Smarty Pants

I'll admit it...sometimes I think I'm a culinary smarty pants.

I can identify exotic fruits and vegetables, cuts of meat(though that's more Nick's forte) and rattle off cooking techniques until you can stand it no more.

Unfortunately, as good as I think I am, I'm constantly reminded that I'm a mere rookie in the vast land that is the world of food. Truthfully, I've got a lot to learn.

Of course half the fun of, well, pretty much everything in life is learning as you go, and so my brain(and my stomach) is always ready to be filled with new things.

Want to test your knowledge about knives(cooking knives...we're not going to play the Crocodile Dundee knife game today)? Give this quiz a shot:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=1063&p=1

Want to test your knowledge about American wine? Give this quiz a shot: (I just realized I'm more of a fan than a connoisseur)

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/april-2008-american-wine-quiz

Want to see just how exotic your food knowledge is? Give this quiz a shot:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/international-food-quiz/

Read more

There might be a new kid on the block. It looks like Trader Joe's is coming to town!

I have never lived in a city with a Trader Joe's that actually had a liquor license, so stocking up on Two Buck Chuck has been tough.

Luckily, it looks like those days are behind me, because word on the street is that Trader Joe's has applied for a liquor license in town. I still may stockpile some cheap wine, but at least now I can replenish my supply whenever I like:::::::::::::::

http://www.louisville.com/content/it-looks-joe-coming-town-louisville-might-be-getting-trader-joesfood-and-dining

Read more

Sweet, sweet, sweetbreads

I've never really been a "regular" anywhere. I suppose there's been a watering hole or two that I've frequented weekly(ok, maybe more), but when it comes to restaurants I have a wandering eye.

Although Louisville isn't necessarily a big city, it's residents are lucky to have so many dining options. From highfalutin to down home cooking, this town has a lot of independently owned restaurants, and the hubby and I try to visit a new one every week. That being said, we don't subject out of town guests to our hit and miss dining adventures, and tend to return to our favorites when they're visiting.

Friday before last we returned to the Germantown eatery, Eiderdown(previous post), and were happy we did.

I typically don't double up on reviews but I simply had to tell y'all about the sweetbreads we had at Eiderdown. Their menu changes often so I'm not sure how long they'll be available, but in my opinion they should give them a regular place next to Homer's Daydream.

These were the best sweetbreads I've had in a long time. They were mild and completely void of the organ meat flavor they can sometimes have. They were sauteed perfectly resulting in a great external texture and internal tenderness. They were sitting on some sort of amazing meat juice reduction. And they were accompanied by their signature cauliflower biscuits.

If you don't think you're a sweetbreads fan these might just convert you. And if you have some unadventurous eaters in your group order them anyway and tell them they're chicken. By the time they realize it's not chicken and you tell them it's the thymus gland of a calf, they'll be too far gone into flavor heaven to be mad at you.

Read more

New Louisville.com posts

http://www.louisville.com/content/bourbon-infused-brunch-cause-marriott-oaks-bourbon-brunch-food-and-dining

http://www.louisville.com/content/finally-all-you-can-eat-deal-worth-sinking-your-teeth-all-you-can-eat-lobster-eddie-merlotsf

I've never been to Eddie Merlot's, but this could really be a good deal. If Nick and I drink water, and just pick at our salad and potatoes, we could really get our $39.95 worth out of some lobsters.

Read more

Why should peas and carrots have all the fun? Fried green tomatoes and bacon deserve some respect.

Peas and carrots are a good pair. I'll admit they go together well. Toss them in some butter...sprinkle with salt and pepper...you've got a great flavor combination. But who decided that they were going to be the poster children for "they go together like..."? I know I wasn't consulted.

Personally, I think there are many far superior flavor mixtures out there. Perhaps roasted beets and goat cheese doesn't have the right ring to it. And smoked salmon and egg salad might sound just plain gross(but soooo yummy). Did you know that honey, ricotta cheese and pine nuts create a veritable symphony in your mouth? They do. Slap that mixture on a toast point and you've got a dish worthy of oohs and aahs. I think these, along with hundreds of other food pairings deserve some much needed recognition.

Recently I've added a new pairing to my list and I just can't seem to get enough of it. Fried green tomato and bacon anyone?

Yes, tomato and bacon have long been friends, but fried green tomatoes don't resemble the juicy red globes they'll eventually become at all. Green tomatoes are tart and acidic. They're firm enough to hold up to frying and I, personally, think they have notes of lemon. Fried up and stuck on a biscuit or toast with some thick cut bacon and you're in food combination heaven.

So far in Louisville I've found this pair at:

Our Best Restaurant(they do it up simply...fried green tomato, bacon, biscuit and a spicy mayo...at $2.99 this one is certainly the best deal in town).

Goose Creek Diner(they put a spin on a breakfast blt and add a cheese topped egg to a stack of fried green tomatoes, bacon and lettuce)(pic...tell me that is not sexy...looks soooo tasty)(p.s. they also offer one heck of a breakfast/brunch buffet on weekends)

Lynn's Paradise Cafe(theirs is a fried green tomato blt on buttermilk bread with a Parmesan garlic mayo)

Browning's Cafe(they serve a fried green tomato blt on foccacia...I haven't had this one yet but I'm sure I will)

I'm still on the lookout for more, more, more! Do you know of any other places in Louisville that serve up fried green tomatoes and bacon...in any form or fashion??? I'd LOVE to hear about it!

Read more