Essential Eats: Nashville, TN
We spent last week in Nashville, TN working alongside We Work and Marathon Music Works, putting on a stellar line-up of food for We Work’s Creator Awards attendees. While we were there, we tried a few spots, and found a few we abide by.
1. Henrietta Red
They’ve been written about in the New York Times, Bon Appétit, and many other noteworthy food-forward publications. They were even a semi-finalist for a James Beard award this year! This shouldn’t come as much surprise given Henrietta’s commitment to putting on great food with memorable presentation. The low-country hospitality coupled with elevated American dishes featuring fresh ingredients has never made you feel more at home.
Photo courtesy of the Henrietta Red website.
2. The Treehouse Restaurant
A menu that changes daily is enough to excite anyone, but the Treehouse also tends to have vegan offerings for those that practice. Resembling a treehouse you could only dream of building as a kid, don’t let the design fool you – this place actually serves some of the most well-plated dishes we’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. Jason Zygmont believes in the artistry of food, and it shows.
Photo courtesy of The Treehouse’s instagram.
3. Loveless Cafe
This place came highly recommended, which gave us tourist trap vibes, and when we saw “Real Southern Food” our inner New Orleans-foodie was a little skeptical. However, Loveless Cafe feels exactly like the southern style good food we know and love. The biscuits are to die for, and if we could get this fried chicken delivered to New Orleans, we’d be the happiest eaters on the planet. There’s no love lost in how they make their food, and if we’re ever homesick in Nashville, we’ll be sure to stop by.
Photo from Food & Wine’s Best Biscuits in the US.
4. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
We aren’t done with chicken just yet. Fried chicken is a staple part of any southern diet, and Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack wins in this food group with finesse and experience. I mean they’ve been in the fried chicken game for 70 years, and trust us, they know fried chicken – they’ve even received a James Beard Award over it. Truly setting a gold standard in Hot Fried Chicken, test your spice tolerance here and see why this place is hyped by tourists and locals alike.
Photo courtesy of Prince’s Hot Chicken website.
5. Rolf & Daughters
Bon Appétit said it best that Philip Krajeck was, “put on earth to make pasta.” The approach to create rustic pastas with a minimal feel has caught national attention, which Philip has noted was never the intention with Rolf & Daughters. His humble attitude and aim to create his best work shows in some amazing dishes like their Paccheri with maiteke. It’s sure to make you want pasta every day.
Photo courtesy of Afar.