and as we pulled into the parking lot there were two of those long festival Dragons. Each Dragon had two people under them doing acrobatics accompanied by a woman with a mask and gong. It was very cool. The K & S Market has probably the best selection of ethnic foods in Nashville. The have all kinds of produce. Live fish, eels, crabs and lobster. As well as fan assortment of fish on ice. There are all kinds of cuts of duck, chicken, pork and beef. ie: feet, offal meat, beaks, all kinds of crazy stuff. There is a huge selection of canned goods, dry goods and frozen items. It's a fantastic market and I recommend going on a field trip to explore and shop! If you pick something up or see something you don't know how to cook or wonder about, just drop us an email and we will either send you a recipe of impart what little wisdom we have. In future Emails I'll let you know about other fabulous groceries in town until then....
Happy Exploring !

Pho is a great hangover cure.

Mirror had it's X-mas party last night and Mike and I were a little groggy this morning. We knew Kien Giang would hit the spot.We were in somewhat of a rush. We had deliveries to check in before we could go eat. Everyone was due in at 2:00 p.m. which gave us 1 hour. We know Kien Giang is timingly challanged but decided we had to have pho. The only problem, we forgot they are closed on Mondays. I always forget. Miss Saigon to the rescue. We ordered the #24 (beef parts and seafood) pho, the BBQ sandwich and some springrolls.

The spring rolls were not as fresh as the ones at Kien Giang but they came out so fast I could forgive the slightly chewy nature. The BBQ sandwich was not as substantial as I would have liked but the bread they use is perfect. Soft on the inside with the perfect crispness for the crust. There is a sister Miss Saigon in Cool Springs which makes the most fantastic Pho broth I have found. It has the perfect delicate balance of flavors. This location does not have the same broth which disappoints me but a little embelishment with the condiment suzy and we're in business. All in all, the food we tried may be better at other places but speed is a big bonus when you desperately need substinance.

I love Belize!
Mike and I just spent a wonderful week in Belize. Our good friends Hal and Kim invited us to spend some time with them in Placencia. We have been trying to go for the last 5 years. This year we finally made it. The beaches... beautiful. The rum drinks... delicious. The food...Yummy. It definitely inspired. We had spiny lobster, conch and shrinp right from the ocean. Papaya, bananas and coconuts right from the trees. Rum, right from the bottle. Ha, Ha. We tried to eat what the natives eat. One dish we had the good fortune to sample is called gibnut. It seems it's from the rodent family and is approximatly 20 - 30 pounds. The locals hunt for them in the forests. We tried it stewed at this great restaurant next to the Mayan ruin, Xunantunich. It kind of reminded me of pork.
If you would like to see a video from our visit to the mayan ruin Xunantunich ...

Hi everyone... Welcome to our blog. I will try to be diligent about keeping up with it. This will be a kind of eating & drinking diary. I hope you enjoy.