Oh Hey Josephine.

Josephine is definitely not a newby to our ever-so-bustling restaurant scene in town, and has long held a top spot on my favorite brunches list (because, sticky buns). However, dinner service has always left me wanting a bit... more.

Until now.

Thanks to a lovely friend for gifting a Community Hospitality gift card over the holidays, we decided to venture back to Josephine on a random weekday night, and y'all. I couldn't have been more delighted. First, we did not have a reservation—which we didn't think would be an issue as we typically love to sit at the bar, but it wasn't an option this evening as the place was packed. We checked in with the hostesses, and were promised a table in 20 minutes. One fabulous cocktail later we were seated. Perfection.

So now to the fun part: What we ordered. There were two of us, and we opted to share a few small plates and an entree, plus dessert.

To Drink:

The No Quarter, a stirred cocktail which offered ideal flavors for the season:
Apple brandy, rye, Italian vermouth, Angostura, Peychaud's, scotch rinse.

Small Plates:

The Pretzel Bread. A solid staple since opening served with their house made mustard. (And also, pictured above.) Phenom.

Rabbit  Dumplings. Quite possibly my favorite, the standout dish for the night. Incredibly rich and so flavorful.
Dumpling, rabbit, apple cider, apples, ham, sage.

Brussel Sprouts. Because, well, you have to. Josephine's are some of the best in town.
Brussels sprouts, dried cherries, orange, peanut vinaigrette, rye crumb.

Entree:

Pappardelle with Lamb. Amaze. The rich, hearty pasta that was exactly what I needed on a cold winter evening. Pappardelle, Border Springs lamb, parmesan.

Dessert:

A rule of thumb when dining out with me: Always save room for dessert. At this point, we'd established quite a rapport with our server—as she had nailed all of her recommendations in the meal thus far. So, we decided to venture a bit outside of our comfort zone with the Angel Food Cake, but OH. It was absolute heaven. Rich, sweet, sour, so many flavors. Love, love, LOVED it.

Angel Food cake, concord grape, vanilla, white chocolate.

A perfect night accompanied by wonderful service, atmosphere, bevvys, and food. What more can one ask for?

Josephine

2316 12th Ave. S

Nashville, TN 37204

615-292-7766

Reservations recommended

http://josephineon12th.com

Hanging at the Symphony Ball with Miranda Lambert.

Thank you thank you, Nashville Symphony, for having me out to the 2016 Symphony Ball. Miranda Lambert, one of my most favorite artists in town, was honored with the the 2015 Harmony Award, and I had the privilege of (briefly) meeting her.

Y'all. She was stunning. "Project Runway" star Johnathan Kayne designed Miranda's striped, strapless gown for the white-tie event. The award is presented every year to an individual who exemplifies the 'harmonious spirit of the Nashville music community'.

"I just feel really ingrained in Nashville right now, like I feel really part of it," Miranda said. "And so this just solidifies everything that I've been feeling just being here for the last couple of months."

What a fabulous night.

Etch Nashville Restaurant Review

I'd like to start this blog off apologizing that this particular one hasn't come sooner, as it concerns one of my absolute favorite 'new' restaurants in town: Etch. Since my first experience at lunch several months ago (and many, many subsequent visits after for both lunch and dinner), I have been unable to stop thinking about this fabulous restaurant nor stop talking about it to anyone who is willing to listen.

Etch's Brisket Papusa

I must admit, not too many years ago a place like Etch would have intimidated the hell out of me. Most menu items being out of my "comfort zone", I would have considered it to be a bit much. Thankfully, with access to the ever-booming local restaurant scene in Nashville since I moved to the 'big city', I have been a bit more adventurous with food, and my goodness, am I glad I did! 

Etch has some of the most inventive, unique, and flavorful meals I've ever had. Truly an experience for your taste buds, every single menu item I've ordered has absolutely blown me away... and so has their service, which is top-notch and in my mind equally as important. My suggestion to you—go with a small group, order several apps, soups, salads, an entree or two, and SHARE. You will not want to miss out on any of Chef Paquette's amazing creations. Here are some of my personal faves:

• Butter Tasting. Ok, everyone loves butter, but Etch gives it a fun twist. Rolls served with truffle, smoked plugra, duck, and goat butters. Divine.
• Roasted Cauliflower. With truffled pea pesto, salted almonds, and feta crema. To describe this glorious creation, I believe my friend says it best (and classiest): "I would literally bathe in the truffled pea pesto." Interesting take, yes, but it really is that wonderful.
• Duck Confit. Words truly cannot begin to describe how fab this is.The balsamic blackberries and the citrus from the orange peel with the duck... Unbelievable.
• Short Ribs. Perfection. Such a delicious and fun twist on the traditional short rib.
• Pork Tenderloin. Possibly the best, most tender, flavorful pork tenderloin I've ever had in my life. Monchego. Carmelized Onions. Mushroom sauce. Oh, and it contains truffle.. Enough said.
• Brisket Papusa (lunch). Corn cake, smoked brisket, cheese, onion, slaw, a wonderful tomato sauce, avocado, lime crema, queso blanco. Every single bite of this lunch-only entree was phenomenal. Hands down the best lunch I've ever had.

Recently, a colleague of mine told me my theory that one always has room for dessert no matter how full is actually a scientific fact. Not sure how accurate that is, but, I'll go with it it. That said, you MUST order dessert at Etch! I have had the Meyer Lemon Frozen Mousse (lemon curd, goat milk caramel, lemon crumble, brown butter pizzelle, cirtus segments) and Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch, both incredible.

So....Now that I am pretty much out of positive adjectives, I'm going to wrap this up by simply saying if you haven't yet made it to Etch, you are missing out on the best of the best in Nashville.

Etch

303 Demonbreun Street

Nashville, TN 37201

(615) 522-0685

The Oak Bar at the Hermitage Hotel

Last night's trip to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center was accompanied by a new tradition for me which involves a pre-(or post.. or both) show cocktail at one of my absolute favorite bars in town, The Oak Bar.  If you are looking for a swankier place to unwind, where one can actually hear a conversation, while kicking back and relaxing with a wonderful cocktail or glass of wine- a stop into the Oak Bar is a must!  Inside of the most beautiful building in town (seriously ya'll.. The lobby of the Hermitage Hotel is a site that cannot be missed), and not to mention Nashville's only 5 star hotel, is one of my favorite places to do just that.

Great food, wonderful drink and wine list, a comfortable yet gorgeous atmosphere, and fabulous service are just the icing on the cake.  Here are a couple of items that you cannot miss:

• The Tennessee Stack.  The Oak Bar and Capitol Grill use vegetables they harvest and beef raised on a farm near the hotel itself.  Not only is this one of the freshest, most delicious burgers in town, it is made with ingredients from just down the street.  I LOVE supporting businesses that support local businesses.  
• Fried Pickles.  Not exactly the healthiest option.. But, I feel this tasty snack is one that especially visitors to Nashville HAVE to indulge in.
• Fried Green Tomatoes.  See: Description for Fried Pickles.
• Jack's Mule.  I can't express to you how much I love this drink.  Served in an ice cold copper mug with Jack, Spicy Ginger Beer, and Lime.  Simple, refreshing, and delicious!
• The Men's Restroom.  Voted "Best Restroom" in the US in 2008- This beautiful art-deco style room is definitely the prettiest bathroom I've set foot in.  Ladies, if you ask, you are allowed to peek in too.
• Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30.  Drink specials and select apps 1/2 off.

So, if you're heading to a show at TPAC, War Memorial, or just looking for an excuse to have a drink at a nice place in Nashville, the Oak Bar is a stop that you must make!

Oak Bar

231 6th Ave N

Nashville, TN 

(615) 244-3121

Kayne Prime- An AMAZING Nashville Restaurant Experience

Soooooo.  A few days ago, I celebrated a very special day with a very special someone, and wanted to commemorate this occasion with a nice meal. I had been wanting to give Kayne Prime a try for quite some time now (well, really, since it's opened), and couldn't think of a better option for this particular dinner.  I had heard rave reviews from mannnny sources, am a huge fan of the other M Street properties (Virago, Whiskey Kitchen, Tavern), and scoured the menu on their website, which was the final straw that ended up sealing the deal (Seriously.. do yourself a favor and just go look at it.  Lusting will commence immediately). Reservations were made for Tuesday at 8:30.

With restaurants of this quality, I have pretty high expectations, and I can honestly say Kayne Prime did not disappoint in the least. We were greeted by a friendly hostess, and that trend continued with the rest of the staff.  Our server, and his assistant, were both extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and always knew just the right time to pop over and check in with us, without being overly obnoxious. The atmosphere was absolutely killer. Modern, yet comfortable—the two of us were seated in a huge booth trimmed in soft leather. Private, comfortable, and a great view of the place, perfect for my passion of people watching (you know you do it too).

So, on to what we ordered.

The Cocktails
Great, great, great selection of cocktails. We partook in the Lust For Life, Balsamic Martini, The Mint Rose (my FAV), and the Maple Wheat Old Fashioned. All delish.

The Appetizer
I will never forget the first time I heard about this appetizer. I literally had never forgotten about it. Now that I've had it, there will probably never be a day I won't lust for this particular delicacy: the Housemade Bacon. Unbelievable. The incredibly tender pork belly was coated in black peppercorn, and maple COTTON CANDY. Yes, cotton candy. I am not even close to being over this.

The Entree
I love a great steak, and there were endless options. Per the suggestion of our waiter, we both went with the Wagyu Filet (Wagyu = some of the finest quality of beef in the US.)  Cooked to perfection and so so flavorful, it was a wise choice.

For our sides, which are big enough to share, we opted for the Cream Corn Brulée (Out. Of. This. World.), and the Charred Broccoli (so, not the most exciting choice ever, but, we felt the need to include something green). The chef also treated us to some complimentary popovers, which were quite tasty as well.

The Dessert
As much as it pains me to say this, I did not try anything for dessert!  Between the cocktails and all the food consumed, my normal "specially reserved" place in my stomach for dessert was not even close to being there for this, pretty much my absolute, favorite part of any meal. I guess that just means I will have to go back again!

**update - The Crimoso is my go-to dessert when visiting Kayne Prime, and happens to be one of my favorite desserts in all of Nashville. SAVE ROOM FOR THIS!

The Summary
Well, folks, there you have it. All-in-all, what I would consider a fantastic experience. Great ambiance, service, drinks, food are to be had at Kayne Prime. Next time you are considering options for a nice meal in the Nashville area, you should put this one at the top of your list.

Kayne Prime
1103 McGavock Street
Nashville, TN 37203

Bar opens 5pm nightly; dining room at 5:30pm
Info: 615-259-0050