Month: July 2019

Datz – Tampa, FL – Visit #2

Earlier this year I had written about the brunch I had at Datz. I was fortunate enough to get to go back for a second visit. This time I got to try something off their dinner menu.

I had forgotten that their menu was printed like a newspaper. My waiter said they had just changed a few things around. There were several things that sounded good. He recommended I try their Music City Chicken Tacos. They apparently are really popular.

I was very surprised when 3 tacos came out on the plate. It was a lot of food. The chicken was grilled not fried. It had some nice heat but if they were going for a “Nashville Hot Chicken” idea the chicken really needed to be fried. There was a fresh cole slaw on the top of the chicken that added crunch and creaminess. If the spice of the chicken was too much, this slaw calms that down.

Mexican rice and Mexican street corn accompanied the tacos. The rice was simple, nothing out of the ordinary. The corn was great. It was off the cob so it was easy to eat. The taste was sweet and really creamy from the cheese they sprinkled in. It was a perfect compliment to the tacos.

To wash this all down I enjoyed a strawberry mule. It was a subtle strawberry taste. It was sweet compared to a traditional mule. I loved the fresh strawberry they added on top. I saved that for the very end.

One of the things I remembered from my first visit to Datz was their assortment of desserts. I knew I wanted to try something but a slice of their cakes were way too big for me. I opted to go for a cupcake since it was slightly smaller. I went for the chocolate bourbon cupcake.

It was so pretty when it came out.

What I did not realize till I picked it up was that the chocolate on the top was a hard chocolate shell. I had to break it open to reveal the moose like cream icing.

It was layers and layers of chocolate. If you love chocolate this cupcake is for you. The cake was super moist. It was also quite light in texture. The icing was really sweet and there was a lot of it. I ended up scraping some of it off because it was so sweet. Having the cupcake was the perfect way to end the meal.

I was so glad I got to visit Datz again. I still recommend them for anyone visiting Tampa. Check them out at http://www.datztampa.com/

Enjoy!

T

The Listening Room Café – Nashville, TN

I  went to a unique place in Nashville called The Listening Room Café. This was a restaurant where you get to enjoy a meal while listening to musicians / songwriters from the industry tell their stories. It was an interesting concept that made perfect sense in the Music City.

The day I visited I was going to see the Warren Brothers. They are singer / songwriter siblings, Brett and Brad Warren. They have written songs for the most famous of famous country singers.

While I waited to go into the theater area, I got myself a glass of Merlot. They have a nice bar area to sit and relax before the main attraction. I got to walk around and look at different pictures on the wall.

Inside the main area was a stage and tables all lined up facing the stage. The crowd got situated at the tables and the wait staff came over to get our drinks orders.

I started with the Dolly Sangria. I can only assume this was named after country music legend, Dolly Parton. This sangria used white wine, cocchi torino (a Vermouth), and cocchi Americano (an aromatized sweet wine). With all the ingredients this was a sweet sangria. They did not put any fruit in this, but it was refreshing on its own.

They started bringing out the food. They served it all family style. We had no problem passing everything around the table. I started off with the Caesar salad. It was a classic salad. They chopped up their lettuce well, which made it easier to eat.

The other starter was a homemade buffalo chicken dip. The chicken was shredded and tossed completely in the sauce. It had an awesome tang to it and had a creamy texture. They served it with tortilla chips which added a nice crunch. However, I enjoyed eating the chicken by itself.

Before the main dishes came out I orders a different cocktail to try. I went for the Carly’s “Hide the Wine Sangria”. This was red wine with a blended with lime, lemon, orange, and peach juices. Despite all the juices, this sangria was not as sweet as I expected.

The main dishes started coming out. I got to enjoy pulled pork along with roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts.

The pork did not have BBQ sauce on it. A few people asked for some on the side. I decided to enjoy it plain. The pork was moist and had a great smoky flavor. There were also some nice pieces of bark mixed throughout the meat.

The roasted potatoes were tender red potatoes. The seasoning they cooked them in was savory, while the potatoes themselves were sweet. The brussels sprouts were charred well to create a smoky taste as well.

While we were eating the Warren Brothers came out. They stared telling stories about where they were from and how they got started in the business.

Between the stories they played some of the songs that they helped create. One of the last songs they sang was “Red Solo Cup”. I was surprised to learn that they were the ones that wrote that song. It was fun hearing everyone in the audience start singing.

While we were listening to their stories, the desserts came out. It was a plate of assorted cheesecakes. The cheesecake was creamy and had a great taste. The plain was my favorite because all I could taste was the cake. The other ones that had toppings were good too, just overpowered by the toppings.

At the end of the show the Warren Brothers took pictures with every person in the audience. They were the nicest people.

The Listening Room Café was a fun experience that I would go back to. Every show would be a different experience. I have never seen a venue like this before in any of my travels.

Check them out at www.listeningroomcafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Tempered – Nashville, TN

The final stop on my food tour in Nashville was a dessert stop. After all the savory and salty foods, I got to enjoy it was time for something sweet.

Tempered is a local café that serves up chocolate, sandwiches, and freshly made coffee. They had lots of homemade chocolate to choose from.

I got to sample their chocolate covered pretzels. The salty pretzel rods were dipped in creamy milk chocolate. The chocolate was smooth and melted instantly in my mouth.

They had so many truffles to choose from. It was a tough choice. There was milk, dark, and white chocolates. I focused on the filling flavors rather than the outside chocolate.

I went for the following:

  • Lemon Lavender: This is a trendy flavor. I tasted the lavender right away. The lemon was more of a subtle accent.
  • Vanilla Cream: This was my favorite because it was a simple, classic flavor of vanilla.
  • Bourbon Praline: I could taste just a slight hint of bourbon flavor. The praline was more on the top of the truffle in the form of the sugar accent.

I made sure to get a cappuccino while I was there too. It helped add to the enjoyment of the chocolate.

This was the perfect end to a wonderful food tour. Germantown is such a great area. I only hit a few spots but there are so many more places to try.

Check out Tempered at www.temperednashville.com

Enjoy!

T

Saint Stephen – Nashville, TN

Continuing my Germantown food tour brought me to Saint Stephen. This restaurant had an outside courtyard all set up with picnic tables. Since it was a pretty afternoon that is where the group sat.

They started us off with one of their cocktails – Cumberland Blues. This was their version of a Moscow Mule. They used a mint and cucumber vodka as the base. It was sweet and refreshing.

The first thing they brought out was a salad. This was a fresh salad loaded with celery, kidney beans, and avocado. It was a unique blend of ingredients tossed with a Balsamic vinaigrette. The celery added crunch and the beans and avocado added two different types of creaminess.

The next food item that got passed around the table was the mac and cheese. This was a true southern, homemade treat. It was extremely creamy, blended with several different cheeses. This was the ultimate comfort food. I could have eaten the whole pan, but I did have to share it with the table.

The last dish out is something unique to Saint Stephen. It is their fried chicken skins. They basically have taken the best part of fried chicken and made a dish out of it. The seasoning on the breading had a slight peppery taste. There was an awesome crispiness to each piece. These are totally unhealthy but definitely something worth indulging on.

We got one last cocktail before leaving. They brought out their Big Bad Chef. This is their version of an Old Fashioned. The taste was just a little smokier because of the ingredients. They used a smoked simple syrup, a burnt orange, and Corsiar bourbon. This is from a local distillery in Nashville.

This was another fun stop on the tour. I want to go back and try a few more items off their menu. Check them out at www.saintstephennash.com

Enjoy!

T

312 Pizza – Nashville, TN

While hanging out at Bearded Iris Brewing, there was a special delivery from 312 Pizza in Germantown. They serve up local Chicago pizza because the owners are originally from there.

Today they brought over their Hot Chicken pizza. The hot chicken topping is a nod to the chicken dish made famous in Nashville. The chicken had a great heat that was calmed down from the creamy cheese that was melted on top. The crust was crispy with a slight sweetness.

It was a great atmosphere to get to enjoy this pizza. The next time I am in Nashville I would want to stop by the actual restaurant to see what all they have to offer.

Check out their website at www.312pizzaco.com

Enjoy!

T

Bearded Iris Brewing – Nashville, TN

The second stop on my food tour of Germantown, In Nashville, was Bearded Iris Brewing. This is a local cult brewery that is known for their IPA’s.

They have a very artsy feel on the inside. There are several interesting pieces of art hanging on the walls made by local artist. Many of them were for sale.

I got my hand stamped after I got carded, so I was ready to go.

I ordered a glass of the Mood Ring. This was a double IPA. It had a light hoppy taste that was supposed to have essences of pineapple. However, I did not taste any pineapple. The beer was still refreshing and went well with the pizza they were serving from a local pizza restaurant.

Bearded Iris had a fun atmosphere. It was a perfect place to hang out with friends. Check them out at www.beardedirisbrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

Butchertown Hall – Nashville, TN

I had a fun trip to Nashville, Tennessee recently. I got to experience a couple of new places in the Germantown area on a walking food tour. Germantown is one of the many areas in Nashville that has seen a resurgence over the last several years.

The first stop that I made on my food tour was to Butchertown Hall. This is a BBQ joint that has an upscale, rustic vibe.

It’s beautifully decorated inside and you can smell the smokers as soon as you walk in. Because I was with this food tour, we had special tables set up on their outside patio. It was a fantastic private experience.

Before we started eating, we were greeted by their sous chef, David; he explained to us what we would be tasting and drinking, plus how the meat was prepared. This little talk, while it seems simple, really helped enhance the entire experience.

We started off with some house made cocktails. The first was a Margarita. This did not taste like your run of the mill margarita. They used fresh lime juice and combier along with tequila. It tasted extremely fresh and did not have that overly sweet, sugary flavor.

The second cocktail that they provided us was a Foxglove. This was vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and a touch of sage. This drink had a sweet, tart taste because of all the acidic juices. It also was refreshing. It really paired well with the smoky BBQ.

The brisket was fantastic. It was the best brisket I have ever had. It was so tender it fell apart as soon as I picked it up with a fork. It was also extremely juicy. I did not use any BBQ sauce on the meat because of how juicy it was and because of the intense smoky flavor. It also had a great outer layer of bark.

The other BBQ they served was their pulled pork. They drizzled a mustard on top. It was a sweet mustard that complemented the tangy BBQ sauce and smoky taste. The pork was not as juicy as the brisket, but it was still moist, and had plenty of bark throughout. They also served soft tortilla shells on the side. I thought this was really interesting. I was able to make a pulled pork taco.

The side dishes they served with the BBQ were their roasted brussels sprouts. They were roasted in a mini cast iron pan, so it allowed them to get crispier. The slight bitterness was calmed down because of the smokiness that came from the roasting. It was the perfect side for the BBQ.

The food tour made a great decision to have us stop at the Butchertown Hall first. There is a lot more to try on the regular menu. I would definitely want to go back to enjoy some additional dishes.

Check out their website at www.butchertownhall.com

Enjoy!

T

Shake Shack – New York, NY

Shake Shack is a fast food chain that started in New York and is growing across the country. When I was in New York I made sure to stop by the original location in Madison Park. It was not far from the famous Flat Iron Building.

It was a beautiful day which is a good thing. The original location being in the park, all the seating was outside. The did have lots of tables and chairs, so there was plenty of room for everyone. I got there right before the line got to long for lunch.

I went up to the window to order the “Classic Shack Burger”. This is a single patty cheeseburger. Once I got my bag I could not wait to dig in.

The bun was soft and doughy. The burger meat was tender and juicy. The meat was so fresh it melted in my mouth. The American cheese added a wonderful creaminess. The lettuce added a crispiness and the juicy tomatoes added a freshness.

The cheeseburger was just enough for a quick lunch on the go. I am glad I got to go to the original location. Shake Shack does make a fantastic burger.

You can see all their locations at www.shakeshack.com

Enjoy!

T

Bond 45 – New York, NY

I never realized how many restaurants are around the theater district in New York. That is where I fond Bond 45, an Italian restaurant.

The place was packed full. It was a good thing that I made a reservation earlier in the day. As soon as I sat down I was brought freshly made bread. It had a buttery taste and there were a few pieces of green olives throughout. It was great to snack on as I looked over the menu.

They had a couple of unique cocktails on the menu. I went for the Bond Cup. This namesake cocktail used pineapple infused vodka, passion fruit, and lime juice. The presentation was beautiful with the accent of a pretty flower and a slice of dried pineapple.

The drink was sweet and had an overall tropical feel. It was good but probably not the best choice to pair with savory Italian dishes I ordered for dinner.

I ordered the vegetable Ribollita soup to start off with. This savory broth was loaded with vegetables like carrots, potatoes, spinach, and white beans. While the flavor was excellent, the carrots and potatoes were a little overcooked. They were pretty soft.

For my dinner I ordered the Chicken Piccata Milanese. The chicken was pounded out to be super thin. It had a thick layer of seasoned breadcrumbs that were extra crispy. They made a lemon-parsley butter sauce that was loaded with braised artichokes and capers.

The sauce was salty. It went well with the chicken, but I think there was a bite too much of the sauce. The chicken was tender and still managed to be moist even though it was really thin.

Bond 45 was a nice place to grab dinner before going to see show. I would go back so that I could try one of their pasta dishes. Their serving sizes are large so make sure to go with an appetite.

Check out their website at www.bond45.com

Enjoy!

T

Haru Sushi – New York, NY

There are a ton of restaurants in the theater district of New York. Across the street from the lyric theatre (where the Harry Potter play is preforming) I found Haru Sushi.

I walked in and they were really busy but I was fortunate to get a table pretty quickly. I made sure I ordered my cocktail as soon as my waitress came to the table. I was excited to try the Berries and Bubbles. This was Prosecco, Svedka raspberry vodka, and strawberry puree. It was not as sweet as I thought it would be. The strawberry actually made it slightly tart.

Since I was at a Japanese restaurant I made sure to order the miso soup. I always make sure to try this classic comfort food. It was pretty standard, tofu, seaweed, and scallions in a salty broth. I always wish restaurants would put more tofu in the soup. It adds a ton of texture without affecting the taste.

I made sure to order some sushi while I was there too. I went with the simple Spicy Tuna Nigiri. The tuna was extremely fresh; it melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite. It was not as spicy as I expected it to be. That was a little disappointing, but I simply added more wasabi to it myself.

The Eel Avocado Roll was made perfectly. The eel had great flavor and they put a generous amount of the eel sauce on top. That is my favorite part of an eel role. The avocado added a great creamy texture to the roll.

The Umami Fried Rice came out last and it was really hot. I needed to wait a little while for it to cool off. This fried rice had chopped up pieces of grilled chicken, scrambled egg, and fresh vegetables. All items were cooked in a garlic butter sauce. This rice was not that salty; it was actually a little sweet. The rice was not as full of flavor as I expected it to have. I was a little disappointed with that. However, the chicken was good in the rice.

They had a seasonal dessert on the menu that I made sure to order. It was the Yuzu Meringue Tart. They made homemade Yuzu custard. Yuzu us a Japanese citrus fruit. They put the custard in a homemade sugar cookie tart shell. Then a marshmallow meringue was placed on top and toasted till it had a little brown hue. Finally, they placed the tart on top of pomegranate ginger sauce.

The custard was sweet and creamy. The cookie crust was also sweet. The pomegranate sauce toned down that sweetness by adding in a sour element. It was a great dessert and a good way to end a meal that leaned more salty.

Check out Haru Sushi if you are in the area. They got busy so you may want to make a reservation. Check them out at www.harusushi.com

Enjoy!

T