So, not trying to annoy anybody, but while a good biscuit is an awesome pillow of fluffy happiness, there's not that much too it. Its pretty much an open book. I'm having a hard time understanding how a very tasty/good biscuit can be made differently so as to differentiate itself as "great". Butter. Cake flour. Baking Soda. Milk and/or cream. What do they do to it that makes it uniquely good?
I haven't been to Nashville in probably 4 or 5 years, but I always loved driving out there by way of Arkansas/I-40. Anywho : Nashville Hot Chicken : They still make the real stuff here with bone-in chicken and not 5th grade lunch cafeteria chicken tenders. Try Prince's (the original) or Hattie B's first if you like spicy chicken (they adjust the spice level). I've also tried Pepperfire which has interesting things on the menu, but the flavor of the spices on the wings is better. They've moved from their former location where I tried them, so hopefully nothing else with the chicken has changed. Loveless Cafe : I've never tried it, but it's always been on my list of places to eat down I-40. A lot of people love this place, though. It's the kind of place you want to visit if you want to kind of take in the food culture of the area. American Pickers : if you watch their show (is it still on?) they have one of their shops here. I went a couple of times and it's nothing but a tourist trap and a front for selling t-shirts and mugs. I went there looking for cool items from the 19th and early 20th century - ended up leaving with a t-shirt, mug, and mousepad. Kill me. Johnny Cash Museum : someone else mentioned this, but this was a fun/crowded pit-stop. I'm not a huge Cash fan, but love looking at historical stuff in whatever genre. Don't tell anybody, but if you go upstairs, it's the Patsy Cline Museum ... shhh. Assuming it's still there, that is. The Hermitage : I've never been, but it's on my list. If you're a history nut, this is a cool visit. National Museum of African American Music : I've never been - just noticed it a few months ago. I'll be checking this out next time I go, if possible. The other stuff is usually a given if you're into Country music and in Nashville : Ryman Auditorium, CM HOF, Grand Ole Opry, etc. One side-adventure if you're into cars (especially Vettes) would be go north to Bowling Green, Kentucky and visit the National Corvette Museum. Give yourself a couple of hours. Two weeks after I visited there years ago, they had a sinkhole that swallowed up a few cars. Sad. Just try to stay away from tourist traps and adventure around. If you're going by way of Memphis or something, you can get some decent bbq (pig), but stay away from any of the BB King stuff in Memphis. Mediocre food and.... a tourist trap.
Lord, yes. lol. Man, I don't know. Babe's is known for their chicken and on a good day, their chicken fried steak is is greatness, but I always thought their biscuts were lead weights. And I've eaten there literally over 100 times, although it's been a while, since there's one right by my house. Babe's is known for their fried chicken for sure, though. If you're ever out to Decatur, Tx (why, I don't know) or North Richland Hills, check out their sibling restaurant Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes. You can order a chicken fried ribeye there, and yes ... it was glorious.
Been to Sweetie Pie's! Got a MR Ribeye and was satisfied...but the apricot fried pies? Fantastic! Also been to the Granddaddy of them all...the original Bubba's Cooks Country in Snider Plaza. One of the best breakfasts in DFW. Which Babe's location? Have been to most, but our go to has always been Frisco. Never had a biscuit there that wasn't light, fluffy and crazy moist.
I used to drive out to Sanger until the Babe's in Frisco opened, then started going there. There was a Bubba's in Frisco, too, but it closed down in the last couple of years. Don't get me started on fried pies. Lord. lol. I quit eating most of this stuff a while back, though, but I still get a hankerin.
For tourists, hit up Broadway and stay away from the food scene there. Coming from Houston it’ll be the worst overpriced food you’ve ever had. West end/midtown is a bit better food wise two hands in the gulch is pretty good great scene. The gulch is better in ever way imo, the locals keep it a secret to keep the proportion of tourists lower I lile the rooftop at the virgin hotel good view of town East Nashville is a bit like Austin nolensville has the ethnic food be careful, the drug/homeless problem has ballooned like crazy. It’s unsafe in a lot of areas. hiking wise some good zip lining 20 min outside of town. Nashville is pretty similar to Austin right now, it’s at that downwards trajectory where the influx of people/craze about the city has worked against it. The musicians for example are finding the cost of living insane (music business pays ass all over but Nashville was a haven for a while) and are slowly moving out. As a whole I’ve never seen so much talent concentrated in one area it insane. Unfortunately they made this city great and them leaving will change it
Also if you want a reincarnated Houston suburban feel - head southeast to Murfreesboro- which is a fast growing area especially the 37128 zipcode side - flat, pine trees and lots of businesses intermixed near community homes will remind you of Houston so much plus now they have Whataburger - nothing noteworthy but they do have the Stones River historical battlefield like @LosPollosHermanos stated, nolensville is unique on ethnic food and a great area to live as well but consider also Brentwood/ Franklin for more refined eating
Naked Paranoia - Im convinced The Googles is watching me scroll the BBS. Never searched for "Loveless Cafe" and this pops up at the top of my youtube feed yesterday: Also, the biscuits look like biscuits.
Man, this place looks right up my alley but it looks like it's a 30 minute drive from where we're staying (on Broadway downtown) and we're flying in not driving so we'll be Ubering everywhere and probably won't venture very far away from downtown. Maybe I can talk our party into it.
Ask the hotel if they can arrange transportation, won't be free but you won't get screwed either. Yes, and the snozberries taste like snozberries
Got back yesterday and had a lot of fun. Did the Johnny Cash Museum then went next-door and had some crap BBQ (included in the ticket price) and listened to a really good band. Toured the Ryman Auditorium, Country Music HOF, and hit up all the bars on Broadway. Did a brewery trolley tour and hit 7 breweries in 7 hours. All the touristy stuff since, you know....we were tourists. Man, this post is spot on. Music scene is unbelievable. So many talented, versatile, professional musicians concentrated in such a small area. Bands playing right on top of each other separated by just a thin wall. I learned so much just by watching them all - even the cover bands. The lifestyle these guys (and girls) lead is just amazing. Playing a 4 hour set (no break) at one bar, packing up and going across the street to play another 4-hour set (with no break) right down the block. 7 days a week. All for nothing but tips. Bands are lucky to get $50 for a 4-hour set. Most of the bars don't pay at all. Bars would put the bands Venmo QR code on the monitor behind the band and people would pay for requests. The bands would play ANYTHING requested if the price was right. And they would absolutely KILL it. They all had iPhone stands and were googling the lyrics/chord changes/song structure, etc as they were playing. Just unbelievably talented to pull that off without anyone noticing and still put on an amazing show. I will never complain about playing 3 hours without a break again. Or having to play songs that I don't like. Or my drum tech putting a cymbal in the wrong place. Or our dinner being cold. Or "only" making $250.
It’s known as a place women go to on ‘girls trips’ to **** country boys. So grab your boots, cowboy hat, jeans and belt buckle and have some fun. If you’re smooth you can drink all night and not pay a dime.
Is there overlap between musicians playing in Clubs and session musicians who can make more in a recording studio? Is getting session work or catching on with a group/band the motivation for so many talented musicians to be playing in Clubs there or are there some other possible reasons that I am missing? I realize that Nashville isn't your Home Turf, but asked in case you have heard about these things.