Music City. One of our favorite places to eat, drink and visit with friends. September brings in the Music City Food and Wine Festival to Nashville, TN. It’s a time for chefs, restaurants and bars to show off what they do. It was a 3 day festival this year and we were on hand for the entire day on Saturday. Follow along to see our favorite moments, people and bites.
Grand Tasting
Our favorite bites from the grand tasting start with one chef’s mission to Beat Bobby Flay. Hal Holden-Bache, Lockeland Table, recreated his lamb merguez bolognese that he used to get past the first round of “Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network. When asked if he did, in fact, beat him he said, “You’ll have to watch to find out!”
The folks at Bob’s Steak and Chop House were showing off smoked pork belly jam on toast with torched bacon, manchego foam and micro chive. The smoky sweet flavor of the jam mingled with the salty savory manchego made for one deliciously balanced bite!
David Tiemen and his crew from Five Points Pizza were showing off with some delicious fall style pizzas with ingredients like fig jam and caramelized onions.
Hot Quail sliders from Hattie B’s NEVER disappoints! They were serving these alongside tasters of Bearded Iris beers.
The Martin’s BBQ and Friends event at Music City Food and Wine is always a place to get some of the best smoked meats around. Pat Martin and chefs like Knoxville native Joseph Lenn, Trey Cioccia and Tyler Brown were on hand showing their skills with wood and fire. Trey Cioccia even brought out a piece from his new space, Black Rabbit, to cook with and it was impressive.
Demos and Panels
There were several options for those looking to expand their culinary prowess or those just wanting insight in to the minds of their favorites chefs. We listened in on the quartet of Jonathan Waxman, Susan Feniger, Tyler Brown and Cassidee Dabney as they discussed gardening and the importance of knowing where your food comes from. Jonathan Waxman talked a lot about the idea of community supported agriculture and really enjoys getting into the garden and getting his hands dirty he said, “When you put your hands in the earth and you feel a potato still warm from the earth in the middle of the night. That is the sexiest thing in the world.”
Hendrick’s Gin invited participants to become students for a moment in their Peculiar Cocktail Academy where Fred Barrick, brand ambassador, guided us through making their signature gin and tonic with cucumber, gin lemonade and a gin punch. It was a fun, unintimidating way to learn a couple of new tricks.
Chef Tim Love’s demo is a can’t miss event at Music City Food and Wine. Donned in his best Tennessee orange he brought us in to the Chop Shop to the tune of “Rocky Top.” The discussion was about chops of all kinds: lamb, pork, beef, salmon even. He had a guest on hand who won an auction the raise funds for Hurricane Harvey relief.
Harvest Night
Best party of the year for us is always Harvest Night at Music City Food and Wine Festival. It’s a chance for chefs in Nashville and beyond to let loose, mingle and show off their skills. There was no shortage of Knoxville representation this year and we couldn’t have been more proud!
Here are some of our favorite bites and moments of the night.
Matt Bolus Braise Rabbie Maitake Mushrooms, Apples
Tandy Wilson Tomatoes, Buttermilk Cottage Cheese, Prosecco Jelly
Joseph Lenn Sweet and Spicy Smoked Pork with Charred Corn
Knoxville’s Chef Joseph Lenn
Marcus Sammuelson Doro Wat Lasagna
Chef Cassidee Dabney
That Blackberry Farm Egg Plant!!
Chef Todd Pulsinelli Chilled Consomme with Fall Brunoise
Chef Jimmy Bannos, Jr Lamb Prosciutto
Chef Tim Love
Chef Tim Love’s Smoked Pork Belly
