The Garden Coup
House infused tequila, lime, agave, basil, cucumber, and jalapeno.
With most of Athens, Georgia in Sanford Stadium yesterday, Miss Katie G and I enjoyed the calm before the storm and the garden coup at The National.
Birmingham has experienced steady growth as a food destination for some time now. It has been inspiring to see the resurgence of life in the urban areas spurred by restaurants and other small businesses and I hope it continues. On my last trip to visit family and friends, my aunt reminded me of a very important fact…my cousin William is a bartender at Hot and Hot Fish Club on Highland Avenue. I thought to myself…”How did I forget this important fact?” So I immediately text William to see if he can get us in Saturday night. To my relief and excitement he responds, “Absolutely!”
The building that houses the Hot and Hot Fish Club first opened as Caddell’s Creamery, a popular burger joint in the 1950’s. Those who may not remember the creamery may recall the site’s later inhabitant the Upside-Down Plaza, a popular pool hall in the 1970’s and 80’s. Much of the building’s original design has remained. However, with the help of architects Joe and Chris Giattina and Marzette Fisher, formerly of Birmingham’s Fisher, Giattina and Aycock, the casual classic nostalgia transcends perfectly into the Hot and Hot’s elegant décor and modern functionality.
image courtesy: Hot and Hot Fish Club
I’ve always loved Hot and Hot’s building. It’s fantastic that the Hastings were able to reuse this building as it is unique and was already established as a popular hangout in the area. It definitely has that minimalist mid-century modern aesthetic, but the remodel done for Hot and Hot exudes elegance while keeping it’s comfortable neighborhood vibe. The understated building is so inviting with its warm glow and quaint patio seen from the street; not to mention the superb reviews from Birmingham natives as well as national foodies.
Hot and Hot opened in 1995 by married couple Chris and Idie Hastings who met in Birmingham, then moved to San Francisco, and back to Birmingham to open Hot and Hot restaurant together. “Today, although the menus change daily to highlight the best possible products available, several signature items remain: the Hot and Hot Shrimp and Grits made with Country Ham, Fresh Thyme, Tomatoes and Ver Jus is always a favorite among the locals; and Elton’s Chocolate Soufflé with Fresh Cream continues to be the preferred ending to many meals at the restaurant.” –Hot and Hot
The restaurant and chefs have received many accolades including the Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” 11 consecutive years. In March 2007, Chris was one of five finalists nominated for “Best Chef in the South” by the James Beard Foundation, 1998 winner of the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence for “Best New Restaurant” and voted Birmingham’s best chef in Birmingham Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. In 2003, the Birmingham Business Journal listed Idie Hastings as one of the Top 10 Birmingham Women. This year she was listed in the Women’s Issue of Birmingham Weekly, which promotes women in business. Their incredible careers make me tired just looking at their bios….but wow! The most recent and one of the most prestigious…This year, celebrating their 25th year, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards. Chef Chris Hastings was awarded Best Chef of the South.
Now let me get to the food….As we walked in, in true Hamrick family fashion (a standard 15 minutes late), we see our seats at the bar marked with very official “reserved” plaques. We quickly hustled over to them as if they might take them away because of our tardiness. William greeted us and placed a very interesting cocktail menu in front of us. The cocktail names immediately catch my attention…the Donny Draper, Attack of the Killer Tomato, Buck Shot, etc. My sister and I decided on the Mercenary and Claire went with the Southern “Sloe” Gin Fizz. We were not disappointed.
The Mercenary
The Mercenary consists of Sauza Silver tequila, Aperol, Fanta reduction, orange and grapefruit, and a chorizo tincture. Oh yea… It was basically a really awesome orange fanta soda with a kick. The trick, William explained, was to eat the chorizo first then take a swig. Yep; it was awesome. The gin fizz was equally good. Very refreshing with muscadine infused Bombay, lemon, lime, and soda.
We started off the meal with the cheese plate. What is better than cheese? Not a whole lot. The standout to me was from my neck of the woods… the Elberton Blue Cheese from Nature’s Harmony Farm in Elberton, Georgia. So creamy and sharp.
image courtesy: Nature’s Harmony Farm
We continued the feast with an amuse bouche of shrimp and corn cake then a palette cleanser of house-made muscadine sorbet. Both were delightful bites that held us over until the main event.
Madeline ordered the roasted Viking Village Sea Scallops with foraged chantrelle mushrooms, onions, granny smith apples, cerliac puree, and veal jus….fabulous.
Claire had the Border Springs Lamb: Roasted Chop, Leg and Crepinette with Lentils, Eggplant, Tomato, Mizuna, Curry and Yogurt. Cooked perfectly and so tasty.
I’m a sucker for heirloom tomatoes so for dinner I had the Simple Grilled Fish: Apalachicola Pompano with Tomato, Avocado, Grilled Vidalia Onions and Basil-Lime Vinaigrette. It was one of those plates with everything you love to eat, but way better than you could ever make it. Light, fresh, and was the perfect send off for my favorite summer foods and flavors.
We had fun taking suggestions from William and hearing about the unique farms that supply the restaurant. Their extensive wine list proved to be intimidating to us so we looked to William to pair wines for each dish. We were pleasantly surprised.
To really send us over the edge…William sent out the Chocolate Soufflé with Crème Anglaise and Whipped Cream and the Hot and Hot Doughnuts: White Chocolate Cream Filling, Lavender Gel and 9 Honey lce Cream and Sorghum Crunch.
I hate to say it but O-M-G. You read right…it was one of those moments. I’m pretty sure I said this out loud; a little louder than I probably should have given my respectable surroundings. To my surprise and almost horror that more was coming…we received our nightcap: the Donny Draper. This after dinner drink is Hot and Hot’s take on a classic complete with Bulleit Rye Whiskey, Sassafras Syrup, Bitters and Lemon.
Incredible meal made even better with wonderful company. Thank you William and the rest of the Hot and Hot staff for making us feel oh so VIP and incredibly full. I look forward to next time.
Fun at my parents’ booth- Gnat’s Landing
Had a great time at the St. Simons Island Food and Spirits Festival! More photos to come…
On a recent trip with my fam to Atlanta, I finally had a chance to visit the famous Scott Antique Market. With my brother and sister off to the aquarium for the afternoon, my parents and I had all day to peruse the aisles of trinkets.
Victorian bird cage
one of a kind vintage bag from the 1920s
Shades from Paris, 1920s
lunch!
With all the lusting after gorgeous silver, china, jewelry, and furniture, I couldn’t help but think of the 10 Commandments- one in particular…Thou Shalt not covet. Ooops.
Exploring Red Mountain Park
Three Flags, 1958
Jasper Johns (American, born 1930)
Encaustic on canvas; 30 7/8 x 45 x 5 in.
50th Anniversary Gift of the Gilman Foundation, Inc., The Lauder Foundation, A. Alfred Taubman, an anonymous donor and purchase 80.32
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Art © Jasper Johns/ Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” -President Barack Obama
Dogtrot in Atkinson County, Georgia
Since returning from my whirlwind girls’ beach trip to Amelia Island, Florida, I’ve compiled some of my favorite spots we discovered. Here ya go!
Fernandina’s Fantastic Fudge featuring Working Cow Ice Cream: Downtown Fernandina
photo courtesy fly fishing amelia island
Locally owned and operated old school candy and fudge shop; also featuring local ice cream by Working Cow…need I say more? I felt weak in the knees just from walking in the shop; the smell of chocolate and peanut butter swirled around me as we stood there trying to maintain consciousness and decide on some ice cream. Naturally, we walk in 10 minutes before they close and begged the high school girl to serve us up some sweet relief. And she replied, “Oh don’t worry; people will keep coming in until after 10pm.” So relived we focused again on the ice cream case, knowing we were going to pick out chocolates before returning home.
photo courtesy Lemongrass
This super cool boutique is relatively new on the scene in the Fernandina/Amelia area having been open just a few years. I loved the atmosphere is the shop; there was something to see everywhere you turned- beautiful clothes, vintage furniture, travel books, and exotic rugs. They have a great mix of merchandise featuring shoes like Tom’s, Olukai, and Reef; eyewear by Tom’s, Maui Jim, Ray Ban; and clothing from Quiksilver, Johnny Was, One of a Kind pieces, and one of my favs, Free People.
Johnny Was scarves
Sarah, my adorable preggo cousin, taking a load off while we shop.
Eight Flags Antique Market is the ultimate vintage emporium in the downtown Fernandina area. They had vendors with every type of antique you could imagine. Add this to your list of places to go when you visit!
I fell head over heels with this leather chair and kilim pillow.
Vintage soda spritzers
German silver knives with a bone handle. I need these right?
This restaurant was recommended to us by several people so we had to try it on our last night. Worn out from another long day of beaching and shopping, we decided to order takeout. We chose a little bit of everything to please everyone, and the person taking our (very large) order was so accommodating and helpful. I must say the stars of the meal were the traditional paella and the calderada de mariscos (portuguese firsherman’s stew).
We were sad to leave our beach bungalow but we had a fabulous time!
Sophie came too!
I have just recently returned to Athens after a week long girls’ trip to Amelia Island in Florida. “Going to the beach” has long been a family tradition, even for those of us in the group who are natives of the beach. In my family, we love spending time together in the sun and sand, eating together, telling stories, and laughing….. a lot.
1929 Beach Bungalow
Now I love a four star hotel as much as the next girl, but there is something very charming and comfortable about staying in a private cottage …you can be as loud as you want (which we were), spend the entire day in your pjs without judgement (we also did), and eat and drink at anytime of day without extra charge (or judgement).
our first of many celebratory desserts…white chocolate cheesecake
view from our deck
Getting together with a group of Southern women is anything but boring, especially when that group is a bunch of estrogen driven, high spirited, competitive, dramatic, and related women. Picture an episode from “Designing Women” or perhaps “Real Housewives of Blah Blah Blah.” Ordinarily, I wouldn’t characterize the women in my family as loud people, however, when a group of us get together, octaves rise dramatically throughout conversation as each speaker is challenged for the rights to have the last word. I’m sure a Southern woman isn’t the only person who insists on personal opinion being heard above all….. (picture the Monday night football fan, the activist at a political rally, or the groupie at a music fest), but the volume mixed with southern drawl, elevated pitch, all combined with the overuse of hand gestures could be highly entertaining (or confusing) to those unfamiliar with the southern woman’s manner of conversation.
While on this sojourn, we did manage to explore the area and had a great time visiting downtown Fernandina discovering some cute shops, terrific restaurants, beautiful homes and historic downtown buildings. My favorite activity and the most memorable were the hours we spent sharing stories around a shabby chic farm table in the center of the cottage. We were somewhat productive, and we did manage to make progress on plans for our bride-to-be and our mother-to-be, but at times we definitely strayed from the goals at hand. Researching music to play during my wedding ceremony turned into a nostalgic karaoke featuring my mother and aunt singing everything from Aretha to Stevie Nicks until the wee hours of the morning. Planning the first grandchild’s nursery turned into listening to hilarious stories of our moms’ first weeks with us as babies (I think the term they used for this period was “hell week”), with my grandmother and great grandmother being central to the drama retold to us (over and over, by the way, and I’m still unsure as to which one of our mom’s had the “worst” labor and delivery).
Em's on the road 