I love a good hole in the wall restaurant as much as anyone, but after working with Chef Charlie Parker in Los Angeles. Before working at that restaurant, I wasn’t a fan of pickles and olives, couldn’t fathom the idea of chicken liver mousse and would never eat chicken breast. Why eat chicken breast when you could have a thigh? Charlie marinated his olives and introduced me to Castelvetranos which are basically the gateway olive for all the others. He would also make his own bread and butter pickles, which helped ease me out of my issue with vinegar. And whatever he did to that chicken breast, my memory won’t help me, changed my mind and it is what I compare all future chicken to.
So, when Andrew and I are not waiting in line at a food truck or eating at the thai place in the strip mall, every now and then we will splurge. Andrew went to Olamaie first on a business dinner. Lucky. So when Andrew’s Mom came to down, he suggested we go there. It is nestled right outside of downtown in an old, beautiful, white house. We weren’t able to get a reservation but the hostess had told us, if we come early we could sit at one of three tables outside on the porch. Sold.
They cook Southern food and are known for making the most amazing biscuits. Now, I’ve never been someone who had to have a biscuit, don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike biscuits, its just never been equal my favorite thing in the whole wide world, eggs. But these biscuits. They are no joke, they turned me into a biscuit addict. I’ve been thinking about these biscuits ever since. And you can order them by the dozen. They come with this honey butter that isn’t too heavy on the honey and is whipped to perfection. You just have to eat them to understand.
The three of us shared the shrimp with red Carolina rice and the hush puppies for starters. I already knew we were in trouble at the start. That rice was something I had never tasted and was savored every bit. Then came the decision time, normally Andrew and I like to order a couple little things and share. But he had been raving about this chicken that he hadn’t gotten last time but was able to have a bite of. So he was getting that, end of story. After talking it up, his mom decided on the same thing. So I went for the fish.
Well my fish was one of the most beautiful plates I’d ever seen. I’m no food critic, I just like food so don’t take my word as gospel. It was amazing. I took a bite of Andrew’s, a bite of breast, and it took me back to Charlie’s. I had to tell myself to eat slowly and savor my food. Take a sip of wine, soak in the atmosphere, don’t eat like you are waiting tables and have 4 tables to attend to. Enjoy.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the biscuits, the patio, the first couple dishes. Their menu is seasonal and seems to change often so I’m sure I will be blown away the next time I go.
Thank you, Monica, for the photos of the chicken and the restaurant!
Oh, if I could only go back there tonight! So good!