25 Things I Must Eat in Nashville in 2012
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Recently there was a post on Nashville Scene’s Bites blog that got me to thinking about all of the foods in Nashville that I haven’t even begun to explore. So as the New Year begins, I’m going to do something I never do– make a resolution!
This year I’m going to make it a point to eat at least 25 dishes here in town that I’ve never tried before. But I’m not going to do it randomly. No, there certainly has to be some reason for my consumption of all of those calories. These need to be the Best of the Best.
I’ve started my list with 4 items I’ve heard many good things about. Some are well known, others are fairly new on the scene:
#1: Hot Chicken at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
#2: Butterscotch Habanero Bread Pudding at Sunset Grill
#3: Grilled Pimento Cheese and Fried Green Tomato Sandwich at The Harding House
#4 Housemade Bacon with Maple Cotton Candy at Kayne Prime
Now this is where you come in. I need more suggestions. MANY more. Please leave me comments below with dishes you think are not to be missed here in Nashville…dishes that make our city a special place.
And even if you know for a fact that I’ve eaten something before, feel free to leave those ideas too! I’d love for this list to turn into a comprehensive guide for all who are looking for the best foods in Nashville.
As a special thanks for your input, everyone that leaves comments by the end of January will have their name entered into a drawing for prizes. I’m not sure how many prizes or what they’ll be, but I promise, they’ll be good!
What an amazing list! I know you’ve likely had them, but I had to chime in with Arnold Myint’s brussels sprouts at ChaChah. AMAZING. For your home purchases, add a jar of his smoked salt that he sells at AM@FM. A generous sprinkle of it helped produce some of the best steaks I grilled this past summer. Another addition, although a simple side, are the house made chips with garlic aioli at Margot/Marche.
Oh yes, those brussels sprouts are one of my absolute favorite dishes in this town!! I saw his recipe somewhere recently, so need to try to recreate them at home myself…
I’ve only been in Nashville for about four months, and I love food but usually do the homemade and/or Trader Joes route. So these are my favorites, with the disclaimer that I haven’t yet (but will soon!) visited many of the restaurants in this post’s discussion.
#1 – Cream Corn Brulee from Kayne Prime (I tried it because of this blog, and I’ve never had anything quite this good)
#2 – Pulled Pork Tacos from Neighbors in Sylvan Park (it’s a local bar, with a limited menu that’s not your typical foodie anything, but that smoker out back fires out some awesome grub)
#3 – Sparky Sandwich at Silly Goose (turkey breast, basil aioli, dried cranberries, brie, roasted walnuts, baby greens, sun-dried tomato wrap…you’re welcome!)
Not a food, but try Cool Springs Brewery Pecker Wrecker. Great Beer! Love to support local business too!! :)
I forgot one — the Liege waffles from The Taste of Belgium waffle truck. He used to be at the Farmer’s Market on weekends, but I haven’t seen him in awhle.
I just remembered the meatball pizza from Amico’s in Nolensville (not sure if this qualifies, geographically). They take real meatballs and slice them so thin it looks like gyro meat. Yum! And the sauce is some of the best I’ve ever had!
Beth, I want you to listen to me. Please.
I am convinced that this is the best single dish in Nashville right now.
Wild Caught Kentucky Catfish from Holland House.
Take a fluffy homemade biscuit, place it in the center of a bowl. Surround that biscuit with hoppin john sauce (pureed field peas, bacon, cream, maybe green onion). On top of the biscuit, place a pan seared fillet of wild caught Kentucky catfish. Not heavy and fried. Light, tender and flaky. And finally, on top of the catfish, a generous scoop of homemade heirloom tomato preserves.
It’s life changing.
Wow. Born and raised in KY, I’ve eaten plenty of catfish in my life, but none that was anything like that! Definitely MUST get over there to try it soon.
Thanks for the heads up!
Beef Brisket from Flyte! GET IN MY BELLY!
Belly Ham Pizza at City House.
I would think that Prince’s Hot Chicken about now would start a baby birth event after eating the spicey chicken.
Smiling Elephant Cashew Chicken- I don’t even really like Thai food and I dream about this
Burger Up lamb burger with sweet potato fries- their honey-dijon aioli is what it’s all about, yum. Their local and holiday salads are also delish.
Harvest Melt at the Grilled Cheeserie- this.was.amazing.
Pancake Pantry…
lived in Nashville after college…love Prince’s Chicken, some nurses at Vanderbilt introduced it! But every Saturday morning we would visit The Pancake Pantry…their French Toast with Cinnamon syrup is to die for!
We are now in Atlanta, but always make a trip to the Pantry when we are in town…our favorite waitresses still remember our son…he is now 20 years old!
The pad thai at PM – it comes wrapped inside a thin omelet
Brown sugar ice cream at rumba! It’s not always available, so call ahead:)
Great list! Can’t wait to try some of these restaurants while we’re visiting in May!
I love Shalimar, Bricktops, Rumba, Kalamatas, The Perch, Boscos, Le Peep, and Bobby’s Dairy Dip!