What Exit?

The Tomato Head in Knoxville, TN’s Market Square

This past week, I toured to the midwest with Stripmall Ballads as far as Knoxville, TN. We also hit Greensboro, NC and Johnson City. Before heading south of Knoxville to an hippie fest on a landlocked island, we played in downtown Knoxville on WDVX’s Blue Plate Special and at The Preservation Pub. Just a few doors up from the pub in Market Square is The Tomato Head Restaurant. They feature a menu of the most delicious pizzas, calzones, salads, sandwiches and burritos. Since my bandleader Phillips had lived in Knoxville, I took his lead and ordered the Southwestern Chicken Salad.

A salad of Romaine with roma tomatos, black beans, chicken, blue corn chips, local sharp chedder, corn salsa, and a southwest vinaigrette. It was delicious and filling. Hit up this local gem anytime you are playing or attending a show at The Preservation Pub, The Square Room, or The Bijou. Also, be sure to check out Morelock Music on Gay St. Matt was just finishing the stage when we were there, but it looks to be amazing. He has collection of cigar box guitars and a handful of great ukes too. Looking forward to going back to Knoxville. 

Great Korean food in a funky Baltimore neighborhood

If you ever find yourself going to a show at The Metro Gallery, Depot, Ottobar, The Hexagon, or the Windup Space, you find yourself on W North Ave in downtown Baltimore. If so make a point of walking north on N Charles St on block from North Ave and make a left on E 20th St. On your right will be a small wooden awning noting the entrance to Nak Won. The restaurant in an authentic Korean establishment with Hibachi grills and a bar. They serve everything you’d want off a Korean menu from beef cooked tableside to an list of different Jjigae (stews). 

When I go I like to order Bibimbop. It basically just means mixed rice and is a rice bowl topped with vegetables including carrots, mushrooms, sea tangle and bean sprouts, as well as beef and a raw egg. In this variation known as dolsot bibimbop, the whole dish is served in a heated stone bowl that continues to cook the dish. You also mix in gochujang a red pepper paste that is not as spicy as chirashi sauce. 

With any Korean meal you are served an array of appetizers that include fried spam, Soondae which are korean sausage, Kimchi which can be either cabbage or cucumber usually brined or pickled and served with gochujang. Be sure to try some of all of them, they are delicious. Finally you are served a creamy sweet rice drink for desert. All this runs about $15. A huge menu for a great price and so close to great venues.

Till next time,

  Danny Schwartz

Danny’s food adventures in St. Croix

Hey blog peoples, I hail this morning from Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. I am currently on tour with the DC rockabilly band The Grandsons. This is my second year on this tour and unfortunately it meant missing Luke and many other of my favorite players on BandHouse Gigs’ tribute to Neil Finn and Crowded House last at the Barns at Wolf Trap. Nevertheless, I have been really enjoying myself and eating wonderful, new and interesting foods on this trip. Culinary highlights thus far have been a tasty grouper sandwich at The Fat Turtle, late night eggs at Betsy’s bar with her homemade hot sauce, and bbq chicken on the beach for valentine’s day (made by our booking agent, Chicken Charlie).

Yesterday, we headed over to the St. Croix Agricultural Fair. It was a huge weekend-long fair and everyone on the island came. They had multiple music stages, tons of crafts, and rows and rows of food. They even had food competitions. My bandmates tried the regional Callaloo, which is a soup made from taro leaves, okra, conch, onions, garlic, and possibly pork fat all cooked down to a stew. It’s traditionally a Jamaican dish, but Puerto Rico, the west indies, and other parts of the Caribbean have their own variations. It smelled wonderful.

I tried a Samosa, which is a south asian pastry (pictured above). It contained potatoes, peas, onion, red peppers, coriander, and curry all wrapped in a triangular pastry. In grand Caribbean fashion, I put extremely hot sauce on it (few of the hot sauces have labels and are usually made from a regional pepper that isn’t a habanero or scotch bonnet). Either way it was delicious and I enjoyed every bite, if you are ever in these parts or in a city with a good asian food contingent, give a Samosa a try. I even bought a bottle of homemade hot sauce to bring back (Luke, I’ll let you try it). I’m sure I’ll have more to report before this trip is through, till then, happy eating.

Danny’s First Post

Hey everyone in food blog land. My name is Danny Schwartz and I’m a D.C. based musician. I play with a number of musicians including Luke. So i’m thrilled that he asked me to participate in what-exit.com. I’m on the road this week and eating as much deliciousness as possible. Though Luke had already blogged about it, I want to post about my favorite authentic Ramen Noodle house in Manhattan. It’s called the Minca Noodle Company and is located on 5th St. Between Ave A & B I’m the village. It’s only a few short blocks from Mercury Lounge, The Living Room, and Rockwood Music Hall. I go whenever I can. They serve a variety of Ramen with pork, chicken, and vegetable broth, different thickness noodles, pork, green onions, seaweed, and my favorite, hard boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce. It’s an amazing meal for those who have never had anything but freeze dried instant ramen (you’ll have trouble eating that again after). Also, get a bean sprout salad app, you’ll thank me. Happy eating.

Danny