It's Worth the Walk . . .

Well I stomp through the door to find The Preacher at the bar.

"I can't believe they do not have valet parking! I drove right pass the place looking for the valet stand."

The Bartender has a blank stare and The Preacher is dying laughing at me, somehow only I understand the gravity of the situations . . .

It's Sister's Night and it's my choice and I chose Cha Chah!

The doctor comes in minutes later, in scrubs(!), orders a drink, and then asks if Arnold is in the kitchen tonight. A unison question mark covers the face of The Preacher and myself.

"Who is Arnold? What happen to Black Pride? You're dating a cook?!?"

She responds, "He the owner/ chef. The one that was on Top Chef. He owns this restaurant, Suzy Wong's, and PM," replies The Doctor. (We have actually been to PM also, we just haven't covered it on the blog yet.)

"What! Well, is he here? And there would be nothing wrong with you dating a cook."

"Well not tonight, you would hear him if he was!" was the response the bartender gave us and we start ordering . . .

Now, I can't remember the bartender's name, but she tried to sell me on a gin martini, she swore even if you were not a gin drinker, you would like it. Well I had one bad experience with gin and that was enough, so I I had two the ChaChah Sangria and it was the best!

For starters we covered the bar with . . .

White Bean Citrus Hummus . . . BBQ Quail Wings . . . Truffled Chips!

If you ever go to Cha Chah don't skip any of these.

On the table to discuss tonight . . .

1) I think I have tennis elbow, but I don't play tennis . . .

2) Why is THe Cousin single and what's the deal with his profile pic, it's . . . scary . . .

3) "I think I'm in a relationship" . . . from The Preacher

The unison question mark returns to cover The Doctor and my face, for the third topic. Not that she can't . . . or shouldn't be in a relationship . . . but . . . she's The Preacher and . . . that's just not her . . . cup of tea. (I think I've written to much.)

Well dinner is brought out and the sampling continues . . .

Ordered by The Doctor and The Preacher

Bison Short Rib - Parsnips, Polenta Cake, Cranberry Bourbon Demi

Ordered by me (The Social Worker)

from the Artisan Cheeses & House Cured Charcuterie menu

Shared by all

Beets Two Ways w/Whipped Chevre, Capers, Micro Herbs

(Now I'm not a beet eater, but when I go back to Cha Chah,

 and I am going back, this will be the first thing I order. Yes, it was that good!)

Well to recap, The Preacher is in a relationship and he goes by the name, The Professor, you can get tennis elbow without playing tennis, and a close eye is being kept on THe Cousin in his time of  . . . readjustment. 

And needless to say another one Arnold Myint's restaurants has made my favorite place to dine list, but they need to get valet parking!

The Social Worker



R.I.P.

Okay, I guess it is my turn to try my hand at writing on the blog. Please remember I'm a Doctor, not a writer. However, this week I would like to channel some of The Preacher and gave final words to the Miro Distinct.

Miro Distinct was located at 1922 Adelicia St. directly across from South Street Restaurant. This was my choice during this past Spring, and it was a beautiful restaurant full of many colorful characters employees. And although, I can't remember exactly what we ate this month, the bartender alone is worth this post.

I arrived third to the restaurant and joined The Preacher and The Social Worker in the bar. Although we had reservations, the restaurant was pretty empty and there was no need for us to rush to our table. And the bartender, Andy, claimed to be the best in town. As they all do.

The conversation started up immediately.

The Preacher has started a new job, The Social Worker and I just shake our heads, because she already has 4 jobs, but who's counting. The Social Worker is in a high drama transition at work, and client issues abound. And I have news on the relationship front, Black Pride and I couldn't be happier :)

*clearing throat*

Out of no where, Andy walks over to us and says  . . .

"I've been listening to you all talk and wonder if you could help me."

We are all silent and he continues . . .

"I think have ADD, I'm not able to focus on anything and I can't sleep at night." So I respond, "Do you drink a lot of caffeine?"

Andy responds, "No. And I have cut down on my alcohol intake. I exercise regularly, and have even given up red meat. Nothing is working. I have a lot of racing thoughts, and just can't seem to sit still. But I don't have any insurance and I don't want to spend a arm and leg trying to figure out what's wrong. Do you all have any suggestions?"

As a side note, I have consolidated his social and medical history. He shared a lot of information with us, and it was weird given we had only known him for 30 minutes.

The Social Worker responds, "What area of town do you live?"

And Andy responds by giving more and more information.

Finally a referral is given for a mental health assessment at Centerstone is given and the night continued. He didn't even give us a discount on the drinks.

Hopefully, The Social Worker will entertain us with a recount of Eddy Cane, our server the night we took my brother/ The Husband to Miro Distinct for his birthday. And yes his real name was Eddy Cane and he had the 15th Anniversary Edition of The Five Heartbeats.

And as for the final words for the deceased Miro Distinct . . .

Shrimp and grits, lamb chops, and ADD bartenders abound, but it was called home by the big Guy in the sky. Take your rest Miro Distinct, take your rest.

                                                                     2008-2010

The Doctor

Pause . . . .

It's Sisters' Night (November 2009)!

And on the menu is Suzy Wong's House of Yum! I think the website link to Top Chef says it best "Suzy Wong's is located in the heart of Nashville's trendiest alternative night life scene.

Now this is not necessarily an issue for us, the truth is that is you broke down our professions, we raise eyebrows without rainbow stickers and leather chaps. However, I'll just put out there that this was the Doctor's choice and there is a door in the restaurant that links directly to Tribe.

Disclaimers done! Let's eat!

Shared plate Asian Fusion Heaven . . . OMG!

The decor is amazing and our table was covered with food. The pickiest of eaters could have something they love here. So what did we have . . . .

Five Spice Braised Pork Ribs . . . Chicken Katsu Bites . . . Sea Salt Edamame . . . Spicy Tuna & Cucumber Hand Rolls . . . Lump Crab Wontons . . . and on and on and on . . .

Here is the thing, almost a year later I can still remember almost everything we ate and what we talked about .  . .

Mission Statements! The October Sisters' Night ended with a homework assignment/ challenge.

What is the Mission Statement that directs your walk?

And during this dinner, homework was due!

The Preacher came with her statement, written on a napkins as I remember it. LOL.

The Doctor, bribed the Preacher to write her statement! The Doctor had the ideas, she just needed help shaping the statement.

And for myself, well I just happen to have it right here . . .

To courageously advance self, family and community as a reflection of God's unending faith and love.

(And this is an open challenge for the Preacher and Doctor to remember and post their mission statements.)

In closing, the food and setting of this restaurant is great! We eat a lot of different places and there are a numbered few that I have added my "go to" list of places to eat, but Suzy Wong's is now one of them. In the past year, I've taken The Husband here three times! But for some reason, they sent him an invite to the one year anniversary, instead of me.

And did I mention the Executive Chef/ Owner, Arnold Myint, was on Top Chef this past season. Add eating from a Top Chef contestant's restaurant to your Bucket List (and write your Mission Statement for the next year)!

The Social Worker

"That's that MF!" says the Preacher . . .

It's Thursday!!! So it's Sisters' Night!

And apparently the Doctor was offended by revealing she usually arrives 3rd, because she was seated at the bar when the Social Worker and I arrived.

mAmbu was the choice by the Doctor this month and April (or who the Doctor calls Natalie) is the person you want to get to know here. April (Natalie) has mastered the art of Lemon Drop martinis and they are only $5 during Happy Hour ($8 regularly)!

(As a side note, April can talk her tail off! No worries, take a social worker with you and "talkers" are always drawn to them.)

Moving on . . . starting with small plates, we filled the bar with a trio of hummus plate, corn fritters, and smokey BBQ ribs.

And medical questions abound . . .

MRSA outbreak on the Social Worker's work front.

"Seriously, what is that," I ask.

"Oh that is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus," says the Doctor.

Wow, I'm glad you said that because I thought it stood for 'methadone- rubbing schizophrenia abound,' I'm a Preacher, not a doctor, and I have no further information then when we started! Natalie (April) also agrees she is no closer to understanding MSRA)

Moving on . . .

The Social Worker announces "she" has placed herself on a medication that I can't pronounce, but it sounds like "MF" and has even upped the dosage on it. After further questioning, this MF is responsible for her blurred vision, stomach upset, and endless desire for sugar over the past 4 weeks!

"You cannot just go around placing yourself on medication, stop looking stuff up on the internet!"

After ordering entrees we move to a table. On the menu tonight . . .

The Doctor

Chicken
Boneless chicken breast, with wilted spinach, garden vegeables, and potato mash

The Social Worker

Risotto with Sea Scallops
Saffron-scented risotto with local summer vegetables
surrounded by smoked tomato vinaigrette

Myself

Salmon
“Falls Mill” stone ground grits wrapped in bacon, Tabasco beurre blanc, black-eyed pea salsa and pickled green tomatoes

That MF, also has the Social Worker thinking my pickled green tomatoes taste like Old Spice. I don't even know why she knows what Old Spice tastes like. Although, the Doctor thought it tasted like Christmas!


Everything looked pretty. . .

*Note to self, have the Doctor take all pictures of food in the future, I don't know what this Social Worker was  doing when she took pics of the salmon and risotto.

The reviews of dinner were "ok" at best. Of note mAmbu does grow alot of their own vegeables (and mint for their mojitos).

"Well when me and my girlfriends go out, we always want to end with chocolate!" says April.

And the dessart menu is all chocolate or coconut items.

The Social Worker announces that The Husband has her on a budget, and she isn't a real chocolate lover, until she started taking the MF! And ultimately we all pass on the dessert menu.

Small talk of the evening . . . that the blog will be updated weekly and new posts will be made on Fridays. In between our monthly meetings, we will review the past 16 monthly meetings. (Next week Suzy Wong's House of Yum!)

So the take away of the night . . .

The Lemon Drop martinis are worth the trip all on their own. The happy hour and small plates menu is your best bet for food choices. And if you need someone to talk to April is your girl!

Also self diagnosis and medicating should be avoided!

The Preacher

A Preacher, a Social Worker, and a Doctor Walk into a Bar . . .

Or a restaurant . . . .

This has been a monthly event over the last 16 months and finally we have started keeping a record of it!

To solidify the happy union of my husband and I (the Social Worker) on May 2, 2009, my sister (the Preacher) and sister-in-law (the Doctor) decided that an monthly outing was needed to review the good times, the not so good times, new events, taste amazing food, and continue our life long quest to find the perfect bartender!

Just the three of us, taking on the culinary world of Nashville and beyond, always somewhere new, solving the world's problems, and having a wonderful time while doing it. Honestly between our three professions, I feel we always have the answer.

Now there is a routine to Sisters' Night . . .

1st The Preacher always arrives first, then the Social worker (unless she was held up by a DSM-IV problem at work), and finally the Doctor.

2nd (After the first round of drinks is ordered) It is time for medical questions, including medication reviews ours and others), statistics on the chances of developing pica, or "why does my elbow hurt when I do this?"

3rd We order, we taste, we pass our plates around, and on to relationship talk! Characters to be revealed at a later date.

4th 2nd round of drinks!

5th Dessert

6th 3rd round of drinks We close the evening with current events, who's picking the next restaurant, and hugs and kisses.

And we are no slackers when it comes to restaurants, the past 16 months we have graced the doors of Catina Laredo, Flyte (where the Doctor left her car door wide open the whole 2 1/2 hours we were there, nothing taken, but we couldn't stop laughing . . . or maybe that was just me laughing), Lime, Rumours East, PM, Rosepepper Catina, Miro District (we eat there before they closed for business),  Yellow Porch, and Tayst (where I picked up my Real Housewives badge from FourSquare).

Join us as we continue to eat, drink, live, love, laugh, and now enter the world of food blogging . . . . and we know how to tip (the server and the valet!).

1 Day Until Sisters' Night!

The Social Worker