ROLF AND DAUGHTERS - NASHVILLE, TN

NAME: Rolf and Daughters

LOCATION: 700 Taylor Street, Nashville, TN 37208

CUISINE: American/Italian

PRICE POINT: $$$ (out of $$$$)

OVERALL RATING: 9/10

DESCRIPTION:

Nashville - A sleepy old southern town nestled along the Cumberland River known as the home of country music? Its meat-and-three eateries? Its honky tonky scene downtown? No longer! Nashville is the new "IT" city. People are flocking to live in this beautiful, bustling city which is now the home of a lively, varied music scene, the silicon valley of healthcare, the namesake of a popular television program and restaurants galore.

Rolf and Daughters is one of the newcomers to the restaurant scene and is my favorite of the moment. named #3 in top new restaurants in America of 2013, it is located in the 100-year-old Werthan Factory building in the revitalized Germantown neighborhood. the entry is a bit hidden in a little side street and makes one feel like he is entering an old speakeasy. One inside, the atmosphere confirms this convivial impression. The long community tables and separate booths make for open, relaxed dining and viewing. this is a favorite haunt of Nashville celebs - we even saw Clare Bowen of "Nashville" fame last time we visited!

The menu arrives on a simple cream vellum sheet and looks surprisingly sparse at first glance. Further examination reveals a selection of foods which will make your mouth water, especially after your waiter describes the dishes.


The food changes seasonally with the weather, but there are definitely a few staple items we always order. 






Our favorite starter is the brussels sprout, apple, hazelnut and pecorino salad. the brussels sprouts are shaved and the tart dressing makes this sale type salad delectable. I have tried to reproduce this at home and can only come up with a poor imitation. It is so tasty that we forgot to take a picture of the dish when it arrived - here is what it looked like after a minute on the table. 

Other starters we enjoyed were the beef tartare and the sourdough with seaweed butter - though a friend of mine said she couldn't believe they charged $5 for ******* bread!

Though there was a variety of dinner options, I stuck with my favorite - Garganelli verde with heritage pork ragout and sarvecchio. A perfect winter's night pasta with a rich, delicious sauce and perfect pasta al dente. Yum!! The portion sizes are not too large, not too small - just right as Goldilocks would say. And you do need some of that ******* bread to mop up the sauce. Dishes go back to the kitchen and don't need washing - they are licked clean.

Our dinner companions (teenagers) chose the lamb meatballs. Granted they were sophisticated eaters from San Francisco, they appreciated our beloved R.A.D. Those disappeared quickly, as did the Heritage chicken with preserved lemon and confit garlic.

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Usually I can resist the temptation of dessert, but RAD has the best panna cotta I've tasted. Vanilla and creamy - it is perfect! The petit gingersnaps are a delicate accouterment. don't blink or my husband will have inhaled it all. The bombolini are also fun and a crowd pleaser.

Next time you're planning a trip to nashville, make your reservations to come to Rolf and Daughters - just do it weeks in advance as it is the hardest reservation to secure in Nashville.

Until next time, Bon Appetit!

ABC KITCHEN - NEW YORK, NY

NAME: ABC Kitchen

LOCATION: 35 E 18th St. New York City, NY 10003

CUISINE: American/French

PRICE POINT: $$$ (out of $$$$)

OVERALL RATING: 9/10

DESCRIPTION:

ABC Kitchen is located in the heart of Union Square behind the ABC Carpet & Home store. Not to be confused with ABC Cocina, the tapas-style restaurant adjacent to the furniture store, ABC Kitchen has a trendy New York decor with beautiful chandeliers, unique lighting and white seating arrangements. We were lucky to find a reservation on OpenTable (check out this app or website for making restaurant reservations here) and walked over from the W Hotel Union Square for a girls' dinner. 

We were seated in the back half of the restaurant closest to ABC Cocina where there is a view of the kitchen and bar area. The staff is very friendly, especially amidst the city rush, and the food is even better. 

Between the three of us, we ordered a few plates to share including the Roasted Butternut Squash, the Salmon appetizer, the side roasted Brussels Sprouts, and the Ricotta, Prosciutto and Date Pizza. The Squash is grilled with spices that gave it a bit of a kick and crunch.

                           

 Brussels Sprouts are a must-order side dish that is both delicate and savory. While we weren't overwhelmed with the Salmon, it was a refreshing bite between some richer plates. Our absolute favorite was the Pizza - it almost turned into a cat fight over the last slice! The dough is handmade and toppings are carefully overlaid so each bite encompasses all important ingredients. While we decided to venture to Magnolia Bakery for some banana pudding as dessert, the homemade donuts looked to-die for. 

ABC Kitchen partners with the Farm-to-Table movement to provide food that is free of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, antibiotics, hormones, and GMO. You can taste the freshness within each bite.

ABC Kitchen also provides a great atmosphere to grab drinks and appetizers with friends or coworkers, and it is a popular destination for weekend brunch. One warning: it could be weeks before you find a reservation here, as the restaurant blew up in popularity in 2013. Featured in articles by The New York Times, Vogue, and Bon Appetit, ABC Kitchen is definitely the go-to spot for many New Yorkers. While you're there, be sure to check out ABC Carpet & Home for some modern design inspiration. 

Link here for the restaurant's website, including menu & news.

THE LOBSTER TRAP - ANEGADA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

NAME: The Lobster Trap
LOCATION: Anegada, British Virgin Islands
CUISINE: Seafood
PRICE POINT: $$$ (out of $$$$)
OVERALL RATING: 9/10
DESCRIPTION:

Anegada is easily one of the most beautiful and serene islands in the BVI. Sailing over from Virgin Gorda, we secured our catamaran to a mooring buoy and took our dinghy up to the Lobster Trap dock lined with twinkle lights.  Looking over the side of the dock we saw traps with fresh lobster floating in the ocean.

Looking up at millions of stars, The Lobster Trap provides a relaxing ambiance with fantastic views.  The one catch here is that it is important to make your reservation and place your dinner order by 4PM the same day to secure your lobster dish for the evening. After ordering drinks, a family-size salad was brought to the table with homemade bread and dressing and condiments (while options are limited to caesar or thousand island) were set out on the table picnic style. The service was surprisingly quick compared to the "island time" most BVI restaurants keep, and the staff was very friendly. 

Five finished lobsters later, we all agreed that this lobster was impeccable -  extremely tender and felt as if it melted in your mouth. While most people prefer Maine lobster, this is far and away the best lobster we've had in the Caribbean. Our lobster dishes were served with a side of melted butter and baked potato, and we overheard the waitress explain that they do not boil their lobsters – simply grill and season them. Dessert options included key lime pie and carrot cake, both of which were satisfying endings to a pleasant evening on the water.

Though a bit pricier, the food is well worth the cost. Check out more reviews and pictures here:

Anegada is the furthest of the British Virgin Islands that we ventured to. Though the waters can be a bit choppy on the ride over, it is definitely worth the trip. The waters are exquisite green and blue colors and the North end of the island provides great snorkeling around reefs for those who seek adventure. We spent time snorkeling at Loblolly Bay but harsh Christmas winds made it difficult to swim against the current. Hoping to explore Cow Wreck Beach next time (on the West end of the island and the site of an old shipwreck). Since there are no moorings on the north side, we recommend docking near the town and taking scooters around the island (you can rent them by the hour or day) to explore the beautiful beaches and landscape.