Restaurant Week(end)

Each day I proclaim, "I'm going to lose those last 10 pounds!" but by noon I'm like,  "Nah, I'm fine with looking like Rembrandt's Bathsheba for the rest of my life." Ain't nothing wrong with a few soft parts, right?

Now that you know what I look like when I get out of the shower [awkward]...let's get on with the story, shall we? This weekend I faced a particularly difficult challenge: Making curtains. Not fancy curtains, mind you. Just 2 panel curtains (i.e. sewing together rectangles of fabric). Still, this project made me loathsome.

My first instinct was to leave town; take a little mini-vacation somewhere...anywhere. Get as far away from the curtains as possible. The weekend getaway idea wasn't entirely practical, so I gave myself a compromise: Stay home and treat myself to a nice meal in celebration of Nashville Originals' Restaurant Week.

Sean gleefully obliged to being my date when I dangled the Bacon Old Fashioned in front of his nose. After all, we hadn't been back to The Patterson House since our anniversary. Here's how we tickled our palates...


FRIDAY
The Patterson House - You'll feel transformed when you enter this gem of a bar, hidden in the Midtown section of Nashville just off Music Row. Once you're invited past the heavy velvet curtains, brothers Benjamin and Max Goldberg will wow you with their eloquent cocktails, homemade bitters and fancy ice. The menu takes a back seat to the amazing drinks, but everything is made fresh and we haven't been disappointed.

HIS: Bacon Old Fashioned
HERS: All Do Respect
Shared: Hummus with Grilled Bread and 1 stolen fried goat cheese ball (thanks, Sherri and Keith!)

Cha Chah - Nashville Chef and restauranteur Arnold Myint consistently serves playfully creative and delicious dishes. I'm a big fan of everything AM, and I knew he would put on a good showing for Restaurant Week.Could I have used RW as an opportunity to try a new establishment? Yes. SHOULD I have used RW as an opportunity to try a new establishment? Probably. DID I? NO. Because I heart Arnold. I want to be just like him when I grow up. Arnold truly enjoys the art of designing a menu, and it shows.

Starters

HIS: Tempura Scallops with Kimchee, Soba Cake and Sesame Soy Reduction
HERS: Duck Liver Pate with Pumpernickel Currant Toast, Cippolini Brittle

Main Course
HIS: Pan Seared Sea Bass with Sunchoke Latke, Beet Puree, Pickled Mustard Seeds, Basil Oil
HERS: Masala Lamb Loin with Curried Parsnip, Charred Eggplant, Cherry Chutney

Postres
HIS: Dark Chocolate Mousse, Bourbon Raisins, Almond Tuile
HERS: Creme Fraiche Cheese Cake with Market Berries

SUNDAY BRUNCH
55 South - Three words: Fried Pork chop Sandwich. (okay, 4 words.) It's probably a dangerous thing that 55 South is so close to my home. Especially on Sunday mornings when I have the occasional hangover and feel like eating my weight in cheese grits and fried oysters. Sorry, 55 South...I just realized I might be trashing up your joint...This is a really nice place, trust me. 
 

Bottomless Mimosas*
Starters: Cheese Grits (Fun fact: yes, fat people order starters with their brunch.)

Main Course
HIS: Pecan Pain Perdu "Lost Bread" - French Bread French Toast Topped with Pecans, Praline Syrup, and Powdered Sugar with a side of bacon
HERS: Eggs Florentine - Poached Eggs over Creamed Spinach and an English Muffin topped with Fried Oysters and Hollandaise (and a healthy dose of hot sauce, added by yours truly)

*We had to make an unfortunate trip to Wal-Mart for the curtain project, so alcohol was a must.