Hog and Hominy Lunch (Memphis)

Oops. Maybe you've also noticed that I've already critiqued Hog & Hominy once last winter (here). The trendy Memphis restaurant, which was written up in the New York Times this summer, has become more and more of a favorite every time I enter. 

Why does it deserve a second round on Caramelized? Well, last week marked my first lunch visit with an almost entirely different menu. Also, the awesome hostess reads my blog and was sweet enough to compliment it. Thanks, Charlotte! Lastly, these pictures are just too good not to share.

Here is what Alex, Caroline and I took full advantage of on H&H's lunch menu:

The summer squash farmers side with brown butter, herbs and garlic. The multi-colored veggies were well roasted, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I couldn't get enough.

The Baia pizza. This pie reminded me more of a margherita than the menu's Margherita itself! Juicy cherry tomatoes were way better than a typical marinara spread, and huge slices of garlic added a pop to every bite. The chili oil, or olio santo, took this one up a notch in the spice category. We didn't leave one crumb on the tray.

I fell in a whole lotta love with my Lata Love sandwich. Shrimp, benton bacon, lettuce and tomato on super buttery bread. ORDER THIS, trust me. The shrimp tastes like lobster and the bacon is super crispy. My tip? Add fried egg. It enhances the sandwich by lightyears.

Make the most of your next lunch break, fellow Memphians!

Gibb's Country Store (Learned)

Before I describe the most redneck, rockin’ ribeye I have ever tried, I must attempt to set the scene for you.

Learned, Mississippi is located approximately 11 minutes away from my summer camp in Utica. [Note: Learned is pronounced “learn-Ed,” not “learned” that were taught in grammar school.] At camp last Saturday, our Mississippi-raised, extremely sarcastic, beloved camp director came over to my parents and me during lunch.

“You’ve gotta go to Gibb’s tonight for dinner. It’s only 10 minutes away, and they have the best filet and lamb I’ve ever had.”

Immediately, we judged. We had never witnessed true civilization between our summer camp and the more populated suburbs of Jackson, Mississippi.  Plus, in all of our years visiting Jacobs Camp, we had never heard of the place. Nevertheless, we weren’t a fan of camp’s red beans and rice any way, so we got in the car and drove on over to Gibb’s. We had to write a check out to Camp in order to get enough cash since Gibb's only accepts cash. There aren't any ATM's around there, I assure you.

We knew we had arrived when cars were lined up the “Main Street” of Learned. We had heard that Gibb’s is only open for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so demand clearly existed. My dad struggled to find a parking place surrounding the faded labeled “Gibb’s & Sons” country store, whose timid wooden structure and rocking chair-covered, wrap-around porch were somehow still standing.

The community-table dining style was adorable amidst the grocery store items covering the walls. Yes, we were convinced that the same Spam can had been sitting on the shelf behind me for at least twenty years.

The menu was small but covered the basics; that is, until we asked the waitress for specials. Alwaysask the waiter for specials when you dine at Gibb’s! They managed to have fresh squash from the backyard garden and four different kinds of fish from the Gulf.

All of us started with the salad. They were served on flower-lined paper plates—ultimate classiness—with pickled asparagus, tomatoes and onions. The homemade comeback sauce, served in Dixie cups (the kind you’d use for mouthwash at home), was great.

Julia, Mom and I ordered the filet, Alex got the rib eye, and Dad got the red fish. Holy moly. We were in disbelief. The quality was not just satisfactory for Learned…it was unbelievable for the whole state of Mississippi, if not the whole Delta.

I am not exaggerating when I claim that we seriously loved everything, especially the red fish. It was seasoned well and cooked to a flaky perfection. My favorite side was the yellow squash side with smothered onions. The sweet potato with syrup, butter and brown sugar came in a close second.

While I can’t imagine any of you will be in that neck of the woods anytime soon, keep Gibb’s on your radar. It’s a hidden treasure.

La Cucina de Garga (Florence)

Mama’s Italian cooking has never been so freakin’ fantastic.

During our Florence weekend last month, Hannah made our reservation to La Cucina de Garga just in time to witness the sunset at Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo minutes beforehand. When we walked into a bar to buy a bottle of wine, the bartender even gave us three free wine glasses to take along with us. Talk about a unique but appropriate souvenir. And, not to mention, the perfect prop for a photo!

The eclectic restaurant’s turquoise and floral storefront stuck out in the cobblestone alley. We walked in ready to experience a classically divine Italian meal. We received that and so much more: excellent service, free foccacia and dessert, and so many laughable moments between the three of us.

As expected, we began with two key ingredients: bread and wine. Our endearing waiter brought us salted focaccia and followed up with a focaccia bruschetta with olive oil and marinara on the house.

Our appetizer, calamari con avocado y pomodorini, was a bright mix of sautéed calamari, avocado, cherry tomatoes and lemon dressing. I'd pick this over fried calamari any day.

Pictured above was the winner: linguine with clams. Not a single noodle sat on my plate after ten minutes. The light olive oil and garlic added so much zest to a classic. In fact, when I asked for parmesan, the waiter lightly scolded me for wanting to add cheese to a perfectly refined dish. He said the cheese would ruin my appreciation for the existing flavors! Interesting, huh.

Gotta love Italy.

Bread and Roses (Paris)

In the heart of the Madeleine/Concorde districts, Paris meets Beverly Hills. Designer boutiques and frilly cafés welcome the classiest array of Parisians and tourists. Needless to say, I felt a bit out of place arriving in my white jeans and tank, but Bread and Roses' reputation and gorgeous menu convinced us to enter. We wanted to splurge on a delicious salad and chic lunch experience. And we got just that.

Although the mediterranean vegetable tart is a typical entreé, we split it three-ways as an appetizer. The rich goat cheese, buttery pastry crust and lightly roasted veggies combined effortlessly. The fresh fig slice on top was a sweet extra touch.

The restaurant is also known for its fine salads. I had trouble choosing between the ten options because, honestly, every single one sounded delicious. Madison and Hannah both ordered the grande salade of shrimp, avocado, grapefruit, haricot verdes and grilled chicken. The vinaigrette was super light, highlighting each ingredient well. I enjoyed the buratta des pouilles salad, which was served deconstructed to showcase each element. The red, green and yellow field tomatoes were beautiful, the olive tapenade was addicting, and the bundled buratta in olive oil was gooey yet mild. My only complaint was the dryness of the cornbread, but I just used the table bread instead.

We loved our lunch so much...we had to come back for breakfast!

They're known from their brioche (tea bread), and now I see why. It's like a buttery, flaky version of challah. I couldn't get enough of it. The portion was so large, Hannah, her mom and I couldn't even finish it!

The fresh pressed orange juice was delightful. Bread & Roses stresses that they do not make this juice before it is ordered! I believe it. It tasted just like my orange-grapefruit pressed juice at Colette earlier in the week. I wish Paris adopted the concept of free refills...

Ah, the scone. This Bread & Roses specialty is served with strawberry jam, butter and real whipped cream. The pastry is dense but sweet with huge raisins. I was demanded to try a scone before leaving Paris, and I'm so glad it was my final meal before heading to the airport!

Georges (Paris)

Talk about a view.

Besides the once-in-lifetime Eiffel Tower setting at Le Jules Verne that my parents and I enjoyed earlier this week, our dinner on the roof of the Pompidou museum was quite possibly the neatest venue in Paris. We took six sets of escalators to reach Georges, a glass window-enclosed dining spot with sleek decor, modern art and 300 degree views of the entire city.

The Justin Timberlake music made me feel like I had entered a nightclub, but the single rose on each white-lit table and backdrop of the Parisian sunset felt like a romantic escape.

To begin, I ordered the lobster salad. Can't go wrong with that. Hannah had the coolest appetizer by far: Caesar salad rolls. Instead of the Vietnamese rice paper roll ingredients, chicken, lettuce and Parmesan were tightly wrapped in rice paper with a tangy Caesar dipping sauce on the side. Such a creative concept.

For the entree, I was impressed by my shrimp risotto: jumbo shrimps covered the plate with the richest, most unbelievable risotto I have ever tasted. Ever. And if you've read this blog, you've seen how often I order risotto. The texture, flavor and temperature made this risotto number one in my book.

The sweetness in our millefeuille and berries & cream was top-notch, and the sparkling Eiffel Tower (which only happens at 11 p.m. and midnight each evening) made our dessert course even more magical. I was so excited to be with my Memphis "family" in Paris!

Le Jules Verne (Paris)

Eating inside of the Eiffel Tower is an absolute treat. There's no doubt about it. After escalating 125 meters in the exclusive Le Jules Verne elevator, we entered a classy dining room and were greeted by about 10 servers as we were led to our window table.

Now, since this is a "critique," I must fill you in on a few details that most reviews won't tell ya.

1) The restaurant is so high in the air...I felt as if I were in an airplane. Couldn't tell many buildings apart, unfortunately.

2) The meal is outrageous. Yes, you're paying for one of the "best" views and dining experiences in Paris...but, come on, a 25 euro glass of wine and 88 euro lobster appetizer is a bit ridiculous, in my opinion.

But now, I'll quit my complaints and show you some of the best quality food and presentation I have seen this trip.

I did mention that each glass of wine was 25 euro on average, yes? Well, we didn't take the (half) glass for granted, ha! A gorgeous basket of breads, ranging from croissants to whole wheat rolls, began our lunch. The embossed butter was a fabulous touch.

Mom ordered the chicken and duck fois gras with purslane and country French bread. We were disappointed with the consistency - I was looking for something much smoother and spreadable. But you have to admit: how gorgeous is that plate?

Dad's salmon marinated in lemon, caviar and vodka with mimosa garnish had killer presentation as well. He described it as "pretty good!" We'll take it.

I saved my appetizer for last, cause it was out of this world. I picked the chilled garden pea soup with wild mushrooms and farm egg, which was lightly fried on top. I enjoyed the contrast in texture and found it interesting that the peas were served whole and as a pureé. I truly loved this.

For our main course, all three of us got the John Dory fillet (cooked in a cocette) with spring vegetables and "condiment." It was grilled to perfection, and we all enjoyed the mix between warm roasted tomatoes and cold cabbage. The dish was light and very tasty!

On a side note, please excuse the photo...I started eating before taking a picture! Welcome to the life of a foodieholic.

For dessert, fruit was the main ingredient. While the portions were tiny, the strawberries were fresh and each complimentary baby macaron and vanilla bean marshmallow popped in my mouth in one bite.

Our unique lunch at Le Jules Verne was a memorable final date with my parents in Paris - we made the most of every minute from the height of the city!