word on the street

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Meanness

Quit yours.

Seems like several times a week I defend my aversion to restaurant review sites and am pained by a derogotory Facebook post.  I do hope people who post hurtful things get some sort of reward from it.  I can tell you no matter how much peace and grace I claim to hold, you have great success in your mission to hurt.  

At 41 I got my first and only tattoo.  I love it. I love the notion LOVE HEALS.  I believe there is a choice - to love or not.  

Restaurants, to me, have this amazing opportunity to love people through food and community.  That is why I have a restaurant.  Food is a vehicle of love.  The disconnect occurs when restaurants steer by the bottom line.  Quality of food suffers, relationships with farmers cease and soon a chicken sandwich becomes a vehicle of greedy farming practices and a fear based, bottom line squeezing owner.  

Well respected and loved employees will gladly serve food from farmers who farm with love and best practices.  From that farmer to a happy employee to a plate to a mouth, love is alive.  It's impossible not to feel the difference.

No matter what anyone posts, whispers or claims, I am proud of Burger Up and our unwavering pursuit of loving you through food.

I'm worn out with the meanness.  You win.  Well, in fact, you lose.

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10-10-12

Today is Michael Pontes's birthday.  He is 44.  His presence is so strong I speak in the present when referring to him.  I speak of him with love.  Only love.  

This morning I went to the Magdalene Circle at Thistle Farms.  http://thistlefarms.org The circle meets every Wednesday morning at 9 am.  The circle is open to anyone. The circle is sacred, kind, loving, nurturing, healing, never judging, accepting, patient, forgiving.  This morning in particular I went to celebrate Michael with the women of Magdalene.  They knew and loved him.  He loved them.  His spirit blanketed us.  

I had the honor of celebrating Michael's birthday each year since 2008.  I had the honor of loving him and being loved by him.  I had the honor of time spent with him when he was at his all-time best.  I had the honor of knowing Michael Pontes.

To post this may very well be considered inappropriate, awkward or .......... but I post this here because it's far too often matters which need sharing are hushed, pushed aside and left to fester sadness, pain and/or judgment. 

Love heals.  Love never dies.  Love prevails.

Happy Birthday Michael Pontes

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Farm Suppers. Sunday Suppers

Since when is the term "supper" back in fashion?  When I was growing up, (child of the 70's) we had breakfast in the morning, dinner at noon and supper at 6pm (on the nose).

Somewhere after Mattie (she raised me) passed away, dinner became lunch and supper became dinner - whatever I could find of it, at whatever time I chose and wherever I chose to eat.

To me there is a fondness to the word supper. I'm glad we're saying it again.

My first dining experience in San Francisco was Julie's Supper Club (RIP).  It was oh so cool, hip, just sexy and sassy enough and the food was warming, familiar and delicious.

Fast forward 8 or so years and I hear that sweet word again.  This time at a Nashville favorite of mine, City House, introducing Sunday Suppers.  Any Sunday evening spent at City House is a treat and often I feel somewhat of a stalker as I go all the time.

As with anything cool, that thing takes off, sprouts wings and soon enough will be everywhere.  Farm+Sunday+Suppers are definitely flying high.

So here's to Mattie, Julie's Supper Club, City House, Farms and Sundays.  I don't have to look hard to find a reason to surround myself in community and eat supper.

with love.

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Sevier Park this morning

Today was in a word, spectacular.  Spectacular temperature, little humidity, slight breeze and the park was EMPTY.  I found it hard to believe while grateful as it allows me to let my dogs run free.  

Tonight emptiness will be replaced with loads of families, neighborhood folks and others looking for a place to sit on a blanket, share a picnic and perhaps a beer while the 12th South Concert series serenades.

http://12southconcerts.com

Other outside options today include Musicians Corner http://musicianscornernashville.com

in Centennial Park and the continuation of the Zach Brown Band riverfront music festival.

http://nashville.backpage.com/TicketsForSale/zac-brown-band-tickets-nashville-tn-riverfront-park-southern-ground-music-food-festival-mycityrocks/5589115

I'm going to The Palm for the very first time ever while keeping one eye on the look out for Chef Michael Symon - heard he was at Prince's Hot Chicken yesterday.

Get out folks.  

  It'll be gray and dreary soon enough.

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You Gotta Start Somewhere

MIght as well start today.  Sitting on the patio at Burger Up, Old Crow Medicine Show piping through speakers, dozen or so popsicle smile kids to the left at Las Paletes and the restaurant starting to fill in for a Friday night to my right.

Earlier today Chef Philip and I were filmed at Triple L Ranch for RuralTV.  To our delight we were in the company of a four-day old calf.  It's always a treat getting to the farm as I feel an adopted part of the Lee family and it serves as a gentle reminder how Burger Up came to be in the first place.

Conversations on how to get a farm supper at the actual farm were tossed around on the drive back.  

Would that be something of interest?  Imagine.......riding around 1200 acres on a flatbed truck, cocktail in hand, trees turing golden, open fire, candles, billowing table cloths, impeccable food.......Would you come?  We hope so.  I would very much like to share it with you.

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Our new chef, Philip Shyatt. Welcome, Philip!

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A well-fed Belmont University Basketball Team.  Sunday Suppers fostering community at Burger UP.

9/16/2012

Thank you Coach Byrd