Nashville

nicole madison
Jan 24, 2018
4 min read

Nashville. You're going to a party. Like it or not.

I had no idea what to expect from Nashville. I knew about hot chicken and the country music scene. But I didn’t know the food scene rivaled that of L.A. Or that the ratio of bachelorette parties to city blocks was 1:1. Or that the Predators were playing the Penguins in the Stanley Cup the weekend of our annual girls trip. We were Just four 40-something married ladies looking to do some eating and exploring (with maybe some dancing and of course a few cocktails thrown in).

We scouted the best restaurants ahead of time and had our reservations made, but it never seemed that a restaurant was too packed or too pretentious to take in a couple of last minute guests. In fact, this pretty much sums up our Nashville experience – a big comforting, welcoming town. Like a grandma who bakes you pies and biscuits - only dressed in plaid ... with a few tattoos.

We caught a non-stop flight from LAX early on a Thursday morning that landed us around 5pm into Nashville. After the 15 minute drive to our hotel, we were welcomed by a very handsome collection of dashing door men. We had booked three nights at the brand-new, ultra-hip Thompson Hotel. (401 11th Avenue S) Centrally located in a newly developed area known as The Gulch, it was conveniently right across the street from our first foodie destination - Biscuit Love (316 11th Avenue South).

You see, the thing about this group of travel companions is that we all love food, and each of us had a personal bucket list of food items. Mine was the biscuit so of course we had to visit Biscuit Love where unbeknownst to us there existed the bonut -- biscuit dough fried like a donut. But then BL had to drizzle it with blueberry sauce and dollop it with lemon marscapone. It was only 9am. Luckily the walking tour was up next.

I’m not much of a country music person. I can enjoy it when I’m in the country, but it’s not my first choice of genres. But as the saying goes, when in Nashville… Our first official tourist activity was a great walking tour by Walkin' Nashville (www.walkingnashville.com). We learned about the origins of country music and how it birthed rock-a-billy music which of course was the first vestiges of rock music. We visited the haunts of Elvis and Patsy, Willy and Johnny. And by the end of the tour, we knew what our game plan was for nighttime.

The thing about Nashville is music is everywhere and almost everyone has some kind of musical talent running through their blood. And they probably don’t just play one instrument, but five.

Lunch was at The Southern (150 3rd Street) where it was bucket list item #2 - pimento cheese. This is probably where Bandera cheese dip originated. Although this was on a grilled chicken sandwich. Who says everything is fried in the South? Up next was the Johnny Cash Museum (119 3rd Avenue S), but we got sidetracked by the Goo Goo Cluster factory across the street. (Insert bucket list item #2.5.) Don't know what a Goo Goo is? Then order some on-line (www.googoo.com). You're welcome. And do make sure to visit the museum. We recovered from our day at the rooftop bar back at The Thompson - a great spot to sip a crafted cocktail and watch all the young lovely southerners. Dinner was at Rolf and Daughters (700 Taylor Street) - a definite hot-spot so make reservations. Set in an old industrial building in the historic residential neighborhood known as Germantown, the outside patio was delightful (complete with fireflies!) and the food incredible.

Our next stop was not so civilized but a boisterous honky tonk on legendary Lower Broadway called Roberts Western World (416 B Broadway). I don't know who was playing, but I do know we danced a lot and I wasn't drinking Chardonnay. It was here that we would cross off bucket item list #3 - the fried bologna sandwich - standard bar fare here in the South.

Saturday morning provided time for recovery and a short ride over to trendy 12th Street South where we were on a mission for food bucket list item #4 - donuts from Five Daughters (1110 Caruthers Avenue). We didn't eat these right away as we were headed to brunch at Urban Grub (2506 12th Avenue S) for bucket list item #5...Grits! Why we don't see these out west is beyond me - they 're gluten-free, right? I do know they were cheesy and delicious. Too bad we didn't try the donuts then and there (or maybe it's a good thing). For if we had known the ecstasy of this donut experience we would have bought a dozen. Filled with cream, rolled in sugar and topped with decadence... just go. And buy more than 2!

After some shopping in the Gulch (where we managed to spend some "time" at the Frye store and the funky-hip Two Old Hippies), it was time to gear up for our final meal at Husk (37 Rutledge Street). Set in a historic home that dates from the late 1800s, Husk is what true modern Southern cuisine is all about.

The four us enjoyed another great meal outdoors (Nashville has plenty of outdoor seating), sharing plates like charcuterie with cheddar biscuits and catfish with chimichurri while enjoying Muse playing live from the Ascend Amphitheater. So much going on in this great town! Unforuntately we had a 7am flight to catch and green juices to get back to, so we made the responsible choice and headed back to the hotel. They don't call it Nash-Vegas for nothing. But unlike Las Vegas, I am happy to spend more than 2 days here.

All opinions expressed are those of the writer and not anyone else. The writer was not compensated in any way by this company for this review. All photos are property of the writer unless otherwise cited. These photos may not be reproduced or used elsewhere without permission.