July 2015 Food & Drink Happenings ~ Nashville
Goo Goo Summer Chef Series
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015
Goo Goo Shop
116 3rd Ave S
Nashville, TN 37210
615-490-6685
You guys. I haven’t had this much fun putting together a promo for work since the Goo Goo Desserts of 2012!
I honestly can’t remember if I’ve ever even told you about the Premium Goo Goos that are being created in our Shop, so if I haven’t, I apologize, as I’ve done you a disservice. Premium Goo Goos are very different from a regular Goo Goo Cluster. They’re 4 ounces vs a typical 1.75 oz Goo Goo Cluster, and they’re made by hand daily with the highest quality ingredients. Our confectionery kitchen manager, Lauren Garcia, is responsible for coming up with various flavor combinations for these gourmet confections.
There are typically at least 4-5 different Premium flavors offered on any given day, and a handwritten menu chalkboard above the Shop kitchen announces what’s available. Basically, they’re the reason I will always be 5 lbs heavier than I’d like to be. But man, is it worth it!
Anyway… back to the reason I’m here today. We’re launching the “Goo Goo Summer Chef Series” that will run through the end of September and will feature Premium creations imagined by eight of Nashville’s best chefs:
Karl Worley – Biscuit Love Brunch
Dale Levitski – Sinema
Hal Holden-Bache – Lockeland Table
Maneet Chauhan – Chauhan Ale & Masala House
Deb Paquette – Etch
Matt Bolus – 404 Kitchen
Matt Farley – The Southern Steak & Oyster
Trey Cioccia – The Farm House
The new flavors will be sold at the Goo Goo Shop and will rotate periodically with two or three featured each month. To wrap up the series, we’ll showcase all of the flavors at our table in the Grand Taste tents at Music City Food + Wine Festival on September 19th and 20th, 2015.
Now, how do you know what new creations we’ve got? Just follow Goo Goo’s Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, or check the website, googoo.com, as I’ll be posting them all there as they launch. And, of course, you’ll probably see pics on my own Instagram and Twitter feeds as I’ll definitely be eating them all
Jeni’s Hillsboro Village Opening
Thursday, July 2, 2015
7 – 11 pm
Jeni’s Ice Cream
1819 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212
615-292-8636
Cost: FREE
Jeni’s Ice Cream has had a rough few months. They’ve battled a listeria issue at their production facility, and my heart goes out to them. I’ve been super impressed with how they’ve handled it all — from the completely transparent communications from their management team to paying their employees while they’ve been shut down.
Thankfully, now with a little help from some friends at a dairy in Ohio, they’re starting to slowly get up and running again. And that means the new Hillsboro Village shop is finally opening!
Tomorrow night (Thursday) is the night, and founder Jeni Britton Bauer is scheduled to host the party. There will be FREE scoops from 7 – 11 pm and the first 50 people in line will each get a ceramic mug.

Southern Cooking for Company Book Signings
Thursday July 2nd, 2015
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Parnassus
Hillsboro Plaza Shopping Center
3900 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215
~AND~
Thursday, July 9th, 2015
7 – 8 pm
Barnes & Noble Vanderbilt
2501 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: FREE
I’ve known Nicki Wood for a few years now. Our original interactions were on the Scene’s Bites blog, where she’s been contributing for quite some time, but our first real “getting to know each other” was when we took a road trip down to Birmingham together for Food Blog South in 2011. Not only is she a great writer, but she’s also a fun travel buddy! But her writing is what brings me here today.
Her new cookbook, Southern Cooking for Company, has just been released and she has a couple of signings lined up for us here in Nashville over the next few days. The first is tomorrow night at Parnassus and the second is next week at Barnes & Noble.
For the event at Barnes & Noble, in addition to the signing, she’ll have a demo and tasting which will include pickled shrimp, country ham and angel biscuits, and it’s possible she may even be shaking up a cocktail called Rings & Thimbles (as long as she can get permission). Now, I’m not completely sure, but I think maybe she’s using mom’s recipes for some of the bites she’s putting together!
That’s right, my own mother contributed to the book, and the country ham and angel biscuits are something I’ve been eating my whole life! It’s been quite a while since I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying them though, so you’ll definitely be able to find me stuffing my face at Barnes & Noble next week ;-)

M.L. Rose Free Sliders on the 4th
Saturday, July 4th, 2015
All Day
M.L. Rose Craft Beer and Burgers
4408 Charlotte Ave
~ and ~
2535 Franklin Pike
M.L. Rose Craft Beer & Burgers will once again celebrate the 4th of July by giving away FREE sliders! For every craft beer purchased, guests will receive one free slider. The offer runs from open to close at both locations. This is one awesome deal we should all be taking advantage of on Saturday!
In addition to the 4th of July celebration, sliders will also be M.L. Rose’s Burger of the Month for July. Guests can get 3 sliders + waffle fries for $11.95 all month.

Steadfast Coffee Block Party
Saturday, July 11th, 2015
1 -4 pm (or maybe even later!)
603 Taylor Street
Nashville, TN 37208
Cost: FREE

Healthy Happy Hour with Erin Oprea
Thursday, July 16th, 2015
5 – 7 pm
Mason’s at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
2100 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: FREE + cost of drinks
Complimentary valet and self-parking
We’re all invited to throw on our favorite workout attire and enjoy a healthy happy hour with celebrity fitness trainer Erin Oprea at Mason Bar. Now this is a concept I can get behind — fitness and drinking all in one!
And Y’all. Erin is Carrie Underwood’s trainer. Need I say more?? If I’m going to continue to lead this food focused lifestyle, I need a dose of her in my life!
The event, which is free to the public, will feature complimentary healthy small bites from chef Brandon Frohne including Curried Portobello Fries with House-made Ricotta & Blueberry Pesto and Beet Chips with Smoked Goat Cheese & Squash Salsa. There will also be a healthy cocktail, the Mandarin Smash, for $8. 20-ounce Bud Light drafts will be $5, and fancy fruit and herb infused water will be complimentary.
While enjoying the food & drink, attendees will get to learn Oprea’s favorite fitness moves and nutrition tips, and consult directly with Oprea on their own health and fitness questions. I’m in!
* As you’ll notice, this list only gets us through half of the month of July. It’s shaping up to be a busy month! If I hear of more things that are worth attending, I’ll come back with another list for you. In the meantime, have fun and be safe!*
I want ALL THE GOO GOOS. And that Gertie lived up to all expectations!
Sounds like some great stuff is happening this summer! Super excited to try out these different places! Thanks for sharing.