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Happy Hours All Fourth of July

By Laura Wilson on July 3, 2008

Truffled Popcorn ($2)
Pommes Frites with Garlic Aioli ($2)
Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyère Crouton ($3)
Grilled Haloumi with Preserved Lemon and Olives($3)
Steamed Mussels with Chorizo and Red Pepper Broth ($7)
Country Pate with Cornichons, Grained Mustard and Baguette ($5)
Mezze Platter with Falafel, Hummus Dolmas, Grilled Pita and Feta ($5)
Crawfish Cakes with Celery Root Remoulade ($5)
Foie Gras Stuffed Burger with Garlic Aioli and Carmelized Onions ($8)
Charcuterie Plate with House-made Sausage, Pate, Rillettes and Bresola ($8)
Grilled Hangar Steak with Sweet Potato Fries and Herb Butter ($14)

The discounted drink prices also light up the sky: Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria.

Also, don’t forget about our new summer dinner menu and our newly revamped lunch menu (11 am-2:30 pm Mon-Fri), featuring fresh-from-the-farm veggies and herbs.

‘Til Next Time,

Laura Wilson
Summertime Means Dinner Time

By Laura Wilson on June 27, 2008

Small Plates: Truffled Popcorn; Pommes Frites with Aioli; Tempura Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Ricotta and Herbs with Arrabiatta; Crispy Oysters tossed in a Spicy Crystal Butter with House-made Ranch; Pannéed Frogs’ Legs with Sauce Gribiche; Sautéed Sweetbreads with Raisins, Olives and Pine Nuts; Seared Foie Gras with a Grilled Blackberry Muffin and Port Gastrique: Steamed Mussels with Chorizo and Red Pepper Broth; Escargot with Garlic Herb Butter and Baguette; and Crawfish Cakes with Celery Root Remoulade.

Starters: Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyère Crouton; Mezze Platter of Hummus, Falafel, Dolmas, Grilled Pita and Feta; Chile Glazed Shrimp with Ginger Carrot Slaw; An assortment of three Artesan Cheeses, Fruit and Flatbread Crackers; Antipasti Platter with Benton’s Prosciutto, Olives, Cheese and Grilled Vegetables.

Salads: Baby Spinach Salad tossed with a Maytag Blue Cheese Vinaigrette and topped with Strawberries and Almonds; Caesar with Crisp Romaine Hearts, Garlic Anchovy dressing, Cracked Pepper Croutons and Parmesan; Baby Greens with Red Wine Shallot Vinaigrette, Dried Cherries, Goat Cheese and Toasted Walnuts.

Entrees: Pan Roasted Quail with Fava Beans, Lardons, Asparagus and Cherry Demi Glace; Sautéed Scallops over Summer Squash Gratin with Tapenade and Arrabiatta; Sautéed Trout with Lady Pea Succotash and Cucumber, Radish and Citrus Relish; Foie Gras-stuffed Burger with Aioli, Caramelized Onions and Pommes Frites; Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Fig Cous Cous, Red Onion Marmalade and Pistachio Vinaigrette; Grilled 10 oz Ribeye with Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes, Haricots Vert and Horseradish Cream; Farmers’ Market Vegetable Plate, Prepared Fresh Daily; Sautéed Halibut with Leek and Goat Cheese Tart, Mache and Tomato Conserve; Roasted Half Chicken with Herbed Gnocchi, Roasted Root Vegetables and a Ham Parmesan Broth; Grilled Hanger Steak with Sweet Potato Fries and Herb Butter.

Also, we will be open on the 4th of July, with regular hours, so you’ll be just a hop from downtown and fireworks. And a reminder that our newly revamped and increasingly popular lunch menu enjoys fresh veggies and herbs as well, so be sure to stop by from 11 am-2:30 pm Mondays-Fridays. And don’t forget that as always, Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Soft Shells Are Back!

By Laura Wilson on June 20, 2008

We’ll be serving the soft shells crispy tonight and throughout the weekend as a special, with roasted fennel and pineapple relish.

Also, we have absolutely beautiful morels in right now, so one of our appetizer specials this weekend will be sauteed morel mushrooms with sherry and toast points. Our other special appetizer will be sauteed Savoy cabbage with Benton Farms prosciutto topped with a fried quail egg. I’m also expecting some squash blossoms from Timber Top farms any minute now, so as soon as I lay eyes on them we’ll figure out how best to serve this weekend.

Meanwhile, our newly revamped lunch menu has proven quite popular the last couple of weeks, so be sure to stop by from 11 am-2:30 pm Mondays-Fridays. And with bar manager Terry Raley back from his recent European family vacation—ask him about his wacky new Russian friend and backing down a narrow one-way street in Portugal—remember that Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10.

‘Til next time,

Laura
Rabbit (and Turbot) Redux

By Cooper Brunk on June 13, 2008

Let’s get right to it:

First off, we’ll be featuring an appetizer special of a goat cheese croquette with tomato conserve and basil puree. For entrees, we’ll be serving a sauteed Canadian turbot with olive oil potato puree, yellow foot mushrooms, roasted garlic sauce, and lemon dust. And I’m particularly excited to be offering a tasting of rabbit, with confit leg, roasted saddle, roasted saddle and rabbit sausage with green lentils, peppered blackberry foam, and white truffle oil.

A reminder that our newly revamped lunch menu is available from 11 am-2:30 pm Mondays-Fridays. And with bar manager Terry Raley back from his European family vacation, remember that Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10.

COMING UP

— Spots are going fast for Village Wines top dog Hoyt Hill’s Champagne and wine tasting, 6 pm next Thursday, June 19 at Ombi. Featured wines will be Henriot Champagnes, William Fevre Chablis and Bouchard Pere et Fils red Burgundies. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount off your meal. Please make reservations—our last wine tasting sold out!—by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

‘Til next time,

Cooper
Introducing ... A New Lunch Menu!

By Laura Wilson on June 6, 2008

What’s for lunch?

That may be the first complete sentence we ever speak. And here at Ombi, we’re pumped about kicking off a new lunch menu today that includes some old favorites and some exciting and affordable newcomers. Here’s the lineup:

STARTERS:
Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyère Crouton ($4—$6)
Cup or Bowl of Soup of the Day ($4/$6)
Soup Tasting of Three Cups ($7)
Caesar with Crisp Romaine Hearts, Garlic Anchovy dressing, Cracked Pepper Croutons and Parmesan ($5)
Baby Greens with Red Wine Shallot Vinaigrette, Dried Cherries, Goat Cheese and Walnuts ($5)

SALADS
Iceberg Wedge topped with Crispy Fried Chicken Breast, Bacon, Cucumber, Tomato, Boiled Egg and Buttermilk Cheddar with

Housemade Ranch ($8)
Grilled Hanger Steak tossed with Baby Spinach and Blue Cheese Vinaigrette, topped with Strawberries and Toasted Almonds ($9)
Crispy Chile Shrimp over Romaine with Carrots, Edamame and Radishes tossed in a Miso vinaigrette ($9)

SANDWICHES
Three Cheese Panini with Buttermilk Cheddar, Mozzarella, Chèvre and Herbed Mayo ($7)
Turkey and Cheddar Panini with Avocado, Bacon and Sprouts ($8)
Grilled Hangar Steak on Baguette with Sautéed Peppers and Onions and Horseradish Sauce ($9)
BBQ Oyster Po’boy with Crispy Oysters, Shredded Iceberg and Housemade Ranch ($9)
Foie Gras stuffed Burger with Roasted Garlic Aioli and Caramelized Onions ($13)
Pulled Chicken Salad on a Kaiser Roll with Lettuce and Tomato ($7)

ENTREES
Crawfish Cakes with Celery Root Rémoulade ($9)
Roasted Half Chicken with Herbed Gnocchi, Roasted Root Vegetables and a Ham Parmesan Broth ($12)
Steamed Mussels with Chorizo, Red Pepper Broth and Pommes Frites ($9)
Grilled Hangar Steak with Herb Butter and Sweet Potato Fries ($13)
Mezze Platter of Hummus, Falafel, Dolmas, Grilled Pita and Feta ($8)

Lunch is available from 11 am-2:30 pm Mondays-Fridays. And has we head into a hot CMA Music Festival weekend, remember that Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10.

COMING UP

— Our pal Hoyt Hill of Village Wines will host a Champagne tasting, 6 pm Thursday, June 19 right here at Ombi. Featured wines will be from Henriot, William Fevre and Bouchard Pere et Fils. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount off your meal. Please make reservations—our last wine tasting sold out!—by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Kona's back by popular demand

By Laura Wilson on May 30, 2008

First off, we have Kona Kampachi coming in. That’s a premium sushi-grade, farm-raised Hawaiian yellowtail fish that we offered on the menu two weeks ago, and everyone loved it! So we’re calling the Kona our back-by-popular-demand fish.

For appetizers, we’re featuring grilled house-made sausage with onion marmalade, grainy mustard and grilled bread. The pork is from DW Farms near Pulaski, which we love. We’ll also have fresh squash blossoms from Ridgetop Farms, which we’ll serve as as a tempura. And we’ll also be trying out something I’ve never done before, which we’re very excited about: barbecued lamb spareribs. Let us know how you like ‘em!

In the news, check out the fine piece our friends at All the Rage and The Tennessean published the other day about unusual food offering at area restaurants, including sweetbreads. Ombi’s own fois gras burger is mentioned, as is our recent beef tongue empanada appetizer. Check out the story at
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/FEATURES02/805300339/1083/FEATURES05

And special thanks to everyone who made Generous Helpings 2008 such a success this past Wednesday night at the Nashville Convention Center. It was great to see all my fabulous chef friends and to be a sober watcher—see last week’s e-letter—of all the after-shenanigans!

Remember that Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Specialty cocktails are $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10.

Coming up

—Our good friend Hoyt Hill of Village Wines will host a Champagne tasting, 6 pm Thursday, June 19 right here at Ombi. Featured wines will be from Henriot, William Fevre and Bouchard Pere et Fils. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount off your meal. Please make reservations—our last wine tasting sold out!—by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Big (and getting bigger) news

By Laura Wilson on May 22, 2008

It’s a boy!!!!!

Yes, friends and family. That growing bulge under my white chef’s coat, some 21 weeks along, will culminate come Oct. 4 or thereabouts as the one and only Porter Howell Wilson. Proud papa-to-be Grant Wilson, the pride of Portland, Tennessee (aka the Strawberry Capital of the World) and my husband of three years come this September, before long will have something to bounce on his knee.

Here’s the story on the name: Our ground rules were that if the child was a boy, Grant would get artistic direction, and I would get artistic direction if the child was a girl. Howell is one of Grant’s family names. So the first words out of my mouth when Grant told me the name of Porter Howell Wilson were, “You know, that means a dishwasher, right?” Given my profession, the lad may be fulfilling his destiny sooner rather than later. Porter will join strapping 9-month-old Finley Raley, son of our bar manager Terry Raley and wife Patricia, as Ombi babies.

As for the pregnancy: Can’t wait for the long, hot summer, yessiree. I’ve felt just fine but have been craving Kien Giang, the awesome Vietnamese restaurant on Charlotte. (Check out what our good friends at WhereTheLocalsEat.com have to say about them: http://wherethelocalseat.com/Nashville-Best-Restaurants/Kien-Giang-Nashville-TN-WebID-17652.aspx.) Kien Giang used to be my recovering-from-a-long-night-out food. Now it’s just food. I get the pancake with pork and shrimp, and the pho No. 3 with tendon and spring roll. And believe me, I can eat them all.

Oh, and I miss raw sushi terribly (sigh).

Speaking of long, hot summers, a reminder that Ombi offers refreshing drink and food specials, in the bar and patio area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Terry’s delicious, Nashville Lifestyles magazine-featured D’Arbo cocktail will set you back $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, and half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10. Be there—Aloha!

COMING UP:

—We’re way fired up for Generous Helpings 2008, 6–9 pm next Wednesday, May 28 at the Nashville Convention Center Ballroom, which benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. I’m serving as restaurant chair for the event, and super sous chef Cooper Brunk representing Ombi. You can get tickets and read more about it at www.secondharvestnashville.org. Here’s a brief summary from the website:

“Generous Helpings is a culinary benefit and silent auction supporting Nashville’s Table, a Perishable Food Rescue Program of Second Harvest Food Bank. A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund at Nashville State Community College. Now in its fourth year, Generous Helpings features “tastes” of gourmet appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages by more than 30 of the area’s finest independent restaurants, wine purveyors and breweries.” Cost is $40 in advance, $50 at the door, VIP patron tickets are available for $125, which includes valet parking, special seating area, access to VIP bar, listing as patron in the event program, special wine selection and a thank you gift. Participating Restaurants: Ombi, Watermark, Mambu, The Culinary Arts Center at Second Harvest, Ovations Catering, Nashville State Community College Culinary Arts, Park Café, Chaffin’s Barn, Pied Piper Creamery, Cabana, Eastland Café, Midtown Café, Sunset Grill, Tayst, Tin Angel, Mirror, Kalamatas, Margot, Marche, Zola, Noshville, Chappy’s on Church, Flyte, Radius 10, and the Veggie Café.

—Our man about town, Hoyt Hill of Village Wines, will host a Champagne tasting, 6 pm Thursday, June 19 right here at Ombi. Featured wines will be from Henriot, William Fevre and Bouchard Pere et Fils. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount off your meal. Please make reservations—our last wine tasting sold out!—by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Steeplechase, Mom's Day, New Menu!

By Laura Wilson on May 9, 2008

Thanks to all our fabulous regulars as well as our hard-working servers last weekend for making suggestions as we tried out the new offerings. We wanted to make sure everything was just right before going to print with the menus. We’re still tweaking, and over the course of the summer we’ll have new and exciting nightly specials. With a new menu, though, I don’t believe in changing more than three or four items at a time. My experience has been that things aren’t right, and don’t become right, if you change more than that many at a time.

There are three new menu items you need to know about and sample:

—Our duck confit ravioli with Taleggio cheese, with sweet pea tendrils;
—Sauteed halibut with black rice, edamame, and a miso broth;
—And, something I’m particularly excited about, a beautiful rib-eye steak that replaced the filet on our menu.

What’s so beautiful about rib-eye is its wonderful fat content. There’s lots of marbeling, which helps keep the meat moist. I very often prefer it over a filet., because it tastes like… like good cow. It’s beefy. I’ve heard people say about filet, “Oh, it’s so tender, it tastes just like butter.” Well, I don’t want my beef to taste like butter! I want it to taste like steak! And that’s the rib-eye.

Rest assured we’ll also continue to offer the hanger steak, which is still just as popular as when we first opened. You can’t have steak frites without hanger steak.

As for other old reliables, a reminder that Ombi offers drink and food specials, in the bar area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Terry’s delicious, Nashville Lifestyles magazine-featured D’Arbo cocktail will set you back $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10. What could be better

COMING UP:

—We’re getting more and more fired up for Generous Helpings 2008, 6–9 pm Wednesday, May 28 at the Nashville Convention Center Ballroom, which benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. I’m serving as restaurant chair for the event, and super sous chef Cooper Brunk representing Ombi. You can get tickets and read more about it at www.secondharvestnashville.org. Here’s a brief summary from the website: “Generous Helpings is a culinary benefit and silent auction supporting Nashville’s Table, a Perishable Food Rescue Program of Second Harvest Food Bank. A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund at Nashville State Community College. Now in its fourth year, Generous Helpings features “tastes” of gourmet appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages by more than 30 of the area’s finest independent restaurants, wine purveyors and breweries.” Cost is $40 in advance, $50 at the door, VIP patron tickets are available for $125, which includes valet parking, special seating area, access to VIP bar, listing as patron in the event program, special wine selection and a thank you gift. Participating Restaurants: Ombi, Watermark, Mambu, The Culinary Arts Center at Second Harvest, Ovations Catering, Nashville State Community College Culinary Arts, Park Café, Chaffin’s Barn, Pied Piper Creamery, Cabana, Eastland Café, Midtown Café, Sunset Grill, Tayst, Tin Angel, Mirror, Kalamatas, Margot, Marche, Zola, Noshville, Chappy’s on Church, Flyte, Radius 10, and the Veggie Café.

—The previously scheduled May 20 tasting of Georg Muller wines has been canceled. Stay tuned to this space for announcements of upcoming tastings.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
It's New Menu Tryout Time

By Laura Wilson on May 1, 2008

On to the new menu. For appetizers, we’re working on a new sweetbreads presentation with pine nuts, raisins and olives. We’re also working on a new ravioli, which includes duck confit and Taleggio cheese. We’re working on a sweet pea tendrils dish. (Don’t tell Olive Oyl and Popeye!). And we also want to do the mini lobster rolls with fresh hearts of palm, sort of a rearranging of the “Knuckle Sandwich” we featured this week with the fabulous stone crab claws special.

And we’re really proud of our our market vegetable plate. We’re just starting to get in some new vegetables of the season, such as radishes and greens from one of our favorites, DW Farms in Pulaski, Tenn. (www.dwfarms.com). Vegetable specials will be changing daily from now until the end of summer.

For entrees, we’re testing out a couple of halibut dishes. And we’re searching for the right rib-eye to replace the tenderloin on the menu. We’ll have two or three specials every night this weekend and beyond. Feel free to come up to the line and put your vote in on your favorite new items. That will really help us put the new menu together.

As for Terry and the Ombi bar, he’ll be featured in the upcoming May issue of Nashville Lifestyles magazine. He’ll be sharing the recipe for his popular D’Arbo cocktail, which if you haven’t tried yet, you should. “It’s named after the elderflower syrup I use it in,” Terry explains. “It’s an elderflower martini, basically.”

The recipe for the D’Arbo:

—2 ounces Reyka (Icelandic vodka)
—1 ounce Torrentes white wine, from Argentina
—Splash of white elderflower syrup, from Austria. (Terry orders it from www.GermanDeli.com. There’s no local source.).

A reminder that Ombi offers drink and food specials, in the bar area only, from 4–7 pm every day but Sunday. Terry’s delicious D’Arbo will set you back $8, a $2 discount from the regular cost for that and other specialty cocktails. It’s $6 for your choice of premium vodka martinis, $5 for classic rye Manhattans, half-price for draft beer, wine by the glass and white sangria. And the whole bar menu is full of tapas and other discounted menu items, all under $10. So start your evening out right!

I’ll list the upcoming events in a moment. But preceding that, on behalf of everyone here at Ombi, I want to thank everyone for coming out to pack our restaurant and so many others for last Tuesday’s Dining Out for Life, which benefited a much-loved charity, Nashville CARES. What an awesome evening!

COMING UP:

—Don’t forget the Albert Seltz Vineyard Wine Tasting hosted by Village Wine’s very own Hoyt Hill, this Thursday, May 8 at 6 pm. Here’s the lineup: 2006 Pinot Blanc Reserve ($17.99); 2006 Riesling Reserve ($17.99); 2006 Gewurztraminer Reserve ($18.99); 2006 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Zotzenberg ($34.99); 2003 Sylvaner Sono Contento ($34.99); 2004 Sylvaner Sono Contento ($34.99); and 2001 Sylvaner, la Colline aux Poiriers Late Harvest ($56.99). The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount. Please make reservations so that we may best accommodate you by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

—On Tuesday, May 20 at 6 pm, we’ll again be hosting Village Wines’ Hoyt Hill for a tasting of Georg Muller wines. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount. Please make reservations by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

—With the last day of Metro Schools set for May 22, I’m serving as restaurant chair for Generous Helpings 2008, 6–9 pm Wednesday, May 28 at the Nashville Convention Center Ballroom, which benefits Second Harvest Food Bank. You can get tickets and read more about it at www.secondharvestnashville.org. Here’s a brief summary from the website: “Generous Helpings is a culinary benefit and silent auction supporting Nashville’s Table, a Perishable Food Rescue Program of Second Harvest Food Bank. A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund at Nashville State Community College. Now in its fourth year, Generous Helpings features “tastes” of gourmet appetizers, entrees, desserts and beverages by more than 30 of the area’s finest independent restaurants, wine purveyors and breweries.” Cost is $40 in advance, $50 at the door
VIP patron tickets are available for $125, which includes valet parking, special seating area, access to VIP bar, listing as patron in the event program, special wine selection and a thank you gift. Participating Restaurants: Ombi, Watermark, Mambu, The Culinary Arts Center at Second Harvest, Ovations Catering, Nashville State Community College Culinary Arts, Park Café, Chaffin’s Barn, Pied Piper Creamery, Cabana, Eastland Café, Midtown Café, Sunset Grill, Tayst, Tin Angel, Mirror, Kalamatas, Margot, Marche, Zola, Noshville, Chappy’s on Church, Flyte, Radius 10, and Veggie Café.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Ombi E-letter for April 25

By Laura Wilson on April 25, 2008

Here’s what our buddy Dana Kopp Franklin of The Tennessean (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/ENTERTAINMENT02/804250343/1061) wrote this week about it:

“Dining Out for Life, the annual event during which scores of great Nashville-area restaurants donate meal proceeds to a much-loved charity, Nashville CARES. Dining Out for Life is one of the easiest charitable events you can imagine. Just select a participating restaurant from the list (it’s wise to make reservations first) and show up for the designated meal. The restaurant then donates at least 30 percent of the proceeds to Nashville CARES, which provides education on prevention of HIV and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV across Middle Tennessee. This year’s event is Tuesday, and 57 restaurants from Nashville, Franklin and Lebanon have signed on. New participants this year include MadDonna’s, Rumours East and Marché. All participants are donating at least 30 percent of the proceeds, but some will chip in 50 percent, 75 percent or 100 percent to the cause. The overachievers at Germantown Cafe have pledged to donate 105 percent. Making the list an even 60 restaurants, the benefit includes three restaurants in Columbia — Buckhead Coffee House, La Fuenta Restaurant and Ranch House. They will give 30 percent of their proceeds to Columbia CARES, which provides services similar to Nashville CARES but in the Maury County town. For more information, visit www.diningoutforlife.com/Nashville.”

In the meantime, here are our menu specials for tonight, Friday, April 25:

Appetizer: Spicy shrimp with carrot slaw
Entree: Sauteed trout over black bean and corn relish with an herbed brown butter

Oh, and this Saturday night, I’m representing Ombi at the Premiere Auction for l’Ete du Vin at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. It’s America’s oldest charity wine auction and is always a great night. Go to www.nashvillewineauction.com for more details and for reservations. I’m feeding them our house-made charcuterie. Or as we say on the line, “Cooter! Cooter order in!”

COMING UP: We’re excited to have our good friend Hoyt Hill of Village Wines hosting a tasting of Albert Seltz Alsatian wines on Thursday, May 8 at 6 pm. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterward, you’ll receive a 10% discount. I’ll send a detailed list of the wines soon—promise! Please make reservations so that we may best accommodate you by calling Ombi, 320–5350.

‘Til next time,

Laura Wilson
Newsletter 4.06.08

By Laura Wilson on April 6, 2008

We are excited to have Hoyt Hill of Village Wines hosting a tasting of Albert Setz Alsatian wines on May 8th at 6pm. The tasting is $10, and if you stay for dinner afterwards, you will receive a 10% discount. I’ll send a detailed list of the wines soon. Please make reservations so that we may best accommodate you.
Congratulations to Cooper Brunk, who has been promoted to Sous Chef. He’s impressed all of our staff and customers with his inventive and well executed specials, and has also wowed us with some great desserts. I’m always looking forward to what’s next.
We have a couple of changes on the dessert list…
Lemon Tart With Cornmeal Crust and Raspberry Jellies
Mascarpone Cheesecake with Hazelnut Crust and Port Soaked Cherries
Chocolate Genoise Layered with Chocolate Chip Buttercream and Ganache
It’s almost time for this year’s Generous Helpings event benefiting Nashville’s Table, the perishable and prepared food rescue program of Second Harvest Food Bank. The event is Wednesday, May 28th at the Nashville Convention Center, from 6–9. Tons of local independent restaurants and purveyors will be there for all to sample their wares. Big Fun!
Also, Tuesday, April 29th is Dining Out for Life! Come to Ombi, or at least go somewhere that is donating part of their day’s take to Nashville Cares. Check out all the restaurants at www.diningoutforlife.org.
Remember we are open for late night Fridays and Saturdays from 11 pm to 2am. All late night food items are half price, so don’t stoop to the shame of a drive thru on a late night out. See you this weekend!
New Menu!

By Laura Wilson on February 27, 2008

We have an exciting week here at Ombi. Tonight we have a wine tasting with Gary Eberle, from Eberle Vineyards in Paso Robles, CA. It’s at 6:00, is $10 and hosted by Hoyt Hill of Village Wines. If you stay for dinner after the tasting, you get 10% off your meal.
Wednesday we have a menu change that I’m really looking forward to. Crawfish cakes are back on! I’m now able to get fresh Louisiana crawfish tails in, and I’m very excited about it. Louisiana tails are much more plump and flavorful than the ones from the far east, more expensive but worth it. The coastal US fisherman need our support. Our shrimp on the BBQ shrimp will be Georgia white shrimp. It’s going to be the classic New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp with Creole Meuniere. Any time you hear the word Meuniere, it refers to “in the style of the miller’s wife”, which means something is dusted in flour and then sauteed in butter. The other seasonings in the dish are dark beer, worcestershire, garlic, lemon and cracked pepper. And BUTTER. This is one of my favorite shrimp preparations, not for the faint of heart, but worth the splurge. Check out the rest of the changes Wednesday at www.ombirestaurant.com.
Also, remember that we have a happy hor from 4 until 7, 7 days a week. All well drinks and draft beers are available 2 for 1 when you are sitting at the bar, cocktail area or patio (soon!).

Dine with Nashville’s Independant Restaurants!
www.nashvilleoriginals.com
Laura Wilson
Recent changes at Ombi

By Laura Wilson on February 17, 2008

Well, we’ve had quite a week! Kim’s last day was Thursday (Valentine’s Day) so it was a heckuva last day. Best wishes to Kim and her journeys in Provence. Monday be sure to come to the benefit for the Tennessee Tornado Victims through the Red Cross. We’ll be donating 10% of all sales Monday, so please come support a local cause. We’ll be changing the menu Wednesday, Feb 27th, so this week we’ll be previewing some of the new menu items as specials. Think Grilled Tuna with a Warm Nicoise Salad, Seared Scallops with Lemon Risotto, House Cured Pancetta and Basil Puree. and Crispy Chicken Livers with Pepper Jelly and Brioche. We’ll also be bringing back a couple of items you keep asking for, the crawfish cakes and BBQ Oysters. Let us know what you think. We also have two great additions to the kitchen that I’m really excited about, Kortnie Reying and Cooper Brunk. They’ve both been wowing me with their mad kichen skills, and we’re all excited to have them working with us. Also, Monday Feb 25th, we have the Eberle Tasting. Gary Eberle from Paso Robles, CA will be here to present his wines. Wine tasting is at 6, and you recieve 10% off your meal if you stay for dinner after the tasting.
Independent Restaurants on the Vacation Road

By Kim Totzke on July 20, 2007

On my vacation this summer going to lower and upper Michigan, my family and I made a concentrated effort to make sure we were dining in independent locally owned restaurants. I have to say I it made our vacation awesome. We stopped at Chili John’s in Green Bay, WI. I had eaten there when I was 11 or so, and it was awesome. Then we had the best broasted chicken at the local pub in Cedar River, MI in the upper penninsula. Met a fabulous man that goes by Big Dan who was bartending. He spoke with emotion about the manhattan. Didn’t even know that I was obsessed with the drink, he just started offering up his own conversation. I have a new friend. Then we went to the Miller brewing plant for a tour in Milwaukee. It was fun, then we went Crazy Water restaurant on the south side of Milwaukee. Awesome food, and the coolest space ever. You must check it out if you are in that area, they also gave perfect directions to the Brewers game. I still wore my Cubs hat! Then we went to Chicago wanted to get some hot dogs. Had one delicious dog and one horrible one. But the great dog made up for the horrible one. Of course had lots of brats and cheese curds at my family’s house in Lower Michigan, Bridgman. Went to some fun wineries and was pleasantly suprised by some of the wines. Picked up a case of blueberries, that was a great snack on the road. Then we went to Lynns paradise cafe in Louisville. That was the first time my husband had a hot brown or derby pie. The manager probably couldn’t have been nicer. Even though my son wishes we could just drive where we’re “supposed” to go, we would have missed out on all of those wonderful people and experiences rushing to get someplace. Next time you go on vacation, map it out and see what cool restaurants are along the way. Ask your friends if they know anyplace you should try. I got lots of great suggestions and it was worth getting more than a 100 feet off of the interstate.

Cheers
Classic cocktails

By Kim on June 9, 2007

I love classic cocktails as well as updated variations on the theme. There is a reason classic cocktails are considered classic. Because the rock! There is no such thing as an apple martini, it’s a shooter in a glass. I think maybe too many people got into fights with plastic bottles of whiskey and or gin in the college years, and may be scared. Be assured that drinking a manhattan with rye whiskey, vermouth, blood orange bitters and homemade maraschino cherries can make even the worst day seem somehow ok. A plymouth martini with a twist of lemon can refresh even the most tired soul. A millers gin aviation with the juice from the homemade maraschino cherries, can make you squeal like a child getting a big glass of coolaid on a hot summer day. When you drink a great cocktail put together by a great mixologist, everything is in balance. You are more likely to sit back, relax and enjoy the flavors as they linger on your lips as opposed to slamming it down your neck trying to see how many you can drink before you are cut off and try to forgive yourself tomorrow morining. Please give yourself the treat of sitting at the bar here at Ombi or at one of the other great experienced bartenders here in town, and give them the chance to muddle their way into your heart.