After church this past Sunday, Flash and I hopped on our Harleys and zoomed down Woodland Avenue, through the post office parking lot then across North Market Street until we arrived at Milk & Honey. The ride took about a minute in all. Normally, after church Flash and I take the Scenic City back roads for hours on end. We call it our Sunday drive. But because it was a gloomy fall day, we decided to enjoy a sit-down brunch instead.
Milk & Honey is primarily known for its craft coffee, homemade gelato, and fruit pop sicles called paletas.
But the NorthShore coffee and sweets shop doesn’t stop there. Breakfast items like French toast, steel cut oatmeal, and buttermilk biscuits are also served, along with a variety of sandwiches—like the Turkey and Brie Pita or the Garden Veggie—that are offered for lunch.
Flash and I parked our bikes in the lot outside Milk & Honey, and I patted down my helmet hair before going inside. People of all ages and street styles filled up the little restaurant. In fact, so many different kinds of people were there that I don’t think Flash felt insecure about wearing his doo-rag like he does in some of the downtown places we go to, even if he is wearing his Sunday best.
We stood in the line that was out the door to place our order at the counter. I looked over the menu as we waited, pleased to see an assortment of options ranging from $1 to $9. At the counter a sweet waitress recommended I try the Farmhouse Biscuit when I told her I couldn’t decide on what to get since everything looked so good. “You won’t be disappointed with the Farmhouse,” the waitress assured.
Flash went the traditional route and ordered the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese sandwich that comes on a ciabatta roll. We paid at the counter and the waitress gave us a number to place on our table. Though there were a few tables to choose from outside on the patio, we sat at the last open booth inside because it looked like rain. “That’s one way to tell if a place is any good,” Flash said as he sat down. “By how long it takes you to find a seat.”
People continued to pour into Milk & Honey as Flash and I waited for our food. I sat back and relaxed in the comfy black booth. As busy as it was, the place gave off a calming vibe thanks to the dark yellow walls, smell of fresh coffee, and the soft rock n’ roll playing overhead. I tried not to, but couldn’t help staring at the cookies, muffins, and scones sitting on the counter, as well as the rich, creamy gelato displayed in the glass cooler when you first walk in. My mouth began to water and I nearly walked back up to the waitress to order a scoop of tiramisu gelato. Then our food came.
Flash and I gazed at my Farmhouse Biscuit in wonderment. It was an architectural feat of sausage, bacon, egg, white cheddar, caramelized onions, tomato jam, shallots and arugula all stacked high on a buttermilk biscuit. How the thing didn’t topple over onto my plate, I do not know. What I did know, however, was that there was no way I’d be able to eat the Farmhouse like a normal biscuit. I unrolled my napkin and pulled out my silverware.
I could smell the applewood smoked bacon in Flash’s sandwich from across the booth. He would take one bite then set his sandwich down. Take a bite, and then set it down. “To enjoy it properly, Rhonda,” he said when he saw me demolishing my savory biscuit as if I hadn’t eaten in days. Flash dabbed his mouth with his napkin then pointed to the jam that had dropped on my chin.
I ate my Farmhouse Biscuit to the very last crumb. It was rich and hardy, and it made me perfectly full. I would have to hold off on any gelato this time. By now the sun was starting to come out, and it looked like Flash and I would get our Sunday drive in after all. Since Milk & Honey stayed open every night until 10 p.m., maybe we could come back after our ride for a late night treat, I told myself as we revved up the Harleys.
I took one last look at the gelato flavors shining through the coffee shop window like colorful rays of sun. Oh yes, we would return, I thought. Then Flash and I hit the road.
135 North Market St., Chattanooga TN, 37405
Open daily 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.