The burger is America’s iconic beloved choice all day every day. We know not all burgers are created equally and I’m always on the search for the best of the best combination of bun, meat and cheese.

Doug and I both agree that meat needs to be good enough to stand alone (I often put mine on top of a salad), and the bun to meat ratio has to be just right. Too much bun and the burger is a fail. It needs to smash down on the burger and the ingredients need to be stacked in such a way that the bun doesn’t get soggy.

Nashville’s Best Burgers from Casual to Fancy

Grass Fed Burger at True Food Kitchen. What a surprise! This burger blew me away with quality, quantity and might be the best burger you can eat without a bun!  The kale side is my personal choice. Upscale casual. Extensive AIP menu. Coffee and Cocktails.

Fido’s Lamb Burger – The lamb beef combination never disappoints me. Follow up with their famous coffee. This burger has been popular for years! Casual. Nashville’s First Ever Coffee House. Iconic.

Germantown Pub – The Gerst Burger, beer braised with onions and muenster served on a pretzel bun. It’s sloppy, messy, drippy, and phenomenal. I also like the GTP Burger with a fried egg.

Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint– I can’t get the pepper jelly, cream cheese burger out of my mind ever since I discovered how amazing this combination is. Wagyu burgers are grilled on flat top, not too thin, not to thick, with the perfect soft bun to burger ratio. You might be able to eat two of these, and you’ll probably want to. Choose from over 100 beers. Funky Bar Casual.

The Tavern – Not only would I go back for the burger, but those fries are everything. Crispy, thin, salty. Gastropub, Cocktails, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch. Eat on patio when you can.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip – I’ve been eating burgers at this legendary walk up ice cream stand since I lived in Sylvan Park 18 years ago. Save room for the dipped cone! Get the Onion Rings! The sesame bun makes you forget this is fast food (made to order).

Husk – Fancy Southern Restaurant features a knock out burger. Try this with a Red Eye Manhattan or Old Fashioned. (Upscale with full menu). Lunch, Dinner.

Hop Doddy  in Hillsborough Village- Burger or burger salad, you cannot go wrong. The meat by itself is very tasty. Very unique choices, including a breakfast burger, a Kobe Beef Burger, a Bison Burger and a spicy Llano Poblano Burger. Casual. Serves cocktails and milkshakes. Family friendly.

O’ Be Joyful(Franklin) Burgers with Whiskey

Nothing better than a great pimento burger and a rye old fashioned.  Located on Main Street in Franklin. Very small and noisy, but great place to grab a burger and a drink.

Favorite Burgers in Nashville off the Beaten Path in Strip Malls

Ground (Franklin) – I love this burger place, nestled in a little strip mall off Carothers with modest hours 11-2 and 4-8 Monday through Saturday.  You can get a burger salad which is so good, and if you love french fries, they have the best! I usually get the caesar salad with burger and avocado. They also have a burger stuffed sweet potato that comfort food perfection. (Casual). Delivery available.

Jumbo and Delicious (Hendersonville) If you happen to be in Hendersonville and you’re starving, this giant burger will do the trick. They aren’t kidding when they say jumbo. You can get a 3/4 pound burger for $9.99 You’ve been warned. (casual)

Sub Culture Cafe- A  tiny joint in a strip mall that cares about their food. Won Best burger in 2017 and came in at number 2 in 2018. That’s all you need to know folks. (casual)

Mill Creek Taproom at 12 South- This is my number one favorite burger at the moment, although there’s not a burger on this page I wouldn’t enjoy eating.

I took one bite during burger week and said “you win.”  I was right! They won out of thirty burgers.

Try this with a dark beer. Get the rosemary potato chips.  I ate this burger on their first day in their new second location on 12th Avenue South. They didn’t need any practice at all to get it right. It’s all in their sauce which they’re keeping under wraps.

Most Impressive Burger is a bit out in the country.

We recently tried the burger at 1892 in Leiper’s Fork. The quality of meat is amazing and it’s big, so bring an appetite. 1892 get busy quickly on Saturdays so go early or make a reservation as it’s a small place serving excellent gourmet farm to table food.

Nashville Burgers I’ve yet to try, but hear good things.

Hugh Baby’s – Fast food burger place that people rave about. Have you been. Tell me. Fast food, cooked to order. Burgers, Shakes, Fries, Dogs.

Tennessee Brew Works – Five Beer Burger for $18.  The person that told me about this burger was gushing over it. Everything I hear says go try it along with one of their craft beers.

Please let me know your favorite burger in town, and I’ll make sure I get out and try it.

Here is my NashvilleFoodBuzz Instagram Account. I also have a recipe Instagram for Spinach Tiger.

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I’m excited to tell you a year later, we still LOVE the East Nashville restaurant, Folk, that serves quite possibly the best pizza in Nashville.

It’s been a few weeks since I wrote about Nashville food. To be quite honest, while I’ve been out and about, there have only been a few places that have inspire  me consistently.  Folk is one of them.

European trained, Chef Philip Krajek recently opened, Folk in East Nashville, an upscale pizza-centric restaurant in true Italian style. There was much anticipation and high expectation for the opening Folk due to the success of Philip Krajek’s Rolf and Daughters, which can be worrisome unless you can get it more than right, and Folk does.

The flour is milled and the dough naturally fermented before pizza and loaves of sour dough bread are baked in a wood burning oven.

Folk Restaurant in East Nashville inspires me to cook more Italian

How do I know I’m inspired? I either want to go home and start replicating a dish or I want to make reservations as soon as I leave to try more dishes. Since Folk opened, we’ve been there at least seven times and that’s a lot considering we like to try new places. There is no other restaurant we frequent as much.

In fact, Doug and I have discussed making Folk our Sunday night tradition at least every two weeks. If you know us and how picky we are about Italian food, you know something is very right.

I plan on eating every pizza on the menu, every small bite, every large plate, every seasonal toast (bruschetta)  on their absolutely amazing sour dough bread, even better than Zuni Cafe in San Francisco, and that’s saying a lot!

If you don’t want the seasonal toast, just order some of their sourdough bread. We’ve done that knowing we’re having pizza and because of the in house sour dough process we don’t leave bloated. That’s amazing in itself.

If you follow me, you know I don’t usually eat bread, wheat or many carbs.

Let me say this about that; I have had no problems eating their sour dough bread or sour dough pizza crust. It’s like eating in Italy where you feel good eating the food.  I don’t even want to say this pizza is my guilty pleasure, because I don’t have any guilt and it’s not food that weighs you down.

The Good Vibe at Folk with Modern Comfortable Ambiance

,We love the good vie, the tall ceilings, brick walls and the most importantly, good acoustics. They had the good sense to treat the tall ceilings for sound and use fabric covered booths so not only is the place quite handsome, it’s comfortable to sit and have conversation.

The dining area adorned with large white globes,  seats 72, yet  feels roomy with tall ceilings and a cleanly designed decor and an open kitchen.

I was pleasantly surprised that the place is more handsome in person than on-line and just has such a pleasant ambiance,  something I’ve experienced more in California than here in Nashville, where restaurants are sometimes overdone barnyard or so loud, we never return.

We ordered our usual cocktail, the Old Fashioned with Bulleit Rye and it was spot on.

Folk makes their own sour dough pizza and bread (make their own starter too). They always have a toast option on the menu. This was made with chanterelles mushrooms and was stellar. The bread rivals any sour dough anywhere.

On one occasion we shared a bottle of this  cotes-du-rhône red, which I highly recommend if you’re ordering a bottle.

The small plates are creative, seasonal, elegant, and straight forward. We had a fresh raw fennel, peach and ricotta salad, a nice starter before pizza. Even though there is a uniqueness to each plate, they are pleasantly balanced and “Alice Waters” sensible.

Blue crab is often featured in one of the small plates. We have had two versions, both so good. One was made with a shredded red cabbage, garlic scapes, and wood sorrel. My favorite was made with an Italian succulent with bread crumbs. Every week you will see changes in the menu depending on available fresh ingredients, which are put together in harmonious fashion compelling you to try dishes you’ve never had, yet still feel somewhat familiar.

Please note that the pizza choices change frequently, and while you can always get a tomato cheese pizza or their signature clam pizza, the pizza shown here may not be available.

We have ordered the kale pizza twice,  and no one does kale better. The crust is crisp and chewy, just as good as any pizza in Italy. The kale is sultry, with parmesan cheese and enough char to the kale to bring an added texture.

Saving one of the best for last, the Clam Pizza with bonito, lemon, chili, parsley seems to be the most talked about and possibly their signature pizza.  It’s scrumptious, and everyone at the table loved it! When we went with another couple we started with this as an appetizer, and then ordered more pizza later after some side dishes.

Folk’s Pizza may be the best pizza in Nashville.

While Folk’s pizza has moved to the number one spot (in my opinion) in Nashville, they excel at dessert, so save room.

The tiramisu cream puff is mounds of mascarpone stuffed into a giant cream puff shell which tempts you back to have more bites than you planned.  (excuse it’s blurriness) and the coffee is good!

Recently Andrea treated us to Folk for Doug’s birthday. Follow her instagram account, Nashville Made,  for the latest in Nashville food. She also has a blog Saving Everyday.

Folk Restaurant excels at Dessert.

Folk takes the classic Neopolitan ice cream and changes the flavors to Rye, Parmesan, and Beet. I was skeptical until the first bite. This is so creative, yet not an assault on the tastebuds, as some weird combinations can be. It’s completely delicious and you will fight for the last bite.

We’ll be back to try that chicken milanese, a breaded half chicken, flattened in true Italian style.

Nashville needs more comfortable, cozy Italian places that make an intentional decision to put serious effort into each dish and craft what they do well. As Nashville has become a food destination, I truly hope to see more Italian neighborhood restaurants that are so good, I leave my neighborhood and drive all the way across town.

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Open 7 days a weeks, reservations accepted, with room for walk-ins.  The bar area seats 36 is modern and cozy and there is room to sip and sup. Patio seating is coming in 2019, but my hope is that Chef Philip Krajec clones himself and more casual upscale approachable Italian restaurants come to town.

If you’re looking for them online or on instagram, look for goodasfolk.

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I’ll admit the first time I went I wasn’t expecting much, but we were all so pleasantly surprised, entertained, and enchanted. Dollywood is indeed a world class theme park, big enough to excite the family, small enough to schedule a quick weekend or day trip. Most recently we were gifted tickets from Dollywood for a spectacular Christmas at Dollywood visit.

We first went a few years ago in the Fall amidst all the pumpkins and the leaves turning gorgeous colors and we rode the train.  We got lucky this winter and had pleasant weather to ride the train again.

Christmas at Dollywood will run all the way to January 5, 2019. We rented a cabin a few miles away in Pigeon Forge, nestled in the smoky mountains, a vacation as Americana as you can get.

Dollywood provided four tickets for us and we purchased two more, although I am amazed at how many people purchase season tickets and enjoy more than one weekend.  I know a couple who leave Nashville once a month and head to Dollywood to destress, breathe mountain air and enjoy everything Dolly has to offer.

You can do Dollywood in a day, but not if you want to see all the shows, and it’s Dolly, folks, so you know the shows are good and resemble the essence of Dolly that everyone loves. See below for one day pass prices and two-day pass prices.

Craftsmen and Artisans Make and Market at Dollywood

My favorite parts of the park are the artisans who put their hands to their craft right on the premises. There’s a pottery shop that makes the most beautiful casserole dishes. One of them came home with me for a Christmas present.

I didn’t want to carry my purchase around the park.  Dollywood has a program that sends your purchases to the store you exit from around 7:00. You get a ticket and just pick your packages up on the way out. How nice is that?

That’s a great idea because there are many beautiful shops to browse, including Dolly’s Closet.

The Christmas Shop has so many gorgeous holiday options.

Dollywood features over 40 Rides and Attractions

The twins enjoyed a few of the 40 available rides, although we couldn’t talk them into the roller coaster. One way to experience a trip back in history is to take the amazing train ride that’s great for the whole family, all ages.

Dollywood excels in bringing wholesome entertainment to families providing numerous shows. Check schedule for seasonal presentations.

This Christmas, they had Christmas in the Smokies, It’s a Wonderful Life, Meet Rudolph and His Friends, Appalachian Christmas, Parade of Many Colors, and many more. This is one way to break up the miles of walking you will do.

There’s a Santa’s workshop for the little kids to make ornaments, etc.

You will not go hungry at Dollywood

Food abounds everywhere, from walk up burgers and barbecue to sit down buffet dinners. There are many grab and go eateries, food concessions and places to sit outside and eat. Snacks are everywhere, but don’t miss the homemade pork rinds located in Craftman’s Valley. We had delcious burgers at the Front Porch Cafe. On one occasion we had great chicken sandwiches at Frannie’s Fried Chicken Food Truck.

Homemade cinnamon buns baked on the premises. We took a coffee/hot chocolate break at the Spotlight Bakery. It’s the home of the 25 pound apple pie which you can order to be shipped straight to your home.

The most exciting part of the park this Christmas at Dollywood is the addition of Glacier Ridge, a charming winter wonderland. The 50 foot  tree lighting show was the best I’ve ever seen and when it was over, I wanted to see it all over again.

Once it turns dark, the first Tree Lighting Show Begins and its spectacular. In the evening five million Christmas lights come alive throughout the park. The end of the night features the Parade of Many Colors.

Dollywood is managed in a manner consistent with Christian values and ethics and this is stated on their website. They aim to lead with love, patience, kindness, humility, respect, trust, unselfishness, forgiveness, truth and dedication. This comes through in the staff and service you will experience.

They even host an evening church service.

Dollywood is a world-class theme park all families, all ages can enjoy in a safe, loving and fun environment. Christmas at Dollywood will be sure to get into the spirit. The Christmas activities run from November 10 to January 5.

What You Need to Know about Dollywood.

Dollywood Ticket Prices       

from age 10-61 is $69 plus tax for one day, $89 plus tax for two days, $109 for a Season Pass

Chile (ages 4-9 is $56 plus tax for one day, $76 plus tax for two days, $99 for a Season Pass.

Senior (ages 62+) $64 plus tax for one day, $84 plus tax for two days, $99 for a Season Pass.

You can purchase Two-Day Tickets as shown above and must be used within a five day consecutive period.

You can check the website for three tickets and ticket prices in conjunction with Dollywood’s Splash Country.

Dollywood Season Pass

If you think you will be visiting Dollywood at least twice in one year, consider a Dollywood Season Pass.

Dollywood Celebrates the Seasons

We have been to Dollywood in the Fall and at Christmas. The Fall sports the Dollywood Harvest Festival featuring Harvest Festival crafters, the Southern Gospel Jubilee and the Great Pumpkin Lumni Nights, a lighting event not to be missed. Summer has it’s own personality at Dollywood with fireworks, and special shows. While the Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood is one not to miss, each season has its special charm.

Disclosure: Tickets to Dollywood were provided. All opinions are my own, and we look forward to our next Dollywood trip.

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In the last week, I’ve been able to eat there on three different occasions, twice invited in to try the food (as a food blogger/influencer) and once on my own.

I’m already planning a fourth time because True Food Kitchen is a cozy, energetic place with the kind of food I do my best to bring you.  Big Fat Healthy Food. They go a step further.

The menu was created under the direction of Dr. Andrew Weil to be in line with the AIP diet (the anti-inflammatory diet), but they clearly didn’t stop at nutritional AIP guidelines. They enlisted the best chefs, designers and management teams to orchestrate a restaurant also pleasing to the palate and the eye.

Too often “health and healthy” mean ingredients and flavor stripped from our favorite dishes, but that’s not the case at True Food Kitchen.

What should you eat at True Food Kitchen?

You must try the skinny margarita. Be prepared for a serious wow experience, made with fresh lemon, oranges and cilantro and not like any artificial skinny margarita of the past.

The most interesting thing that people are buzzing about is how the good, creative and colorful the food is. We are buzzing because True Food Kitchen passes the “man food” test. Yes, this is a food you can take your boyfriends and husbands to, ladies, and they won’t feel shortchanged.

Doug ordered the bolognese lasagna and was quite happy, and remember I make a great bolognese.

I ordered the Grass-Fed Burger, which comes with mushrooms, caramelized onion, arugula, parmesan and mayonnaise, and I couldn’t finish it, even though I decided not to eat the flax seed bun.

This vegan butternut squash soup was so delicious with a depth of flavor, from allspice, cinnamon and maple syrup. The texture was creamy, yet made with coconut milk, not cream. I have a great recipe for butternut squash soup here. 

When I dine out, I look for a few things if I’m going to return. I not only need to feel good after I eat, I want to feel good walking in the door, experiencing a warm welcome and a beautiful setting.

The green banquettes remind me so much of Spinach Tiger colors, as does the herb garden stands that greet you at the door. Plants are peppered throughout the restaurant, and there is an overall feeling of well-being.

The flourless chocolate cake similar to a gooey brownie cake, adorned with coconut ice cream, was a nice way to end a girlfriend joint birthday lunch and was served with a very good latté made with organic beans. Yes, they have a coffee bar!

A few of the other dishes I’ve tried include amazing grilled fish tacos, spicy beef tacos, brussels sprouts as a share item, the butternut squash flat bread and the squash pie (think pumpkin pie).  There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choices along with high quality grass-fed meat and seafood.

While I’m not usually excited about chain restaurants, I make an exception here. The concept for well-thought out, real food with our body in mind, is long overdue. It’s very difficult for locally owned restaurants to execute this concept in such a comprehensive way, offering as many dishes and having had them tested, calorie counted with true nutrition values.

Located across from Trader Joe’s on Hillsboro Road, valet parking is available.

Here is my NashvilleFoodBuzz Instagram Account. I also have a recipe Instagram for Spinach Tiger.

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How would you like to sample tons and tons of homemade ice cream? Homemade ice cream made with love and crafted for a cause at the Miss Martha’s Ice Cream Crankin’ and Summer Social. Not only will you get to sample more ice cream than you can possibly eat, there will  be music and fun activities.

This is my fifth year judging the contest and I can’t wait to try all the cold, creamy goodness. It’s tradition for some of the family to enter the ice cream contest, but then there’s another phenomena.

There are people who simply bring their best ice cream every single year and don’t enter. The flavors will blow you away. Think maple bacon with bits of bacon that reminds you of a sweet pancake breakfast and that’s just the beginning. You will cool off and get your fill on this favorite day of the year!

I’ve read about this ice cream social for a few years now and only focused on sampling the ice cream. Then I took a deeper look into what this is really about, a major fund raiser for a very worthy organization.

Established in 1894, Martha O’Bryan Center located in East Nashville, works to lift children, youth and adults out of poverty by offering programs to transform their lives through education, employment and fellowship.

If you know anything about me, the only thing I’m more passionate about than food is children. The sweetest way you can join me in helping is to attend the Ice Cream Social. Or, you can also ENTER the contest and bring your best homemade ice cream. The winner will get to have their ice cream produced by Purity. How fun would that be? And, guess who gets to be a judge. I can’t wait to sample the ice cream.

Miss Martha’s Ice Cream Crankin’ and Summer Social will be held today, Sunday, June 3, 2018.

When: 3-5 p.m. Sunday, June 3 RAIN OR SHINE.
Where: on the lawn at First Presbyterian Church, Franklin Road, Nashville.
Admission: $13/adult, $10/child.

I’ve made a few ice creams in the past that I thought were pretty great. If I were entering this which one would I do?

Blackberry Sorbet

Sweet Corn and Blueberry Swirl

Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream

Creamy Dreamy Strawberry Ice Cream

Plum Brandy Ice Cream

Watermelon Sorbet

Gingerbread Cookie with Ginger Salt (my personal favorite)

More Spinach Tiger Ice Cream Recipes

The post Miss Martha’s Ice Cream Crankin’ and Summer Social Benefit for Martha O’Bryan Center appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

We are so excited to share this news with you about a Nashville Global Food Tour and an opportunity to try over 18 ethnic restaurants in the Nashville area.

Get Your Passport to Nations in our Neighborhood

 What Does Your $39.95 Passport Get You?

1. Chef’s Complementary Plate at each restaurant. You will be given a chef’s specially designed sampler plate at 18 participating ethnic restaurants in the Nashville area.  These are the chef’s complimentary plates.

2. A prix fix dinner for a low price of $21.95. You will be able to purchase a specially prepared prix fixe dinner at each restaurant, featured on specific weeks, (see below for dates)  at a very low price of $21.95. Many are three course meals.

These are the Delicious Participating Restaurants for Nations in Our Neighborhood

The Prix Fixe dinners cost $21.95, will be available during these dates. The meals are exclusive to passport holders, but please call ahead so they can be prepared.

June 8-14: Ken’s Sushi, 1108 Murfreesboro Pike

June 15-21  Chateau West 

June 22-28  House of Kabob 

July 1 -5  Tansuo 

July 8-12 Chahan Ale & Masala House

July 13 – 19 Miss Saigon

July 20-26 Lucky Bamboo

July 27-Aug 2 – Anatolia

Aug 3-9 Salsa

Aug 10-16 The Pub

Aug 17-23 Mason’s at Loew’s Vanderbilt Plaza

Aug 24 -30 McNamara’s Irish Pub Restaurant 

Aug 31 -Sept 6 Jamaica Way 1812 Hayes Street

Sept 7-13 Texas de Brazil 

Sept 14-20 Gojo Ethiopian Cafe

Sept 21-27  Taj Indian Restaurant

Sept 28 – Oct 4 Bavarian Bierhaus

3. One DELIVERED Ethnic Meal (valued at $34.99) from Gigamunch. 

4.  Exclusive Party Invitation to Kick off and Finish 

Join us at these fun parties. The kick off is Friday, June 1 at Plaza Mariachi. Meet us there.The Closing Celebration is at the Bavarian Bierhaus on October 4.

How Did Passports to the Nations Get Started?

Nashville is now recognized as an international city with so many people visiting and moving here from around the globe. Food is often that first bridge that brings us into friendship and helps us expand our community, stamp out racism and bigotry.

First generation, Renuka Christoph, born to Indian immigrants, had a dream to create a cross cultural experience through ethnic dining in the city of Nashville.  You may not realize that American people made fun of Italian food when immigrants first started selling it, and you know how that story ended.

Food helps us get to KNOW each other, and I learned this quote in high school. “To know is to love is to serve.”

Andrea (NashvilleMade) and I are excited to get the word out and try all the dishes. Renuka  (far right)  can be found on Instagram at Nationsinourneighborhood.

How Much Are the Passports to Nations in the Neighborhood?

Each Passport is $39.95

 You can also purchase tickets here. 

Follow along as we eat our way through Nations in our Neighborhood on Instagram on SpinachTiger and Instagram on NashvilleFoodBuzz but we want to follow you, too, so get your passport.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coaltion.

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If you’re unfamiliar with the Franklin Farmer’s Market, it takes place every Saturday at the Factory in Franklin, located about twenty miles south of Nashville in Williamson County. I live right down the street, so I like to pop over at 8:00 a.m. when they open and it’s still cool, although there is a roof over the main part of the market.

Franklin, a quaint historic town is still considered part of the greater Nashville area, but it has its own personality. The market is a “local’s only” market, meaning the food is very seasonal and comes from our local farmers. It’s my heart to support local farmers as much as possible and eat the healthiest best grown food I can find.

1. Coffee and Food Trucks

Start the Day with Coffee from Osa. Pour Over, Cold Brew or Iced Latte.

If you go inside the Factory, you’ll find Honest Coffee and Five Daughters Donuts.

There are usually three or four food trucks parked.

Retro Rose goes nuts over Ellie’s Donuts. Et Voilla has gluten free crepes. Califarmia has modern grits and yummy breakfast items.

2. Fresh, Local, Often Organic Fruit and Vegetables

We love Delvin Farms. I have been to their organic gardens and stand by their quality.

Organic Strawberries to make one of million strawberry recipes. 

CSA Opportunities. Check with each vendor to see what CSA’s are available.

Beaverdam Creek and Delvin Farms participate.

Greens – You know I love these. I have salad recipes galore. 

Snap Peas are one of my favorite and most underrated vegetables.

Mushrooms (go great with these oven baked hamburger steaks) How about Chicken Marsala with mushrooms and prosciutto?

Radishes –  I wrote a post. How to Love a Radish 

3. Healthy, locally made products at the Franklin Farmer’s Market

Raw Unfiltered Honey

4. Grass Fed Beef at the Franklin Farmer’s Market

I buy from Bear Creek Farm and Peaceful Pastures

Last week I made a Bear Creek Farm Skirt Steak.

5. The BarnWood Signs from Tom the Furniture Man

6. Food Artisans at the Franklin Farmer’s Market

Fermented Foods from Short Mountain Cultures, (including Kefir)

Lucy’s Kitchen will be the first thing you see as you enter. She’s known for her cheesecake and her muffins, but there’s lots more.

Homemade Tortilla Chips

7. Flowers, Herbs, Plants at the Franklin Farmer’s Market

Today I bought two flower baskets for tall standing planters that flank my front door.

So much more…..local dairy, pastured eggs, food and natural products artisans.

Check out Eco Diva for hand-crafted natural skin care products. Ask about the bug spray and CBD oil.

Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood Company,  Frozen in Alaska the same day it’s caught. This company comes to the market monthly.

Bring the family, meet your local farmers, and teach kids where their food comes from.

Click here to meet the farmers that regularly participate.

Just remember, no dogs allowed.

If you want to know about ALL the Farmer’s Markets in the greater Nashville Area, you can find it at this Nashville Area Farmer’s Market Guide from Nashville Fun for Families, which covers six counties.

Connect with Us

We appreciate you visiting here at Spinach Tiger. We love to connect with you. Follow us on instagram, and please make sure you visit our Crushing on Nashville Landing Page for all the places to eat we’ve already written about.

IF YOU know of some amazing eateries and things to do that we don’t mention, let us know in the comments.

The post Crushing on the Franklin Farmer’s Market appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Nashville Fun for Families, the website I turn to for all the things to do in Nashville.

Nashville Fun for Families is a one stop shopping website to get all the latest news on where to go and what to do.

Nashville Fun for Families will give you all the details on where to take the little kids, the big kids and the adults. They have a full calendar highlighting all the special events in the greater Nashville area and beyond.

They also categorize between indoor and outdoor activities, so even if you have a rainy day this summer, Nashville Fun For Families has you covered, and they’ve included all the places we have spent countless hours. Click below for summer guide.

Family Fun in Nashville – is just about unlimited.

I think back on all fun we have had at some of the parks and recreational everyday places.

We have so many memories from Fannie Mae Dees / Dragon Park. (free)

Cheekwood is another wonderful outdoor adventure for observation, a museum and special events. We always packed a lunch, walked the whole thing, and stopped in at the museum. If you’re home with under age school kids, a membership is so worth it. We went to Cheekwood once a week with a picnic.

Their site doesn’t just cover things for little kids. Big Kids like me can find lots of things to do.

Check their Farmer’s Market Guide, walking trails and pick farms.

My personal favorite market is the Franklin Farmer’s Market because it’s right down the street. It’s a strict “local only” market, with reputable farmers and lots of  organic product and grass fed beef, aside from food trucks, and artisan crafts and products.

Nashville Fun Families has a complete list here for pick farms.

Pick Farms are one the best ways to build childhood memories, spend time together as a family and then bake pie together.

Our Favorite pick farm, Golden Bell Blueberry Farm is right next door to us. We go every summer, and here is a post I wrote with all the picking tips you need to know, including how to store them.

Just in case you need a few blueberry pie recipes, we have you covered. Many of these were made hours after picking.

Don’t forget to check out the 100 reasons they love Nashville, like grilling their own pancakes at the Pfunky Griddle, to the puppet shows at the Nashville Main Library to the Peddling Taverns downtown.

We remember many good times at Lucky Ladd Farms, which is so much fun and has a petting zoo. This was taken right before they started kindergarten five whole years ago, but recently they went to all the Easter activities, so this is a great place to return to year after year.

The newest  favorite activity for the twinswhen they’re not at the farm is to go to Soar Adventure, which is just a few minutes down the street in Franklin. Look for groupons as this is a bit pricey.

The Nashville Zoo is a fantastic place with special events and huge play area (perfect when parents need a rest stop). They offer family memberships and this is a place to go again and again.

Agricultural Tours

Noble Springs Dairy (a goat farm) offers tours and sells the best goat cheese around. We were lucky enough to have a private tour years ago when they were just beginning.

Hatcher Dairy Farms offers tours all summer on Tuesdays for $8. Meet the cows that make the milk!

Family Fun in Nashville: Day Trips from Nashville

Do you want to take a day trip from Nashville? Nashville Fun for Families has listed 18 different ideas and are adding to it all the time.

How about Dinosaur World (90 miles) or the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (112 miles).

Unclaimed Baggage (139 miles). Did you know that Alabama is an unclaimed baggage center, meaning you get the chance to buy the items someone packed, lost and never claimed. I’m still wanting to go to Harmony Park Safari, 30 minutes from Huntsville.

Family Fun in Nashville: Don’t Forget to Eat in Nashville

As you can see, there is simply no end to the things Nashville offers. Don’t forget, we’re known for our food and no summer is complete without at least one trip to Bobbie’s Dairy Dip. The burgers are awesome, but we never leave without a chocolate dipped soft ice cream cone.

A few Food Spots we love that are very family friendly:

The Grilled Cheeserie

Burgers in Nashville

Hop Doddy’s in Hillsboro Village (semi-fast with alcohol).

Hugh Baby’s on Charlotte and soon in Midtown  – Burgers, Barbecue and Hot Dogs (Fast food that’s really good).

Ground in Franklin (kids menu) – Hidden Gem. (Kids eat free on Saturday for every $10 spent).

Pizza in Nashville

DeSano’s (everyone’s favorite super casual, super authentic).

Pastaria (sit down, cut still casual, kid menu, pizza and pasta and gelato).

Connect with Us

We appreciate you coming to Spinach Tiger. We love to connect with you. Follow us on instagram, and please make sure you visit our Crushing on Nashville Landing Page for all the places to eat we’ve already written about.

IF YOU know of some amazing eateries and things to do that we don’t mention, let us know in the comments.

In the meantime, check out the best website for Nashville Family fun at Nashville Fun for Families.

The post Crushing on Family Fun in Nashville – Things to do and the Best Resource to Find Them appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

This week, my crushing on Nashville post is a few days early, nudging you to try any of these favorites over the weekend.

Let’s start with the premier Mexican Cultural Center, Plaza Mariachi.

Plaza Mariachi is a latino cultural center on Nolensville road. There are several eateries from casual to more fancy. This is a must visit center. There’s food, coffee, entertainment, and grocery. You can check out the directory to see the places to try. You will find palatas, tacos, street corn, gryos, lattes, aqua frescos and so much more!

Here’s what I’ve had at Las Tapas. They offer a menu of rotating tapas and tuna tartare was a special that day.

Here’s the steak and potatoes I’ve had at Tres Gauchos. You can see how good this hangar steak was.

There are a few Nashville Mexican restaurants that really have my heart and their very different from each other.

Bar Taco is trendy, but friendly and casual and a little upscale, with an awesome patio. You can eat healthy here, by getting lettuce wrapped tacos. See the article I wrote about them here.

Mas Taco,  is super casual order at the counter, but legendary, located East Nasvhille. Read Why We Nashville Loves Mas Tacos Por Favor.

We love Mas Tacos, especially for their signature Tortilla Soup, which I did a copy cat of here. 

St. Anejo in the gulch has the best brunch, sangria and chorizo queso. They have premium tequila and a mezcal menu with over  120 labels. Large-group friendly and you can rent out the tequila bar upstairs for a private party.

Look at their cornbread with chorizo queso. Amazing.

Rosepepper Cantina  an all around East Nashville favorite and known for their margaritas.

Taco Mamacita in Edgehill Village- Funky fusion tacos and skinny margaritas, but go for the sweet potato fries. I especially like the taco choices and the sweet potato fries. If you are low-carbing it, they have a chicken with green sauce.

Local Taco in Sylvan Park, East Nashville and Brentwood.  I admit I like the southern fried buttermilk chicken taco.

Fried mac n cheese. How crazy is that?

They do have a gluten free menu.

Baja Burrito in the Berry Hill Neighborhood. We’ve eaten there a zillion times. Casual, grass fed beef.

San Antonio Taco Company – Doug’s all time favorite. Very casual, make southwestern tacos your way.

La Hacienda Taqueria in Nashville. Nice owners. I did a lot of residential faux finishing for them They also have a tortilla factory next store. Authentic, tried and true. I love the barbacoa.

Solario at the Opryland Hotel is off the hook.

Chago’s Cantina I just sampled the food at food events. Fresh Mexican and Latin American.

Williamson County Mexican Restaurants

Los Primos Grocery and Bakery in Franklin – This is the most authentic place in Franklin. It’s a Mexican bakery, grocery store and out the door line for tacos. They have all kinds of prepared meat, including goat. This is the place I buy Mexican Crema and all kinds of Mexican groceries.

Pueblo Real (in Franklin) – This is a hidden gem that everyone in Franklin knows about, because it’s always busy. I love the chips and the service and pretty much anything on the menu. It’s the type of Mexican restaurant that’s not modern nor cool and everything comes with rice and beans. I especially like their Tacos Pastor. There is an awesome paletas store on the side of the building.

Pueblo Real, my little secret cheap and wonderful place. Don’t go this weekend unless you go at 4:00. They are just as crowded on Monday nights. I can’t believe I’m sharing this. It’s hard enough to get a seat.

Sopapilla Fan favorite, clean, fresh take on Mexican and nice outdoor patio.I love their fish tacos.

El Segundo in my neighborhood in Franklin. Once a week night we get a chicken tortilla soup to go. It’s all chicken, with a little rice and they provide tortilla strips, avocado slices and pico de gallo on the side. My next favorite thing is their shrimp cocktail. I’ll get the large as an entree. Get it and see why!

Uncle Julio’s – has a great happy hour and ask them to make you their version of a skinny margarita, not the mix.

This is just a sampling of places. There are lots of great cheap taco places in the Nolensville  road area.

Do you have a favorite I didn’t mention? I’d love to include them.

Get Authentic Mexican Pops at Las Paletas

Las Paletas  Cool off with wildly inventive Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles dipped in Olive & Sinclair, or any number of fruited popsicles.

Here are few of my Favorite Mexican recipes that I make for Cinco De Maya.

Carnitas is one of my most popular posts here at Spinach Tiger. I’ve made this so many times and it’s a party favorite. We love it with  Roasted Salsa Verde.

Pico de Gallo

Famous Table Side Guacamole

Fresh Citrus Margarita

Avocado Margarita

Mexican chicken and pasta.

How do celebrate cinco de maya and do you have a favorite Mexican recipe that I need to have?

Please tag us on Instagram if you are posting Nashville Restaurants!

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Crushing on Bar Taco and Healthy Dining Choices

This Week we are Crushing on Bar Taco, as I had a chance to try some new menu items that I had never dug into before. Aside from that, aren’t we ready Nashville for some outdoor fun, snazzy happy hours and patio weather?

One of the most attractive things about Bar Taco is the ambiance that hits you before you open the door. The patio is gorgeous, flower-pot laden, and umbrellas to sit under.

However, even if you sit inside, it’s almost like being outside because the walls are mostly windows. When you look up, the ceilings is basket chandeliers that make you feel like you’re at a beach resort, the look they intentionally were going for.

It’s a chain, but hold on, that’s not always a bad thing. It can mean good standards are set, and consistency. In this case, it also means freshly made food, including lots of healthy choices.

I’ve experienced Bar Taco several times, on the patio, at a table, and at the bar, where we sometimes pop in for a cocktail and a taco when we’re just looking for a bite or a way to start the night.

Tacos Galore at Bar Taco

I have always swooned over the cocktails, especially this sangria in the summer. The cocktails are excellent, well crafted.

New to the menu are the totally refreshing non-alcoholic aqua frescoes, only they call them aqua frescoes.

Also new are blistered shishito peppers, which pair up nicely with their new drinks.

We are in love with their guacamole appetizer which comes with two other salsas, and your own break-apart house-made crispy corn tortillas. 

The menu screams fresh and healthy and in taking to executive chef, Josh Smith, he let us in on just how much prep work the kitchen does. Everything is made the day you’re eating it and they can’t keep up with the rotisserie chickens, which may be why they are so tender.

Bar Taco: The Secret Taco

Bar Taco likes to play. Every month they feature a secret taco, which is not on the menu.

This month it happens to be vegetarian, because they got a lot of requests for that. I like that they listened to their paying guests.

When that ends, fear not, you can always order the cauliflower taco with a house-made romesco sauce that is just the right amount of spicy. I wouldn’t have minded having a big bowl of that cauliflower as a side dish. Just saying.

When it comes to tacos, you have choices. First grab the menu sheet and pencil and check off your order. If you want it lettuce wrapped, put L next to it.

If you’re looking for a big meal, the half-roasted chicken is all about crispy skin and and tender meat. Eat with their salsas.

Order the chopped salad which is very lemony, bright and has a touch of zing.

Bar Taco has a Great Lunch Offer

Bar Taco is a gathering place for drinks, and dinner, but do remember them for lunch, because they have a great lunch offer. Three tacos and either a big bowl of chicken soup or the chopped salad, all for $10.  

New to the menu is the chicken pastor (made with pineapple). I think I might have had every taco on the menu by this point, and since they are small, try a bunch.

Parking isn’t exactly fun. There is a limited parking lot and then you’re on your own, but with determination you will find a spot. We always do. This could be incentive to take a Lyft. 

Chef  Josh Smith impressed me when he talked about how he staffs his kitchen. He wants committed people who are not afraid of hard work, but enjoys it, and can work with low drama. It’s nice to think about the energy of the kitchen, because that permeates the food and the dining experience.

Beautiful days, patios, agua frescoes, sangria, margaritas, tacos, guacamole, healthy choices, roasted chicken, and the Secret Taco are all good reasons to drop in to Bar Taco for a bite and a sip or three.

Nashville’s current location is on 12 Avenue South, the residential (ish) area that full of shops, restaurants, and walkers. Drink, eat, and people watch. They may be opening a second location in East Nashville. Stay tuned for that.

If you’re hungry, and want to cook Spinach Tiger has you covered. Here are some great similar recipes.

Roasted Chicken

Roasted Salsa Verde

Pork Carnitas

Famous Guacamole

Pico de Gallo

Shrimp Tacos

Citrus Margarita (to die for)

Andrea of Saving Everyday and I shared this lunch recently. Follow her on instagram for more Nashville food stuff. 

Don’t forget to go back and see, read, drool over all the Nashville food we write about.

Here is my NashvilleFoodBuzz Instagram Account. I also have a recipe Instagram for Spinach Tiger.

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