Creepy Veggie Burger

Today I went to lunch with my parents, who were driving through town on their way to some weekend parties in honor of Nashvegas sister and her fiancé. Assuming everyone lives this long, they're getting married in three weeks. Woo hoo!

But that is not the point of this post. The point is this: I ate the creepiest veggie burger ever today for lunch. [Follow Nashville veggie friends: Let me know if you eat on West End and I'll share more details, like where not to eat if you want to avoid the same thing.]

The weird thing: It tasted good. But I couldn't eat it. The burger was the consistency of very very rare ground beef. And there was a smoky flavor that really contributed to the meat sensation. But this was the clincher: They appeared to have used beets or beet juice in the burger, because the grains, which made up the majority of the burger, were pink. Pink, people. Like raw beef.

Seriously. You do not want your veggie burger to evoke raw beef.

I have spent a fair amount of time this spring thinking about why I'm not eating meat. I still haven't figured it out, really. But I do know that I'm less enticed than ever to go omni after that crazy veggie burger today.

Dinner, Day 9 sans stove

Tonight's menu: Red velvet cheesecake from the Blue Sky Cafe in Fletcher, NC. I have a photo of it around here somewhere. Will share later.

What we've been eating sans stove

We have been eating without a working stove for seven eight days now. Those of you who have been around here for any time at all know that is about to kill me. I realized I should have been logging all these meals.

Day 1: We all went to Chili's on West End.
Day 2: The 2yo and I ate at home. I think there were nuts and olives involved on my part, but I'm not sure about on his.
Day 3: We ate at Las Maracas. An all-time favorite.
Day 4: We ordered Pizza Hut. I love, love, love the online ordering. I hate, hate, hate when I forget you should not order pizza at dinnertime on Friday night, because everyone else in town does, too.
Day 5: The 8yo spent the night with a friend. The 2yo had various non-cooked nibbles. The rest of us went to Family Wash. It's always best to do that when the 8yo is elsewhere. Inexplicably, she doesn't care for this great pub.
Day 6: We ordered takeout pizza from PizzeReal. I love that place.
Day 7: We got takeout Chinese from Dragon Garden [at 4912 Charlotte, never mind what CitySearch says], recommended by my neighborhood listserv. Great food.
Day 8: The 2yo and I had leftover Chinese, Rice-a-Roni and cheese and crackers for dinner. Lest you report me to child services, please know that he also had a banana and applesauce.

Watch for more exciting updates in the days to come. The gas people come Monday, Nov. 12. I am told it's possible I'll be able to cook that night, but after what we've been through already, I'm going to consider myself lucky to have things up and running before Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone likes Chinese takeout. I think that could be a nice new tradition.

Best news in weeks: Mothership BBQ not dead

Mothership BBQ is closing up shop in Berry Hill -- get there today if you can -- but is now scheduled to re-open soon in a new location. Woo hoo!

All you need to know about Pied Piper Creamery

  All you need to know about
Pied Piper Creamery 

Well, I should have done this many moons ago. So let me be quick about it: If you haven't been to Pied Piper Creamery, for heaven's sake, stop reading and rush over right now!

The business venture of one Jenny Piper, who happens to be old friends with half the people I know, Pied Piper is the new hit of East Nashville. And you know what that means....all the cool kids are doing it. The Scene gives PPC high marks, if you need additional validation.

Jenny started her shop just a few months ago, and already I find myself "needing" to stop by at least once a week. Thank goodness I have two children. They are fabulous cover for such excursions. But trust me, I'd go alone, without shame.

I've only tried two flavors in my several trips, because they've been so good I haven't been able to break out further. The Banana Fana Fo Fudding is just divine. Rich, creamy, banana-y.

And Strawberry Fields...well, it won't be this good forever, because right now, Jenny's able to make it with fresh strawberries. To. Die. For.

There are at least two dozen other flavors, and the 7yo highly recommends the "C Is for Cookie" Oreo flavor. I'm not a huge Oreo fan, but trust me, she's an expert.

The Dets:
114 S 11th St [In the same building with V Floral and Gifts. Take your wallet. Between the ice cream and the goodies, you'll want to shop.]
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (512) 227-4114
Mon-Sat 11am-8pm
Sun 1pm-8pm
Critical: Cash only for the moment. Worth every penny and the stop at the ATM.

A good cause: Great barbecue

Jim over at the Mothership BBQ has a few important posts the last few days. While he's scraping by on the side, side, side street where he's located in Berry Hill, he's got the opportunity to make a real go of it in the SoBro area. People, if you have not yet feasted at the Mothership, you're missing out. And just think how much easier it would be to do that if MSBBQ were in SoBro. And you could have some beer with your 'cue.

Got some investor connections for the man? Your stomach will thank you.

There's more from Austin, TX

I couldn't begin to encapsulate everything we did in the past four days, so please:

See my Flickr photos from Austin, TX, SXSW and every restaurant we ate in
Then be sure to view Summer's, Cole's and Rex's photos.

Summer has also blogged some of the restaurants where we ate, and Rex has blogged several sessions I didn't attend, and some I did.

Finally, NYC sister's fiance's coworker saw all these restaurant reports here on Fixin' Supper, and he passed along these recommendations for the next time I'm in town:

Z Tejas is highly recommended, especially the apple cobbler, and you'll probably need reservations. East Side Cafe apparently has a greenhouse attached to the restaurant, so at least some of the food is grown right there. And he concurs with your conclusions about The Salt Lick and Guero's.

The Salt Lick, Austin TX

  Texas-style barbecue

We went to the Salt Lick Sunday night. If you aren't a vegetarian, you must make this fabulous restaurant in Driftwood, Texas, a definite stop on your tour of Austin.

The brisket is great, the dill pickles crunchy and pucker-inducing and the ribs are very flavorful.

My complaint remains from my first visit to the Salt Lick: With all the other great home cooking here, why are they serving us store-bought bread? There's some on my plate here but I ate little of it. It offends the palate compared with the other authentic Texas barbecue fare.

More photos in my Flickr account.

Two years later, question is answered

  Las Manitas Chilaquiles Verdes

Two years ago I had the chilaquiles rojas at Las Manitas, after I let the waitress talk me into that over the verdes. Two years later, I've determined it's truly personal preference, because I really loved the verdes.

Funny thing about lunch. We were here in this really old building, at the historic restaurant, and Summer was on her cell phone and Patrick was using his phone and my computer to try to fix the Hammock servers.

  Working lunch

He seems to have been successful because my email is running again.

Guero's Taco Bar: Two thumbs up

  I'm stuffed.

We had a great meal tonight at Guero's Taco Bar on South Congress in Austin, TX. The building is a former feed store, and it's more than 100 years old. Sadly, they had to laminate and post a sign to that effect at our table, to admonish diners not to write on the walls.

What would inspire you to write on the walls anywhere, I'm not sure. [Yes, I was that square when I was a kid, too.]

They had so many different margaritas that I didn't know how to choose. I had "Deep in the Heart of Texas" and I'm sorry to report I don't remember what made it unique. It was good but not the best margarita I've ever had.

But my word, the food here is phenomenal. I ordered enchiladas verdes -- one chicken and one cheese. I could barely get through 2/3 of my meal....lots of food. But, just absolutely fresh and homemade. There is nothing better than a homemade tortilla. Wow. I was delighted with the whole meal. Fresh, melt-in-your-mouth tender chicken, one of the most unusual cheese enchiladas I've had, and really flavorful rice.

Good stuff.