HotDish

Duck Fat Tater Tots // Merchant’s, Nashville TN

HotDish — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:14:49 +0000

Duck fat tater tots. What more really needs to be said?

A thin layer of delectably crunchy potato coats a tender potato filling. The flavour of the duck is subtle, yet pushes the deliciousness factor into the absurd.

As an added bonus, Merchant’s serves food late into the night, which isn’t always easy to find in downtown Nashville. This could be particularly convenient should you find yourself craving duck fat tator tots while out honky-tonking. Which is really not all that unlikely.

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Basil Soup // Provence, Nashville TN

HotDish — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:02:30 +0000

This might possibly be the world’s most perfect grilled cheese sandwich paired with the best ever homemade tomato soup. This sandwich is made from four cheeses melted into one deliciously gooey center that somehow manages to stay inside the sandwich despite it’s best efforts to escape. The bread is a lovely house-baked sourdough that pairs perfectly with the melted cheeses. After being pressed in the grill, the sandwich becomes crisp on the edges while still maintaining enough softness to make every bite perfect. The soup is a harmonious balance of creamy and tomato-y, and is thick enough to coat the sandwich without running down your fingers when you dip it. This is clearly not a low fat meal, but it is worth every bite.

My husband and I happened upon this casual Paris-inspired café by chance, and I’m so glad we did because it has become one of our favourite lunch spots in Nashville. I haven’t actually managed to try any of their other lunch offerings because I never want to give up an opportunity to have their grilled cheese, but I have yet to be disappointed by any of the wonderful cakes, cookies, and pastries they also have on offer.

Orchid Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich // Jeni’s, Nashville TN

HotDish — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:04:24 +0000

Creamy white orchid vanilla ice cream with a yummy black currant jam center sandwiched between two incredibly soft, cakey, Paris-style almond macaroons. It is every bit as delicious as it looks.

Mexico City Tortilla Soup // Mas Tacos, Nashville TN

HotDish — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:57:41 +0000

What makes this soup soooooo good? Every ingredient in it and the combination thereof. People line up for the fantastic tacos at this well-loved food-truck-turned-storefront in East Nashville with good reason, but the tortilla soup is so incredible I had to write about it first. The secret is that Mas Taco starts with a divine homemade broth so rich in flavour it’s exciting enough on its own; the lime is wonderfully prevalent, and it’s surprisingly spicy but not enough to overpower the other amazing flavours at play. Added to this mouth-watering concoction are hearty portions of stewed chicken, charred corn, Mexican cheese, crunchy housemade tortilla strips, fresh cilantro, cherry tomatoes, and ripe green avocado. The result is a truly intoxicating mixture of flavours and textures. All for just five bucks.

Belly Ham Pizza with Fried Egg // City House, Nashville TN

HotDish — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:34:02 +0000

This pizza is so delicious it’s stupid. The crust is soft and crisp, the circles of mozzarella are heavenly, the belly ham (made in-house by chef Tandy Wilson, who specializes in pork) is as good as it gets, the grano padano, chilis, and oregano add a lovely little kick…and if that wasn’t enough, there is a fried egg sitting on top (and what ISN’T good with the addition of a fried egg?). When it’s in season, they will throw a handful of fresh arugula over top as well if you’d like (I thought this sounded strange at first, but trust me, it is super tasty). This pizza is decadent, sinful, and worth every bite.

White Hot Chocolate with Lavender and Lemon Myrtle // Vosges, Chicago IL

HotDish — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:57:03 +0000

Rich, luxurious white hot chocolate infused with lavender and lemon myrtle. As a rule, I’m not a fan of white chocolate–I have nothing against the taste, I just don’t think it deserves to share a title with real chocolate as it is clearly an entirely different product (and, let’s be realistic, much less addictive). But when you take high quality Vosges white chocolate, melt it into milk, and lace it with this intoxicating bouquet, it is another story altogether. It is heavenly. I’m even willing to admit that it gives real chocolate a run for its money.

Brunch Buffet // Bin 36, Chicago IL

HotDish — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:29:40 +0000

I can’t say enough about how fantastic this brunch is. Seriously, I bow to this brunch.

While growing up in Toronto, my family used to go to an incredible brunch buffet at a restaurant called Movenpick (not to be confused with the Movenpick Marché chain, which it eventually morphed into) for special occasions. It was so fabulous – including an endless variety of food with everything perfectly prepared – that I have never forgotten it, and any brunch I have had since has paled in comparison.

That all changed this morning, when my husband and son took me to Bin 36 for a surprise Mother’s Day brunch. Just like the fabulous brunch of my childhood, they offered a dizzying array of every breakfast/brunch item imaginable and twice as many delectable things you haven’t heard of (but wish you had!). We were absolutely blown away by how incredible everything was. This photograph was from my second round, which included blueberry ricotta pancakes, crunchy bacon, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, shrimp cocktail, roast beef with horseradish cream, red and yellow beets with goat cheese and orange segments, fresh crab benedict, sausage, honey-smoked ham, and the most scrumptous breakfast potatoes I have ever had. My third round was dedicated to desserts, which I find are traditionally disappointing at most buffets. Not so at Bin 36. The dessert table was every bit as mouth-watering as the savory stuff (my personal favourites were sea salt caramel brownies, blueberry panna cotta, chocolate cheese cake pops, and an array of colourful cream-filled macaroons).

My only regret is lack of stomach space, as there were at least twice as many scrumptious-looking things there that I wasn’t even able to try. That and the fact that Bin 36 only serves brunch on special occasions. But I guarantee that we will be celebrating all future brunch-worthy occasions at Bin 36 from this day on. It is unbeatable.

Mexican Chocolate Cupcake // Sugar Bliss, Chicago IL

HotDish — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:57:25 +0000

Dark chocolate cake with chocolate cinnamon chile buttercream frosting topped with a red hot. The thing about Sugar Bliss is the icing, which is so delicious they actually sell it in shots (I’m not even an icing fan but I have to say, I love it). The Mexican Chocolate Cupcake is no exception. The chocolate buttercream is rich like a truffle filling while still being as light and sugary as buttercream should be, with the added kick of cinnamon and chile. For fans of spicy chocolate only!

Moby Dick Roll // Wakamono, Chicago IL

HotDish — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:19:18 +0000

Spicy Hokkaido scallops, avocado and cucumber topped with pepper-seared albacore tuna makes for a scrumptious combination of flavours and textures. In general, I have become pretty predictable when it comes to ordering rolls these days–if it contains spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, or fresh crab I am all over it, while I tend to avoid anything containing smoked salmon, hamachi (which is actually my favourite for sashimi, but is too mild for rolls), or creamed cheese. So it came as a nice surprise to find a roll that doesn’t include any of my old standbys and is every bit as tasty. I haven’t always found the texture or taste of scallops to hold up as well in rolls as raw fish does, but paired with the smoothness of the avocado, the crunchiness of the cucumber, and the spicy, tender, and beautifully seared tuna on top, it was tremendous. I had one last night and haven’t stopped thinking about it all day.

Butcher Burger // Smith & Wollensky, Chicago IL

HotDish — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:42:10 +0000

If, like me, you see a direct correlation between the juicyness and the deliciousness of a burger, you will understand why I am a huge fan of the Wollensky Butcher Burger. It comes as no surprise that Smith & Wollensky, a high-end and highly rated steakhouse, would know a thing or two about how to prepare beef. The Butcher Burger comes with melted cheese, two strips of bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a suitably unobtrusive soft bun that doesn’t interfere with the flavour and texture of one of the most expertly prepared beef patties you are likely to come across. Hands down one of the tastiest burgers I have ever eaten. It costs a hefty 13 bucks, but includes the added bonus of getting to devour a messy burger at a snazzy white tablecloth affair while overlooking the river in the heart of downtown Chicago.