Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Slow Food Sausage

It was a chilly morning in Chattanooga late last year when I visited Link 41. The little butcher shop that could wasn't officially open for business, but I was there on business as a writer, to learn about what they did and why they did it. (That's what you always look to learn when you talk to creative people, by the way.)

And tasting the sausage and bacon, it was clear Trae Moore and Tom Montague were creative.

But little did I know it was going to feel so homey. Words like "heritage breeds," "apprenticeship," "closed loop production" and "mindful eating" started to float about the room. Slow food was the language spoken here, and for me, it was like settling into the easy chair at my best friend's house.

Link 41 served some amazing mole sausage that day, crunchy with cocoa nibs that made taking a second helping a no-brainer, even if it was following the two pieces of bacon I had already consumed. I got really excited about the whole thing and wrote all about it for the Southern Food and Beverage Museum's online pub, OKRA, which is a great resource for foodies and those interested in food history.

Link 41 doesn't yet ship it's product, but after reading the article, you might want to join me in requesting that the shipping service begin. Or else you might have to plan a trip to Chattanooga ...

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sounds of a Professional

I've heard a good bit of live music through the years. It's almost always been earnest, usually fun, and sometimes the promise of something bigger. But what I heard last Wed. at the Village Tavern in Mount Pleasant was professional. It was standing out from the crowd.

You know how these things work, right? You get in for a small cover, stand around and wait for the opening act to start (it's always late) and you try to find a spot you can stake out. And then if you're me, you think about how late it is and what you have to do tomorrow and how happy that there's now no smoking in bars and restaurants anymore and maybe, how you wish you wore flats, but yes, the boots are just too great to not wear. And then you wait a little more, trying not to look like you came too early.


But when Sarah Lee and Johnny came on stage, things were different. It wasn't live music, it was a concert. And Vetiver was backing them up. Lots of people on one tiny stage. Tight harmonies, great songwriting, and a full sound that made it feel like this was a night to remember. Even if your feet hurt and it was late for a week night. This was a moment not to be missed (especially since I was sharing it with my great friend Holly).

If you want to know who they are and learn a little about them, read my article in Charleston Scene that gives you the scoop. Hint: Sarah Lee's last name is Guthrie.