I have to admit I’m no expert on Middle Eastern food. So while I pictured hummus and pita bread and baklava on the menu, my imagination ended there. But I like culinary adventures, so my mind was wide open as I read through the offerings.
Entering Sapphire, we passed a group of friends dining al fresco and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and the company of their very friendly dog. Once inside, we were quickly greeted by a pleasantly perky waitress who led us to the prime seating position in the front window. Totally private and ensconced in the seductively lit darkness, we commenced to perusing the menu.
First things first—cocktails. As it happened, we sat down before 7pm, which meant that it was happy hour. Yay! I ordered $3 champagne, and to my bargain-loving delight, received an upgrade to Domaine St. Michele Blanc de Blanc since the house champagne was out of stock. Our waitress supplied a bowl of crunchy wasabi peas, which had just the right amount of sinus-clearing bite.
If your culinary interests are playfully diverse—say, you enjoy your mamaw’s pork fat-soaked beans and buttery mashed taters as much as skinny lattes and tofu spinach salads—then you should check out Big Fatty’s in the heart of Bearden on Kingston Pike. Whatever your mood (or dietary restrictions), you’ll find something to satisfy.
Driving down Kingston, you’re liable to pass by Big Fatty’s without notice. Housed in a non-descript building, the restaurant is half-surrounded by a privacy fence, saving its patrons the embarrassing possibility of making eye contact with a West Knox News customer. But when you step inside, you’re greeted with brightly colored walls—mint green, pink, yellow—and eclectic art work ranging from jazz-era paintings to an ironic pop art image to an independent film festival photograph. When I walk into Big Fatty’s, I’m instantly happy.
This Saturday as I happily sat down to lunch, I was yearning for some home cooking. I seriously considered the blue plate special, a BBQ pulled pork sandwich with slaw, but after perusing the diverse menu, I honed in on the veggie plate, featuring a choice of four side items from the long list of options. I chose pinto beans, mac and cheese, turnip greens, and green beans (corn bread comes on the side). Take note, meat-averse friends, that all side items are vegetarian-friendly. And as I found out, this lack of pork fat does not translate to bland food.
As I studied the menu, I couldn’t help but wonder about the folks behind Big Fatty’s. Who created this inventive commingling of healthy foods like the Happy Fatty Salad (wild greens, mangoes, blue cheese, pecans, chicken) and soul-satisfying southern meals like the Gangsta Breakfast (fried chicken, eggs, pancakes)?
