Etch: Nashville’s Best + lunches for you!

posted on April 3, 2013 by Beth // 199 Comments »

etch-shrimp-papusa

Shrimp Papusa at Etch
corn cake, manchego and queso blanco, peruvian butternut slaw, smoked tomato sauce, green onion, cilantro, avocado pesto

 

In case you haven’t done so yet, make a beeline to the nearest magazine rack and pick up a copy of April’s Nashville Lifestyles. Why? Well, first and foremost, it’s the annual Restaurant issue, so it’s packed full of food, food and more food. Secondly, yours truly helped choose the 50 Best Restaurants in Nashville!

It was so much fun sitting around a table with some of my favorite food writers (Jennifer Justus, Kay West, Chris Chamberlain and Erin Murray), discussing what makes these restaurants the best of the best. After much debate, the Top 10 list was created.

Without giving too much away, I will tell you that Etch is in that 10. Okay, so I’ll give you more: it’s in the Top 3. And what I love about the Top 3 is that they are all #1. That probably doesn’t make much sense, does it?

When you see the list maybe you’ll understand what I mean. Basically, they’re all so very different from each other that there is absolutely no way to compare them. So, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no way they can compete with each other.

 

Etch-veggie-tempura-shavings

Etch’s Veggie Tempura Shavings (served with ponzu sauce)

For months now, when asked “what’s your favorite restaurant in Nashville” (and I get asked that A LOT), my answer is Etch. Since its opening last summer, I’ve eaten there more times than I can count. And every single meal has been exceptional. The creativity! The flavors!

Recently I realized that although I’ve mentioned Etch in blog posts and named it #1 in my Top 12 of 2012 list, I hadn’t yet written a post dedicated solely to my experiences there. So here we are!

 

etch-seared-tuna-salad

Etch’s Seared Tuna Salad
chili spiced, eggplant, avocado, radish, green onion, sake ponzu vinaigrette, smoked tofu

 

While Etch is absolutely perfect for dinner before a concert at the Ryman, a symphony performance, or a Preds game, it is also a great lunch spot. Any time business takes me downtown around the lunch hour, you better believe I’m dropping into Etch.

While a few standouts from the dinner menu are served at lunch (Roasted cauliflower appetizer, Seared Tuna Salad, Etch Salad, Octopus and Shrimp Bruschetta), for the most part, there is a whole new world of delicious options to choose from.

 

etch-cauliflower-appetizer1

Roasted Cauliflower at Etch
truffled pea pesto, salted almonds, feta crema

Some of my lunch favorites include the Farro Bowl with porcini-crimini sauce, toasted farro, confit mushrooms, and dijon truffle broccoli; the Shrimp Papusa (did you see that pic at the start of this post?? so good and so big!); the Short Ribs with pasta squares, smoked red wine gravy, carrot, caramelized onion, shiitakes, and pea pesto. Yum.

Hungry yet?

Well, maybe I can help you out….

etch-ratatouille-w-shrimp

Ratatouille Crudo with Shrimp (an Etch lunch special)
carpacio squash, zucchini, fennel, champignons, provencal herbs, eggplant salt, red bell tomato essence, parmesan

 

I’ve got 3 – count ’em – THREE gift certificates to give away!

Each certificate is good for Lunch for Two (2) at Etch. So maybe now you don’t have to just take my word for it or sit at your computer drooling over the online menu. Instead, you can belly up to an actual table at Etch and enjoy Chef Deb Paquette’s incredibly delicious food.

To enter, all you have to do is this:

~Contest Closed~

Congratulations to the winners!

#3 Amy Williams

#16 Leah

#111 Lindsey Dudgeon

Mandatory

1. Leave a comment telling me the best thing you’ve eaten at Etch -OR- if you haven’t been there yet, check out the lunch menu and tell me which dish is calling your name.

For up to 2 additional entries, you can do either or both of the following. Note: You must leave a separate comment for each optional entry.

2.  Follow me on Twitter (@betheats) and tweet “Win a delicious lunch for 2 @etchrestaurant from @betheats! http://bit.ly/13Q3Kce”, then leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.

3.  Like Etch on Facebook and come back and tell me you did so (or just tell me you already do if that’s the case!)

 

Contest ends on Sunday, April 7th at noon CST. Once the winners are chosen, I’ll make contact via email and post the names here on the blog. If they don’t respond within 48 hours, I’ll be forced to choose others, so be sure to check your email!