A Taste of Nashville - Margot

1. Neighborhood: East Nashville at Five Points

2. History: 

Margot Cafe & Bar opened in June of 2001 by Chef Margot McCormack. It offers rustic French and Italian cuisine with an emphasis on the regions of Provence and Tuscany.

"Margot's philosophy on food and cooking is rooted in the cultures of southern France and Italy. It is based on seasonality and the very best ingredients. Margot is not looking to reinvent food but to reintroduce it in a personal and uncomplicated way" 

-Voted Best New Restaurant 2001 by Nashville Scene

-Voted Best Restaurant, Best Chef and Best Brunch by Best of Nashville 2005-2009

(information from website: www.margotcafe.com) 

3. Hours: 

Tuesday - Saturday: 6:00 - 10:00 pm (bar opens at 5pm)

Sunday Brunch: 11am - 2pm

Monday: Closed

4. Price:  

-dish to share: $3-12 (cheese plate, bread, chips, etc.) 

-first course: $6-12

-second course: $16-26

5. Parking: Parking was ok. They do have a TINY lot in front of the restaurant and free street parking on Woodland and Clearview. But if you are going on a weekend you may have to pay $3 for parking in a lot. 

6. Atmosphere: Atmosphere is perfect for a neighborhood gem. It is upscale but eclectic with individual vintage bread plates and everything. There were multiple dining areas. Including a small room upstairs. 

Source: Margotcafe.com

Source: Margotcafe.com

7. Service: The service was fine. You could tell they were well trained. But nothing really noteworthy.

8. Menu: The food was really well prepared. Chef is classically trained, updating her menu daily according to in-season, local ingredients. The food was the best part of the restaurant experience.

Sorry, the lighting was almost impossible for picture taking. Especially with my phone. 

Housemade Potato Chips with Aioli 

Fish Chowder with Bacon and Croutons 

Sopressata with Olive Relish, Arugula and Parmesan

We also tried:

-Pan Roasted Skate - potato cakes, spinach and caper brown butter

-Grilled Hanger Steak - Roasted Cauliflower and potatoes with Gorgonzola

-Bread crumb gnocchi with mushrooms walnuts and cream

All delicious!

*Well best part was our dinner guests :) Two of our team members from our Christmas Africa trip treated us to this amazing meal!

9. Ranking: 8 - We loved the food, loved our company and the atmosphere was great for a nice date night. It is not somewhere that I would go eat at often but it was worth our visit!

Thank you Gail and Randy for a wonderful meal and for helping us cross another restaurant off our list. 

We love you guys!

And we topped the night off at Jeni's Ice Cream....mmm

Leaving hibernation

The most recent season of my life has been really hard.

Major emotional ups and downs. 

There has been a lot of heaviness at work and in my personal life.

Not to mention, Winter is just plain gloomy - cold and windy.

We didn't even get one great snow day... 

My Winter was spent bundled up, doing puzzles and going to sleep early. 

I've just had no energy or motivation.  

Well it was time to snap out of it.

I had to embrace the fact that I am not in control of everything. 

There are many places in my life where fear can take over. 

I learned that fear can either lead to anxiety or it can be embraced.

When the Spirit moves through that place of fear, faith is a gift that is received.

Faith increases when you step out in fear. 

It was time to create.

I always feel the most life when I participate in the creation of things. 

I hadn't done anything crafty in such a long time. 

So I decided to do some crocheting and embroidering. 

My first crocheted baby blanket!

Crocheted cowl scarf

There was also a quilt that I had not finished. I have been working on it for years.

I decided to tackle that project too. 

However, I had no desire to quilt. 

So I finished the top and decided to make a duvet cover, eliminating the need to quilt it. 

A few snaps later and viola!

I have also really loved hanging out with the special little ones in my life. 

Our godson Mihretu is so much fun to be with.

I went to his house to help make Valentine's Day cards. 

Aren't they cute?

We had one weekend of nice weather so we took our nephew to Shelby Park.

On an almost warm day we took another hike through the park. 

I am so looking forward to walks when it warms up.

And now it is time to begin the garden. 

Oh Spring...less than two weeks away and Daylight Savings starts on Sunday. 

That means more sunlight and warmer weather on the horizon. 

Feeling like I am turning a corner away from the Winter gloom. 

Can not wait!