International Market & Restaurant

Happy Friday, friends!  We're rolling right on through the alphabet, with our "I" establishment making 9 great Nashville restaurants that we've tried in the last couple of months.  Today we headed over to the Belmont neighborhood for lunch at International Market & Restaurant.   

While predominantly Thai, the entrees on International Market's

buffet cover a nearly Pan-Asian variety of cuisines

Like Coco's from a while back, International Market is half grocery and half restaurant.  While Coco's carries Italian fare, though, IM's selection is primarily Asian, ranging from canned goods and specialty ingredients to cooking utensils and novelty items.  I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, and glad to know that there is such a store in my own neighborhood.  Can't find canned quail eggs at your Harris Teeter?  Stop by International Market.

The restaurant portion of International Market & Restaurant offers traditional table seating in the front room, in addition to more casual booth seating in the middle of the grocery.  Their menu consists primarily of their buffet, with an additional selection of entrees available made-to-order.  Most of the items are Thai, but you'll find a number of Asian-fusion favorites as well.  Always tempted by the variety and value a buffet has to offer, our indecisive bunch opted for the hot line, vice ordering individual plates. 

Garrick's Noodles and Broccoli, Curry Vegetable Noodles,

and Vegetable Curry Egg Roll

Shrimp Dumplings, Thai Sesame Chicken, and Curry Vegetable Noodles,

with a Curry Vegetable Egg Roll on the side for me

The buffet proved to be a very quick and inexpensive choice, with entree items going for $2 each, and appetizer items (3 different varieties of egg rolls, crab rangoon, fried chicken livers, etc.) for $1.25.  Portion sizes are generous, and for $6 or less, you can certainly get enough to eat. 

While the variety was far greater than that at Gojo, International Market commited a number of the same buffet-oriented crimes. Namely, the entrees were too mild (a travesty, especially when it comes to Thai food), and not as fresh and hot as we all would have desired.

Ethan sampled the Jasmine iced tea, as well, and said that it definitely deserved mention here.  When asked to elaborate, he offered the description of "sweet tea with a strong hint of jasmine."  Although he also mentioned that he has no idea what jasmine is supposed to taste like, and that he mixed the Jasmine tea with regular sweet tea and water.  His signature drink, christened the "E Tan," may just become the Arnold Palmer of Thai refreshment.

Ethan's Pepper Steak, Curry Vegetable Noodles, and Vegetable Fried Rice

While we would have appreciated minor improvements to the meal itself, overall, we all had a very positive impression of International Market, and at least 3 of 4 intend to go back to sample the made-to-order menu.  The staff at International Market are exceptionally friendly and personable, and you take away the distinct impression that it is a family-owned establishment operated with pride.  The atmosphere was unique and interesting, and the food authentic, if not as spicy as we might have liked.

The score for International Market and Restaurant today was a 3.25.

We'll be on break for the next two weeks, but our "J" restaurant will be announced soon!  Any recommendations?

~B

Hog Heaven

We're finally enjoying a much needed break from the triple digit heat here in Nashville, which meant today was pleasant enough for a picnic-style lunch at our "H" location: Hog Heaven. 

Unfortunately, the trade-off for the cooler temps is an abundance of intermittent rain, so we took advantage of the covered picnic table seating they offer.  This screened patio also doubles as the walk-up order counter and waiting area.  With the exception of the small kitchen/prep area at the back, the patio pretty much is the restaurant.  Located on the southwestern end of Centennial Park, Hog Heaven's no-frills, almost shack-like location coincides with its equally simple menu.  Like Edley's, they offer a variety of smoked meats served on either a sandwich with sides a la carte, or as a plate lunch with two sides.  You can also order larger portions (by the pound for meats, by the 1/2 pint, pint, or quart for sides) of anything on the menu for take-away. 

It's not bad, but it's not "Music City's Best" either.

 The group covered a large portion of the menu this time, with orders ranging from pulled pork plates and sandwiches to a pulled brisket plate and a pulled turkey plate.  Sides sampled included:  mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, coleslaw, and green beans.  Michael was also able to substitute a bag of chips for one of his sides. 

Pulled Turkey Plate with White BBQ Sauce, Turnip Greens, and Mac & Cheese 

I was immediately intrigued by the pulled turkey on Hog Heaven's menu.  It is one of two entrees offered with their "unique white BBQ sauce"  (the pulled chicken also comes with the white sauce).  Having never encountered a sauce like this one, I figured today was the day to step out of my sweet and smoky pulled pork comfort zone and try something new.  I was very pleasantly surprised... by the sauce.  The turkey was nothing particularly special, just a roasted and pulled bird, not too dry, but not juicy and delicious either.  The sauce was what made the plate-- creamy and spicy with a bit of smoke, I recommend giving it a try if you ever stop at HH. 

Pulled Pork Plate with Cole Slaw and Mac & Cheese. 

And yes, that's a pancake.  We'll get to that in a minute. 

Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cole Slaw on the side

Pulled Pork Plate with Green Beans and Chips (not pictured)

The pulled pork was modestly received with reviews ranging from "just barbecue" (Michael), to "standard barbecue" (Jeremy). Garrick felt that the best thing on his plate was the mac & cheese.

Pulled Beef Brisket with Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes

Ethan's brisket was a little tough.  I suppose it was fortunate, then, that he ordered the plate lunch instead of a sandwich-- tough BBQ, regardless of what animal it came from, is the bane of buns everywhere.  He also opted for the "hot" BBQ sauce, which was, as advertised, very hot.  Proceed with caution if you prefer your BBQ spicy.

As for sides, the mac & cheese was tasty, although potentially not made from scratch.  It had the distinctly pre-made softness characteristic of a popular, if unnamed, frozen dinner brand.  The mashed potatoes were also well-received, although the jury is still out on whether they were entirely made from scratch, or just well-seasoned instant potatoes with a real potato or two thrown in for authenticity (we were able to find a tiny fragment or two of potato skin in there).  I recognize that this is doubtful, but the texture was characteristic instant-potato, even if the flavor was not. 

The turnip greens were just okay, although I did appreciate the addition of a side of spicy vinegar, and the green beans were bland and canned.

Of final note, all of the plates were served with "pancake style cornbread."  Confused?  So was I.  But the item served was just that-- or close-- a savory pancake with cornmeal added to the batter.  Of the four plates we ordered, only one came with butter for the pancake (major bummer, I love butter on my cornbread), an oversight made doubly unfortunate by the fact that the pancakes were dry.  While I will give credit to Hog Heaven for giving a Southern standard their own twist, I can't say the outcome was a success.

The JOPA was consistently underwhelmed by lunch today.  Underlining the overall "blah-ness" of the meal was the disproportionate price.  Sandwiches will run you from $3.09 for a regular sized pulled pork (pictured above) to $6.49 for a rib sandwich-- all sandwiches are served without sides.  Based on the size of the "regular" sandwiches and the a la carte sides, we would recommend ordering a large sandwich or more than one side if you're planning to make a real meal of your order.  The plates, with the cornbread pancake and two sides, will cost you between $7.89 (pulled pork again) and $11.19 (1/2 chicken).  While these prices are comparable to Edley's (and other BBQ establishments like it), Hog Heaven does not offer true indoor seating or table service.  I would expect a restaurant with such low overhead to pass those savings along to the customer.  

On the upside, our service was very quick, and we had no trouble getting a seat.  The other customers were also friendly, chatting with us about their meals while we stood in line. 

All in all, Hog Heaven earned a 3.0, our lowest score so far.  Not a bad lunch, especially if you'd like to take your to-go box and sit in the park, but there are tastier barbecue joints out there offering their meals at a much better value.

On the plate next week:  International Market and Restaurant.

~B

Gojo Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant

This post is a bit late, but last week was a busy one!  Gotta love a holiday in the middle of the week that makes a Tuesday seem like Friday, and a Wednesday seem like Sunday, and then a surprise day off on Friday that turns it into a second Saturday, and... you get the picture.  In spite of our Friday off, we gathered up the JOPA for a post-4th of July family-style lunch at Gojo Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant.  Suffice it to say, the crazy schedule put me off my A-game, so I'll apologize in advance for the shortage of pictures this week.

We were truly honoring the family-style approach of Gojo's menu as we had Ethan's sister Emily and Garrick's brother Alec also joining us for lunch.  Emily teaches at an international school in Rwanda and is home in the States for the summer, so we were fortunate to have a member of the group who is familiar with a variety of African cuisines.

Gojo offers a wide variety of traditional Ethiopian dishes, with both meat and vegetarian entrees served during lunch and dinner.  At lunch they also have a buffet available for $8.99.  Because most of the group had never tried Ethiopian food, we all opted for the buffet. 

The only way to buffet.  In the words of Dawes, "I want a little bit of everything"

The buffet included traditional Ethiopian bread, or injera, which traditionally serves as the eating utensil, as you tear pieces off a large flat round and use them to pinch bites of the rest of the meal by hand.  It's unlike any bread you've tried before, and well-worth sampling, although a couple of the members of our group did not like its tangy flavor.  Also offered were lentils, beef stew, cabbage, green beans, and a pilaf-like rice dish. 

Yemiser Sambussa, the vegetable version of the traditional Ethiopian snack

We also went with an order of yemiser sambussa for the table to share.  These are a flaky, triangular pastry filled with lentils, onion, and a pinch of jalapeno, then deep fried.  Gojo also offers a meat version, or yesga sambussa.  You'll get five small pastries to an order of the yemiser version, or four to an order if you go with the yesga.  In Emily's words, the sambussa is the "African Hot Pocket," and a dish that is readily available and widely sold as a street food.  While you will find them in a much larger size in some restaurants, Gojo's are appetizer-sized portions, and a fantastic way to kick off your meal.

Ethan and I also ordered iced sweet tea with lunch, something that I had read rave reviews of prior to our visit to Gojo (their espresso is also highly praised, but none of us tried it this time).  In a region where the population practically sweats sweet tea in the summer, Gojo holds their own in the iced tea department.  Unlike Southern sweet tea made with black tea leaves and super-saturated with sugar, Gojo's sweet tea incorporates a variety of spices that produce a beverage that I can only describe as "Christmas on ice."  Unbelievably refreshing and frequently refilled, a glass of tea perfectly complemented the meal-- it would have been especially refreshing if we had had any of the spicier Ethiopian entrees.

Overall, we had a pleasant lunch at Gojo.  Everyone felt that more options on the buffet were desirable, especially a greater variety of meat dishes.  Additionally, all of the dishes were served in their mildest form (many traditional Ethiopian dishes are very spicy), so the experience was far less colorful than we would have desired.  Both of these complaints can be attributed to our selection of the buffet in a restaurant that services a very small lunch crowd.  I hope that we will have an opportunity to take the gang back again, and order a family-style meal from the full menu. 

Gojo's lunch buffet is a great value for the price, and an approachable way to sample a new cuisine, if you've never tried Ethiopian food.  However, if you'd like to experiment with more authentic Ethiopian flavors, I'd recommend selecting a made to order entree (there are also a number of combinations available on the menu!).

Gojo scored a 3.4 overall, with mixed responses on plans to eat there again. 

This week, we're headed to Hog Heaven for a second round of BBQ (yay!). 

~B

The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse

As I promised last week, there's more love to come for 12 South.  In fact, here's a bit of it.  This week we headed to The Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse.  While we had all been to Frothy Monkey for coffee, most had never sampled their menu.  We also had another new addition to the JOPA this week, as our once-a-Marine-always-a-Marine (but now also a civilian) friend Michael joined us for lunch.

Another hotspot in the hipster Mecca that is 12 South

Just a block or two away from Edley's Bar-B-Que, Frothy Monkey is an independent neighborhood coffee shop, offering local fare in an inviting atmosphere. As most coffee shops within a mile or so of a college campus tend to be (and FM is close to two-- both Vandy and Belmont), Frothy Monkey was covered up with customers, even though we arrived early in the lunch hour. They have a fair amount of indoor seating, but with the heat, every table large enough for our crowd was taken by a single person with a laptop. We sat outside and attempted to enjoy the shade of a small tree on the patio. Frothy Monkey's outdoor seating is ample, and, I imagine, would be a pleasant place to people-watch when the heat index is under 100˚ (ie: not today). 

Not gonna lie, this guy's a little creepy.  But I look a bit like a deranged zoo animal

before my first cup of coffee too, so I suppose I should let it slide...

The lunch menu consists of salads and sandwiches, with soup and fruit as options for sides.  Frothy Monkey also serves their extensive breakfast menu all day.  Nobody was in the mood for pancakes or a scramble today, so we went with a variety of sandwiches, and a quesadilla for Garrick. 

The Royale for Michael-- a pretty fancy name for a toasted turkey sandwich

Michael and Ethan had turkey and roast beef sandwiches, respectively, and both received modest reviews.   Pretty much average, and not quite something you'd intentionally seek out a second time.  I believe we've used the phrase, "It got the job done," to describe similar meals in the past.  

The Larry for Ethan-- roast beast and provolone on sourdough

Garrick's quesadilla was also underwhelming, most notably because it wasn't served with sour cream (it did come with a side of guac). I'll have to side with Garrick on this one, as I would consider sour cream the supreme condiment, especially with a meal purporting to be of Southwest, Tex-Mex, or any variety of Hispanic origin. I'm certain there are regional food experts and lactose intolerants out there who will disagree with me, and to them I say-- "Can I have your sour cream?"

"The" Quesadilla for Garrick -- chicken and cheese with guac on the side

I may have been the only one impressed by my sandwich, a quasi-Italian prosciutto, mozz, and provolone combo with basil aioli. It was nicely toasted and all of the elements complimented eachother nicely. If I had one gripe, it would be that it would have been far better served on some crusty French bread or focaccia.  And there I go with the bread again... 

And the PMP for me -- that's prosciutto, mozz, and provolone

(with some avocado to sass it up)

We were unanimously disappointed with the side of tortilla chips and salsa that came standard with all of the sandwiches.  The menu does not state what side (if any) is included, and we were all let down by the small portion of from-the-bag tortilla chips and "blah" salsa.  Don't get me wrong, chips and salsa are a fine side for a sandwich, but give us something interesting!  Make your own chips, perhaps?  Or offer a peach or mango salsa?  If I wanted Tostitos and dip, I would have stopped at the grocery store. 

While lunch was low on pizzazz, the beverages were a delightful surprise.  I had a blueberry iced tea (blueberry, apple, and currant juices with hibiscus tea) and Ethan had an iced "Serene Green" tea.  Both were interesting and unique, and a refreshing (and necessary!) compliment to an outdoor lunch in the June sun.  It's always nice to find a coffeeshop that does non-java drinks as well as their signature, coffee-based ones.

Overall, The Frothy Monkey earned a 3.25.  While I'd definitely go back for coffee and conversation, I wouldn't make a special trip for lunch. 

Up next:  Gojo Ethiopian Cafe

~B


** Belay my last.  Garrick informed me today that the chips and salsa were advertised on the menu (at the bottom) as the default side.  My apologies for the oversight.  Regardless, the quality of the product served definitely left something to be desired. **

Edley's Bar-B-Que

E is for epic.  As in, the epic lunch we had at Edley's Bar-B-Que in 12 South today.  I've actually been looking forward to this one for a few weeks now, partly because of my underfed perfectly-smoked-pulled-pork-BBQ-lovin Memphis soul, and partly because the "Tribute to All Things Southern" slogan Edley's throws around is pretty darn intriguing.  Edley's did. not. disappoint.

We also welcomed a new member to the JOPA today, as our friend Jeremy joined us from another local Navy outpost (I know, there are quite a few of us squids stranded ashore here in Music City). 

I'd like that logo on a t-shirt--

Note to self: check out the merchandise next time around...

Edley's was our first stop in the newly trendy and rapidly growing 12 South neighborhood.  Several more of the stops on our ABC tour are also in (on?) 12 South, so expect plenty of foodie love for this area in posts to come. 

The restaurant has a casual interior, with a walk-up order counter and self-service seating.  They also have a bar area with its own seats.  As we were sticking with sweet tea and ice water today, we opted for a booth.

Inviting storefront, despite the new construction going on next door

Edley's offers the straightforward all-the-meats menu of a traditional BBQ joint.  Several varieties (pork, chicken, turkey, brisket...) are available on either a sandwich or a plate, with your choice of sides.  I am quickly learning that we should take a survey before ordering in places like this, since (for the second time) we ended up with a table-full of the same entrees.  Needless to say, we're a pulled pork crowd, although we did work in some variations in the sides.

Pulled Pork Plate with Mac & Cheese and a "Plug" of Slaw for Garrick,

with Jalapeño Cornbread on the side

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a Memphis gal, and thus, a major BBQ snob.   Texas can keep their beef, and North Carolina can pack it in with their spicy vinegar-based sauce.   Give me pulled pork so tender and juicy you can spread it on white bread, and sauce that's sweet and smoky-- for dipping or pouring, mind you, none of this drowning the meat in sauce (Kansas City, I'm lookin at you).

So it goes without saying that I was thrilled to finally have a decent pulled pork sandwich here in Nashville.  In fact, decent would be a real understatement.  Edley's doesn't stop with the pork, they hit all of the key components: a generous portion of meat, sauce that complements perfectly, and a bun that keeps it all together.  Edley's sandwich rolls were downright out of this world.  And you know how I feel about good bread!  (see last week's post re: Demos' cheese bread)

Pulled Pork Sandwich with the Slaw on top, and a side of Potato Salad for Ethan

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Mac & Cheese and Jalapeño Cornbread for both Jeremy and me

As for the sides, everything was hot, fresh, and noticeably homemade-- except the slaw, which was cold, of course.  The mac & cheese, while tasty, needed a pop of flavor, some sharp cheddar, perhaps.  Jeremy thought the portion was a little small, so it was at least good enough to leave the customers wanting more : ) 

I'm a cornbread purist, preferring to leave out the jalapeños, bell peppers, onions, or what-have-you, but I'll admit that Edley's wasn't bad.  I did really like the thick slices, and the fact that they tossed them on the flat top for a bit of crispness before serving.  I was the only one with any complaints about the cornbread, though-- they boys all seemed to really enjoy it.  

And because they might as well be vitamins around here, Fried Pickles for the table

I've intentionally saved the fried pickles for last.  When I ordered them, the cashier shouted "fried pickles!" over her shoulder.  I thought it was wierd until they arrived last: piping hot, crisp, and very obviously made to order.  You'll remember that we tried the fried pickles at Bobbie's Dairy Dip last month, and were fairly impressed.  They were, however, fried pickle spears.  What any connoisseur of pickle dill-iciousness will tell you, though, is that pickle slices are absolutely the way to go when frying.  To quote Ethan, it's all about the "fry to pickle ratio."  Hands down, Edley's are the best I've had in a long while.

Overall, Edley's took a 4.38, earning them a comfortable second place spot among the five restaurants we've tried so far.  If they put fried okra on the menu, Jeremy might re-consider his "solid 4.0" score.

Next up:  Frothy Monkey

~B