Hungry Times Two

Yesterday I "dined" on a takeout salad from a certain fast food establishment (trademark : red-pigtailed Pippy Longstocking-esque girl), as I left my own awesome sandwich and salad lunch languishing on the couch at home. As I was scraping the remnants of lettuce and carrot out of the bottom of the salad bowl, what should catch my eye but a dead fly in the mix. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I could barely keep my lunch down as I hurled the salad in the trash. As I was about a mile from the offending "restaurant" and time was tickin' to get back to work, I didn't reason to return the salad with its "secret ingredient" and ask for my money and my appetite back. Has anyone else found anything utterly revolting in their food before? I suppose, given this chain's recent problems with found fingers in its chili, I should consider myself fairly fortunate. But, I have to admit it truly does "bug" me out. (Ba-dum dum- chhhh.)

Epicurious.com is a great site I visit whenever I need a quick recipe to reinvigorate the usual routine/rut of salad, pastas, stir frys, Mexican, etc. However, Mexican is the theme tonight, as I am hosting Book Club at our place. Menu: Margaritas, cheese quesadillas, black beans, Spanish rice, and the accouterments of salsa, fresh guacamole, and cilantro on the side. Apparently quite a few people have an aversion to cilantro. I am aghast at the notion, as I can't find enough things to put it on! It's great in Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Indian... It's my favorite herb by far. (Sorry, Basil.) So, here are two recipes I downloaded from Epicurious to try. Guacamole - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/105001 Black, Beans with Garlic, Cumim, and Cilantro (on the side!) - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/101154 I'll give 'em a whirl and letcha know how it all pans out. PS Scott and I are currently digging on a really simple sauce you can use for ka...

- Reading "Eat This - 1,oo1 Things to Eat Before You Diet" by Ian Jackman. An interesting mish-mash of American food travel tidbits, as observed by the British Jackman. I learned in the veggie and fruit chapter that the avocado is named for an Aztec-based language's word for testicles. Hmm...makes sense. Now I will look at guacamole in a whole new light. - My mom visited this weekend and we had a GREAT time. Between walking Belmont Boulevard, visiting the Frist (check out SYLVIA HYMAN's trompe de oeil pottery works exhibit it' s amazing - the fortune cookie pic is an example of her work) , going to see the film "Two Days in Paris," and hiking around Radnor Lake, we lunched at Bread & Company (Erin: Centennial Salad and fresh squeezed Lemonade; Margaret: Wild Rice Salad and marinated asparagus, while Fruit Tea was an experiment that failed. Note to all culinarians - please do NOT corrupt perfectly fine sweet tea with fruit juice. It is absolutely wron...

Be cool and click below to add your fabulous self to the "Bring Trader Joe's to Nashville" petition. Despite our craptastic wine sales laws here in Nashville, (Wine can only be sold in liquor stores, no grocery stores. Yeah, big bummer.), we may still have a chance. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/tjsnash/ Even if you don't live in Nashville, help the foodies out and sign the thing. Those of us who can't afford the Whole Foods ("Whole Paycheck'), Turnip Truck/Wild Oats/insert ridiculously overpriced natural foods store-here deserve it! See the several blogs below as to why TJ is the best store ever. BTW it's my birthday and I'm l-i-v-i-n' 27 years young! Surprise birthday dinner tonight, and fun times this weekend with my mom Margaret, who's flying into town this Friday. High five to me! Erin

Six Feet Under This place sits amidst warehouses and other random machine shop in what my step-sister Jennifer described as "West Midtown." It's new construction, and artfully perched on a hill, so the rooftop bar and patio has great views of the many skylines of Altanta (for now, until some high-rises go up nearby). Fish was the meal, with fried catfish, blackened catfish, scallop quesadillas and plenty of beer to round things out. My blackened catfish was a refreshing break from fried catfish, as you're able to catch more subtle flavors of the fish, not the mention the Cajun seasoning, with blackened fish. Still, a light, cornmeal-based batter on catfish, with a little lemon, is heavenly. I'd also comment on the beer; I had a 60 Minute Dogfish I.P.A. (India Pale Ale for all you beer newbies) and it was nice. I've taken a liking to IPA's lately, as they're more than just beer (no offense PBR, you're the original three-letter acronym in life), ...

This is one for the books. I hope Scott will post today, because he really needs to write on here. I don't recall a time ever that when I wasn't eating, I was shopping for more food or talking about food that I ate before, was currently eating, or planned to eat in the future. It's just a little insane how foodcentric things can get. But tasty all the same. Scott and I have photos of our Atlanta trip, and some particularly great ones of the bliss we experienced at Trader Joe's. We brought back at least six bags of food, four packs of beer and five bottles wine from TJ's, because it's just that great. Plus they give out free bags of chips, as Scott's sister Jennifer learned. Because she truly is all that AND a (free) bag of chips. The Atlanta aquarium was also great fun - the Beluga whales were fun to watch. Favorite animals of note: Scott's dad Rob wanted to take home a sea otter, Scott loved the Asian sea otters, Molly was all about the hammerhead sh...

A big foodie "Horray" to hubby Scott Adams, who turns a youthful 34 today. Just kidding. (He's 29). You are wonderful, you can cook, and you are mine. I am thrilled to celebrate your birthday - which this year is being done with bells on. We are headed out this weekend to Atlanta, to visit with Scott's family. This means, of course, that we will eat like no one's business. Expect a full report after our shenanigans. In our wish list of places to go in Atlanta: The DeKalb International Farmers Market - truly a marvel. Scott's already asked if we can take pictures there. That place should be on the Market Hall of Fame. Anyplace that has its own international dairy wing is tops in my book. Also, Trader Joes to hit up their incredible deals on natural/organic/free-range/green foodie items. Why doesn't Nashville have one? If Indianapolis or Cary, NC can, something is just wrong. Plus, a visit to Atlanta just wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Varsi...

So, I don't get it... Krispy Kreme, a bastion of everything that is Southern food - too sweet, deep-deep fried, and not of this natural world - has created a whole-wheat version of its traditional Glazed Doughnut. According to a recent nutritional analysis, it has not a shred of dietary value for our doughnut-lovin' bodies. Plus, it's a hair smaller than the regular, refined white flour version. What gives, KK? No wonder your stock is plummeting. Just stick to what you know - making the sugar junkies happy with the same old glazed goodness that make you wonderful in the first place. I personally prefer the chocolate glazed creme filled, myself. And it shows. Don't mess with an original. I should really be running that company. I mean, really. ERIN

My cousin Ali alerted me to this tasty tidbit of info... Fantastic chef/author/world traveler/rogue-extraordinare Anthony Bourdain recently visited Charleston, S.C. His show "No Reservations" airs this Monday at 10 p.m. on the Travel Channel. It is a MUST-SEE for anyone who prefers their food commentary with an edge, or has an affinity for Charleston. A.B. is the executive chef of Les Halles restaurant in NYC - he's a smoker, he's a drinker, and he doesn't take any crap. His little pearls of wisdom about world travel and cuisine are incredible. I personally lust after this man's gig. He travels, he writes, he eats. What is not to love about that? ERIN

Last night we had the utmost pleasure of dining with Ms. Virginia and her mom, Betsy A., who's married to Scott's uncle Fred. Virginia lives in Nashville and she's fabulous, so we always like to see her. Particularly when she picks an excellent restaurant. Rumba (official name: Rumba Rum Bar and Satay Grill) on West End here in Nashville is AMAZING. It's a tapas bar/exotic cocktail spot that really can do no wrong. Luckily the heat here in Nashville tapered off and it was the perfect time for a patio table. With just the right crispness in the air, drinks from the bar in hand (EA: Pomogranate mojito, SA: Mojito, wine for mother and daughter), the four of us settled in for a great dinner. The great thing about Rumba is that you don't have to settle for just one flavor. They have Asian dishes, South American dishes, and a few things in between, like Mediterranean flat breads, pizzas and things like hummus. So we decided to share a few things, like the edemole, which i...

If Scott and I agree on anything, one thing's for sure: Food is essential, and it has to be GOOD. Just as the tomato-bedazzled platter given to us as a wedding gift says, "Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Bad Food," and we like to live by that rule. I thought it would be great fun to make a food blog about, well, food. Be it a recipe we try out, a favorite new food item we snag at Trader Joe's or the Asian Market, or a super restaurant we simply must give major props to, Scott and I are all about 1) writing, and 2) food. So this is a cool way to fuse the two loves into one. Here's to hoping you enjoy reading as much as eating...or vice versa. Erin