Pop-Up!

I'm just back from Nashville and I had the most wonderful time at the Riffs/Smoke Et Al Pop-Up!   If you are from Nashville,  you probably know what I am talking about.  If not, well here it is... You may have read my previous posts about the Nashville food truck scene.  If not, check them out here and here.   Smoke Et Al is probably my favorite food truck and I've been really looking forward to trying Riffs, so I was very excited to hear they were joining forces to create a Pop-Up evening.    

The location and the menu were carefully guarded secrets until just two nights before the event. When we arrived, we were seated at a table and we quickly made some wonderful new friends!That's Alexandra and Jeremy.  Alexandra is studying the menu and I think Jeremy is seriously contemplating stealing a bite.  He was the only guy at our table and was served last for every course! Alexandra is a Nashville food blogger and she and Jeremy are very knowledgeable about the Nashville food scene.   They gave us some wonderful recommendations which I plan to try next time I am in Nashville.  Be sure to check out Alexandra's blog, Sweet Betweens, for scrumptious recipes and an insiders look at the delicious side of Nashville.The first course was a delicate Asian inspired pairing of mussels and shrimp.   The chefs introduced the course and told us that little green sprig is called sea beans and it is harvested along the Oregon coast.  I had never heard of them before and at first thought it was just garnish. They were delicate and crunchy and tasted just like the sea.   The shrimp and mussels were cooked to perfection and the broth was so delicious, I wanted to tip up the bowl and lick it clean.  However, this was the first course and I didn't want to embarrass myself so early in the evening...The second course presented catfish on a bed of smoked bacon grits.  On the side was a little disc of "mofongo" which is blend of spices and mashed plantains.  It was topped with a little cocoa powder.  My favorite part, though,  was the shallot marmalade at the top right of the plate.  I ate it all by itself and wanted more.The third course was Smoke Et Al's offering.  Beef Ribs, crispy pork skins, and a boidin blanc, or white chicken sausage.   All scrumptious, but the best part was the Bourbon pork jus - another plate licking temptation.And the grand finale was the dessert and a surprise guest.  Jeni from Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream attended the dinner and contributed some delicious rum raisin ice cream to the dessert.  Be sure to check out her website because you can actually order ice cream and they will ship it to you!!

All in all this was a wonderful adventure in eating and meeting new friends.  If you are in Nashville be sure to check out the food trucks.  Their websites will clue you in on any planned Pop-Ups.  Smoke Et Al is having a special Valentine's Pop-Up.

I am back at the Mud House so stayed tuned for some more posts from the currently cold desert!

 

Comments

[maryjane]

great pictures.

[alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog]]

FABULOUS write-up! I never got around to getting mine finished, so I've shared a link to yours on twitter. Again - so great to meet you + your daughter!