July 2018 Food & Drink Happenings ~ Nashville

posted on July 1, 2018 by Beth // 2 Comments »

3rd of July Fireworks at TailGate Brewery

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018
11 am – ?
Fireworks start at 9 pm

TailGate Brewery
7300 Charlotte Pike
Nashville, TN 37209

Cost: FREE (parking $10)

For the third year in a row, TailGate Brewery will be putting on a full-scale professional fireworks show the night before the 4th of July using the same company that does the downtown fireworks on the 4th. This idea is so genius — we can stay up late on Tuesday and then we have off on Wednesday, allowing us to rest and recuperate!

TailGate is family friendly all the time, so kids and adults alike are welcome. There will be live music, pretzel bites and pizza by the slice, as well as beer and soft drinks for sale the entire evening. Be sure to bring blankets or chairs so you’ll be comfy viewing the fireworks! For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

 

Goo Goo Summer Chef Series

Friday, July 6th – September 30, 2018

Goo Goo Shop
116 3rd Ave S
Nashville, TN 37201

You may have noticed I’ve been MIA (at least on this blog of mine) for the last few weeks. Work has been crazier than usual, and the month of June completely got away from me. One of the things that has contributed to my lack of free time was this little project…. kickoff of the 4th annual Goo Goo Summer Chef Series is just around the corner!

Even though I started working further in advance this year, I changed a few things behind the scenes, so that meant more prep had to get done before the official launch on July 6th. I’m soooo excited for this year’s lineup. While I can’t tell you yet what any of the flavors are, I can say that they are some of my favorites yet. If all goes as planned, this is the order they will launch:

Kyle Patterson, Sinema
Vui Hunt, Vui’s Kitchen
Aaron Clemins, Kuchnia & Keller
Kahlil Arnold, Arnold’s Country Kitchen
Andy Little, Josephine
Jess Benefield & Trey Burnette, Two Ten Jack (and soon to open Green Pheasant)

Every two (2) weeks a new chef Premium Goo Goo will be introduced, and each chef’s candy will stay on the menu at the Goo Goo Shop for at least four (4) weeks. Some of the chefs plan to sell them in their own restaurants as well, so be on the lookout if you visit any of them over the next few months. New flavors will be announced on Goo Goo’s social channels and in the News section of our website.

The series will run through the end of September, and as we’ve done in year’s past, we’ll be showcasing all of them at Music City Food + Wine Festival on September 14th and 15th.

 

 

Red Gold Tomato Takedown 

Sunday, July 15th, 2018
3 – 6 pm

Green Door Gourmet
7007 River Rd
Nashville, TN 37209

Cost: $15 for general admission (4 pm)/ $25 for VIP (3 pm early entry & Bloody Mary bar)

With my calendar being as packed as it has been the last few months, it’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to judge any culinary competitions, but luckily this particular one fit my schedule! I have a serious LOVE for tomatoes, pretty much in all forms, so this gig is right up my alley.

The Red Gold Tomato Takedown at Green Door Gourmet Farm will bring together chefs and home cooks to compete, and the winner will not only take home the coveted “Tomato Tower” trophy, but they will also qualify to compete at the World Food Championships in November. Pretty cool, eh?

While I’m being judge-y, attendees of the event will be able to sample dishes from more than 10 restaurants and sip on a Red Gold Bloody Mary. There will also be games, a scavenger hunt, and more. For more info and to purchase tickets, go here.

 

 

Cheekwood Cocktail Crawl

Thursday, July 19th (also happening August 16th if you can’t make this month’s)
5 – 10 pm

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
1200 Forrest Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37205

Cost: $15 for members/ $25 for non members (in advance)

Must be 21+ to purchase tickets.

Have you seen the cool new exhibit at Cheekwood? While I haven’t had the pleasure of viewing it in person yet, I’ve gotten a glimpse via friends’ social media accounts and I’m obsessed. I can’t wait to see it up close and in person! Cracking Art uses 100% recyclable plastic materials to create playful and colorful creatures in surprising invasions throughout the landscapes of Cheekwood.

While I have a feeling I’ll be going to check this particular exhibit out more than once, I know when my first visit will be. As part of Cheekwood’s Thursday Night Out program, they’re hosting their first series of Cocktail Crawls! There was one in June that I wasn’t able to attend, but there are two more opportunities upcoming, with the first being on July 19th. Sounds like a blast, as you get to meander through the gardens and outdoor art exhibition as you crawl from bar to bar tasting craft cocktails along the way. Count me in.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

 

Chefs Backstage at Sinema

Thursday, July 26th, 2018
6:30 – 9:30 pm

Sinema
2600 8th Ave S
Suite 102
Nashville, TN 37204
615-942-7746

Cost: $115/person (inclusive of cocktail reception, dinner with pairings, tax & gratuity)

Sinema’s Chef Backstage series is back again this year, and you should definitely make plans to go to one of these dinners! I had the pleasure of attending a couple of them last year, and they were both delicious and fun.

On Thursday, July 26th Sinema’s Kyle Patterson will be teaming up with one of my other Nashville favorites, Bryan Lee Weaver of Butcher & Bee to create an Italian Feast inspired by the movie Big Night. Bethany Halliger, our pastry chef at Goo Goo, was asked to create the dessert for the dinner, so I’m hoping I get to do some taste testing of her Goo Goo tiramasu in the coming days!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours before they’re all gone and be sure to arrive at 6:30 so you can partake in the cocktail hour before being seated for dinner at 7 pm. Sinema never disappoints with their creative cocktails, so you don’t want to miss anything! For full menu and to purchase tickets, visit the website here.