by lcreekmo on February 11, 2009
I learned today that my friend Reggie Crowder passed away on Sunday. Reggie owned Dee’s Q, the neighborhood roadside barbecue stand that I’ve loved for 4 years. If I remember correctly, Reggie told me once he opened Dee’s in August of 2004. I saw it for a few months on my way home every day, before I finally tried it. And it was love at first bite. I quickly learned why: Reggie grew up in the next town over in West Tennessee, and he cooked his barbecue just like I remembered it from home.
Nashville’s a bit of a hybrid barbecue town. You can find a little bit of everything here. I have the pleasure to have known many kinds of barbecue, thanks to friends and relatives who live all over the barbecue states. So I’ve had your brisket, your vinegar-base, your heavy, sticky sauce. And while I don’t even often turn down mustard barbecue [but really, South Carolina, is that right? I think not.], my love remains the West Tennessee barbecue of my childhood. A bit of sauce, but not too saucy. Tomatoes and vinegar in the sauce, but not too much of either. You should be tasting the meat here, not the sauce.
So once I happened up to Reggie’s stand, I came back again and again. I even ate barbecue a few times during my two vegetarian stints [first things first, people], and I’d stop by just for some of his fried okra, too. My whole family loved Reggie and his barbecue, even the ones who live out of state. I guess the home-folks connection helped, but the barbecue was critical, too.
My dad and I saw Reggie in the late fall, and he told us he’d had quadruple bypass surgery last summer. When he died, Reggie was 45. Just bad luck in the gene pool is all you can say there, I guess. He was doing well when I saw him this fall, but I understand from a friend he’d been back in the hospital recently.
I just hate this. Reggie was one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet. And he was living his dream with Dee’s Q. I don’t have anything profound to add here. I’m not one to go around saying how this is God’s will or whatever. I think the universe is random and capricious, but most days I’m glad to be part of it. Today’s not one of those days. I am grateful to have known Reggie Crowder. Peace and good barbecue to you, my friend.
Previous posts on Dee’s Q:
More people who love Dee’s Q
by lcreekmo on July 8, 2008
Let me start here by saying to my skeptical Texan friends — I know, I know. You won’t believe me until you’ve eaten it yourself, and frankly, you’re not that inclined to come all the way to Nashville [just to find out I'm right].
But I am — this is the best Mexican food. Ever.
The details:
Los Rosales
1307 Bell Road
Strip mall, corner of Blue Hole Road and Bell Road [just west of I-24's exit 59]
Open 7 days, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
I first heard of Los Rosales from some other local bloggers. Now I can’t remember — was it on Twitter? On a website? I know it’s been discussed on Bites, the Scene’s food blog.
At any rate, I dragged the then-fiance all the way down to Antioch earlier in June. And we thought we’d died and gone to heaven.
One more disclaimer: The now-husband is from Texas and he thought it was great, too. He adds: Good presentation. I agree.
So, enough already. What’s so great about Los Rosales?
It’s all homemade and fresh, that’s what. And I’ll bet most Nashvillians don’t have a clue they’re missing that in their Mexican food. But when you taste the made-when-you-arrive creations at Los Rosales, you’ll immediately see the difference.
When you arrive, they’ll bring out some fresh, homemade chips, and a dish with some pico, salsa and bean dip in three trays. All are wonderful.
Here, I ordered the spinach enchiladas. Rich and creamy, with a delicious avocado spread on top. The meat-eaters in our crowd loved the fajitas.
Please do not fail to order a margarita.
We enjoyed talking with Carlos Moncayo, the manager, who used to own a taco stand, but told us he’d always dreamed of having a restaurant. He says the recipes are all his mother’s, what she cooked at home when he was growing up. Absolutely fabulous.
I’ll just wrap up by saying that I have already been to Los Rosales twice in the last month. That’s a 30-mile round trip from East Nashville — about $5 in gas each time. It was well worth it.
P.S. Don’t go when you’re in a hurry. Remember, they’re starting from scratch for you.
And: I KNEW I’d heard about this from my blogger friends. Lesley’s been twice, too.
by lcreekmo on April 11, 2008
Today I went to lunch with my parents, who were driving through town on their way to some weekend parties in honor of Nashvegas sister and her fiancé. Assuming everyone lives this long, they’re getting married in three weeks. Woo hoo!
But that is not the point of this post. The point is this: I ate the creepiest veggie burger ever today for lunch. [Follow Nashville veggie friends: Let me know if you eat on West End and I'll share more details, like where not to eat if you want to avoid the same thing.]
The weird thing: It tasted good. But I couldn’t eat it. The burger was the consistency of very very rare ground beef. And there was a smoky flavor that really contributed to the meat sensation. But this was the clincher: They appeared to have used beets or beet juice in the burger, because the grains, which made up the majority of the burger, were pink. Pink, people. Like raw beef.
Seriously. You do not want your veggie burger to evoke raw beef.
I have spent a fair amount of time this spring thinking about why I’m not eating meat. I still haven’t figured it out, really. But I do know that I’m less enticed than ever to go omni after that crazy veggie burger today.
by lcreekmo on November 7, 2007
Tonight’s menu: Red velvet cheesecake from the Blue Sky Cafe in Fletcher, NC. I have a photo of it around here somewhere. Will share later.
by lcreekmo on November 6, 2007
We have been eating without a working stove for seven eight days now. Those of you who have been around here for any time at all know that is about to kill me. I realized I should have been logging all these meals.
Day 1: We all went to Chili’s on West End.
Day 2: The 2yo and I ate at home. I think there were nuts and olives involved on my part, but I’m not sure about on his.
Day 3: We ate at Las Maracas. An all-time favorite.
Day 4: We ordered Pizza Hut. I love, love, love the online ordering. I hate, hate, hate when I forget you should not order pizza at dinnertime on Friday night, because everyone else in town does, too.
Day 5: The 8yo spent the night with a friend. The 2yo had various non-cooked nibbles. The rest of us went to Family Wash. It’s always best to do that when the 8yo is elsewhere. Inexplicably, she doesn’t care for this great pub.
Day 6: We ordered takeout pizza from PizzeReal. I love that place.
Day 7: We got takeout Chinese from Dragon Garden [at 4912 Charlotte, never mind what CitySearch says], recommended by my neighborhood listserv. Great food.
Day 8: The 2yo and I had leftover Chinese, Rice-a-Roni and cheese and crackers for dinner. Lest you report me to child services, please know that he also had a banana and applesauce.
Watch for more exciting updates in the days to come. The gas people come Monday, Nov. 12. I am told it’s possible I’ll be able to cook that night, but after what we’ve been through already, I’m going to consider myself lucky to have things up and running before Thanksgiving.
I hope everyone likes Chinese takeout. I think that could be a nice new tradition.
by lcreekmo on June 8, 2007
Mothership BBQ is closing up shop in Berry Hill — get there today if you can — but is now scheduled to re-open soon in a new location. Woo hoo!
by lcreekmo on May 20, 2007
Well, I should have done this many moons ago. So let me be quick about it: If you haven’t been to Pied Piper Creamery, for heaven’s sake, stop reading and rush over right now!
The business venture of one Jenny Piper, who happens to be old friends with half the people I know, Pied Piper is the new hit of East Nashville. And you know what that means….all the cool kids are doing it. The Scene gives PPC high marks, if you need additional validation.
Jenny started her shop just a few months ago, and already I find myself "needing" to stop by at least once a week. Thank goodness I have two children. They are fabulous cover for such excursions. But trust me, I’d go alone, without shame.
I’ve only tried two flavors in my several trips, because they’ve been so good I haven’t been able to break out further. The Banana Fana Fo Fudding is just divine. Rich, creamy, banana-y.
And Strawberry Fields…well, it won’t be this good forever, because right now, Jenny’s able to make it with fresh strawberries. To. Die. For.
There are at least two dozen other flavors, and the 7yo highly recommends the "C Is for Cookie" Oreo flavor. I’m not a huge Oreo fan, but trust me, she’s an expert.
The Dets:
114 S 11th St [In the same building with V Floral and Gifts. Take your wallet. Between the ice cream and the goodies, you'll want to shop.]
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (512) 227-4114
Mon-Sat 11am-8pm
Sun 1pm-8pm
Critical: Cash only for the moment. Worth every penny and the stop at the ATM.
by lcreekmo on April 27, 2007
Jim over at the Mothership BBQ has a few important posts the last few days. While he’s scraping by on the side, side, side street where he’s located in Berry Hill, he’s got the opportunity to make a real go of it in the SoBro area. People, if you have not yet feasted at the Mothership, you’re missing out. And just think how much easier it would be to do that if MSBBQ were in SoBro. And you could have some beer with your ‘cue.
Got some investor connections for the man? Your stomach will thank you.
by lcreekmo on March 13, 2007
I couldn’t begin to encapsulate everything we did in the past four days, so please:
See my Flickr photos from Austin, TX, SXSW and every restaurant we ate in
Then be sure to view Summer’s, Cole’s and Rex’s photos.
Summer has also blogged some of the restaurants where we ate, and Rex has blogged several sessions I didn’t attend, and some I did.
Finally, NYC sister’s fiance’s coworker saw all these restaurant reports here on Fixin’ Supper, and he passed along these recommendations for the next time I’m in town:
Z Tejas is highly recommended, especially the apple cobbler, and you’ll probably need reservations. East Side Cafe apparently has a greenhouse attached to the restaurant, so at least some of the food is grown right there. And he concurs with your conclusions about The Salt Lick and Guero’s.
by lcreekmo on March 13, 2007
We went to the Salt Lick Sunday night. If you aren’t a vegetarian, you must make this fabulous restaurant in Driftwood, Texas, a definite stop on your tour of Austin.
The brisket is great, the dill pickles crunchy and pucker-inducing and the ribs are very flavorful.
My complaint remains from my first visit to the Salt Lick: With all the other great home cooking here, why are they serving us store-bought bread? There’s some on my plate here but I ate little of it. It offends the palate compared with the other authentic Texas barbecue fare.
More photos in my Flickr account.
