The menu at RowHouse changes often, weekly, or bi-weekly.  

I base my menus off the season, what's available, and what I feel like eating.  I am inspired by Kansas, by my upbringing, and by the many great women in my family who fed me all these years.  You always find a taste of where I am from in my cooking.  If you are new to RowHouse, the menu is always the same set up, meaning the number of courses.   There is always a Salad, Soup, 3 Entrees (one is always vegetarian), and 3 desserts.  We are always happy to work with dietary restrictions.

Our menu May 16 - 19, 2012...

• Salad:  Spring Greens, Goat Cheese, Pistachio, Radishes, with a Champagne Vinaigrette 
• Soup:  Smooth and Creamy Root Vegetable Soup 
• Vegetarian Entree:  Corn Meal Cakes, Black Beans, Green Chili Verde 
• Entree 2:  Mahi Mahi, Citrus and Cilantro Salsa, Black Rice 
• Entree 3:  Beef Tenderloin, Sweet Soy BBQ Sauce, Lima Beans, Horseradish Whipped Potatoes 
• Dessert:  Creme Brulee 
• Dessert:  Zesty Lime Macaroon 
• Dessert:  Champagne Sorbet  

 Where I have been eating lately....

It's a tough job, but it really is my duty to eat, and eat, and in the case of last week's trip to Nashville, my other hometown, we ate even more than usual.  This trip Anna and Amanda got to come along, so we made eating a sport, and we came out full but victorious.  I can't name every dish and beverage we consumed but I'll give you the highlights and links to all the hot spots.  And since it is my other "hometown" I can truly stand behind saying these are all places not to miss.  The dining scene in Nashville is fantastic.  The city is gorgeous and growing.  I recommend a trip to everyone.  Flights are reasonable, and there is plenty to see and do. We stayed downtown this trip at the Courtyard Marriot.  Fine hotel, not over the top, but great locale.

We got off the flight at 8am, yes, 8am.  We work nights, so it was ugly and we needed some fuel.  We started off in the 12 South District at the Frothy Monkey.  Super cool Coffee house in a great area that I watched as I lived there come alive.  Oatmeal, Bagels, Eggs, and Coffee were on our plates.  Next we drove to my former business partner Sylvia Harrelson-Ganier's Farm.  It is a slice heaven, nestled in a valley of some gorgeous Tennessee land on the banks of the winding Cumberland River.  Magic place.  Her farm Green Door Gourmet sells to local restaurants as well as the public.  We munched from the rows fresh picked radishes, spicy greens, herbs, and lettuces.  If it was out there, we ate a leaf off it.  Yes, we were rabbits, but it was intoxicating.  The champagne we toasted with further enhanced our buzz.  Sylvia is gracious host, and one of my favorite friends.  It's a must see.  

For lunch, we hit my old comfort spot in Elliston Place.  The place I loved to go by myself.  It's hard to find a place where you are comfortable dining alone, but the Calypso Cafe is mine.  I always get the Black Bean Salad with Rice, and the House Vinaigrette instead of the BBQ.  We ate that, and much much more.  Mustard Greens, Cornbread, Coleslaw, Sweet Potatoes, Apple and curry chicken.  Yum.  A meal like that needs to be washed down with beer right?  So, I took us to Hillsboro Village and my favorite (one of them) Brew Houses, Boscos.  Perfect.

You'd think we were full, but this was sport eating, so after we dazzled up at the Marriot, we headed to the Hutton Hotel on West End.  This place is so cool.  It makes me feel like a movie star, okay, more of movie star.  At any moment you expect Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to walk in.  Cocktails were incredible, and the munchies enough to keep our fires burning.

Next stop, a pre dinner snack.  Virago.  This place existed in a different location when I lived in Nashville.  It's moved to a much larger, and much hipper locale in what's known as the Gulch.  Again, too cool for school.  Edamame, Crispy rice and spicy tuna roll, and soft shell crab.  I'm not a soft shell crab guy, but I licked my fingers clean, and the cocktails again were fancy and intoxicating. 

Okay, so for dinner, dinner 2 that is, we met my friend Rick and Sylvia also joined us at Watermark.  We were center of the action and the room is fantastic.  The rooftop garden from which they harvest many vegetables was awesome.  View super cool.  I can't begin to list all the things we ate unless you call me, but I can safely say as the plates were passed among the 6 of us, there weren't many things on the menu we didn't manage to eat.  Phew, I'm refull just thinking about it, but the tour of the roof freshened us up, and the girls went on to Sunset Grill for an amazing Butterscotch Habanero Bread Pudding, and us fellows went to The Palm for more wine.  They brought us left overs for breakfast, before heading out for breakfast the next morning.

If your exhausted from hearing about it, Day 2 we covered even more area.  While the determined rest of my team went to eat pastries at Provence, Cornmeal Pancakes at the Pancake Pantry, and many different exotic icecreams at Hot and Cold, I went for a run through the town that I love so dearly.  We all came together fired up, and of course they brought me a taste of everything they had noshed on.

East Nashville for lunch.  We landed at an old favorite Rose Pepper.  Everything was delicious.  Really, bravo Rosepepper.  Stand outs of course were the amazing margaritas and the Chili Verdi.  Fish Tacos, 3 Salsas, Flautas......wow.  We didn't get to eat at them this time, cause for the moment we were stuffed, but next visit across the street is the Wild Cow, and Silly Goose.  They both look like places I'd like.  Let me know if you get to try them first.

I talk about these amazing chicken wings to the girls at RowHouse every once in a while when we discuss food.  Some insight to that is...I hate chicken wings.  But the ones from the Broadway Brewhouse and Mojo Grill, make me salivate just thinking about them, and they did not fail to impress.  The mojo sauce is the perfect combo of hot and sticky sweet.  They get better as they cool, and what I love most is they are the Drummies, not your ordinary little chicken wing. 

Okay so we rested for maybe 45 minutes and got gussied up for dinner, I guess I should say pre-dinner.  We met at Flyte.  I'm not certain if it is considered downtown, or the Gulch, but I know it is TERRIFIC.  It was upscale, but casual and comfortable.  The cocktails were impressive and each bite we tried was delicious.  Turnip soup, yes the Turnip soup.....Holy cow it's good.  I loved everything about it, and I don't say that lightly, except about my favorite restaurant of all time (thus far) Cafe Margot, which we dined at next, and last.

Margot is in East Nashville at Five Points.  Margot McCormick is the chef and my friend, and one of my cooking idols.  Her place is relaxed, but tuned into the details without being at all fussy.  Her menu amazingly changes everyday, and she seems to execute it effortlessly.  The service was comfortable, professional, and wildly efficient.  The food perfect.  I loved every bite and sip that I took from the Pecorino and Balsamic Bread Topping and the warm Marinated Olives through the soups and salads, the awesome entrees, and all of her desserts.  Yes, we consumed one of every dessert on the menu.  Cardamom ice cream....who knew?  and one of my new favorite things.  Hat's off friend Margot, you rocked our World!