Step 1 (Of My Life)

I have to go on hiatus (and into hiding) for a few weeks. My board exams are coming up at the end of June. For the uninitiated, the board exam scores plays a GINORMOUS part in determining the specialty and residency program you go into–basically your career.

So yeah…I gotta take it seriously.

I was going to post on The Patterson House and House of Kabob, but instead, I’ll do teensy tiny blurbs on them:

The Patterson House lives up to the ridonculous hype machine, fueled by kindling such as the Nashville Scene, Rage, and Metromix. I did find out, however, that what was written was almost entirely inaccurate, thus proving that such weekly papers are indeed useful as kindling, and not much else. It’s surprising how much you can learn by just asking the friendly staff there. It’s also how I was able to answer my friends’ questions when they came with me, and how I became part of the hype machine. While I don’t want to be a hype-monger, the place is good for drinks and some quick bites. I’m only a tiny bit worried about going broke from eating there.

House of Kabob is quite a drive, out into no-man’s-ville, er…Nolensville, but it’s good. I wish I got more meat and veggies in addition to the dune of fluffy white rice. Yes, I know I’m greedy. I don’t care. If I had more time, I’d go there. But if you read the first paragraph, you’d know that I don’t. Oh well. You can go, though.

And that’s it! I’ll be back in a month or so, likely in the form of some degenerate sub-species of human being, not quite capable of carrying a conversation anymore, much less type (funny) blog posts. But hopefully I’ll be one smart 8-hour-test-taking machine!

Las Americas Makes Me Warm And Sleepy Inside

The good news:

I finally found a place in Nashville that conjures fond, stomach-pleasing memories of Mexican food entering my mouth, writhing through my guts, and inevitably finding its way back out the other end. While it’s not the same caliber, the $1.25 tacos, which include cabeza, al pastor, and carnitas (pictured), are still satisfying with a squeeze of lime. I’m not a big fan of the salsa, however. But whatever, these tacos scream, “Eat my ass SATCO (San Antonio Taco Co.), you suck!” Or maybe that’s me saying it.

The pupusas are supposed to be the big draw here (I’m guessing the place is El Salvadorean). While the fillings are rather standard–combinations of meat, beans, and/or cheese–they hit the spot. Add a bit of the cole-slawish toppings (I forget what it’s really called) and you almost forget about the 5 tablespoons of grease you just hungrily devoured.

The bad news:

The horchata is a little too powdery, a little too cough-inducing. The place is kinda small, and confirm which side of the street the restaurant is on before going; don’t make the mistake of going to Las Americas the record store across the street from the restaurant like I did. It also reminds me: going there is pretty much going to another country–not only is it far (20-mile round trips are too much for a busy medical student like me), Nolensville might as well be another country with its run-down streets and convoluted traffic. My PPD test was negative, thankfully, even after going to that area. So it’s (relatively) safe to go!

Hopefully I’ll go back when I’m free. Like in 2 years. Sigh…my life sucks.

Las Americas Market

4715 Nolensville Pike # A

Nashville, TN‎

(615) 315-8888‎

DaVinci’s Pizza

Last week we ordered some pizza from DaVinci’s. Supposedly “gourmet,” the prices (~$20 for large 16″ pizzas) would certainly indicate as such. We ordered a trio of large pizzas for 6 people for $60, not exactly the cheapest gameday food. Leonardo’s Combo is the standard pizza parlor combination pizza. Rosemary Chicken was a white pizza topped with chicken and artichokes. We also got a vegetarian pizza of some sort, but I didn’t pay attention to what it was. They lost me at vegetarian.

I’m no pizza expert (nor an expert in any other topic in gastronomy for that matter), but I believe crusts are integral components of pizzas. DaVinci’s crusts remind me of a chain called Me’N'Ed’s back in Fresno: a thin crust similar to a saltine cracker sans salt with a thin layer of doughy insides to soak up sauce and support toppings. Since I haven’t focused on high-caliber pizzas in my outings, I can’t really do a comparison. All I can say, though, is that the crust isn’t my thing. Maybe deep dish is more of what I’m looking for to satisfy the black hole gastroenterologists call my stomach.

DaVinci’s Gourmet Pizza

1812 Hayes St

Nashville, TN‎

(615) 329-8098‎

Arnold’s Country Kitchen is Old School

I actually have no idea how long Arnold’s has been around. I do know that it took me almost two years after moving to Nashville to try the food, even though this place was one of the first places I was suggested to try. From the looks of it, the squat, red, brick building has been in the same location for decades, its freshly painted exterior hiding an interior straight out of the 60’s or 70’s. If I knew pop culture I may have recognized what era the celebrities in black and white photos adorning the walls were from. Alas, I know nothing (which is also why I have very little to contribute at our weekly trivia time outings).

Back to Arnold’s: the place has something, though I can’t quite conjure up the right word. After being greeted by employees chillaxin outside on my way in, glancing around the small interior, and ordering up my (as I would later find out, face-meltingly-good) food via cafeteria-style assembly line, I don’t think “old school” is the correct adjective. What is it then? Passionate? Family-style? Comfort food? Soul? That comes close. History? Maybe it’s a combination of history and soul in such a hole in the wall that reminds me of all the other establishments John T. Edge wrote of in his book Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lover’s Companion to the South. Yes, this is it; this is what I love: the hole-in-the-wall that slaps you in the face with awesome food at dirt-cheap prices. It’s not in the same league as The French Laundry, not even Cheesecake Factory. No. This is a whole different beast, a concept similar to Prince’s Hot Chicken. Only locals would know this type of joint, as well as tourists who dig around the literature, because these places are written up like mad in food books, newspapers, and OMG foodblogs!

Well, as much as I’d like to ramble on and on about food and restaurant culture, I must cut this short (it’s nearing midnight, and I should be studying right now). I just want to say I like this place. I wish they were open at times other than lunch on weekdays, but I guess that’s part of their charm. The fried green tomatoes are crisp on the outside, and not so tomatoey on the inside to the point you feel like you’re eating a vegetarian version of a meat sandwich when dipping them in ketchup, if that makes sense at all (probably not). I didn’t use ketchup, by the way–they were good without it. In fact, I didn’t use condiments at all. The meatloaf was disgustingly good, for lack of better adverb. Usually the loaf is what makes the meatloaf, and the sauce is just a sideshow, but I found a new love for meatloaf sauce–this one included chunks of onions, tomatoes, and okra in it, not at all ketchupy like other meatloaf sauces. The actual loaf of meat was good as well.

Hopefully I can make time to go back. My belly demands it.

Arnold’s Country Kitchen

605 8th Ave S

Nashville, TN‎

(615) 256-4455‎

China Chop Suey

Finding China Chop Suey is like finding a really dirty ten dollar bill in a trashcan: you kinda didn’t want to go there in the first place, but after getting the grime off your hands and off your new bling, you begin to appreciate the decision to go head first into no-man’s land. Thus, I ended up at China Chop Suey, which is located waaaaay over in the boonies in south Fresno, at my dad’s suggestion. When I first drove up, I realized that I had passed this location before while driving around downtown (which has only been a handful of times in my life). China Chop Suey (every time I type the name I have an urge to type ching chang chong, which is probably uber racist, but not really since I’m Chinese too, right?) is located in a former Sizzler’s/Denny’s-type restuarant, on the corner of Blackstone and Clinton, I believe (aka nowhere). However, we shouldn’t judge places based on appearances, correct? Right!

So I guess after eating there (I’m already jumping to my conclusion, but grammar, syntax, and writing structure be damned), I have to say that the establishment serves food that is delightfully subtle in flavor, but only probably because a layer of grease coats everything, which in turn coats the taste buds, thus preventing the tongue-brain-mind complex from fully appreciating the real flavors. In short: get rid of the grease, and it’s actually good.

The actual meal took place over a month ago, so I can’t really offer much more than what I just said; I seriously thought up that pseudo-review while eating there, with the intention of wowing my readers with that incredible insight into gastronomy. It doesn’t sound so flashy anymore, so I’ll just post short descriptions and photos of the dim sum I ate.

Clay pot with fried tofu and braised beef is a pretty standard dish, although not many Chinese places serve it in Fresno, probably because this is a standard Chinese Chinese dish, not like Panda Express.

I still try to figure out what this is. My best guess is Strips of taro and bacon, smushed together, and pan fried. It’s pretty good though, like a twist on regular radish or taro cake.

Shrimp and corn fritters (?) I don’t think fritter is the right descriptor, but it’s the only word from my limited vocabulary that fits. Unless I want to start confabulating and creating new words, that is.

Fried pumpkin rice cake I’m not sure if they used actual rice cake, because the pumpkin flavor was quite pronounced in this dessert. Wipe some of the grease off, and it becomes a must-eat dish.

Rice cake/mochi filled with peanuts and coconut Another dessert that was delicious, but somehow managed to glisten with grease when it came out. It’s good, but not as good as the pumpkin cake.

Pork belly and taro This dish was cooked with a sweet and sour or barbecue sauce (reminiscent of BBQ pork) and laid on top of a bed of cabbage, which was cooked by the heat and sauce. For the portions of taro and pork in the dish at the price (which I unfortunately forget), this dish was quite a deal. Get this, another vegetable dish, and a bowl of rice, and you’re set for a really filling and tasty meal. I’d get this again just because I’m a sucker for this cut of pork.

I’ll definitely try to go back, unless my laziness to drive across town inhibits me. That, and maybe if too many people I know begin showing up to eat there. I’ll stop going when that happens, too. I’m just antisocial like that.

China Chop Suey

2345 N Blackstone Ave

Fresno, CA‎

(559) 226-2337‎