Wednesday, October 5, 2011

NASHVILLE AND ELVIS


Lil LADY AND I WENT TO NASHVILLE TO SEE ELVIS COSTELLO. WE HAD NEVER BEEN TO NASHVILLE BEFORE. WE GOT TO TOWN EARLY AND THE FRONT DESK CLERK POINTED US IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FARMERS MARKET. WE WALKED ABOUT A MILE AND FOUND IT. A LARGE STATE FARMERS MARKET STYLED FARMERS MARKET.
THERE WAS A PRODUCE SHED, A GARDENING SHED, A RESTAURANT SHED AND A FLEA MARKET SHED.
THE FLEA MARKET SUCKED, ALL NEW STUFF. THE PRODUCE AND THE GARDENING WERE COOL AND THE RESTAURANT SHED WAS COOL WITH A FEW PLACES TO EAT THAT LOOKED REAL INTERESTING. 
WE FOUND A LITTLE POP UP KITCHEN WITH A CROSTINI BAR TO SIT AND EAT. IT WAS CALLED AM@FM. THEY HAD A CHALK BOARD TELLING ABOUT THE CROSTINIS AVAILABLE. PORK BELLY CAUGHT MY EYE AND THAT'S WHAT I ORDERED. AS IT WAS SERVED  THE FELLOW TOLD US ABOUT THE HOUSE CURED BELLY AND HOW HE BUILT THIS CROSTINI WITH HOUSE MADE GRAINY MUSTARD AND HONEY.
STACEY ASK FOR THE EGG SALAD WITH CAPERS AND  DILL. HE EXPLAINED HOW HE BUILT THIS ONE USING LOCAL, FREE RANGE EGGS.  HOUSE MADE MAYO AND HOUSE MADE PICKLES.
THIS WAS GOOD STUFF AND WE FELT LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND THE PLACE. WE LEARNED LATER THE CHEF BEHIND AM@FM, ARNOLD MYINT, WAS ONCE A CONTESTANT ON TOP CHEF.

LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO A PLACE RECOMMEND BY THE GUY AT AM@FM. WE ASK FOR A LOCALS PLACE TO EAT AND DRINK CAUSE DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE IS A TOURIST TRAP. THEY SENT US TO THE PATTERSON HOUSE. A SPEAK EASY STYLE BAR THAT IS NAMED AFTER THE GOVERNOR WHO CHANGED THE PROHIBITION  LAWS IN TENNESSEE.IT WASN'T ALL THAT. EXPENSIVE DRINKS, OK FOOD AND ATTITUDE.

BUT ELVIS COSTELLO DIDN'T HAVE AN ATTITUDE. HE WAS GREAT. I HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS TO SEE ELVIS TWICE AND BOTH TIMES HE HAD TO CANCEL. HE DIDN'T CANCEL HIS RYMAN AUDITORIUM SHOW. THE RYMAN IS A GREAT PIECE OF HISTORY AND IT WAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SEE ELVIS. HE PLAYED FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS AND TREATED US TO A COUPLE OF ACOUSTIC SONGS DURING ONE OF HIS ENCORES. JUST ELVIS AND HIS GUITAR. HE EVEN STEPPED AWAY FROM THE MIC TO SING AND LET THE RYMAN DO ALL THE WORK. IT WAS REAL NICE.