Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 58

* * * TENNESSEE
Nashville and John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
TENNESSEE
BACKSTAGE
THE CITIES LOCALS LOVE
BY GARY DIEDRICHS
T
There is so much to love in The Volunteer
State-music, food, the great outdoors
and indoors. But when the crowds along
Nashville's Lower Broadway are too much of a
good thing for those with lingering Covid cautiousness,
it is good to know your alternatives.
Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, Printers Alley,
Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry,
Bluebird Cafe and the honky-tonks of Music Row,
along with Memphis hot spots such as Beale
Street and Graceland are still must-see items
on almost every visitor list-but there's so much
more to be seen, heard and experienced. So why
not mix in a little of everything, just like that go-to
Nashville party cocktail, the bushwacker? [See
sidebar on page 62.]
Here's Tennessee the way the locals know and
love it.
WHERE TO EAT
For its size, Nashville boasts an outsized share of
58
OCTOBER 2022 * smartmeetings . com
James Beard Award-winning chefs. Sean Brock
(Audrey, June), Andrew Carmellini (The Dutch,
Carne Mare), Tony Mantuano (Yolan), Jonathan
Waxman (Adele's), Tandy Wilson (City House).
Not to mention global celeb chef John-George
Vongerichten (Drusie & Darr). Most of these establishments
offer private dining spaces, and some
are available for buyouts and events.
But for less chef-driven and more crowd-sourced
fare, you can't go wrong guiding your attendees
to any number of eateries that, while hardly local
secrets, epitomize authentic local dining. Deserving
top billing is venerable Arnold's Country Kitchen,
where from-scratch comfort food has been
served cafeteria-style since 1982. It's the place to
chow on a Nashville meat-and-three-one meat
(cherry-smoked ribs, pork chops, fried catfish, et.
al) backed by a trio of Southern-style sides. This
downhome star won a James Beard America's
Classics Award in 2009.
In the popular Germantown neighborhood, grab
Liquor Lab, Nashville
seats at Monell's and start passing bowls of soulful
Southern food served to your left, family style.
The set price includes meats, veg and salads of the
day, plus drink and dessert. A group of 40 or more
can take over the stately red-brick mansion for dinner,
or the kitchen can deliver " South to the mouth "
to your catered location.
Also in Germantown is the year-round Nashville
Farmer's Market, with artisan food, specialty
shops, greenhouses and open-air stalls. Watch for
special events like this month's Turnip Green Festival
with celebrated native chef Tandy Wilson.
Another Beard America's Classics winner is
where the Nashville hot chicken craze all began,
Prince's Hot Chicken. So the origin story goes,
the stately Thornton Prince was served radioactively
hot fried chicken one morning by his lady friend
in retribution for his wandering ways. Instead of the
intended pain, he loved it so much he perfected
the recipe and opened his chicken shack. This
was at the height of the Great Depression, and
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue
