Well, it’s another Thursday! Here goes…
1. I had a work dinner on Tuesday night and the restaurant of choice was Cask and Larder.
I LOVED the ambience and the design — inside and out.
I know several people who have absolutely raved about this restaurant (including this lady and this lady), but the menu scared me. I am pretty open minded when it comes to food but I’m not really into traditionally Southern food (I DO have Yankee blood after all) and ham is not high on my list of things to eat. There is a lot of ham on this menu.
I decided to just go with it though and I’m SO happy I did! We started with the Potted Pimento Cheese with Ham Jam and Vegetable Crudite for the table. The veggies were crispy and flavorful and in a tangy dressing that I thought about licking off my plate. The pimento cheese and ham jam combo was also really tasty.
In case you’re wondering, ham jam is literally jam made of ham. Like I said – you just have to go with it.
For dinner, I order the Roasted Black Grouper with smoked eggplant, charleston rice-stuffed collards, and ham hock gravy and then an order of the Roasted Beets (which are served with hazelnuts and ricotta cheese).
My iPhone does not do this food justice.
Reading that list I think, how does that taste good? And what he hell is ham hock gravy? But my palate thinks – OMGTHISMEALWASDELICIOUS. The fish was cooked perfectly and the ham hock gravy accentuated the flavors of the fish and eggplant. While the rice stuffed collards reminded me of Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).
The best part of the meal though was the beets (so good that there were no pictures of them). I would have NEVER paired beets with hazelnuts and ricotta cheese – but it just worked. I will go back for the beets alone.
Since there was a big group of us, we split 4 desserts (I also got some fresh decaf coffee — that they promised me was decaf!): Fried Dough, Chocolate Silk Pie, Apple-Fennel Cobbler, and Kentucky Bourbon Cake.
I’m really not a big dessert person, but I did taste every dessert – and I was in agreement with the rest of the table that the Fried Dough was the star. When in doubt, go for the Fried Dough.
Obviously I’m not able to comment on the alcohol (they brew their own beer) – I will say that everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks. I would have LOVED to try the Holiday Cookie. Somebody please go and have one for me?
So in summary, I’ll definitely be going back.
2. Last night, B had a Holiday Concert for his Extended Day Program.
Extended Day = after school daycare. It’s run primarily by college students and I have to say, his school does an AMAZING job with the program.
During the performance, the guy next to me (who was there to watch his 3rd grader – judging from when he pulled out his camera) spilled his drink. At first I thought nothing of it other than “Crap, I don’t have any napkins to help this guy.” Then I realized I could smell wine. Yes, he brought red wine to the school in a coffee mug.
I could tell he was quite embarrassed (and he picked that mess up quickly) – and truthfully, I could also understand why he needed the wine. Though adorable, it was a long hour and a half.
3. I am feeling HUUUUUGE this week – as well as lethargic and tired. The extra bagels and dinners out have not helped and the fact that I haven’t run since last Friday (I’ve done other workouts, but nothing gives you that high like running!).
I am going to pick up “training” again – or at least doing an 8-mile run along with another run during the week, so I can make it through my next half (January 18th isn’t that far away!!) and I am actually looking forward to it. Especially after reading this article! Yay for pregnant runners.
Three Random Questions:
1. Last restaurant you ate at? 2. Favorite Christmas Song? 3. What picks you up when you feel lethargic and tired?
You don’t look huge – you look adorable!
And OMG – I want all those desserts. Like right now. Fried dough? That’s what I want for Christmas.
I don’t think you could pay me to try jam made of ham. Ham jam is not my jam. haha
Beets sound good! And desserts look yummy tho!
I dream of the potted pimento cheese and the ham jam. I looooooooved it so much. Next time, you HAVE to get the ham sampler for the farmer’s cheese alone. I want to make out with it. The biscuits also rule. Oh man, I need to go back asap.
I think it’s HILARIOUS, albeit slightly sad, that the dad brought a roadie to the show. I would judge but he just gave me a brilliant idea for E’s pageant next week. 🙂
Well. We know how I feel about ham. But well executed ham might be another story. And I would’ve been all over those beets.
You look totes adorbs. I thought by the third pregnancy you were supposed to get really fat and bloated and just generally spread out. You are not doing that. So either I have been misinformed or you are a marvel.
So glad you liked Cask & Larder! I really want to try their brunch. It sounds really good!
All that food sounds super delicious! It sounds a little odd, I’ll admit. But, I’d definitely try it. Last restaurant I ate at was called Cafe Zupas. They have soups, salads & sandwiches. Plus, you get a chocolate dipped strawberry with your meal! Yum!
Favorite Christmas song: Sleigh Ride by the Boston Pops. Yours?
You look so darn cute pregnant!!! i’m so happy for you. When I feel tired or lethargic, a good workout usually helps. But, at the same time, sometimes you need to just rest too.
Oh my god, I can’t believe he brought WINE!! WOW.
Wow! That is a great restaurant review. I might just order exactly what you had! Well,except there’s just two of us going and so we might have fewer desserts. I’m even more excited now but it’s days and days away. Oh well. I’ll re-read your review to help me get there.
Do you follow them on FB? They’ve been posting a lot of their meals lately. I really want to try the grilled octopus!