cactus & kudzu

what I ordered: Nick’s in the Sticks

Brett Bralley — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:33:47 +0000

This Valentine’s Day was certainly one to remember.

James and I talked about where we’d like to go, and I suggested Nick’s in the Sticks, because after six-and-a-half years of living in Alabama, I still had never been. He thought it was a wonderful idea.

It being Valentine’s Day, we were slightly afraid that it might be a bit packed, and it was, but we only waited about 20 minutes at the most for a table, and let me tell you—it would have been well worth an hour-long wait.

This place is awesome. There’s no sign out front (rumor says it was blown away during Hurricane Ivan), but steak cravers driving down a dark road know they’ve found their oasis when they see a dimly lit cinderblock building surrounded by parked cars. When you walk in, the dollar bills tacked to the ceiling and the wood-panel walls covered with Alabama memorabilia make it quite obvious that this little spot is rich with history.

We ordered steaks of course. My ($9.95!) small filet was wrapped in bacon and came with a house salad and a side (baked potato). The salad was just your average little salad, but the blue cheese dressing was creamy with just the right amount of blue cheese crumbles.
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And my steak—oh heavens—was it good. I ordered it medium, and it came probably closer to medium rare (yay!). It was perfectly tender, easy to cut, juicy and rich. Oh, I just love a good steak. The only thing I’d say about it is (and now, I don’t eat a whole lot of bacon-wrapped filets, so take this with that grain of salt), but the bacon was a bit flabby. I would have liked to see a bit more crispness to it, but it was still fabulous.

Tada! Hello, beautiful steak.
Oh—and I almost forgot another great part of this experience: The Nickademus.

This house concoction is like a grown-up shirley temple. No… more like hunch punch you’d find at a house party. It’s strong, and it’s fruity. It is definitely a must-order.

While we had a wonderful time, there were a few things I’d mention. It was Valentine’s Day, so we understand it was a busy, busy night, but we waited a very long time once we sat down to get service. And even once we ordered, our food took forever, though I wasn’t really all that sad about that after I finished because it was well worth the wait. Also, this place is tiny! So if you’re going with a large group, it might be forever and a day until you get a table. I’d say the max I saw accommodations for was about 4 or 5. Also, when you go in, walk up to the counter to put your name on the list. And don’t wait for the check once you’re finished. You need to walk back up to the counter to pay. We were such newbies. This all had to be explained to us.

I absolutely want to go back, and try this place on a not-so-busy night, but we were so happy with our experience.

And before I wrap this up, here’s an interesting read on Nick’s in the Sticks’ history and its tie to prohibition. Nick’s originally opened in Greene County when Tuscaloosa County was dry to service those looking for a little extra fun on their Friday nights, but once Tuscaloosa allowed alcohol sales, it moved over to be closer to its clientele.

Thank you, James! I love Valentine’s Day. And uh, next time we want a $10 filet, we’ll be coming here, thank you very much.

valentine’s love

Brett Bralley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:07:25 +0000

What are you doing with your sweetie?

Image credit: A Subtle Revelry

This Valentine’s Day, James and I are heading to Nicks in the Sticks. We’ve talked about going far too many times, so I told him all I want for Valentine’s Day is to enjoy a beautiful steak in this off-the-beaten-path locale.

But, perhaps after our dinner, I might take a cue from Victoria from A Subtle Revelry, and snuggle up with a sweet and nostalgic dessert with just a twist of creativity. Maybe we’ll toast marshmallows in our fireplace, and melt our s’mores with peanut butter cups and berries. Oh how romantic!

Image credit: A Subtle Revelry

Combine this with blankets, pillows, and love, and what a great Valentine’s Day to celebrate with my betrothed.

What are you planning for this Valentine’s Day? A romantic night out with your sweetheart? Or will you be cozying it up indoors?

what I ordered: Urban Cookhouse

Brett Bralley — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:04:24 +0000

My sister and I finally live and work in the same city, so we have been having regular sister lunches. Last week, we went to Urban Cookhouse. I’ve made many a trip to the one in Homewood, but this was my first visit to the new location at The Summit.

In the past I’ve enjoyed every meal at Urban Cookhouse, so it’s hard to give a bad review of what I ordered. But I did learn at Food Blog South last weekend (which was awesome by the way) that bloggers need not be afraid to be critical. But hey, sometimes it is just easier to just go on and on about all things you love.

So I ordered the Pepper Patch Wrap, which is grilled chicken, black beans, corn, red onions, tomatoes, pepper jack cheese, and roasted jalapeno vinaigrette wrapped in a wheat tortilla. While a lot of these ingredients weren’t in season, I decided to try it anyways. Much to my chagrin, the wrap was very dry. There was not enough dressing on it. The tomatoes were mealy, and I didn’t get any “pepper” taste until the very end of the wrap.

I ordered a side of hot cheddar pasta, which was delightfully cheesy, though the pasta was a little overcooked and mushy, but still delivered a great sharp cheddar flavor.

In the past, I have ordered the pulled pork sandwiches and they were quite delicious (at the Homewood location). Also the broccoli salad is sweet and crisp and definitely worth trying.

The one thing I will rave about is their strawberry lemonade. It did taste very fresh and the man behind the counter told us that they press the fresh strawberries right there in the kitchen the day of. And the flavor definitely confirmed that story.

My sweet sister Brynn enjoys her strawberry lemonade.

I’m certainly willing to give Urban Cookhouse another try, but I left feeling like I should have ordered something else or gone elsewhere for lunch. Sad. But with time, maybe the kitchen at this location will catch up with its Homewood sibling. Have you tried the new location? What are your thoughts?

mid-morning hunger: burgers

Brett Bralley — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:35:48 +0000

Y’all I am seriously hungry right now. And all I want is a big, juicy, thick burger. Oh, and some fries, too please. Here’s some web deliciousness for you to salivate over, mk?

Western BBQ Burgers — Patio Daddio BBQ

Balsamic Reduction Burger with Warm Goat Cheese Spread — food 52

German Pork Burger — Simply Recipes

Blue Cheese Burger — Pioneer Woman

Old-Fashioned Juicy Burger — The Kitchn

Ultimate Umami Burger — White on Rice Couple

Asian Turkey Burgers with Spicy Lime Mayo — How Sweet It Is

And the grand finale …

In-N-Out’s Double Double, Animal Style — Serious Eats (y’all this is a recipe for this! I want to try!)

Ok, enjoy your hunger pangs.

Oh, and Food Blog South is this weekend! I am so excited to meet and mingle with fellow food bloggers (both newbies—like me—and legends) and learn how to be a better food writer/photographer/appreciator.

what i ordered: La Fogata

Brett Bralley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:35:29 +0000

If I were a celebrity chef, and they asked me to go on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and the episode had a Mexican theme, I would probably say the flauta plate La Fogata. (Though this might come in at a close second).

La Fogata is a Bralley family favorite. My parents have been taking us to this Sherman Oaks eatery literally our entire lives, and they’ve been frequenting it for even longer. And as you know, we Bralleys are quite particular about our Mexican fare, so whenever we make a trip out to the Valley (which we did on our most recent trip to California), we pay a visit to La Fogata.

Every time I came here growing up, I ordered the #16: the Two Flautas plate. It comes with two shredded beef flautas and is topped with sour cream, fresh guacamole, a tomato slice, and served alongside rice and frijoles. The shredded beef is something you must try if you go to La Fogata—it’s one of their signature items.

This time, however, I insisted that James order the flautas, while I ordered their tacos, just to shake things up. While my tacos were absolutely to die for (a crispy fried corn tortilla shell, juicy shredded beef, fresh tomatoes and lettuce) I looked longingly at those flautas. So James gave me a bite. The fried flour tortilla is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the shredded beef is hot and flavorful.

Also, La Fogata serves the best horchata I’ve found anywhere. Hands down. All others I’ve tried anywhere else have so far paled in comparison. But this might have something to do with the comfort factor of La Fogata’s sweet combination of rice, milk, and cinnamon.

So if you’re ever in the San Fernando Valley, I strongly and passionately urge you to visit this down-home Mexican restaurant.

Related post— what I ordered: Pinches Tacos

wedding inspiration

Brett Bralley — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:47:06 +0000

Well the date and venue have yet to be finalized, but I can’t help but share some fabulous inspiration I came across for the big day. I don’t have too many details planned out (at least none that I’m ready to share quite yet!), but I do know I want our celebration to incorporate our two homes: Alabama and California.

Take a look at some of the images of this styled shoot by Green Wedding Shoes. I am loving the succulents, and the use of green tomatoes and cotton is so clever! Not sure we’ll go as far as to have cotton, though. Anyways, enjoy!

what I ordered: Bettola

Brett Bralley — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:19:00 +0000

I went to Bettola as a goodbye dinner to my roommate Taylor, who moved back to California after interning for 4 months at Coastal Living. This was in December, and we had originally planned to go to GianMarco’s. We thought surely we’d get in on a Tuesday night. But I guess the holiday shopping/our ignorance (?) crept up on us, because we arrived and they told us there was no way we’d get a table that night. Yikes. Then we called another spot or two—all full. Then Bettola came to my mind. Yes! That would be a great place, and it’s ever so slightly off the beaten path in Pepper Place, so maybe it wouldn’t be as jam packed. And success! We had a table in 20 minutes.

We left Bettola so happy we came, raving about the meal.

To start, we ordered the Insalata Argulua. Y’all—from the moment I took the first bite I sincerely regretted not taking a picture. What was I thinking? I guess my mind was just ready for pizza, and my fork moved faster than my brain. This salad is prepared with local arugula, 2-year aged Parmesan, thinly sliced red onion, and a lemon and oregano emulsion as a dressing. I am going (to make a sad attempt, most likely) to prepare this at home. The peppery flavor of the arugula was brought out even more by the lemon and oregano (brilliant!). The red onion added an extra kick and each bite was perfectly coated in dressing. An unassuming leafy salad turned out to be bursting with bright flavor. I recommend this so highly.

Then we each ordered our own pizza. And we each just about finished our own (had to hold off on the last piece only because I wanted it for lunch the next day). I ordered the Pancetta e Cipola pizza, which is caramelized onions, pancetta, and hot peppers. The sweetness of the onions, the spice of the peppers, and the saltiness of the pancetta made this a well-rounded, very flavorful pizza. And the crust has a rustic, delightfully charred flavor. It’s thin and crispy, and it tastes even better whilst gazing at the brick oven in the center of the restaurant.

Taylor ordered the Beitola pizza, and we traded a piece for a piece. It was topped with the house sausage, spinach from Owl’s Hollow Farm in Gadsden, fontina, pecorino, mascarpone, and finished with a farm egg. Well it was my first time trying a pizza with an egg on it, and the buttery rich flavor complemented the earthy essence of the sausage and the creaminess of the cheese. And the spinach tamed all that richness in just the right way. It was beautiful.

Ok and then—the dessert. Our waitress sneakily placed menus in front of us (otherwise we might have held back), so we ordered the Torta Cioccolata, which is described as warm truffle chocolate, baked in a toasted almond tart, topped with toasted almonds, and served with espresso gelato.

As my roommate, Elana, articulated it, this dessert is a good example of why I love food. The subtlety and the flavor was so spot on and creative, it just about made me cry. Each bite of gelato was accompanied by a tiny crunch of caramelized sugar that was layered beneath. And the chocolate was deep, deep. dark chocolate—as bittersweet as it comes. The espresso gelato was actually sweeter than the chocolate, and the tart shell was crunchy and the almonds purveyed a pleasant nutty addition.

We left feeling that our money was well spent and grateful for the fabulous experience and last evening out together. I highly recommend Bettola. And if you can’t make it for dinner, head over for lunch and try a flatbread sandwich!

thoughts on the new year (and a blogger award)!

Brett Bralley — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:33:46 +0000

We are just a few short hours away from the commencement of 2012. I’m sitting in sunny Altadena (It’s currently 79° here. Amazing!), and anxiously awaiting my fiance’s (!) arrival at LAX just in time for a family New Year’s Eve party complete with burgers from In-N-Out.

So here’s a quick roundup of exciting events that occurred in 2011, and I’d like to share some hopes for 2012.

1. Well…. I got engaged! This only happened about 11 days before the year ended, but James surprised me with a beautiful proposal on the shores of Lake Nicol in Tuscaloosa. It was dark, misty, and wonderfully romantic. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

2. I got my first real job. I started the year with a great internship at Coastal Living magazine, but in March I was hired at Hoffman Media as the assistant editor for Celebrate magazine. I love my job, and I feel utterly privileged to go to work every day for such a beautiful publication.

3. I started up this blog. This had existed before with a different name and focus, but for the longest time I wanted it to be something more. Cactus & Kudzu is constantly a work in progress, but I am writing about what I’m passionate about, and I hope to keep it going.

4. I’ve grown closer to the Lord through my involvement in Brook Hills Church in Birmingham. I’m so grateful for the fellowship and opportunity I’ve had to better my relationship with Him.

My hopes for 2012:

1. Get married! And as we are hoping for a summer wedding…the planning begins!

2. Improve as a writer and as an editor. Celebrate is on the verge of making great changes, and I’m so excited to be apart of it.

3. Continue to grow in the Lord through opportunities for serving Him and spending time in His word with other believers.

4. Become a better budgeter and saver. Learning how to manage money can be tricky, and I have a lot to learn. I did get better this year at keeping track of my income and spending, but I want to really get that nailed down by the time I get married!

5. Let this blog blossom. I am so excited to see where Cactus & Kudzu will be at the end of 2012.

And before all of the excitement ensued, I received a blog award! And since coming home makes me probably the world’s worst blogger, I’m just now getting around to accepting it. Ashley from Lifevesting (a great blog to check out, by the way) nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award. Thanks so much, Ashley!

These are the rules for The Versatile Blogger award:

- Nominate 15 fellow bloggers.

- Inform the bloggers of the nomination.

- Share 7 random things about yourself.

- Thank the blogger who nominated you.

- Add The Versatile Blogger badge to your blog post.

Here are my 15 nominations in no particular order for bloggers that show fabulous versatility:

1. Constants Become Surreal

2. all things splendid

3. strataflora

4. Inspire; to breathe

5. E Tells Tales

6. Happily Nesting

7. Maple Macaroni

8. Home Dreams

9. Simple Speedy Snacks

10. Allison Eats

11. publikworks

12. Running On Cereal

13. Dramshop Beer

14. Brewly Noted

15. so.chic

Seven Random Tidbits:

1. My idea of a great Friday night can be as simple as ordering a pizza and uncorking a bottle of wine (or grabbing some beer or whipping up some margaritas) and enjoying a movie or a TV show we love.

2. I don’t have a great sweet tooth—foods I crave are typically savory. But if I do crave something sweet, it will be chocolate.

3. I want to start saving up for an SLR camera, and I want to learn more about food styling and photography.

4. I also want to take cooking classes and improve my skills and overall food knowledge.

5. I have three sisters and our names are unique. Brett (me!), Brynn, Brass, and Brikk. My parents followed the BR – short vowel – double consonant.

6. I have two dogs on the West Coast (Angus, a westie, and Diego, a spaniel of some sorts), and one dog in the South (Leroy, a German Shorthaired Pointer). I wish they could meet!

7. I feel so incredibly blessed to be marrying James Jaillet! And my new last name will rhyme with my first name. I’ll be Brett Jaillet!

tamale tradition

Brett Bralley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:12:21 +0000

Christmas is over, but I can’t help but share a lovely tradition we have on our Mexican side of the family.

Each year on Christmas Eve the entire Arguijo side of the family gathers at my Grandpa’s house. He’s worked days in advance preparing two oversized pots full of tamales and one of spicy menudo.

We eat, we drink, and we sing.

So happy to be celebrating the holidays at home.

My sisters and I pose with my Grandpa, who is wearing the Alabama "Nick Saban-style" shirt we got him for Christmas.

holiday giveaway: winner announced!

Brett Bralley — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:41:49 +0000

And now for the winner for the holiday giveaway….

Drumroll please….

The winner (randomly selected out of all the entries) is… Amber Gaddy! Congrats, Amber!

Thank you all for participating. And stay tuned for another giveaway after the New Year! And click here to see the bit of news I have to share!