Planning the 4th of July Weekend

I’m counting down the minutes for the long holiday weekend ahead, and although the only definite activity I have on my agenda is the U2 concert on Saturday night, I’ve got several other enticing options to choose from the remaining days.

The Melrose Patty Melt Burger

Sunday, July 3rd
3 pm

The Melrose Pub’s First Annual Local Beef Burger Eating Contest

The Melrose
2535 Franklin Pike

While this isn’t a challenge I would participate in myself, it’d definitely be fun to watch. And since Melrose has some of the best burgers in town, I’d do so while chowing down on one. Some of you more adventurous folks surely would be willing to compete, right?

For $25, you get the chance to inhale 5 of Melrose’s specialty burgers stacked onto one bun with a chaser pint of New Belgian Beer on the side. First place gets a $100 Melrose gift card, 2nd a $50, and 3rd a $25. There are a limited number of spaces, so if you’d like to participate, call 615-712-8160 or sign up in person at The Melrose.

Monday, July 4th
11am – 3pm

Music City Hot Chicken Festival

East Park
700 Woodland St

This city is hot on July 4th in more ways than one. Head on down to the annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival celebrating an original Nashville culinary tradition, hot chicken! The event is free, and the first 500 people in line will be treated to free hot chicken samples from Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, 400 Degrees, Pepperfire Hot Chicken and Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish. If you don’t make it there in time for the free chicken, don’t fret, because there will be plenty more to purchase in the food garden. In addition, there will be an amateur cooking competition, live music, and a Yazoo Brewery beer garden.

For a more information and a full list of all vendors participating, visit the event website.

Monday, July 4th
noon – close

4th of July Holiday Menu

Cha Chah
2013 Belmont Blvd

Cha Chah is always one of my favorite places to dine, and I love that they come up with a special menu to commemorate the holiday. This year that includes:

Grilled Chicken Skewers $4
Peel & Eat Shrimp $9
Roasted Corn on the Cob $2

plus Smoked Slaw & Watermelon

If Monday rolls around and you don’t feel like cooking, I can’t think of a more perfect place to be than here.

Mista Dale’s Spicy Mustard Slaw

Mista Dale’s Mustard Slaw

For those of you that will be hosting or attending a cookout this weekend, I’ve got a great product for you to try out – Mista Dale’s Mustard Slaw.

First, some background on me that is important to know. I am not a fan of either mustard or slaw. So when I got a sample jar of this a couple of months ago, I wasn’t exactly bouncing off the walls with excitement. But being the good food blogger I am, I’ll try pretty much anything once, and so it goes…

We grilled up some brats a few weeks back and I popped open the jar, first taking a little nibble and then a bigger taste. It was great! I slathered it on my brat, ate a couple of bites, then realized that I hadn’t put enough, so topped it with even more. The flavor we have is “spicy”, but I had the opportunity to try the “sweet” at a friend’s house recently and enjoyed it as well.

Currently Mista Dale’s is sold online and at several Kroger stores around Nashville, with expansion plans happening in the near future. Last week’s Nashville Business Journal had a great story on the company, so check it out if you have a chance. But more importantly, go pick up a jar for your cookout this weekend!