Tuesday, November 20, 2007

TKTC: Nashville Eats (by demand)


I will be doing a similar, probably MORE detailed post like this on Memphis Sunday night but because Miss Scarlett is headed to Nashville this week, I thought I'd practice on our Music Highway brethren.

I spent a lot of time in Nashville in college, at first because I was dating someone at Vanderbilt, but I ended up just falling in love with the city and the people I kept meeting there. Because food is really the currency of travel, I picked up some great places over the years and below is my short list of must-eats.

NOTE: This will not be a successful list unless some of you Vanderbuddies and current Nashville residents fill in the blanks, I am hardly an expert and the vast majority of my favorites are right next to campus. Guess there won't be a wait over Thanksgiving break.

Calypso Cafe: This is not the kind of place that would jump out at you unless you knew it was there. It's a little carribean chicken shack in a strip mall- sandwiched between CVS and Centennial Park. TKTC Pick: All white meat Cuban chicken and black bean salad with cucumber dill dressing. Honorable Mention: Sweet Potatoes and/or Black Bean dip with jalapenos.

McDougals Village Coop: For local, neighborhood (read: Vandy) flavor...go here. The chicken strips (original OR grilled) come with a lot of sauce choices and I have long suspected that they dashed a little sugar on hot french fries. Probably better with the patio in the summer but I've not been let down yet. Also- I had my first 21st birthday drink here just a little bit back ;)

Bread & Co: Like Panera on too much fruit tea, which is certainly a recommendation (1/2 fruit tea, 1/2 unsweetened). This place is big with delicious ready-made sides, a salivation inducing bakery and excellent sandwiches. TKTC Pick: The Steeplechase- real turkey on cranberry walnut bread with light mustard and sliced green apples. Honorable Mention: Tomato Basil Soup, anything from the bakery. 2525 W End Ave

Sunset Grill: Pretty posh by Nashville standards but delicous. TKTC Pick: It's been awhile but I believe last time I had the trout special sauteed in a pumpkin glaze with steamed greens. Cleary it made an impression. And the scallops- "Pan-seared with quinoa strewn buternut squash, braised Belgian endive, hickory smoked TN bacon and red beet vinaigrette." Oh goodnight. Honorable Mention: Fried green tomatoes to start, Butterscotch Bread Pudding to end.

Provence: An adorable Euro sandwich shop among some of the cutest shops on 21st Ave. Check out Pangaea for great gifts once you've refueled on the Montecito or Turkey & Brie.

Sportsmans: It's a sports bar. No more, no less. But the fried dill pickle chips and gigantic salads made this a college favorite.

So I've been told: Tin Angel, Pancake Pantry, Nick & Rudy's, SATCO and Goten (eaten there a few times but several sake bombs later...not the most reliable review). Speaking of- Lonnie's and Tootsie's are Nashville standards or Boutique Bella for...more shopping.

Nashville- Chime In, you've got a foodie coming to town!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you thank you thank you! I see some definite possibilities on this list! My sister and I will use it as our guide:)
YOU ROCK!!!!

JT said...

Tin Angel has the best bloody marys in town!

Slimbo said...

Mojo Cafe, sans doute

Best creole fare north of hurricane country

Anonymous said...

Love the post!

So to recommend:
Virago - hot young professionals crown, GOOD sushi, very swank
Patrick's - cajun, run by two Texas boys from SMU

Hillsboro Village (21st Avenue turns into Hillsboro):
Fido - funky coffee house, very seattle, very not-Starbucks
Jackson's - cheap and cheerful, great cocktails and cookie-dough eggrolls!
Pangea / Fire Finch - boutique shopping with an artsy feel, much less
VandyGirl than boutique bella

Aw, I miss it! so jealous...