Biscuit Love & Five Daughters Bakery

Billie and I drove down to Nashville last weekend for two reasons: food and testing rocking chairs for the nursery.

But mostly, food.

The morning started at Biscuit Love in the Gulch-- I had been here without Billie while he was deployed. So I couldn't wait to introduce him! You can check out my last Biscuit Love post here.

"Princess": Biscuit, Nashville style spicy fried chicken, pickles, mustard, honey

Afterwards we drove down to 12 South for donuts from Five Daughters Bakery, per Billie's request! 

Friend's Birthday in Nashville

Last Saturday, a group of us met outside Bridgestone Arena before the Predator's game to do some ice skating in a small rink outside. However it was $15/person and 30 degrees, so we decided to skip straight to an early dinner!! I had on every warmest layer I own, including leggings and three layers up top!

We walked down to Bakersfield, where we had made 4:30pm reservations, for tacos and margaritas! 

I blogged about eating at Bakersfield last spring, when I went to a conference in the Omni hotel downtown. It's walking distance from Omni, Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway, and Bridgestone. It's also near Etch, which is on my list to try!

I ordered the chicken chorizo tostada...

Everyone else ordered a few a la carte tacos. All was delicious! Especially the queso!

Butchertown Hall -- Nashville Restaurant

Several weeks ago, Billie and I tried a new restaurant in Nashville. Butchertown Hall was voted top 3 best new restaurants in Nashville for 2015 as well as Nashville's best burger. 

This Germantown gem is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, including a weekend brunch. Brisket, ribs, and sausage are cooked over wood for a primitive feel.  The smell is overwhelmingly perfect.

The pastries appetizer plate with smoke peanut butter and homemade jam

RIBS

Day of Fun in Nashville

Kaitlyn and I planned a day of fun in Nashville last weekend. We are both researchers, so we picked our top places for brunch, coffee, and dinner. We scoured menus and narrowed down our choices. Here was our day-- 

First, breakfast at Marche! 

Almond milk latte 

Greens and omelette with sausage and ratatouille 

After breakfast, we drove to Franklin and shopped around Main Street. A few gifty items and some spices from the Spice shop. PS- Franklin Tea closed-- bummer! 

After shopping, we drove back to Nashville and picked a new coffee shop to try. Landed at 8th&Roast! 

After coffee, we drove to 12 south to shop. I found Avarcas on sale at Imogene and Willie-- yippee! 

These are not my feet-- I borrowed this pic from the Avarcas Instagram page. :) But this is the color I bought! 

Then we ate an early dinner at Epice, pronounced "A-piece", a Greek restaurant right on 12 South. 

Food. Was. Amazing. I got lamb because, well, I felt like I should. It was incredible. 

We also got some Jeni's ice cream before the drive home. :) Such a fun day. I love Nashville! 

Post-Race Celebration

Kaitlyn and I weren't about to waste a trip to Nashville without trying a new restaurant! We researched and decided on Pancake Pantry for a post-race celebration meal. We read that there's always a line outside, but we were willing to wait! It's right in cute Hillsboro Village, 10 minutes from downtown. 

I got the sweet potato waffle, an egg, and bacon! 

After brunch, we walked a couple doors down to Hot & Cold for a fancy coffee! 

If you go soon, try the summer special, the Grey Skies...

Grey Skies

Bergamot simple syrup, coconut milk latte + Olive & Sinclair chocolate shavings.

It was DELISH!! 

Red Bicycle Crepes

Kaitlyn and I drove down to Nashville early this morning. I wanted to run the 10k course that will be the end of my race next weekend (the Music City Triathlon.) 

I was so glad she came with me-- she's a stud runner and helped me to keep up my pace on the steep parts! 

After our run, we drove a few minutes down the street to Red Bicycle Coffee & Crepes in Germantown. And wow-- I fell in love with this place. Cutest neighborhood... Nestled in with adorable houses. Plus they open at 7:30 on Sunday, which is earlier than most places! 

Kaitlyn and I both ordered the banana peanut crepe: honey, peanut butter, banana, and granola. You know-- for fast glycogen store replenishment. ;) 

AND Red Bicycle has fancy coffee drinks. Including almond milk for lattes and cappucinos. 

Perfect and quaint. No wait at 8am. 

Can't wait to take Billie here. Check their menu online for a full list of their sweet and savory crepes. Then go there! 

Crema

I have a thing for coffee shops, and I plan to stop at every one in Nashville while we live here! 

I've wanted to try Crema since it was mentioned on the show, Nashville.

This Saturday was my chance, and it did not disappoint!! 

I ordered a cappucino made with an almond milk + coconut milk blend. For those who want to dine in, they had some delicious looking breakfast options including quiche, avocado toast, and muesli. I tried the strawberry banana muffin, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it! 

Crema has its own roasting room in the corner, and I could taste the difference!  

Nashville Eats

Saturday morning, I drove to Nashville for breakfast with my friend Louise. We went to Biscuit Love and both ordered "Southern Benny." It's a large open faced biscuit topped with shaved country ham, sausage gravy, and two eggs. Oh man it was good.

 I have a friend who highly recommended "The Lily," which is "biscuit French toast, lemon mascarpone, blueberry compote and house syrup." 

Biscuit Love is in the Gulch, and a parking garage faces the enterance. Free parking for first hour then $2/hour after that. Just a heads up, you order right when you walk in, then you sit. So look at the menu ahead of time if you're indecisive like me! :) I can't wait to take Billie here! 

Afterwards I spent a couple hours wandering around Green Hills mall. That mall is gorgeous! Plus I felt real fancy walking around stores like Lush, MAC, BCBG, Coach, and Tory Burch. 

But I spent my time at Teavana, Athleta, and Restoartion Hardware. A girl can dream right? 

Night in Nashville

I had been hearing about the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular for a few months. Once I learned this is their final year in Nashville, I had to buy tickets! (I've loved the Rockettes since I first saw them on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as a little girl!) So I surprised Billie with a date day in Nashville today, starting with the show at the Grand Ole Opry.

After the show, we ate dinner at The Southern in downtown Nashville. Our friends have raved about this restaurant since we moved here, specifically the oysters and the smoked deviled eggs.

appetizer and "anytime" menu

This place was a major winner, and we hear their brunch is a winner too! Complimentary valet parking, and right off Broadway.