Blog — Blonde Voyage Nashville

‘Tis the season for all things family as the holiday season is officially upon us. While many of us have time-honored Thanksgiving traditions like watching the Macy’s Day Parade and making our great-grandmother’s cornbread dressing, others may be a little apprehensive about these so-called family gatherings. Navigating dinner conversation while avoiding topics like politics, religion and your current dating situation can be tricky. Let’s face it, people are often better at passing judgment than the potatoes sometimes, am I right?

NashvilleCatherine CourtneyNovember 11, 2019Honeybaked Hams, FriendsgivingComment

Bokbox Has Nashvillians Clucking

If you were to ask me a few years ago about my favorite brunch in Nashville, without hesitation I would have said Public House at the illustrious Urban Cowboy (last seen here). I spent numerous Sundays posted up at the bar (before they decided to take away the bar stools) eating the most glorious tomato sandwiches crafted by chef Tom Bayless. Thinking about the amount of money that I spent on tomato sandwiches and Rosé Palomas is almost cringe-worthy but it was the only way to defeat the Sunday Scaries.

Garden Harvest Celebration | Nashville Edit

Oh, fall. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

The crisp, cool air that hits my face
The changing colors of the leaves
Sweater Weather and all things cozy clothing that comes with cooler temperature ( I’m happy to say bu-bye to bikinis)

Weekend Wandering: St. Louis, Missouri

This year travel has looked a little different for me. Rather than go on a few large international trips, I’ve focused more on “microcations” and exploring areas that are only a few hours from Nashville. Let’s rewind a few, ok, many years.

The Best Booze And Bites of Music City Food And Wine Festival 2019

Major road closures, football matchups, and multi-stage music festivals did not hinder locals and tourists alike from attending the seventh annual Music City Food and Wine Festival. After all, If there’s one thing Nashvillians love, it’s good food and booze.

A Perfect Ending To A Week In Geneva: Le Flacon

Finance by day food by night is the mantra that I have been living by since I started Blonde Voyage Nashville three years ago. While I spend my days as a project manager who’s often eyeball deep in spreadsheets or slide decks, my evenings are filled with food tastings, checking out Nashville’s newest establishments and networking with some of Music City’s most enthusiastic foodies. Life is all about balance, right?

One Star, SwitzerlandCatherine CourtneySeptember 6, 2019Geneva, Switzerland, Carouge, Michelin GuideComment

Weekend Wandering: Knoxville, Tennessee

Perched on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Knoxville, Tennessee is much more than tailgating and Tennessee football. Although I am sure some Vols fans would gladly debate that topic with me. Often overshadowed by Memphis and of course current “it-city” Nashville, Knoxville is perfect for a weekend getaway.

Weekend Wandering: French Lick, Indiana

Undoubtedly, travel enriches your life. Not only does it allow you to learn about different cultures and become a more well-rounded individual but it can often be a time of self-reflection and give a renewed sense of adventure. A few weeks ago, I was traveling internationally, racing from terminal to terminal in hopes of making my flight on time. Sprinting through the Heathrow airport, I thought to myself “ this is why I workout, so I can make my flights.” Joking aside, I started to think about my last road trip.

One Of My Best Meals Of 2019: Pianostrada Laboratorio di Cucina

Keep your friends close and your friends with excellent restaurant recommendations closer. Isn’t that how the saying goes?

Earlier this year when I was creating my itinerary for Croatia and the Amalfi Coast (more to come on the blog about that) when I realized that I would have just enough time in Rome to enjoy dinner before boarding the train to Naples.

ItalyCatherine CourtneyJuly 17, 2019Rome, PIanostrada, Trastevere, Italy, Pasta, Paola Colucci, Best Meals of 2019Comment

Blonde Voyage's Guide To Dubrovnik

Can you believe that we are halfway through 2019? I’d shake my head in disbelief if I didn’t have a stack of magazines on my coffee table that said otherwise. In a day and age where we consume so much digital media, I find myself more and more enjoying the ritual of pouring a glass of wine, opening up Travel and Leisure or Bon Appétit and escaping my current reality. There’s something so satisfying about holding the pages in my hands and tearing out those articles or recipes that really speak to me.

Elevate Your Cocktail Game At Machine

Cocktail culture is something that not only intrigues me but is constantly evolving. Gone are the days of sipping on rum and cokes and pounding Jager-bombs, unless you still reside on a college campus or in your parent’s basement. In a world where craft cocktails are king, barflies are sipping on timeless classics like Martinis, Manhattans, and Margaritas.

ChicagoCatherine CourtneyJune 30, 2019Cocktails, Machine, Machine: Engineered Dining and Drinks, Florist, Wicker Park, ChicagoComment

An Insider's Guide To Surviving Music City Food + Wine Festival 2019

Back for its seventh year, The Music City Food and Wine Festival returns to Bicentennial Park on September 20-22, 2019. Without question, this is one of my favorite Nashville events as it shines a spotlight on the food and beverage scene in Music City. After all, there’s much more to Nashville than honky-tonks, hot chicken and hockey! This weekend-long festival is filled with culinary demonstrations, seminars, and panels along with tasting tents highlighting food, wine, spirits and beer from Music City and beyond.

Camera Ready Captures In Tulum

Why do we take photos?

It’s a question I ask myself regularly as I pull out my iPhone. For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photos. I still remember bringing my bulky 35MM camera with me EVERYWHERE I went. There was nothing more satisfying than finishing a roll of film and dropping it off to have it developed. I would spend hours with my friends looking at pictures, making photo albums and reliving those special moments.

TulumCatherine CourtneyMay 29, 2019Azulik, Know Thyself, Follow That Dream, Cenotes, I Scream Bar, Beso, Casa MalcaComment

Fire To Table Simplicity At Arca

“ Where should I eat in Tulum?”

Aside from asking where to say, that’s quite possibly one of the most loaded questions a traveler can ask.

Like any food enthusiast, I put in the time and did the research. However, you know you have a problem when you have more restaurants to try than meals to eat! Of course, it’s a great problem to have and only means there are return trips in my future.

TulumCatherine CourtneyMay 27, 2019Arca, Flora, Fauna, Fire to table, Tulum, Tulum DinnersComment

Avoid The Dreaded Vending Machine Lunch And Order With Grubhub

If you work a 9-5 job, it’s likely that you are living your best cubicle life. You know what I’m talking about. That small piece of real estate where you spend all of your time when you aren’t in meetings and attempt to accomplish work despite the ringing phones and constant chatter. And did I mention you are supposed to co-exist with your co-workers at the same time? To say cube life is challenging is the understatement of the century.

Tulum's Secret Garden : Cenzontle

Does anyone else have Type-A tendencies? Waiting in lines give you absolute anxiety, you’re overly mindful almost borderline conscientious, you loathe wasting time, days are guided by serious to-do lists and you find it hard to relax? If you’re like me, you identify with almost EVERY SINGLE ONE of these items. Some people call it perfectionism, others may categorize you as a workaholic and those who aren’t so friendly may call you damn crazy. Regardless of the label or social commentary, this is me and I’ll own it.

TulumCatherine CourtneyMay 1, 2019Cenzontle, Dinner, Tulum Dinners, Secret GardenComment

It's Gonna Be May

To quote one of my favorite boy bands, N’Sync, “ It’s Going to May.”

Now that the NFL Draft, the St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon and multiple musical acts have vacated Music City, Nashvillians can take pause, breathe deeply because May will be here before we know it.

Place Your Bets On These Breakfast Spots In Tulum

Morning Rituals. It’s something we all have but it can be nice to change it up now and then. When I’m home, I’m rolling out of bed at 5:00 a.m, caffeinating with an oat milk latte and trying to pull it together before I leave for work. Sounds dreadful, right?

TulumCatherine CourtneyApril 25, 2019Breakast, Tulum, MatchaMama, Avocado Toast, Fresh Juice, Cold Brew, Breakfast tacosComment

Follow Your Heart To The Kitchen Table

If you were to ask me where I was dining and drinking in Tulum, I would have rattled off a list of taquerias, juice bars and open-air restaurants that were on the itinerary. I never imagined that one of my top meals of 2019 would be in a restaurant nestled among the lush fronds of the jungle powered completely by solar panels.

TulumCatherine CourtneyApril 23, 2019Kitchen Table, Solar Powered, JungleComment

Blonde Voyage's Tulum Travel Guide

Tulum is undoubtedly one of the top trending destinations in the world. It’s almost impossible to scroll through Instagram these days and NOT see one of your favorite bloggers posting about this bohemian-chic jungle town.

TulumCatherine CourtneyApril 19, 2019Travel Guide, Language, Currency, TransportationComment