The new Nashville: Going global but staying soulful
No longer can a visitor get the full culinary tour of Nashville in about three finger-licking stops, said Jennifer Justus in Garden & Gun. Newcomers still shouldn’t miss Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, the biscuits at Loveless Café, or the meat-and-three at Arnold’s Country Kitchen. But recently Music City has been attracting established celebrity chefs and up-and-comers out of bigger towns, and the new talent is expanding dining options without compromising Nashville’s down-home soulfulness.
Co-owners Karl and Sarah Worly started Biscuit Love in a food truck and now have expanded into their second brick-and-mortar location at the very spot where they had their first date. All three styles of biscuit are delicious buttery tributes to Southern tradition. But don’t miss the “bonuts,” a biscuit-doughnut hybrid served with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote. 2001 Belcourt Ave., (615) 610-3336
At this stylish converted garage just off Broadway, chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan riffs on classic Indian cuisine and shows her allegiance to Nashville with a spin on the meat-and-three: rice, saag, and garam masala pork packed in tiffins, the stackable tins that are India’s version of a lunch pail. 123 12th Ave. N, (615) 242-8426
Chef Levon Wallace, an East L.A. native, was a rising star even before he arrived to open the in-house restaurant at Nashville’s stylish 21c Museum Hotel. He specializes in subtle twists on soulful classics. His “Not Hot” chicken is distinguished by its crispy skin, sweetened with Tennessee honey and spiced with Ethiopian berbere mix. 221 2nd Ave. N, (615) 610-6460