Memo to People Delivering Stuff for Us to Taste and Write About
If you have a product for Scene staff to taste and possibly write about, your odds of coverage are substantially higher if you time your delivery well. Take Sydney Garrett-Hayes, for example. She dropped off her delectable goodies from the Sydney Trading Company right around breakfast on Monday morning. That was just about the time Jack Silverman was thinking, “Hmm, if only I had a home-baked biscotti to dip into my coffee before I have to edit this raggedy dining review.” That's right around when Steve Haruch was thinking, “I need some rocky road fudge to help me write my biweekly tract of existentialist philosophy masquerading as a sports column.” Meanwhile, I was thinking, “Well, I haven't eaten in about 15 minutes, and there's, like, an hour till lunch.” And so we tore into STC's homemade fudge, coconut madeleines and almond brittle like villagers receiving a food-drop from the World Food Programme.
You may know Garrett-Hayes from The Standard restaurant on Eighth Avenue, where she prepares a selection of desserts to round out chef Joe Shaw's elegant menu of classic Southern-inspired dishes. When she's not making peach cobbler and pecan pie at the Standard, the queen of tarts is whipping up Sydney Trading Company's truffles, brittles, shortbreads, cookies, cakes, pies and crème brûlées, all of which can be delivered within a 20-mile radius of Nashville. She also offers a selection of boxed lunches and pastries, available with 48 hours' notice.
We particularly enjoyed the foot-long biscotti and the almond brittle, and we'd like to get our hands on some of STC's mission fig jam. To order from Sydney Trading Company, visit thesydneytradingcompany.com, or call Garrett-Hayes at 739-1212.
Comments
hire me...
please?
it's not that i want a real job or anything
but i love the idea of hanging out with you guys while eating biscotti
is that so much to ask?
Posted 05/05/2008 at 03:59:59 PMI have personally tasted and enjoyed Sydney's delicious "treats for the sweet!" The woman is amazing; she doesn't just follow a recipe, she puts poetic justice into every delectable bite.
Posted 05/06/2008 at 07:26:24 AMShe is my new retailer for special gifts for special people.
LaQuita Scaife
Were you at the paper for the gift from the Texas Dept of Tourism -- a 1-foot, realistic-looking chocolate/choc chip cow flop? I started to throw it in the trash, and Molpus said "No! Put it by the coffee pot -- 5 bucks says it's gone in 20 minutes." And so it was.
Posted 05/06/2008 at 10:56:50 AMWho do you think ate that thing? I sat right there by the coffee maker.
Posted 05/06/2008 at 03:03:20 PMSydney has a real gift for the Sweet-Tooth in most all of us .. She loves what she does - And it certainly shows - Simply you can tell by the Taste and the Presentation. The girl has a little bit of "Magic" happening in her Kitchen with her Crystal ball recipe formualtions. So call her, try her items - And I assure you... You'll try it - Again & Again, & Again !!...WOW !! UUUuummm Goood !!!
Posted 05/08/2008 at 12:34:50 AMsydney, i look forward to trying your great stuff. but hey, kill the music on your web site... it went from classical to the charlie brown theme song, and well, i'm thinking the desserts should speak for themselves.
just trying to help.
Posted 05/08/2008 at 06:53:11 AMWow, is that the LaQuita Scaife who appeared in the Ormonds' If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? If so, awesome!
The almond brittle was out of this world, with that almost-burned toffee taste I find so irresistible.
Posted 05/08/2008 at 08:29:59 PMLaQuita is one of the three fabulous blonde Scaife sisters who ruled the Nashville pay party scene back in the late 80s, volunteering for, committeeing, and/or co-chairing virtually every young fund and fun raiser Betty Banner covered. Their contributions to countless non-profits were immeasurable. They were tireless in their efforts, their energy and their graciousness. LaQuita, LaQuela and LaRawn always brought to mind the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. That trio had the beauty and verve that could sail ships. It was a blast just to be around them.
Posted 05/09/2008 at 08:48:57 AMYeah, fine: beauty, charity, good works, whatever. But when someone had a part in maybe the greatest Christian exploitation movie of all time, the gong needs to be sounded.
Posted 05/09/2008 at 10:23:32 AMKay:
Are you sure you wanna saddle those uniquely-named dames with Cristobal Colón’s ships?
Although La Santa Maria, the only ship built for the trip was named after the Virgin Mary, La Niña and La Pinta (“The Good-Looking Kid” and “The Red-Head”) were ships which belonged to The Pinzón Brothers.
And as you might have already surmised, their ships were named after well-known hookers.
Posted 05/09/2008 at 02:29:38 PMI much prefer celebrated courtesan for well-known hooker.
I'm not smart enough to go that deep, Z. Just saying out loud their names together, as there was frequently occassion to do--LaRawn, LaQuela and LaQuita---was so melodic it made me think of, but not quite remember, a kindergarten rhyme about Cristobal's sailing vessels..which come to think of it perhaps explains the namesakes?
Posted 05/09/2008 at 02:51:54 PMLaquita Sciafe is a dear friend and an angel amoung us. There is not a more kind - generous person I know. Thanks Queetie for your kind remarks about my goodies. Love you !!!
Posted 05/09/2008 at 07:29:34 PMSyd
K:
"Celebrated Courtesans from Puerto de Palos" does have a nice ring to it.
In case you wanna dig deeper, the Spanish Seaman who sighted land, Rodrigo de Triana, was aboard La Niña.
And even deeper still, one of the Pinzón bros., a renowned Swordsman, was the alleged "patient zero" when it came to speading Syphyllis in Europe or the New World, depending on which viral theory you subscribe to.
ElZ, Blogfender of Latino Culture and history of infectious diseased
Posted 05/10/2008 at 09:38:03 AMOK, "Spanish Seaman" in this context just made me snort coffee onto my keyboard...
Posted 05/10/2008 at 10:45:19 AMSpanish seamen and their vessels named after celebrated courtesans...it all begins to make sense.
And sorry, don't have the time to go deeper than that, but I do appreciate you passing along the Latino culture tidbits. My last name was once Collazo you know.
Posted 05/10/2008 at 12:43:32 PM"Spanish Mariners" didn't flow as well in the sentence
Posted 05/11/2008 at 04:20:52 PMSydney creates amazing desserts. I have ordered desserts from her to send as gifts and always get rave reviews with everyone wanting to know how they can reach Sydney to order desserts.
Posted 05/15/2008 at 09:07:45 AMIf you can describe the kind of dessert you like she can create it to your particular taste
I love everything she makes. I can't even tell you what I like the most. I have tried it all. The cookies, the cakes, the candy, the jelly, the quality is exceptional. Everyone who has received her products as gifts, have loved them.
Posted 05/18/2008 at 08:32:43 PMSydney's treats are delictable ! I use The Sydney Trading Company whenever I need to send a client a thank you or send a gift to a loved one. The quality is outstanding and all made from scratch. Great write up Syd. you go girl !!
Posted 05/21/2008 at 07:58:47 PM