Recent Episodes

 

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

 

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

 

 

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

 
 

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

 

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

 

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

Try a Food Tour

More in this City

Ellen Sevier is the owner of Music City Bites and Sites food tours and a native Nashvillian. She can either be found showing off Music City, U.S.A. to people from around the world, or traveling around the world to see what other interesting foods and cultures she can experience for herself. And, if one is available, you can bet that the food tour is the first thing she does when visiting a new town.
 
 

1. What foods is Nashville known for?

 

There are two things Nashville can claim for its own when it comes to food. The first one is the Goo Goo Cluster, which just so happens to be the world’s first candy bar to combine multiple ingredients. The Original Goo Goo is made of roasted peanuts, milk chocolate, caramel and marshmallow nougat, and was developed in 1912 by the Standard Candy Company. The Supreme Goo Goo uses pecans instead of peanuts.
 
And the Peanut Butter Goo Goo, my personal favorite, is made up of roasted peanuts, milk chocolate and a thick layer of peanut butter. When asked about the name of their candy bar, the Standard Candy Company said that their candy bars are so good, people ask for them from birth (goo-goo, goo-goo). Get it?
 
In the past few years, Nashville has also become known for starting the “hot chicken” phenomenon, which is crispy fried chicken spiced at various degrees of hotness that will have your tongue wishing it could take up permanent residence in your glass of sweet tea. Some of the most popular places to get hot chicken in town are Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack and 400 Degrees Hot Chicken.
 

RELATED: Everything you need to know about food tours.

 
 

2. What neighborhoods should foodies visit when they come to Nashville?

 

Nashville has neighborhoods-a-plenty featuring all kinds of wonderful restaurants. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the “most foodie” hotspots and eateries in town, but this is by no means a comprehensive list.

• Downtown/Sobro/The Gulch: The Capitol Grille, Etch, The Farm House, Flyte World Dining & Wine, Husk, Watermark and The 404 Kitchen, Arnold’s Country Kitchen, Yazoo Brewing Company
• Germantown: City House, Rolf & Daughters and Silo
• East Nashville: Lockeland Table, Margot Café & Bar, The Pharmacy and The Treehouse
• Midtown: Hattie B’s, Midtown Cafe, Patterson House and The Catbird Seat
• 12 South: Josephine, Epice, Las Paletas, Sloco and Burger Up

 
 

3. What can people expect on your food tours?

 

On a Music City Bites & Sites tour, people should expect to get more than just a food tour. In fact, I call it a “food and cultural” tour, because, in addition to the food, I throw in a good bit of history, entertainment, cultural awareness, architecture and other fun trivia.
 
The tour is three hours long and covers about two miles. There are five tasting locations on the tour and one unforgettable cultural stop, which many people tell me was their favorite part of the tour. This is not a stuffy tour, so everyone should expect to laugh and have a good time.
 
Although there are some tastings that would be considered more “foodie” than others, all of the cuisine is approachable. The restaurants chosen for the tour are purposely “off the beaten tourist path.”
 
Each tasting location was chosen for a specific reason, and most of them for more than one – the specialty food, the owners’ backgrounds, the connection to Nashville, the history behind the restaurant buildings, etc., and all of the tastings are, of course, delicious. There are two alcohol tastings on the tour of just a few ounces each, and while many people are full at the end of the tour, some still crave more.
 
Tours run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and can be booked online at www.musiccitybitesandsites.com or by calling (800) 979-3370.
 
 

4. Where should we eat if we hope to spot some celebrities?

 

Although I have yet to spot a celebrity while eating (although I have seen a few while shopping around town), I understand that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman have been seen multiple times at Peter’s Sushi & Thai in the Brentwood area, (just outside of Nashville) and that Taylor Swift likes to go to San Antonio Taco Co. in Hillsboro Village (by Vanderbilt University).
 
I’ve also heard that Vince Vaughn was seen at The Southern (SoBro), and that Reba McEntire and Ronnie Dunn both were seen (though not together) at Tavern (Midtown).
 
Other than that, there are so many celebrities, especially of the country music variety, in town, that one could probably see one almost anywhere, but you have to be pretty good at spotting them, because they all tend to dress down here, so they look a lot like everyone else.
 

RELATED: What is food tourism?

 
 

5. Are there any Nashville chefs that we should keep our eyes on?

 
The chef that I’ve seen written up and talked about the most lately is Tandy Wilson of City House. He was a finalist for the 2014 James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Southeast.”
 
Margot McCormack of Margot Café & Bar and Tyler Brown of Capitol Grille were also named as semifinalists in the same category.

The Nashville food scene has gotten a lot of great press lately, but the descriptions tend to be full of praises for the pork, steak, or fish dishes. This can make traveling as or with a vegetarian challenging.
 
Thankfully, most restaurants in Music City are vegetarian friendly and many of them make an excellent veggie burger. In fact, it was hard to chose just five, but these restaurants not only serve great veggie burgers, but delicious food for a variety of tastes. Most of them are also located in great Nashville neighborhoods for a real taste of the city.
 

1. PM

 
PM’s regular burger actually won the local paper’s Best Burger contest back in 2008, but I think their veggie burger is even better. According to the menu it’s actually vegan, but you can add cheese if you’d like. The optional smear of wasabi mayo adds a bit of spice! Most of their menu is Asian fusion, so you can also get great sushi or some truly amazing nachos. PM is part of the group of local restaurants run by the Myint family, with Arnold Myint (of Top Chef DC fame) as the executive chef.
 

$$
2017 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN
(615) 297-2070

 

 
 

2. Fido’s

 
The name of this eclectic coffee shop/cafe dates way back to when this location housed a pet store, but those days are long gone. Now, they serve wonderful coffee and delicious food in the heart of Hillsboro Village.
 
Their veggie burger is a tasty mix of black beans and whole grains and is served on bread instead of a bun. It also holds up well while eating, unlike some veggie burgers. After your meal, be sure to check out some of the area shops or catch a movie at the Belcourt theatre. You may also want to stop in next door at Hot and Cold, their sister restaurant, for a locally made popsicle (Las Paletas) dipped in local chocolate (Olive and Sinclair).
 

$$
1812 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN
(615) 777-3436

 

 

RELATED: Top 5 Places to Get Shrimp and Grits in Nashville.

 

3. Bobbie’s Dairy Dip

 
Bobbie’s Dairy Dip has been a Nashville institution since 1951 and maintains a lot of the 50’s charm with dancing ice cream cones painted on the wall and lots of delicious milk shakes with names like the Chubby Checker.
 
However, the menu has been updated to include two veggie burger options. One of them is simply a frozen name brand patty, but their black bean burger is made in-house and is topped with guacamole, jalapenos, and salsa. I pair it with their sweet potato fries and a vanilla malt. Mmm.
 
They have two locations. The one downtown has a few inside seats and is open year round, but I prefer the location on Charlotte. It has a walk-up order window and picnic tables, but it is only open seasonally so plan accordingly.
 

$
5301 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN
(615) 463-8088

 

 

4. 12 South Taproom

 
While you are in town, you’ll want to swing by my neighborhood, 12 South. It’s full of great little shops, coffeehouses, and places to eat. One of my favorites is the 12 South Taproom. As the name implies, they have a wide variety of craft beer on tap, but they also have great food and use local ingredients whenever possible. Their veggie burger is actually made with Soysage. It’s a thick sausage like burger and goes great with a beer! Ask your bartender for suggestions and try one of Nashville’s many local brews.
 

$$
2318 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN
(615) 463-7552

 

 

RELATED: Where to Eat in Nashville.

 

5. The Pharmacy

East Nashville is a growing neighborhood full of great restaurants, but the Pharmacy is one of my favorites. In the warmer months, you can enjoy the sprawling beer garden or eat inside. Then you must choose between two really tasty veggie burger options. They have a great black bean burger, but my choice would be the falafel burger. It’s chickpea base is a nice change of pace and it’s topped with a tangy raita sauce and goat cheese. Pair it with tater tots and one of their homemade sodas.
 

$$
731 McFerrin Avenue, Nashville, TN
(615) 712-9517

 

 

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About Laura Ambler

Laura Ambler is one half of the team behind the food blog, The Table. She lives in Nashville, TN and her co-blogger, Amy, lives in Lexington, KY. Together they share recipes, reviews, and other food news.

If you’re a foodie headed to Nashville, you’ll definitely want to try some Shrimp and Grits. Check out these great restaurants to get it.
 

1. Urban Grub Fish Pit and Southern Cantina. (12th Avenue South Neighborhood)

 

The culinary talent at the Urban Grub is exceeded only by their dedication. They drive to Kentucky to get the corn and grind their own grits. The shrimp are large gulf shrimp. The flavors are complex; the dish is creamy perfection. In addition to their commitment to seafood, the Urban Grub chefs are masters at charcuterie, curing their own meats. The Urban Grub may be the only restaurant in Nashville that offers shrimp and grits and pit smoked pork carnitas. Located in the 12th Avenue South neighborhood, Urban Grub features indoor and outdoor dining in stunning decor and design.
 

2506 12th Avenue S. Nashville

615.679.9342 

 

 

2. The Mad Platter (Germantown)

 

A small, locally owned restaurant open for over twenty years, has masterfully and consistently plated shrimp and grits to locals and tourists lucky enough to know about this neighborhood place. Small, quaint, charming in a European fashion, this is where I had my first shrimp and grits and probably will always have my heart.
 
Just the right amount of heat, making each bite as tasty as the last, and surprisingly, a bit of crunchy celery that added a flavor that made me think that celery might be a very overlooked vegetable. Creamy, but not overly creamy and the smoked gouda grits are perfection. The Mad Platter adjusts their menu daily to meet the season and do something unique. If you want a long, leisurely meal, you can choose the five-course option for an additional $20 in which you receive soup, salad, appetizer, entree and dessert.
 

1239 Sixth Avenue North Nashville

615.242.2563

 

 

3. Gray’s on Main (Historic Franklin)

 

A chic casual triple story brandy centric restaurant repurposed from a 1930’s drug store, known as Gray’s. They make a tasting platter of grits cakes with collard greens and shrimp. It’s as unique as their vintage cocktails and when you find yourself on Franklin’s Main street, a twenty minute ride south of Nashville’s downtown, you’ll be enamored with the town’s charm, history, shops and dining. A stop in at Gray’s on Main is a must for modern day, casual Southern charm.
 

332 Main St, Franklin

615.435.3603

 

 

4. M Restaurant and Bar at Cummins Station

 

Not far from the new Music City Center, M is part of a local Southern Culinary dynasty, at least here in Nashville where they started making shrimp and grits 14 years ago at their Franklin restaurant Mack & Kates. M is a favorite because it’s glamorous, chic, contemporary and comfortable, with Southern hospitality and an elegant fine dining atmosphere. Save room for blackberry cobbler, and you’ve just had the perfect Southern experience. The shrimp and grits is a staple on the menu, served in a bowl with creamy grits.
 

209 Tenth Avenue, South, Ste 223, Cummins Station, Nashville

615.678.1591

 

 

 

5. Saffire

 

Located in the historic Factory in Franklin serves outstanding Creole Style Shrimp and Grits. Aside from serving upscale comfort food like their legendary Chicken Fried Chicken with Vermont Cheddar Cheese Sauce, you will swoon over the shrimp and grits. Order the oyster appetizer first, perhaps a Saffire cocktail and then close your eyes when you take that first bite of a grits cake that is surprisingly creamy inside.
 
Owned by Tom Morales of the TomKats Group, who also owns the downtown very successful Southern Steak and Oyster, this is veteran cooking and one of the guys who helped elevate Nashville as a true dining destination.
 

230 Franklin Road, Franklin

615.599.4995

 

 
It would be so unfriendly and unfair of us if we didn’t tell you about two more places, the locals will jump up and down about when it comes to shrimp and grits. For casual fine dining, it’s the Midtown Cafe and for a more family friendly setting, it’s Puckett’s (a Southern meat and three) with several locations in Nashville and Franklin, where you might hear some music, drink lots of sweet tea and get a big fat “welcome y’all.”
 
When is the last time you’ve eaten shrimp and grits or do you need to plan a trip here?

 

 

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Angela Roberts, publishes, Spinach Tiger. She expresses her love for all things food in writing about Nashville local food scene, and any other cities she happens to travel to, featuring locally owned restaurants and shops. Dining out is what inspires her to develop recipes which are also included at Spinach Tiger, where she shares personal stories and food photography. From fine dining to casual food trucks, Angela searches out the places that put their heart into the menu, sourcing locally and emphasizing quality ingredients over flair. You can follow her on Twitter.