Nashville's Greatest Chefs Team up with Goo Goo for Summer Chef Series (also known as - the best idea ever)

Y'all. Tis the time to be in Nashville.

Downtown's Goo Goo Shop is kicking off their “Goo Goo Summer Chef Series” this week. So, Goo Goo + my favorite chefs in town? I don't even know where to start. Let's just go with I am truly overwhelmed, but in oh-so-the-best way possible.

Here's a quick rundown of those participating:

Matt Bolus – 404 Kitchen

Karl Worley – Biscuit Love Brunch 

Maneet Chauhan – Chauhan Ale & Masala House 

Deb Paquette – Etch

Hal Holden-Bache – Lockeland Table

Dale Levitski – Sinema

Matt Farley – The Southern Steak & Oyster 

Trey Cioccia – The Farm House

Street. Cred.

So for you, my sweet readers, I have some delicious insider-info on one of the flaves. "The Gertie", Karl Worley's Premium Goo Goo (which, the first to be launched in the series), will be made up of peanut butter, pretzels, caramelized banana jam, and vanilla wafers drenched in dark chocolate. OK? Yeah, ok, With that info, I believe we can count on this effort being nothing short of FABULOUS. 

The series will run July 1 - September, and will sold at the Goo Goo Shop downtown in the months leading up to Music City Food + Wine in September. Flavors will rotate periodically, with around two or three chefs featured each month.

Stay tuned for flavors announcements via Goo Goo’s social media + googoo.com as they are launched.

New Podcast - Chatting About (what else) Food in Nashville!

Y'all. I have partaken in my very first Podcast!

I was asked by a dear friend, author/speaker/queen of hilarity and wisdom Annie Downs, to sit down and chat about the Nashville food scene. We cover everything - from some of my favorite hidden gems, to budget and family friendly spots, to the best fine dining in town - local only, of course.

You can download the podcast here, and stream it/view the entire list of recommendations on Annie's website, anniefdowns.com!

The 6 Best Ways to Beat the Cold in Nashville

So, I'm most definitely not a cold-weather person - and thanks to Mother Nature, I've had quite the (sudden) amount of adjusting to do here in Nashville. That said, I think it's best to focus on the positive and enjoy a few of the elements that come along with the season: Fires, Christmas Lights, the Holidays, Blankets, Peppermint everything.

Along with these yearly staples come a few of my most favorite ways to beat the cold in town. So if you can muster enough bravery to venture out into the elements, be sure not to miss the following:

Sweet Potato & Torched Marshmallow Ice Cream at Jenis

Freezing cold outside and Ice Cream? Only when it's Jenis. I count down the days for this seasonal flavor to reappear on the menu - and it's here! You need to partake. Now.


1892 Eastland Avenue
2312 12th Ave South

Experience Nashville Interview: Jeni Britton Bauer

Those of you who know me, or follow Experience Nashville in any capacity, know and understand my (slight) obsession with the brand that is Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. From the attention to the smallest impeccable details in their scoop shops, to their fun and funky marketing campaigns, their always top-notch customer service, and to what my opinion is the best ice cream in the world, Jeni's is the total package.

I recently had the privilege to sit down and chat with the brains behind the brand, the fabulous Ms. Jeni Britton Bauer. To say I was nervous is a slight... understatement. Thankfully, she was incredibly gracious (and cool as hell, not surprising) during the interview. I was able to find out some scoop on the company, their Nashville locales including the BRAND NEW shop opening September 13 in 12 South, and a few of Jeni's favorite places she makes sure to visit when in town.

photo courtesy of jenis.com

So one of my first questions for Jeni was, why Nashville? As you may or may not know, the company was founded in Columbus, Ohio and prior to opening the East Nashville location, only had a brick and mortar presence there. Her answer was simple: family. Being a halfway point between Columbus and Jeni's family in Arkansas, in addition to having the in-laws as Nashville locals, deemed our city the lucky recipient of Jeni's largest store. What at first surely seemed to be a bit daunting with the large space ended up being a blessing in disguise which if you've visited recently, will understand as it seems there is always a line out the door. And ya'll. Don't let the line intimidate you—it's well worth the wait!

Here are a few more highlights from our interview:


EN: Why did you choose 12 South for your new locale?

Jeni: It's the perfect spot... We like to be in neighborhoods where ice cream is a part of the experience. You go shopping, you go to dinner, you go have a drink somewhere. It's a dynamic neighborhood, with a great synergy among all of the merchants in it.

EN: I'm fascinated with the idea of what is your test kitchen, and am always AMAZED at the flavors that come out of it. Can you tell me a bit about how you come up with these flavors?

Jeni: The flavors start with me in the test kitchen*. Usually inspired by somebody telling me about an ingredient they were growing, or, somebody sends me a sample of a cheese they were making. I get a lot of samples—not all of them make it into ice creams, but the right ones do. I'm also sometimes inspired by a person like Zelda Fitzgerald, who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama eating blackberries and sweet cream, and peaches and biscuits. I start testing and creating recipes with several assistants, which goes through many renditions, a lot of which end up on the cutting floor. We then decide on which one to go with, take it to the bigger kitchen, and then train our employees on how to make it.

LOVE it.

*Jeni's doesn't have a modern ice cream kitchen like you might imagine. A highly trained staff of 80 are responsible for every batch that goes out the door. They do everything from hand-crafting the marshmallows to hand writing the flavors on each and every pint.

EN: If you HAD to pick one flavor.. Which is your favorite?

Jeni: It's always the lemon yogurt. I never get sick of it—it's the simplest, humblest flavor we make. And then, salty caramel in the winter, of course.

Next up.. I wanted to find out some of her favorite things to do when in Nashville:

Jeni's Top choices for a great meal:
Rolf & Daughters, City House, Holland House, Local Taco, Burger Up

Favorite places to grab a drink:
Pharmacy, Patterson House

Top Brunch Spots:
Barista Parlor, Fido, Marche

Favorite shops in and around Nashville:
Posh, Otis James for their Lady Ties, Emil Irwin, and  Annie Williams

I am loving her choices.. and I even learned of a few new places to check out myself!

Finally, stay tuned for the follow-up to her James Beard award winning book Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home. Jeni let me know that she turned in her final manuscript a few weeks back—and let's just say it sounds incredible. From several new recipes (and they're not just ice cream) to her take on the ever-evolving landscape here in Nashville and what it means to her, I know this is sure to be another winner from Ms. Britton Bauer that we will not want to miss!

Jeni—Congratulations on all your continued success and thanks for taking a few minutes to sit down and chat!

Sweet Summertime in Nashville

Now that Summertime is officially upon us here in Nashville, where are the must-stops in and around town for staying cool? Here's a little list of great ideas that will help you cool down as the temps continue to go up!

Bobbie's Dairy Dip
A Nashville staple for over 60 years, this needs to be a priority on your summer to-do list. Don't miss the soft-serve ice cream, available in vanilla, chocolate, or twist— available dipped in delicious chocolate. Other favs include the sweet potato fries, cheese fries, burgers, and the root beer floats! Divey and delish.

The Peach Truck
The best peach you will have in your life - ever. Freshly imported straight from the farm in Georgia, you must take advantage of their sweet goodness -- you won't find a more fresh, juicy, sweet peach anywhere in Nashville (especially from the grocery store). Posted in various locales all around town, you're sure to find a close and convenient outpost to take advantage of the most delectable fruit of summer!

Jeni's 
Ya'll know my obsession with Jeni's, and it is stopping no time soon. Look for new summer flaves to hit the shelves soon, as the folks behind Jeni's continue to ramp back up production. PS - Dark and Milky Chocolates are back, and you HAVE to try the Charleston Sundae: Sweet Cream Ice Cream, Salty Caramel Sauce, Buckstrap Molasses, Peanuts, Whipped Cream, and a Cherry.

Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles
Nothing is more nostalgic than a fresh, homemade Popsicle on a hot summer day! My favorites from Las Paletas include: Oh wait. Everything.  From creamy to savory to fruity, all of their creations are incredible. My advice is simple, be adventurous!

Mas Tacos por Favor
Luckily Mas Tacos has wonderful options when it comes to cooling your palette and rescuing you from the heat of the day! Swing in for a refreshing agua fresca: a drink made from ice, pureed watermelon, and lime juice. They also have a pineapple and cilantro version, both of which mix wonderfully with a little vodka (yes, I went there, and yes, it's BYOB so you can do this.. cheaply!).

Mike's Ice Cream
Long before Jenis hit our town there was Mike's handmade ice cream. Hand made in right in their shop, and a bit more on the traditional side when it comes to flavors (you won't find goat cheese and cherries here), this is a wonderful and cool option if you find yourself braving the tourists on Broadway, or wanting dessert at their east side locale after devouring a sandwich at Mitchell's Deli. My favorite flavors are strawberry and mint chocolate chip... Simple yet divine.

Pied Piper Creamery
Another local ice creamery that cannot be missed. The flavors are adventurous and fun and include one of my fav ice creams of ALL time, Nanna Nanna Nu Nu. This would be banana ice cream with Nutella, marshmallow fluff, and graham cracker. Yes, this is for real. Other favs are C is for Cookie, their version of cookies & cream, and Trailer Trash, which is vanilla with oreo, Twix, Butterfinger, Nestle Crunch, Snickers, M&M's, and Reece's Pieces.

Rosepepper Cantina
One of my absolute favorite ways to cool down in the summer happens to include a wonderful margarita on the patio. Luckily for me (and you), Rosepepper offers both. You must stop in to enjoy the best marg in town (hands down). Offered in multiple flavors, my favs are fresh lime, mango, and the plain ol' house. Make sure not to miss out on the cheese dip and quesadillas while you are there.

3 Crow/ML Rose/Edley's/ACME/Broadway Brewhouse
I am highlighting all of the above as they all serve the all-time best summertime adult treat EVER, the Bushwacker, best described as an alcohol-loaded chocolate milkshake. It truly doesn't get much better than this. Be careful though, as these bad boys tend to sneak up on you.

Cummins Falls/Fall Creek Falls/Burgess Falls
Looking for a reason to get out of town for a bit and beat the heat? These three locales offer some of the most beautiful and scenic waterfalls in Tennessee, and are all only roughly an hour from Nashville. A cool fact: Travel & Leisure recently named Cummins Falls one of America's 10 best swimming holes.

What are YOUR favorite ways to cool down in Nashville?

Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles

Need a fun idea and craving something sweet? Now that the weather is FINALLY warming up in Nashville head over to the 12 South neighborhood for a cool treat at Las Paletas, where you will enjoy the most delicious popsicle you will ever have in your life! Ya'll. Coming from someone who was born with a special compartment in my stomach solely for dessert (& therefore by default making dessert a passion of mine throughout my life)—you can rest assured with utmost confidence when I tell you Las Paletas is INCREDIBLE.

One of Nashville's greatest gems, this fabulous little shop dishes out some of the best frozen delicacies in town.  Typically divided into "Creamy" (think ice cream-ish) and "Fruit" (think Italian ice-ish), flavors range from Hot Chocolate with Peppers (a strange but delish one to try), Pistachio, and Chocolate Strawberry to Pineapple Blueberry and Honeydew.  Typically, I go for the creamy/fruit combinations, but my advice to you is to be adventurous. Branch out of your comfort zone and live a little, try a flavor that sounds a little crazy—I promise you will be pleasantly surprised.

Couple items to note: One, they take cash or check only at the 12s locale. Two, Las Paletas Popsicles are also sold at various outlets across town, including Hot & Cold in Hillsboro Village, Baja Burrito, and Bongo Java, so you have plenty of opportunities to try one!

What is YOUR fav Las Paletas flavor?

Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles
2905 12th Ave S #101
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 386-2101

Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 11am-8pm

My FAVORITE Ice Cream in Nashville, By Far.

Okay.. Who doesn't love ice cream in the summertime?  Or, all the time really.  Yes.. I realize that is a rhetorical question.  I for one have a huge sweet tooth, which as of late, I've been trying to control.  HOWEVER, my one exception at all times is if I get an invite to, or just a craving for, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in East Nashville.  Dare I say hands down, the best ice cream I've had to date in the U.S.?  Yes, I dare.  You are most definitely doing yourself a disservice if when you read this blurb, don't immediately stop whatever you are doing to go grab a scoop of this glorious creation.  

Their website says it best: "Generic chemist-built ice cream bases and powdered astronaut-friendly gelato mixes? No, ma’am. We build every recipe from the ground up with luscious, Snowville milk and cream from cows that eat grass. With that exquisite base, we explore pure flavor in whatever direction moves us at any moment, every day, all year."

To sum it up, unbelievable ice cream without all of the junk mixed in.  Not to mention, I have only had superior service there AND you get to try as many flavors as you want.  They encourage it, actually.

My favorite flavors (really, are all of them.. but if I had to choose):

Goat Cheese and Cherry (Remember.. be adventurous.  This one tastes like cherry cheesecake)

Dark Chocolate (Sinful)

The Milkiest Chocolate in the World (The title nails it)

Salted Caramel

Pistachio & Honey

Juniper & Lemon Curd (Lemon creamy goodness)

Go now, enjoy.  And let me know what your favorite flavor is.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

892 Eastland Avenue  Nashville, TN 37206

(615) 262-8611

Hours: 11A-11P all week

**If you can't make it over to the East side, I've found that Jeni's is also sold at Burger Up, Hot & Cold in the Village, and at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum