Still in awe at thinking about the amazing food and wine scene we found in Nashville. We knew at least one or more restaurant professionals in each restaurant we went to from either NYC, LA or even Copenhagen. Just last night Bastion, Catbird and Locust received Michelin stars - I can see why.
Here is a ready made food agenda for anyone who wants to go!
I would like to thank board member @alex_burch who runs Bad Idea and reached out to me with help on a reservation and with some great suggestions.
Friday
7:00 Bastian - This did not make the agenda for a full meal so we stopped by to check out the bar. This is part of the Strategic Hospitality Group which is responsible for several great restaurants in Nashville. The bar was fun in a retro 70s type way. No wine to speak of. They did have Monkey 47 so we uncharacteristically started the weekend with a gin and tonic! Given how impressed we were with all of the restaurants we visited from this group we intend to try the restaurant in the future.
7:30 ABA - This is a curious place. Extremely large and glitzy. Feels like a South Beach restaurant. Well we were right across the street and had some time to kill and we had heard raves about a Hummus Chicken Ragout Dish so we grabbed seats in the bar area and tried said dish. It was very good, I would go back for a full meal.
8:30 The Catbird Seat - Have wanted to try this restaurant for a very long time. For whatever reason my expectations were not high. Well it blew us away! I loved everything about it. It is a new space and a new Chef couple has take over the kitchen. Chefs Andy Doubrava and Tiffani Ortiz spent a couple of years driving around the country doing popups and have now settled here and are doing amazing work. Chef Doubrava formerly was the CDC at Rustic Canyon under one of my favorite Chef Jeremy Fox. Wine Director Sarah Salim has put together a wonderful list that pairs perfectly with their food. We are very bored with tasting menus; however, this was just the right length and amount of food. The food was excellent. Wine list excellent. Overall hospitality was perfect. I canât wait to go back.
Saturday
10:00 March House - This was one of Alexâs recommendation. Great wine list. Sommelier Todd Johnston was a superb host. We had a 2010 Vatan that was showing great. Open all day.
12:00 National Museum of African American Music - As a passionate music fan this was very cool. I loved the Gospel and Blues section. I felt they tried to do too much including basically all music genres.
1:30 SS Gai - Very good. A chef friend told me the best fried chicken in Nashville was at a Thai spot. Not sure I would go that far. I did really love the special of the day fried okra. I would definitely go back and pack some riesling!
1:45 Surefire Coffee - Across from the strip mall of restaurants that SS Gai is in. It is in an old airstream camper. Very serious coffee.
5:30 Rolf & Daughters - Dinner #1. The OG delivered on all levels. Just a wonderful meal where every dish worked. Great wine list. Wonderful hospitality. It is always nice to see the classics still delivering
8:00 Bad Idea - Dinner #2 Wanted to stop in to check out Alexâs spot. I am so happy that we did. What an amazing space. Excellent wine list. We had a bottle of Selosse with complimentary fries! Every bottle of Champagne comes with fries. A few excellent dishes. The space is stunning and has a great vibe! We finished the evening with a Keller rieslingreset! My only regret is that we did not do a full dinner but we will next time! And I am thinking this could be a great venue for the next Rieslingstudy! Stay tunedâŚ
Sunday
9:30 Cheekwood Estate, Art Gallery and Gardens - This turned out to be extremely cool. Need to go back to spend more time in the Japanese Garden.
2:00 Locust - I had sky high expectations and they were surpassed. What an outstanding meal. The Nordic and Noma references are overt but also really work in Nashville. The Chef trained at Noma for four years and was also the Chef at The Cat Bird Seat.
9:00 Junior - We absolutely loved everything about this place. Sadly we hit the wall and did not get to enjoy as much of the menu as we would have liked. What we did have was excellent. The wine program is run by Billy Smith formerly of the Four Horsemen. He moved to Nashville to be the wine director of Rolf and Daughters / Folk and now Junior.
Monday and Tuesday work work days so the drinking and eating slowedâŚ
Monday
7:00 Folk Restaurant - The reminds me of Robertaâs. Overall I enjoyed the meal and had an excellent bottle of Ganevat.
Tuesday
12:00 St Vito Focacceria - I had a break in my day and I decided to try this spot. I only had one slice but it was insanely great - the spicy tomato!
6:00 Audry - I was worried given Chef Sean Brock is no longer affiliated with the restaurant. There was no need to worry. This was a business dinner for 10. It was excellent on all fronts. We did the private library room which had a really nice vibe. This was hands down the best food I have ever had at a closing dinner! Canât wait to return a similar refrain after many of my visits in Nashville!
Other places that I did not get to that are on our list for next time!
Baby Chan
Kisser
Kool Runnings
Noko
Peninsula
Uzbegim
I canât recommend a visit to Nashville more highly!