One of my favorite places to go in Midtown was Jasmine, a small restaurant housed in the Cooper-Young neighborhood. I loved the place for both the food and the feeling of dining in a small, intimate environment. The hospitality was warm and welcoming, as if I was dining at a friend’s home. Unfortunately, the Thai-themed restaurant went out of business during COVID, leaving me at a loss for that special dining spot. The space was eventually taken over by the restaurants Elwood’s Shells and Parrish Grocery, but both lacked the missing element of homely comfort that made Jasmine unique. That said, I believe that the little old house in Cooper-Young has finally found a worthy tenant. La Roche is a Middle Eastern restaurant that specializes in Lebanese cuisine, continuing the tradition of international dining at its location. The restaurant staff is as welcoming as the ladies from Jasmine were, so I felt right at home. Having settled in, I decided to get a three-course meal including dessert.
For starters, I got the kibbeh, a croquette dish indigenous to the Levant region in the Middle East. La Roche's version is a mix of ground beef, onions, and pine nuts encased in dough made of bulgur wheat and more ground beef, then deep-fried. The taste is more akin to an exotic sausage than beef but very tasty nonetheless. As a snack, it's great "finger food" that can be eaten in a car or while walking. Kibbeh is even better when dipped in hummus or baba ghanouj that really go well together. For casual dining, kibbeh is a great light meal before a night of fun in Cooper-Young.
During dinner, I drank a glass of mint lemonade instead of my usual alcoholic beverage. Because the owners are likely Muslims who adhere to the Islamic prohibitions about alcohol, La Roche isn't the place for the intoxicating libation. Fortunately, the mint lemonade was sufficient to quench my thirst and complement my meal. What I like about the drink is its strong citrus flavor, which isn't overly sweet. Instead of an emphasis on sugar, La Roche's lemonade is infused with a very refreshing mint flavor. As much as I like a good glass of wine or a cocktail, La Roche's non-alcoholic alternative hits the mark for taste and satisfaction.
For dessert, I had La Roche's version of baklava. Despite Wikipedia's description of it as a layered dessert, the baklava I got was more like cookies with nuts in the center. I'm guessing that two of the "cookies" had pistachio pieces as the filler, while the other had peanuts. Along with orange slices dipped in whipped cream, the baklava was a sweet end to a very nice dinner.
Overall, I was very impressed with La Roche, a restaurant with a French-sounding name presented by women from Lebanon. As I said earlier, the restaurant is as cozy as it was before. Unlike Celtic Crossing, which is directly across the street from La Roche and is also housed in a former home, the Lebanese restaurant retains the intimate atmosphere that appeals to those seeking a quiet, peaceful dinner (or lunch). Despite not being big on Middle Eastern cuisine (although this is my second straight post on the topic, following Nashville's Butcher & Bee), I will visit La Roche often if for no other reason than to have a nice meal in a place like my home. Hopefully, La Roche will be around for a long time, but the restaurant business is tough, especially when dealing with factors beyond its control. Given the following the restaurant has, I see a long and beautiful future for La Roche. Go check it out.
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It's That Time Again!
NOTE: the following are opinions of Ken's Food Find and not La Roche or any other restaurant mentioned in this post.
November 3rd is election day for America, at a time when the country is at a fork in the road. In my opinion, it boils down to whether its citizens are satisfied with the status quo (some of which I predicted two years ago) or want either change or accountability, a word that rhymes with affordability. Some believed that electing the current president of the United States would make their lives better, but instead are paying more for gas, groceries and other things. Unlike two years ago, I won't suggest whom to vote for because I don't believe it will make a difference. Then again, I shouldn't have to, for if Americans are satisfied with the mess..., er, magnificent job that the current president and his party are doing, then they should continue to support it. For everyone else, please vote for people who will hold those in power accountable. I know that some of you reading this don't like either of America's two political parties and are not motivated to vote. Although I get it, the fact is the economy is bad, and America's president doesn't care. He's more consumed with building a ballroom than the country's needs, and his political party is too afraid to challenge him. If those "independents" want change, there is only one alternative, not two or three or seven or twenty-seven, just one. As flawed as that one alternative is, it is the only one that will hold the current president and his party accountable. Maybe someday America might have more political choices, but right now there is only one alternative to what the country has now. So, please, go out and vote.
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In Tennessee and many other states, Americans can vote early either in person or by mail (early voting in Tennessee ends on October 29th). If you decide to vote, please make a plan to do it. Also, if you're a Tennessean, include in your "plan" (something that healthier democracies don't have to deal with) the verification of your choices in the election booth before submitting them. There have been reports (including one from Dolly Parton's sister) that some voting machines were changing votes from one candidate to another. Don't get caught off guard by not verifying your vote on a machine run by people who might not have your best interests at heart. If you don't want to deal with crooked..., er, faulty voting machines, you can request a paper ballot that is easy to use and less susceptible to tampering. The one drawback of a paper ballot is that you can't verify whether the vote tabulator recorded your vote, but there is a physical record that can be reviewed if needed. I would suggest voting by mail, but given the shenanigans of the current president who desperately wants to undermine the Postal Service, I highly recommend voting in person if possible as opposed to mailing your ballot (if you can't do that, please get your ballot in the mail ASAP). If you need more information about voting, go to vote.org. The website "helps Americans register to vote, verify their registration, understand election requirements, and make a plan to cast a ballot." Also, it advises voters on what to do if their access to voting is "hindered" by whoever or whatever. Okay, enough with "Ken's Political Point"; go out and VOTE!
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