Three Angels Diner: what took us so long?

Please forgive us. We've broken a very important rule of blogging: we didn't blog. We introduced ourselves, our "rebirth", and then left you hanging. So, without further ado, a word about Three Angels Diner.

Why go to Three Angels? Fittingly, three reasons: location, Urban Farms, good food.

Three Angels is just down the street from our house. As in, mere blocks. We can ride our bikes, walk, or on this particular Friday night, drive (because it's rainy, dark, and Jeff has a hurt foot). They are located in the historic Broad Avenue Arts District, which is just on the edge of Binghampton; we're proud to be living here during its revival. We try, when we can, to be supporters of business in the very place where we live - right down to the same neighborhood.

Urban Farms. As we at down on this Friday night, we were ready for the veggie specials, some of which were from Urban Farms, a new happening, also right here in our very neighborhood (volunteer workday tomorrow, 2/20, 1-3pm - join us!) Whatever seasonal veggies are growing at UF right now, you can be sure to see some of them on the daily specials menu at Three Angels. Local supporting local. Perfect!

Good food. Fried egg sandwich, veggie chili (w/tofu, yuuuuuum), adult grilled cheese, to name a few. On this night, I got the fried egg sandwich - really good, though nothing to scream and shout about. This sandwich had a fried egg, tomato, lettuce, cheese on really great bread. Their homemade chips were my side item (now these are delish!) Jeff ordered mashed sweet potatoes with cumin and garlic, and if you know the Pates, we LOVE cumin! So, thumbs up for this side item!

There are many other great reasons to visit Three Angels: liveliness, art, fun atmosphere, open late. See for yourself! Check it out at 2617 Broad Ave., Memphis, 38112.

Three Angels - local, friendly, go there.

blog re-birth: The No-Chain Challenge

Foodie for Hire: a clever blog name, if my opinion counts for anything. Almost two years ago, my husband Jeff created this blog, in hopes to write about great restaurants, as well as some of his own food creations, complete with pictorial proof. (aka: he was gonna take a pictures of it.)

Alas, he doesn't have the most time for writing and now he has a job that doesn't allow space for it either. We think, though, that Foodie for Hire can still live on, in the hands of me - the partner, the wife, the one who loves to write: the one named Abbye. (with some writing from Mr. Jeffersby, Matthew Clark's affectionate name for him.)

"No-Chain Challenge"

What is this, you ask? It's the product of hours on the snowy/icy roads between the foothills of Tennessee and the Mighty Mississippi (Memphis-town). "Hey, why don't we commit to local-only restaurants and write about it?" And here we are.

We've been giving this a try for about one month now, but here we are, putting it into type and calling it a "go".

Why a "No-Chain Challenge"? Because there are so many good reasons to choose local. [Often] fresh ingredients, owners who know your city (and after only a few visits, your name and favorite drink), and good live, local music. And there are so many more reasons. Perfect? No way! Will there be some who we choose not to dine with for the long haul? I'm sure.

But overall, we think we're going to discover some pretty great reasons to choose local restaurants (and local everything else, too).

Tonight's local eatery of choice: Three Angels Diner.

Mere blocks from our house, we'll be joining a handful of our closest friends here tonight. We'll let you know how it goes...

In the meantime, may all your dinner tables be filled with good food, great friends, and loads of laughter.