Asheville's Posana Cafe is gluten-free bliss

Gluten-free people, pick up the phone right now and make your reservation for Posana Cafe in Asheville.  It's a 100% gluten free restaurant in the heart of downtown, and I swear it will be one of the best meals you've eaten since you cut gluten out of your diet.  An entire menu of crazy awesome gourmet dishes made with you in mind. I went gluten-free for about two months.  It sucks.  It is expensive and it is extremely hard to find cuisine that will make you swoon.  You often get stuck with the salad. Am I right?

How does Lobster Mac and Cheese Sound (made with ricotta gnocchi)? Or Crispy Chicken Confit with sweet potato biscuit, Gran Marnier maple syrup and confit pear.  What about Pan Roasted Scallops with celery root puree, almond-brown butter crumble, cauliflower, crispy kale and truffle jus. Folks, we're talking serious food here. This restaurant is going straight to the top of my list and I'm not even gluten-free!

Peter Pollay and wife, Martha, opened Posana six years ago with the idea to create a menu reflecting the gluten-free food they eat at home. The restaurant just underwent a fancy redo at the hands of design genius Doug Stratton and it is absolutely beautiful inside.  The lighting, which is focused on the food in front of you at every table,  is magnificent for us food bloggers.  Chef Jordan Arace is manning the kitchen much of the time these days, but the restaurant holds fast to its gluten-free philosophy.

My tablemates for the evening were Laura Huff (my Greenville Small Plate Crawl partner in crime and Carolina Epicurean blogger), Landis Taylor from Asheville CVB and Chef Pollay himself!  We were stoked that he decided to sit with us for dinner and tell us all about his restaurant and his path to becoming a chef.

Career highlights of Chef Peter Pollay:

His first notable restaurant job was at City Tavern in downtown Chicago under restaurant giant Larry Levy.  Pollay says he was a "must hire" (aka Levy knew his dad) so they really put him through the ringer there.

When Levy started taking his fine dining experience to Chicago's ball stadiums,starting with Comiskey Stadium, he took Pollay with him.  The White Socks got into the playoffs that year and went on to the World Series. (Note, I know nothing about baseball, but it was exciting for the Chef.) He worked hard, met a lot of people and watched a lot of baseball.

Pollay has worked under numerous famous chefs including Chef David Burke at his Park Avenue Cafe and Wolfgang Puck at the famed Malibu restaurant Granita.  It was the first time Pollay was exposed to real "farm to table" cuisine. Puck worked with three or four local farmers and had fresh stuff delivered frequently, so the menu constantly was changing. Sean Connery, Dick Van Dyke and Nicholas Cage were a few of the celebrity regulars.

While attending school at the Culinary Institute of America, he worked at Hudson River Club under Waldy Malouf on the weekends. When he graduated, he went back to Chicago to work in the Four Seasons Hotel for a while, then headed to Las Vegas and back to the Larry Levy fold.  Levy had formed a partnership with Spielbeg and opened The Dive.  When it opened in LA, Pollay took his first management position.

After an attempted retirement from chefdom, Pollay found himself back in a Wolfgang Puck kitchen at the famed Spago under Chef Francois. Pollay became the kitchen manager there. "It was an amazing experience," he says.  "We were on the cutting edge."

It was 1999.  He was tired.  He tried to retire, but went back to work within two weeks.  Larry Levy was setting up shop in the Staple Center.  He took the spot of Sou Chef.  They were serving all of the sky boxes and two restaurants.  (Again with the sports thing, the Lakers and Kings were in the playoffs and the Lakers won.)

Levy began a partnership with Wolfgang Puck at Dodger Stadium and again Pollay was asked to be a part of the team to get the ball rolling (okay, a bad sports joke. I admit.) It was the National League and he got to see the Cubs play.

It was August 2000.  Pollay was due to get married.  A little event called the Democratic National Convention was booked at the Staple Center.  He asked for time off and was denied. It was finally time to retire.  

In 2003, he had a family, he had moved to Asheville and was working in Real Estate.  He and wife Martha were talking one day and decided it was time, they'd open their own restaurant.  And so it began again.

Believe it or not, I think I left out a few things.  Pollay is the real deal.  He is an amazingly talented chef.  Now back to the food on the table:

This picture does not do this salad justice.  This is Posana's famous Manchego Kale Salad.   Pollay was recently on WLOS sharing the recipe with viewers. Get the recipe here.  

Their Brussels Sprout Salad with pears, roasted walnuts, Three Graces feta, and honey-buttermilk dressing was also freaking amazing.  

But the gluten-free are not confined to the salads here.  Remember, the whole menu is free and clear.  What about Lamb with herb crust, charred Brussels sprouts, potato fondant and rosemary-fig gastrique? 

Or Braised Hickory Nut Gap Pork Shoulder, bacon wrapped pork loin, topped with shallot jam, and trotter, accompanied by crispy pigs feet potatoes. 

They even have a line-up of tasty desserts including ice cream, a silky, rich cheesecake and a Hot Chocolate Pot de Creme with dark chocolate and spicy walnuts.

Get out that calendar and pick up the phone.  You must make the trip up the mountain for this amazing culinary experience.  You can thank me later.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to ya!

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Love Locks at Pomegranate on Main

Looking to lock down your love?  You might want to head over to Pomegranate on Main in downtown Greenville. Last night my husband and I cranked up the romance and went with an engraved lock in hand to Pomegranate on Main to add our Love Lock to the gate on their patio.

I heard about the locks going up on the wall in a recent article in the news and so had to do it. My husband bought us a lock and engraved it himself. (Yes, he is awesome.)  It was a really neat experience.  As a couple, committed to love each other for life, you attach your lock to the gate and throw the key in the fountain.  And then, the restaurant brings out two glasses of champagne or wine for a toast.  How cool is that?! A definite must for Greenvillians in love.

I've been to Pomegranate a couple of times.  One time was really amazing.  One time wasn't.  But the thing is, I really didn't know what to order!  I was invited by the restaurant to come out and graze the menu to write something for the blog, and we had an amazing server who walked us through the menu this time and helped pick out some incredible food!

From closest to farthest away, we tried the Mast Khiyar (a cool and fresh mixture of diced cucumbers, yogurt, raisins, walnuts and fresh herbs), Borani Spinach (a hearty and warm blend of sauteed spinach, onion, yogurt and garlic), Kashk Bademjan (sauteed eggplant and onion topped with Persian cream of whey, crispy fried onion and mint), and Hummus (pureed chickpeas, sesame tahini, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice - some of the best hummus we've ever eaten!). Our favorites were the Mast Khiyar and Borani Spinach. All of the Starters were incredibly flavor packed.  

  Every table is also served a plate consisting of a wedge of unsalted butter, mint, radishes and feta cheese along with a basket of flatbread.  Butter and feta on bread is a traditional Persian breakfast, actually! The restaurant puts their own spin on it with the mint and radishes. The combination is very nice.

After we finished our champagne, we ordered a Pomegranate Martini, the restaurant's signature drink, which came with a frozen grape in the bottom.  The drink was tangy, sweet and delicious.

For our main course, we picked out two combination plates: the Scallops and Rack of Lamb served with Dill and Lima Bean Rice, and Tenderloin Torsh Kabob and Koobideh Kabobs served with Cranberry and Saffron Rice.   Here's the breakdown, our favorite dish by far, was the Tenderloin Torsh, cuts of tenderloin, marinated in a zesty sweet and sour pomegranate sauce mixed with walnuts and charbroiled.   It was tangy, which sounds odd for beef, but it was absolutely lovely and tender.  The rice was sweet and flavorful, as well.  I could have it with every meal for the rest of my life!

Do you see the roasted tomato on the side?  Traditionally, it should be chopped and mixed into the dill and lima bean rice (and the blander rices served as sides for some of the kabobs) with a sprinkling of the Sumac spices that sit in a little container with a spoon for serving on each table.  Sumac is the ground, tangy-citrusy husk of berries. The spice was used for tartness before lemons were introduced by the Romans!  It is also very good added to Hummus.

Back to the meat.  The scallops and lamb were very nice and savory. I will say that we didn't enjoy the Koobideh as a kabob, but it would make a good lunchtime sandwich.   When we go back, we are definitely ordering a plate full of the Tenderloin Torsh and Cranberry and Saffron Rice!  

Dessert!!!  

We were lucky we didn't have to choose just one.  I will point out that by this time we were STUFFED, but could not possibly leave without a sweet sampling for you people!   We ordered the Chocolate Cake (crazy rick and moist decadence, made with four kinds of chocolate), the house made Mint Chocolate and Pomegranate Ice cream with a drizzle of Pomegranate Molasses (it sounds like too much, but really it was bliss) and a piece of the (creamy and quickly gone) Coconut Custard Pie, a special of the day. A ton of food, right?  I will add that there was also a Pumpkin Martini that looked heavenly, but I just DID NOT HAVE ROOM for one more thing. 

Six very cool things you should know about Pomegranate on Main:

1. The owner's wife makes a lot of the desserts from scratch.  (And she is super talented.)
2. All Entrees are Gluten Free.
3. All Starters are vegetarian PLUS there are Veggie Kabobs AND a very interesting looking Vegetarian Fesenjan Stew of sauteed portobello mushrooms slow cooked in a walnut and pomegranate sauce.
4. Most items on the menu are already perfectly paired with a wine selection.
5. The dining room feel is classy... dressy.  The porch is more casual and quieter, has an amazing waterfall fountain, and is climate controlled so you CAN sit outside in the winter and rain.
6. They also serve lunch!

We can't wait to go back and take some of our friends.  Thank you Pomegranate for a very lovely evening, a marvelous meal and some very neat memories with my husband.

For more information about Pomegranate on  Main or to make your reservations, click here.

The dish on Trio's newish menu items

Trio Brick Oven Cafe has been a Greenville go-to for tasty Italian fare for almost 18 years! Last Thursday, I met photographer Sheryl Duckett of Manna Photographics at Trio for a Gap Creek Gourmet photo shoot.  Yes, Gap Creek Gourmet is getting a makeover, (and my new pics rock!) but we were also there to photograph and try out some new additions to the Trio menu.

Doesn't that gluten free brownie look amazing?  It's a slice of chocolaty brownie with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.  After you've polished off a heaping plate of Gluten Free Penne-Goat Pasta with Fresh spinach, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, kalmata olives and pine nuts sauteed in herb-infused olive oil and baked with fresh goat cheese, give it a try.  (I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese, but dang people, doesn't that sound soooo good?!) This is only a sampling of their gluten free menu.

Onward. Another addition to the regular menu is this spicy buffalo shrimp pizza. A crispy crust with spicy pieces of fried buffalo shrimp, onions and lots of cheese fresh out of the wood fired pizza oven. 

These mussels are not the newest thing on the menu, but they are delicious!  They are swimming in EVOO, white wine, garlic and lemon-butter with diced roma tomatoes and green onions. A piece of warm bread to sop up some of this sauce would be heaven.

My favorite dish was this beautiful cheesy bowl of creamy sundried tomatos and feta served with hot out of the oven cheese bread.  It's like a deconstructed pizza.  So amazingly yum. 

If you haven't checked out Trio, it's located at 22 N. Main Street in downtown Greenville.  It's a great place to meet a bunch of friends for dinner.  A great place to make some memories. I know I've made my share there!

Tuesday Mish Mash: pigs, wine and a crazy new cooking store.

I totally held a pig last weekend.  And I swear it was one of the coolest things I've done in FOREVER.  We were at the Boone Hall Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch and this year, God bless them, they had a petting zoo complete with a llama, a calf, goats, bunnies, a mini donkey, and baby PIGGGSSSS. I already thought they were the bees knees for having a cool corn maze and the biggest pumpkins I've seen in South Carolina, but cuddly animals too?! I went through the petty zoo twice. Well, I can check that off my bucket list.

I am in love with this wine.  Apothic Red is one of our go-to easy wines. It's $9. It appeals to a wide range of tastes. Bam.  But this new Apothic Dark is deeper and richer.  So yum.  I must stock up before it is all gone.

We make Low Country Boil (aka Frogmore Stew) every time we go to Isle of Palms, so last weekend, I decided to mix it up a bit and make Shrimp and Sausage Burritos.  They turned out really well. Shrimp, sausage, onions, peppers, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, guac, sour cream, and my father-in-law's homemade salsa.  Next time, I'm throwing in some fried potatoes, and that will about cover it, don't you think?

I am 100% obsessed with the casting of the Fifty Shades of Gray movie.  Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed.  I won't bore you, but feel free to comment.

OMG! I have to tell you about this crazy new cooking store called Southern Season my friend told me about on Mt. Pleasant.  It's like the Fresh Market on crack.  It's a cooking school, a market and a restaurant all in one big strip.  Strangely, the market has no fresh veggies or meat department (really?!) but there is a big deli and a bakery with the craziest selection of iced cookies (one of my favorite things) I've ever seen, a huge candy department, more condiments than I thought existed, tons of gluten free dry goods (cookies, etc and baking mixes), a big house wares section with ridiculous collections of cutlery and candles and aprons... bags... it's a weird place.  But they have wine and beer.  Isn't that all we really care about?

The menus from the Restaurant at Southern Season looked pretty dang cool.  They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and weekend brunch with dishes like the Bourbon BBQ Porterhouse Pork Chop with Bleu Cheese Macaroni and Pickled Peaches. Are you drooling yet? When I get back to the island, I'm totally meeting a friend there for the mini-menu and drinks they serve from 3-5pm.

Here's another pig picture.  Just for kicks and giggles.

I'm so ready for Halloween.  My Halloween houses are out... all lit up and making spooookkky noises. I went to no less than five stores yesterday looking for more Halloween decorations for my house.  (Like I need anymore.) And I am all stocked up on Candy Corn.  I'll save my costume for the after Halloween party pics because I don't want to ruin my husband's big surprise costume.  What's everyone out there planning on being for Halloween?  

That's all I have for now.  Happy Tuesday!

Southern Culture, birthday festivities and the Carrie Diaries

For my birthday lunch my bff took me to a new restaurant in town called Southern Culture. We pulled up to our wooden table and I feasted on Country Fried Chicken breast on a warm, fluffy buttermilk biscuit topped with peppery sawmill gravy.

And we had a warm banana pudding for dessert.  If you've ever treasured sampling a warm custard straight from the pot on the stove, then you're going to go nuts over this pudding.  It's creamy, sweet heaven. 

That's how the fare rolls at  Southern Culture, a new locally owned restaurant at Cherrydale Crossings in Greenville. It's the food you grew up with at grandma's Sunday table, but amped up a bit.   Chef Chad Gangwer rolls out Southern comfort in the form of Open Faced Pot Roast, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, and Pulled Pork Nachos (piled insanely high). And that's just the lunch menu offerings.  (I have reservations tomorrow night to check out their dinner, too.) 

The festivities continued through dinner and will continue on through the weekend. (Is it possible I'm getting tired of eating?) My mother came over with bubbly and I made my easy gluten-free coconut shrimp for dinner last night.  I coated these little guys in egg, coconut and a gluten-free flour (almond flour in this case) then fried them up golden brown. Mom had strong opinions about me cooking on my own birthday, but after one bite she was placated.

Like my little cake? There are cakes for all occasions, and I've ordered a coconut cake from The Hungry Drover for weekend festivities, but Publix just makes the quintessential birthday cake.  It's sugary and fluffy and everything I remember from my childhood birthday cakes. I was digging into the icing before the last candle was lit.  No self control.  

My husband gave me my very own facejug for my birthday, specifically made for me by our artist friend Greg Patton.  He makes the face mugs for Blue Ridge Brewing Co. in downtown Greenville and you can get his work at The Forest in Travelers Rest. See the little Starbucks to-go cup and little cupcakes? And she's holding a bag with journals on one arm and you can't see it, but there's a little piece of folk art under the other arm.  Greg made a jug for my husband last year and I had to have one of my own.  I think he did a pretty dang good job of capturing me, don't ya think?  I told my husband we could use them for ashes when we die. 

Warning, brain candy to follow: I have to tell you about The Carrie Diaries.  I closed my 37th birthday by watching the first episode and I'm obsessed. The show is the very much anticipated prequel to Sex and the City and follows Carrie Bradshaw as she heads to high school for her Senior year in the wake of her mother's death. For change of pace, her dad helps her get a once-a-week internship in Manhattan and she begins her intense love affair with the big NYC. I was in love with this show in the first couple of minutes. I just can't help myself. 

And the birthday festivities continue...

a little wine and a little dine in Chucktown

It's 4:30.  Too early for dinner?  Okay, maybe a glass of wine first.  I'm trying out this tonight. The wine is a pet project of Dave Matthews, believe it or not.  Yes, the singer. It's not bad!  Definitely a California red...a little sweet, a little dry.  Yum.

So I have fled the mountains. Well, not exactly fled.  More like had to head to the coast for a little work (and a little play).  I managed to juggle my time just right and get to Charleston in time for lunch today.  I was on a mission to try The Taco Spot at West Ashley. It's a walk in place with dining in the back. I ate in my car as I often do. Not recommended with messy tacos. 

The Grouper and Cilantro Soy Aioli taco was yum, but the teriyaki steak taco is not recommended.  Messy and way too sweet for a taco! But a rather cool joint all the same. Kudos on Trip Advisor and Urban Spoon are well deserved. And $2.50 tacos (5% discount if you pay cash)...need i say more?

Side note: when using iPhone's most intelligent map/directions service it helps if you type in the right city with the business you are hunting, or you might end up at a used furniture place named Trader Joe's in Charleston instead of the new Trader Joe's on Mt. Pleasant! Just saying. 

I stopped at the Oops! Company at Mt. Pleasant and scored an awesome Lands End blue shirt for super cheap.  I love Oops!  Then I hit the last Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market of the season and grabbed a bit of dinner (pulled grilled chicken with mustard bbq sauce, squash casserole and green beans) before heading in for the evening. 

When I finally put my foot in the October sand, I understand why people say it's the best month at the beach. 

Hell, October is just plain awesome everywhere, isn't it? If someone made me choose, I'd still pick the mountains, but the changing color of the marsh grass, the cool air, the sparsely populated beach...Isle of Palms sure is nice too this time of year... (for some reason this pic wouldn't orient to the right...enjoy anyway.)

Happy Monday evening all!  Off to watch pre-debate babble on the tube.

You've Got Mail, cookies and ice cream and Saturday chatter

Today is the perfect Fall day for You've Got Mail. I just love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I love their cute intereaction over email in the movie.  I love the reminder that we once had to wait on our internet to dial and I would hold my breath waiting to hear those three little words that would make or break my day: "You've got mail!"

I'm knitting a blue scarf for someone today, too. I haven't knitted in FOREVER!  My chores are done.  My husband is outside pressure washing the house and the driveway and I am left to my own devices. I was borderline bored and then realized I had actual time to knit! Imagine that?! And time to watch a movie.  A girly movie that only I love and no one else wants to see.  That, my friend, is a good day.

I need a Twitter lesson.  I'm tinkering with it but embarrassing myself probably more than effectively communicating. Seriously.  I'd love to be on it more but 1) I feel seriously overstimulated like I can't leave the room because the conversation is just too good and 2) I have no idea what I'm doing with the # and the @ and all that jazz.  Someone send me advice before I embarrass myself further.

This is my new favorite ice cream.  Next best thing to pralines from the Market in Charleston. I'm so not looking to see if there is gluten in there.  Ignorance is bliss in this case.

 I saw these in my freezer too.  I thought I would share, though I'm not cooking them today.  Cookies and ice cream is a bit overkill for afternoon snack, don't you think? I am a HUGE Immaculate Baking Co. fan and had no idea they make Gluten Free cookies!  They started in Hendersonville, NC.  Did you know that?  They are now based out of who knows where.

I'm also making my Halloween party list today.  So far I am going to make a carved pumpkin throwing up guacamole, a red hand floating in green punch, cupcakes and pizza that looks like candy corn. I just love Halloween.  My sexy bar wench costume should be here next week.  Then I'll be all set.  

I am crazy obsessed with Sullivan Stapleton from Strikeback. He's my new Ryan Gosling.

When Gangster Squad comes out in January, I will be one happy woman. Now if they could only cram in the guy from Chicago Fire.  You know, the gap toothed one.  Heaven.

I am super stoked about the Nov. 2 Dangermuffin concert at Jack of the Wood in Asheville.  I always seem to miss them in Chucktown, so this is a WAY big deal for me. My first time seeing them live! Then that Sat. I am taking a food writing class from Ashley Warlick, who in my world is like superstar writer woman. My writer/blogger buddy April is coming down for the class, too.  Even more to be excited about!

In front of the lens: there was a news report this week about a mom who blogged about how important it is for moms to be in pictures WITH their kids and not just behind the lens... I'd like to say that that's the second time something on that subject came up yesterday and here are my thoughts.  People should love themselves for who they are. I have friends, multiple friends, who will shy away from the camera.  Who will throw up their hands to block the lens.  Who would much rather be taking the picture than IN the picture. Why people?  You are beautiful and no matter what, that's what you look like at that moment for better or worse so embrace it dude!  If someone is taking the time or attention to snap your picture, you must mean so much more than you think you do.  Smile. Click. Move on.

Happy Saturday!

a date with the daughter, buns and Fall for Greenville

Yesterday I had a date with my daughter after school. We headed downtown to take an art class at Daly Designs where we made fabric banners.  It was research for my day job. I was the only adult around the table (who cares), but enjoyed myself thoroughly and had fun chatting it up with our teacher, Ashley Ruff of Image to Impact.   

While our banners dried, we went to a new restaurant, Grill Marks, for dinner. At ten, my child doesn't mind hanging out with mom, but she told me as we walked to dinner that I do embarrass her sometimes and would be paid back sufficiently when she is older and I am old. Awesome.  

Last week, someone told me they had eaten at this new place beside Soby's that I should go check out. The restaurant is owned by the Larkin's on the River folks. 

They actually brand their brioche buns here with the logo. Nice.  

And best of all, I could order a Gluten-Free bun!  On top of being one of the best burgers I've eaten at a restaurant (let's face it, home grilled burgers are just that awesome and hard to beat), they had gluten-free options all over the menu.  My burger was topped with swiss cheese and mushrooms and I ordered a side of sweet potato fries.  (I tried to be good and order the veggie burger, but they were out.)You can't tell from this picture, but the burger was huge! I didn't need the fries but couldn't help nibbling on the pile of crunchy tastiness with a side of sweet dipping sauce. 

They had Thomas Creek Root beer on tap, and my child was all over that. She ordered her regular: chicken fingers and fries and oohed and ahhed over them.  And I would think she's an expert on the dish since it's pretty much all she orders when we take her to eat anywhere.  We wound up wrapping up dinner with a shake since it's one of the Grill Marks specialties.  They make their ice cream in house.  We got a salted caramel shake to go and sipped it while we walked back to our car.  Stupendous. 

Note: the restaurant's bar options were way cool.  I saw a Pumpkin Chi concoction on the shelf and would have ordered a shot had I not been with child.  I must return for the adult menu.  And adult shakes!

I try to enjoy these times with my girl.  Ten is way closer to 18 than I'd like and she's our only.  I think I made her swear once that she'd live at home forever, but I'm at the same time hoping she has forgotten and will move next door instead. I love her and can't stand to think she'll be far far away some day. That's one cool kid folks.

I wanna add that it's Fall for Greenville weekend guys.  One of my favorite Greenville events.  The restaurants move outdoors under tents along the street and you can walk around and order the best of their menus.  It was where I fell in love with my first Greenville restaurant years ago.  I had my first Soby's Crab Cake on the streets of Greenville and I was hooked.  Anyway, get out there.  Battling the crowd (the very big crowd) is worth it. Get your grub on!