Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Drinks Blackstone Wants Your John Hancock for Beer Independence; Plus, Say Hey to Picnic Ale
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Wed, May 16, 2012 at 5:49 AM
- facebook.com/blackstonebrewpub
According to their announcement, everyone who signs a "Declaration of Beer Independence" at Blackstone Restaurant & Brewery on West End now through Sunday, May 20, will receive a card entitling them to special beer pricing for the entire week. "In addition, every signed 'Declaration of Beer Independence' will be displayed at Blackstone to celebrate the growing number of people who recognize that American-brewed craft beers have made the United States the envy of every beer-drinking nation in the world for the quality and variety of beers brewed."
Co-owner Stephanie Weins said Blackstone, established in 1994, is "very proud to be part of a craft beer brewing nation. American Craft Beer Week is an opportunity to introduce more people to the great taste of our craft beers and to thank our customers who have been enjoying our craft beers for many years.”
In addition to Blacktone's excellent Chaser Pale, Nut Brown Ale, St. Charles Porter and APA, they've just released their first seasonal brew, Picnic. It is a lighter version of a pale ale referred to as an "English summer ale" and should be a great way to beat the heat this summer. Swing by this week to try out the newest member of the Blackstone family and declare your independence by pounding some "English" beers.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Farmers' Markets 12 South Farmers Market Detonates Produce Explosion Today in Sevier Park
Posted by Jim Ridley on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:25 AM
Anyway, as we try to remember those three numbers you call in the event of medical emergency, we hope we make it to this evening's 12 South Farmers Market, revving up another successful year in Sevier Park today from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. That gives you plenty of time to stuff your pockets with broccoli rabe before tonight's sold-out Jack White shindig at the Ryman, and maybe even order a sandwich from The Grilled Cheeserie, a Doc Braden Creole-seafood tart or one of Riffs Fine Street Food's award-winning Caribbean creations.
There'll be dairy farmers, meat purveyors, makers of artisanal breads, and vendors of everything from herb-infused lemonade and vegan snacks to candies, pies and cheese — not to mention the first flowerings of what's looming as a spectacular summer for vegetables. Stop by also for live music from The Human Revolution, led by a troubadour who bills himself simply as Human. (We confess we were even more excited early on, but then we realized we'd misread his name as Hunan.)
For a full list of vendors, click here.
Fun and Games Restaurateurs Mike Kelly, Randy Rayburn To Settle Boxing Bet in the Kitchen
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 7:52 AM
The results were determined at Fight Night 2012 on April 25 –- an evening of amateur boxing hosted by The Boxing Resource Center and Advance Financial to benefit Not Alone, a program that provides programs, resources and services to veterans and families affected by combat stress and PTSD through a confidential and anonymous community.
During Fight Night, local organizations, including the two restaurants, sponsored boxers who went head to head representing them during a series of bouts. After a close three-round bout between the two young boxers, the fighter representing Sunset Grill came out victorious, so Mike has to tie on the apron strings and cook.
The bet was made in a spirit of good-natured fun to benefit a great cause, so you might consider dropping by Sunset Grill tomorrow to see how Mike is holding up. I'm sure Randy will be on hand to see how deep in the weeds Mike ends up. Let's just hope Gordon Ramsey isn't in town.
Events The BE Hive Buffet, Tonight at The Wild Cow
Posted by Jack Silverman on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 5:46 AM
Here's an explanation, from the BE Hive website:
The BE Hive is a collective.It’s a campaign for good. It’s an idea that advocates healthy lifestyle choices, community involvement, and sustainable environmental practices. We believe that grassroots action, BEginning with one’s self, can bring about global change and awareness.
As of now, The BE Hive exists in the form of a weekly Tuesday dinner buffet at The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant in East Nashville. Each week we donate a percentage of our profits to progressive and socially conscious causes that we support.
Last week's buffet featured a Thai theme, and it was fabulous. I won't go into details, since tonight's buffet features a completely different menu, with a Jamaican theme: Dishes include jerk soy strips, banana tofu curry, island barbecue lentils, mashed sweet potato casserole, coconut carrots, smokey greens and more. For $10 ($9 to go), it's an exceptional deal. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Walk/Bike Nashville. If I get out of work on time (note to self — no iPhone solitaire), I'll be there. In fact, I plan on going just about every Tuesday that I'm free.
The BE Hive buffet takes place 4 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday at The Wild Cow, 1896 Eastland Ave.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Drinks Moonshine Monday: Short Mountain Distillery
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Mon, May 14, 2012 at 5:38 AM
True, by God, moonshine, needs to be made from sugar. This is for several reasons. First of all, when you have to do your brewing and distilling in the woods, you don't have access to all the fancy chemical engineering equipment that modern distilleries have to maximize their production and maintain quality control. There's no more certain way to make alky-hol than to feed straight sugar to yeast and let those wonderful little devils belch CO2 and pee C2H5OH. Sugar also provides for the smoothest finish attainable for homemade alcohol. Moonshiners traditionally add some corn and some wheat to their mash to help with the process and make the taste a little more complex, but it is much easier to lug sacks of sugar down the holler than it is to haul bushels of corn. Plus, there are no husks and cobs left behind as evidence that way.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Drinks Wandering Beer Hunter
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 4:10 PM
West Meade Wine and Liquor Mart is kicking off the weekend with an in-store beer tasting this afternoon from 4 to 7. They'll be featuring craft high-gravity brews from Fort Collins, New Belgium and Victory Brewing companies.
Victory Brewing Co. "Helious Ale" — $4.99 per Bomber
Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout — $7.99 per Bomber
Fort Collins Incredible Hop Imperial IPA — $8.99 per Bomber
New Belgium Lips of Faith "Cocoa Mole" — $9.99 per Bomber
They'll also be offering these beers at 10 percent off during the duration of the tasting event.
Rhizome Productions, the folks behind the East Nashville Beer Festival and the Winter Warmer are presenting the inaugural Brew at the Zoo coming up on June 1 from 6:30 until 11:00 p.m.; 100% of the proceeds go to help the Nashville Zoo, and tickets are on sale now for $50 at the event's website.
Here are the details from the people at Rhizome:
Animals, live music, local food trucks, and 75 craft beers are on tap at this unique after-hours event.At Brew at the Zoo, guests can wander the Entry Village, Festival Field and African Savannah exhibit areas while sampling beer from more than 25 craft breweries. The Zoo’s hyacinth macaw, meerkat, white-cheeked gibbon, siamang, elephant and giraffe exhibits will be open until sundown with keepers available to answer guests’ questions. Other activities on tap for the evening include dinner from food truck favorites, rides on the Wild Animal Carousel and trips through the Zoo’s DinoTrek exhibit (additional fees apply).
Brew tickets can also be used for half off admission at Nashville Zoo throughout the month of June. A limited number of designated driver tickets are available for $15. This event is for adults ages 21 and over, and children will not be allowed to attend the event. For more information, visit www.nashvillezoo.org or www.brewatthezoonashville.com. Brew at the Zoo is presented by Ajax Turner, M.L Rose Craft Beer and Burgers, Blackstone Brewing Company, and Industrial Strength Marketing.
Sounds like a good time for a great cause, so jump on those tickets.
And remember to use sunscreen and good sense at Steeplechase tomorrow!
Dining The Judge's Vinegarroon: This Week's Dining Column
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Fox clearly enjoyed herself at Bean's "new beery, beefy barbecue joint." Fans of his barbecue, particularly the beef brisket that Texas expats crave, have followed him at various locations over the past decade. His latest restaurant on Church Street in midtown, titled The Judge's Vinegarroon, retains the familiar smoky scent, and as Carrington notes:
"The rugged Lone Star patina is still enough to make babies wanna grow up to be cowboys, especially if it means they can eat the kind of grub that Bean & Co. are churning out. Fans of the Judge's earlier eateries will recognize a lot of familiar fare; meanwhile, there's a new addition of several steaks, all priced under $20."
She praises the signature Scorpion Shrimp Diablos (the titular Vinegarroon is a variety of scorpion, along with the name of old-time Texas "hanging judge" Roy Bean's saloon) before she rhapsodizes on the ribs, which are "smoked until warm spices are candied onto the bark and the meat is purple with smoke and clinging to the bone with a tenacity you'd expect in a room steeped with so much Hook-'Em-Horns vim and vinegar."
The Judge's Vinegarroon is at 1805 Church St., 678-7116. Check them out on Facebook here.
Events May 19 is Food Revolution Day at the Nashville Farmers' Market
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 7:50 AM
While he was able to warm the decidedly cool receptions he got in both cities to at least a gentle saute, Oliver recognizes that real social change will only come from grassroots efforts around the country. To that end, he has declared May 19 to be Food Revolution Day, and encouraged local communities to come together to raise awareness and raise money for food education programs.
He hopes May 19 to be a day of action, but also an opportunity to educate people around the globe. From the event website: "Food Revolution Day is about connecting with your community through events at schools, restaurants, local businesses, dinner parties and farmers' markets. We want to inspire change in people’s food habits and to promote the mission for better food and education for everyone."
Nashville is joining the fray with an event at the Nashville Farmers' Market on Saturday, May 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. in their Grow Local Kitchen. You are invited to:
Open Thread Food Tattoo: Show Us Yours at Weekly Open Thread
Posted by Nicki Wood on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 5:57 AM
- flickr user sylvie LS via ocweekly.com
But Mom is so 20th century. Tattoos are now much more about lifestyle than abstractions. (For example, check out this slideshow of food tattoos at OC Weekly.) It's the only kind of tattoo I could live with, really, because all the abstract nouns have been taken.
This skull veg*n tat speaks for itself, and what it says is ... uh ... "I'm a gentle, plant-loving, animal-cherishing person with other unresolved issues." Always a message worth sharing.
The sweet spirit of this beer-and-pig chest bump below gets pretty close — it tells a story and doesn't take itself too seriously.
That's what's rattling around here on Steeplechase Mother's Day weekend. How about you — planning any food tattoos? (This lineup of ill-favored food tattoos on Food Network Humor can serve as a cautionary.)
What about food happenings, weekend cooking and happy beer-and-pig reunions? What are you and Mom doing to celebrate her continuing fabulousness? Open Thread is your friendly weekly forum.
- Flickr user sarah goldstone
News Finally! The Hotly Anticipated Barista Parlor Is Open Today!
Posted by Jack Silverman on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 5:09 AM
And as of today, it's officially open! Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Dana Franklin first reported on Barista back in November in The City Paper and Nashville Post, and then spoke with Mumma last month for more details. The part about Porter Road Butcher (the best thing to happen to Gallatin Road in years) really caught my eye:
Meanwhile, Mumma is working with another neighbor, Porter Road Butcher, to create gourmet snacks to serve with the coffee.Barista Parlor will serve breakfast every morning, and the chefs from Porter Road, Chris Carter and James Peisker, will provide seasonal casseroles and breakfast sandwiches. Mumma also plans to offer a selection of single-source chocolate bars from around the world.
