We visited Nashville for our 2 year wedding anniversary and while we were there partook in a festival that knocked our socks off.
Welcome to Music City Food and Wine!
The Music City Food and Wine Festival turned three years old this year but by the looks and our experience, this event should be much older. Chef-lebrities out mingling amongst food and beverage lovers in a way that we could not have predicted. Photo ops were easy to come by and the food! The food was just beyond anything we could have imagined.
We were only able to participate in one day of the two day event but we were left wanting much more. Food and beverage participants were strutting their stuff while we were able to taste along and even learn a thing or two in the cooking demos.
We ran into Joseph Lenn, former chef at Blackberry Farm and future restaurant owner in downtown Knoxville, and his lovely wife Kathryn. He was working with Pat Martin from Martin’s Bar-b-que Joint on whole animal cooking. They were passing out tastes of chicken, whole hog, trout and even goat!
Photo Op with Joseph Lenn
There were so many other great moments, tastes, and sips here are our faves:
Grilled Octopus from Kyma (Atlanta)
This grilled octopus was SO good.
Friends!
We ran into a friend from Knoxville (Jenny) and her girlfriends from Denver and Tuscon. We also ran into new friend and fellow food blogger, Beth Sachan.
Jenny and her girlfriends
Mr. Knoxfoodie with Beth Sachan
The cocktails that were being poured made us very happy.
Biscuit Love served up a biscuit that was reminiscent of a bagel sandwich complete with onion, farmers cheese, and tomato.
Biscuit Love served up an Onion Biscuit with Housemade Farmers Cheese and Heirloom Tomato
Trevor Moran and his crew from The Catbird Seat blew our minds with a salad topped with frozen lemon sorbet. It was the perfect cool, savory treat! This was the run-away favorite of the day for Mr. KnoxFoodie!
Trevor Moran, The Catbird Seat
Lemon Sorbet Salad, The Catbird Seat
There were plenty of shady spots to rest and take in the gorgeous weather.
Merchants Restaurant sampled a new take on an old classic, paté. They used smoked, pulled pork instead of liver put it on a piece of bread and topped it with a house made pickle. One of Mrs. Knoxfoodie’s favorite bites of the day!
Pulled pork paté, house pickles, bread
Sweet bites were few and far between but what was there made our sweet teeth do a happy dance. Pinewood Social brought a bit of a breakfast spin to their lemon custard bite. Lisa Donovan of Buttermilk Road sent us back to childhood with her S’mores Cream Puffs. Finally, the chef collaborations with Goo Goo Clusters challenged our taste buds.
Chef sightings!
Chef Scott Conant was friendly and all too eager to take photos when asked. He also loved Mrs. Knoxfoodie’s necklace designed by New Eve Jewelry in Knoxville. Chef Tim Love was keeping tightlipped about rumors of a new Knoxville restaurant.
Jonathan Waxman now has two restaurants in Nashville: Adele’s and Bajo Sexto Taco which is located in the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a delight to chat with after his cooking demo.
Mrs. Knoxfoodie with Scott Conant
Knoxfoodie with Chef Tim Love
Mrs. Knoxfoodie with Jonathan Waxman
Aaron Sanchez hanging out with the crowd
We had such a wonderful time at Music City Food and Wine! We met a lot of new people and reconnected with some friends along the way. We are already planning our trip for next year!
