Blonde Voyage Featured Favorites | November 2023
Never in a million years did I think I would be so happy to take a breath and not travel.
I'm the girl who gets a rush from packing a suitcase and strutting down the concourse to my gate as I embark on my next adventure. But hear me say, after a month straight of international travel, nothing feels as good as your own shower and bed.
While I missed October's Featured Favorites, I've got some great things to share from my adventures in November. And yes, all are Nashville-based! Whether you are heading to downtown Nashville for an event or want to cozy up in the confines of your own home and avoid the holiday chaos, I've got you covered.
Like always, feel free to reach out with any questions!
1 Kitchen
710 DEMONBREUN STREET
NASHVILLE, TN 37203
One of the most popular questions I receive is, "Do you have any dinner recommendations in downtown Nashville?" The downtown dining scene has changed so much over the last few years, but more than not, many of the places still have that tourist vibe. Pass! If you are looking for a great spot to grab dinner before heading to a show at the Ryman or a Predators game, I've got just the place- 1 Kitchen at the 1 Hotel on Demonbreun. 1 Kitchen supports local farmers and growers sourcing almost, if not all, of their ingredients within a 200-mile radius. Not only does this support their sustainability efforts, but it guarantees the freshest ingredients for their seasonal menu items.
During my visit, I had the chance to sample several of their menu items. To start, we enjoyed the Spring Garlic & Hominy Hummus (top left) served with seasonal crudité and sesame crackers, Benton's Country "Proscuitto" (bottom center) served with burrata, stonefruit, truffle balsamic, spicy green, crouton and the Smoked Bucksnort Trout Dip (top right) served with crudites, focaccia, and sesame crackers. All the dishes were incredible, but the star of the show was the Smoked Bucksnort Trout Dip. It was creamy, comforting and delicious.
Our main courses were equally as enjoyable. We ordered Chicken Bolognese, Spring Risotto, and Hokkaido Scallops. If you are a carb lover like me, you can't go wrong with the Chicken Bolognese, but if you are looking for something lighter, the scallops are the way to go. Topped with crispy pancetta and served on a bed of truffle corn emulsion, your eyes will likely roll back in your head.
No meal is complete without a bit of dessert. The chef sent out two options for us to sample, but the standout was the Roasted Corn Ice Cream served with a grit cake, smoked Tennessee honey, sorghum popcorn, chipotle pecans, and blueberry jam.
Now that I have your mouth watering put 1Kitchen on your list of dreamy downtown restaurants.
Sweetmilk
329 DONELSON PIKE #201
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37214
When two of Nashville's most beloved restaurateurs open a new restaurant concept, Nashvillians start flocking. Pat Martin of Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint and, Hugh Baby's BBQ & Burger Shop, and Bill Darsinos of GReKo Street Food and Southside Grill are taking Donelson by storm and opening their newest restaurant venture, SweetMilk.
While drawing inspiration from Pat Martin's family table growing up in Tennessee and Mississippi, SweetMilk features the comfort foods of his youth while paying tribute to classic Southern comfort food.
SweetMilk serves breakfast all day, and guests can expect to enjoy Fried Chicken Biscuits, Pimento Cheese Grits, Sweet Potato Pancakes with Cinnamon Butter, and so much more. For those who want a taste of their youth, SweetMilk also offers an assortment of "Saturday Morning Cartoon" cereal. Looking ahead to warmer weather, SweetMilk has a large outdoor patio where I can see myself enjoying a mimosa or two and partaking in some pancakes.
SweetMilk is open seven days a week, serving breakfast from 7:00 am to close, with lunch offerings beginning at 11:00. Given the current traffic situation at BNA, this is the perfect place to stop before your airport pick-up!
Buttermilk Cake
CHURCH & UNION
201 4TH AVENUE NORTH | SUITE 101
NASHVILLE, TN 37219
As we enter the fall season, if I see any pumpkin or fall-esque dessert on the menu, I will order it. Some may call this basic, but I call this embracing the fall vibes of Music City. During my latest jaunt downtown, I popped into Church and Union for one of my favorite dishes, F***** O**** AGNOLOTTI. Perusing the dessert menu, as I typically do, regardless of how much I consume at dinner, the Buttermilk Cake caught my eye. Served with Pumpkin Mousse, Chai Chantilly, Whipped Mascarpone, and Honeycomb, it was the perfect way to end the evening. I don't want to give too much away, but this is one dessert you don't want to pass on. After all, it's the holidays. Calories don't count until January.
Arnold’s Country Kitchen
605 8TH AVENUE SOUTH
NASHVILLE, TN 37203
The overindulgence of the holidays kicked into full swing on November 20 when Arnold's Country Kitchen staged a short-lived comeback, getting Nashvillians primed and ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. Arnold's served some of their beloved classics Monday through Wednesday before opening to a select few who were able to snag reservations for their Thanksgiving seating. While the line was long and the parking limited, it was absolutely worth it. In recent interviews, Kahlil has alluded to the fact that there will be more of these in the future. Even though many of us live and die by Instagram for our updates, Arnold's is old-school, and most information about future pop-ups and menu offerings can be found by following their Arnold's Country Kitchen Facebook page. HERE.
Featured above: Half Fried Chicken + Half Roast Beef + Mac & Cheese + Cauliflower Casserole + Banana Pudding
Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir 2021
$14.99
There's nothing better than the holiday season at Trader Joe's. Not only do you get some incredible food items, looking at you Butter Toffee Pretzels, but Trader Joe's pulls out all the stops when it comes to wine. Undoubtedly, you will see an influx of reserve wines hitting the shelves. Clean out your wine fridge, bar cart, or wherever you need to store wines because you will want a few of these bottles. Right now, you may be thinking, "What are Trader Joe's Reserve Wines?" Let's talk about it, shall we?
Trader Joe's has four categories of wine ( well, five depending on where you live and what you can access), but I am here to share the categories I've seen/tasted in Nashville.
Petit Reserve | These wines are a simply great value and are reasonably priced at around $7.99/bottle. These wines would be comparable to a bottle that would typically sell for $12.00-$15.00.
Reserve | These are "extra special" wines that exemplify classic varietal character and are priced around $9.99/bottle. These wines would be comparable to a bottle that would normally sell for $22.00-$25.00.
Grand Reserve | These wines are heavy hitters typically priced at $12.99/bottle.
Platinum Reserve | These wines are considered the best of the best and are usually priced around $14.99/bottle. When enjoyed, they easily stand up bottles that are $30.00 and up.
There's allegedly a "Diamond Reserve," but I have yet to come across one in Nashville. If you spot one, help a girl out and let me know! I was told by a reliable source at TJ's that if you find a wine with a particular lot that really speaks to your soul, grab a few bottles for your wine cabinet. Each lot number is a limited release, and once it's gone, it's gone.
I picked up three wines in one of the above reserve categories this week. Naturally, I wanted to start with the most exclusive bottle first and work my way backward through the wine. This evening, I had the pleasure of opening a 2021 Trader Joe's Platinum Release Pinot Noir from the Carneros region. With the $14.99 price point, this may be one of the most expensive wines I've shared on my blog. Let's hope that the "platinum reserve" label holds true and it gives "upper echelon/ expensive wine" vibes when we taste it.
Without further ado, let's jump into the tasting details, shall we?
Tasting Notes:
Garnet hue with slightly transparent but with opaque moments
Dark fruit notes, specifically black cherry
Spicy notes in the back of the mouth
Hints of toasted oak
Definitely on the drier end of the spectrum with medium
Disclaimer: I did not pair this wine with food, but I’ve found it to be a solid on its own
Verdict:
Friends, I am here to tell you that this wine is indeed worth the $14.99 price point. In fact, it’s better than a glass of Pinot Noir that I had at a local Nashville establishment last night, where the glasses cost more than this bottle. If you are in the process of sorting out your Thanksgiving lineup or perhaps looking for what to contribute to Friendsgiving, grab a few bottles of this and become the hero of the day. This is a fantastic Pinot Noir and definitely punches above its weight. If you’re able to get your hands on one of these bottles, let me know your thoughts!