All Things Southern, Nashville

After returning from Houston we were home just long enough to reassure Sammy we hadn’t abandoned him, water the plants, do some laundry, repack our suitcase and head out to Nashville to see Jordan.  Family Weekend has become an excuse to spend time with Jordan’s classmates’ families.  Jordan has made some great friends at school and it’s always a good time when we get together.  We all roll into town and follow Henry, dad to Jordan’s classmate and bestie, Danielle. He is our guide to Nashville’s food and fun scene.  This trip found us trying some of the stalwarts in Nashville including Arnold’s Country Kitchen, the Pancake Pantry and Prince’s Hot Chicken.

Routine or Quirks, You Be the Judge

I have a couple of quirks I should tell you about, well I call them quirks..you be the judge.  During crunch time games, like yesterday’s Giants versus the Mets wild card game, you will not find me comfortably planted on my couch with the TV on (that’s Wes).  You will not find me at a sports bar or at an “I just jumped on the bandwagon” viewing party, sipping wine, and eating finger food.  Nope. I will be sitting in my car, possibly parked on the side of the road or more than likely in my driveway, listening to the radio broadcast of the game.  I will be nervously hanging on every pitch or play called by Flem, Miller, Krup, and Kuipe.  Too nervous to watch, too interested to not know what is happening, that is my compromise.  Back in the day, I pulled over to listen to Dave Dravecky’s comeback game.  I ran out and sat in my car in the driveway to listen to Will the Thrill lead the Giants over the Cubbies in the NLCS.  Yep just me and the radio, that’s all I need.

I also have a routine for flying, especially long flights. Travel mug for coffee, yes the blue one only.  For regattas, my pink water bottle (it’s so beat up it doesn’t even stand anymore) is always in my suitcase.  A downloaded audiobook on my phone and a magazine to look at because I can’t possibly do NOTHING for the 2 minutes we can’t use electronics on board.

So there you have it.  On our flight to Nashville, my magazine of choice was Sift, and as luck would have it, it featured an article on bakeries in Nashville.  Hum-baby!

First stop when we arrived:

Just a few minutes from Vanderbilt in an industrial-looking area…we stopped for coffee, scrumptious cookies, a yummy blueberry muffin, chocolate croissants and a Kouign Amann (meh, I think I come from the mecca for great Kouign Amann at Manresa Bakery or B. Patisserie in SF).  Dozen Bakery is definitely worth the stop when in Nashville.  Next time I’m trying their breads and sandwiches!

The next morning, with my partner in food crime, Debbie (Jordan’s roommate’s mom) we headed to the iconic Pancake Pantry in Hillsborough Village near campus.  Would love to have been there before the lines but a nearly impossible task with college kids that start their morning at about 11 AM.  So we stood in line and waited for the best damn sweet potato pancakes I have had.

Now don’t get me wrong if you are looking for cutting-edge, hipster trendy food that will make your tastebuds stand up and do the hula…this ain’t it.  This is just down home solid simple cooking that’s been around for decades, nothing wrong with that.  Plus, part of the fun is being there.

Next stop…..lunch (happy dance although the bounce in my dance step was a little less springy after a plate of pancakes)

Yep, time for a Meat and three.  Arnold’s Country Kitchen, cafeteria style, stand in line, order your meat (fried catfish or roast beef was the special of the day), and three sides.  I went healthy for the sides, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and fried green tomatoes, lol. Had to save room for banana pudding for dessert of course.

…and for the trifecta of iconic places to eat in Nashville we went to Prince’s for Hot Chicken.

Fried Chicken, super crispy and crunchy, moist and doused in their secret sauce to the hotness of your desire (I am a wimp as evident by the lack of red on my chicken, I opted for mild).  Drop the mic, done.  Whoops, don’t leave without getting their banana pudding, the bomb.

Yep, all in a day’s work.