Nashville Restaurant Week

Interview with Troy Smiley, Tennessee farmer

Upcoming on the Good Life Aficionado this week

Good Life Aficionado upcoming interview - Troy Smiley from Smiley Farms

Another in our series of interviews with local farmers and chefs.

Good Life Aficionado visits Walnut Hills Farm

~
Introduction to Doug Bagwell of Walnut Hills Farm


What kind of cows and goats do you have?


What are some of the benefits of buying locally?


Are shoppers looking for local foods?


Is there a season to raising cattle and being at the Farmers Market?


Should you ask questions when buying locally grown food?


Visit the Walnut Hills Farm website to learn more about them. http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M23158

Boer Goats at Walnut Hills Farm

Chef Joe Shaw leaves The Standard

Thanks to Chezbez for the tip.

Richie's Hot & Spicy Castle - Catfish Sandwich

I need advice about how to create a garden

I'm asking for advice on how to plant, take care of and what to plant to get the most out of my garden.

What I'm thinking about planting is one or two plants of each vegetable or herb. Here is my current list of things to plant.

~potatoes~squash~corn~tomatoes~cucumbers~carrots~green beans~pinto beans~greens~asparagus~cabbage~lettuce~peppers~melons~onions~brussel sprouts~garlic~thyme~rosemary and some other herbs as well.

Andrew Chadwick's restaurant has closed

Sad to say it but it is true, another incredible restaurant in our fair city has closed it's doors. Andrew Chadwick's at Rutledge Hill, an upscale California-inspired restaurant that was located in the southern edge of downtown was a truly unique restaurant and will be sorely missed. I wish Andrew all the best and hope he stays in Nashville and comes up with something else incredible.

He spent nearly two years restoring a Civil War-era home on Rutledge Hill near downtown Nashville before opening the restaurant in November 2007. Such a shame that all that work and passion is all for nothing now but I'm sure he will move on to bigger and better things soon.

A message on the restaurant's confirmed it, they were closed. "Unfortunately, we are no longer in business, we thank Nashville for the opportunity and hope you have a great day."

~~~
A little bit about Andrew and his restaurant...(this comes from the restaurant's website)

The technology he used:
Andrew Chadwick's is one of only three American institutions that use a professional induction cooktop. An induction-cooker element (what on a gas stove would be called a "burner") is a powerful, high-frequency electromagnet. When a good-sized piece of magnetic material--such as, for example, a cast-iron skillet--is placed in the magnetic field that the element is generating, the field transfers ("induces") energy into that metal. Basically, the pan itself is where the heat comes from and not the elements.

About Andrew:
The majority of Andrew's culinary training took place in California, where he acquired an uncanny discernment for food and wine pairings. Prior to moving to Nashville, Andrew served as executive chef at the prestigious Meadowood Napa Valley, a private estate featuring fine dining inspired by the traditions of Napa Valley, and at the Ritz Carlton Resort St. Thomas, a Virgin Island resort offering Caribbean-inspired cuisine. Andrew also served on the prestigious culinary team providing cuisine for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

After graduating from the California Culinary Academy in 1991, he worked at acclaimed restaurants in New York, California and Europe. In New York, he helped establish a Four Star restaurant with Donald Woods. Following his tenure in New York, he served as chef of the Fine Dining Restaurant at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort, where he was ranked one of the top ten chefs in Southern California. He also was an executive sous chef at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa.

Nashville restaurants and the economy

Hatcher Dairy Farm

See ya in Nashville

Nashville Experience Walking Tour dates are coming soon

Visit the official Webbspun Ideas website to keep track of upcoming dates and book your tours now.

Radius10 has closed....no, no, NOOOO

The paragraph below was in the Nashville Scene blog "Bites." I sure hope that Jason stays in Nashville and continues to work his culinary magic. This restaurant was truly a magical place to spend an evening. Nice view of the city from the patio, incredible and fun food and the chef bar that overlooked the kitchen. God I will miss this place...

Chef Jason, I do have something that I am working on and would love to talk to you at some point again. Feel free to contact me anytime.
~Corey

Within the past hour, a recorded phone message at Radius10 was updated to announce the restaurant's closing. "It is with great regret and great memories that Radius10 has decided to leave The Gulch," the voice says. "Sadly, the level of business since the economic downturn is not sufficient to sustain our operation over the long haul."

Judge Bean says he is coming back

12th Avenute location

Fans of the Texas-style barbecue stylings of Aubrey Bean will be glad to know that, even though both locations of Judge Bean's BBQ shut down recently, Bean plans to be back on the food scene in January.

Bean, 55, was sidelined by a heart attack in September, and complications followed. "After I got out of the hospital, I just needed to take some time off," says Bean, who says he's been exercising during his recovery and lost 70 pounds.
~
Read the rest of this story in the Tennessean newspaper.
The original location

Doggie Bag- Stroud's Bar-B-Que

This is from Stroud's Bar-B-Que in Goodlettsville, Tn.

Our friend and famous praline maker is gone

Our friend Leon Vlahos, of Pralines by Leon, passed away not to long ago. He will be missed for his gentle manner and his gracious welcome to his candy store. It wont be the same without him but his wife is keeping the business open, so be sure to stop in. Help keep the legacy of the man alive by insuring his business continues to thrive.

Keep his family in your prayers, please.

~Corey


Leon and the ladies on one of the Nashville Experience walking tours.



138 2nd Ave N # 102
Nashville, TN 37201
615- 254-5030



Visit Pralines by Leon on the web to order and keep the business going. Be sure to stop in and say hi, by some wonderful candies and share a smile.

Nashville Originals Present Nashville's 1st Annual Restaurant Week

The Nashville Originals, an association of 34 locally owned and operated restaurants, are proud to announce Nashville's first annual Restaurant Week.

During the week of September 15-21, 2008, many of Nashville's premier indie restaurants will offer you an opportunity to experience some of the city's culinary best for only $20.08! It's a perfect chance to support your favorite establishment or discover new ones!

Participating restaurants will be offering splendid specials, in most cases a three course fixed-price dinner, for $20.08.

Each restaurant will showcase its individuality, which is what dining at local, independent, hands on restaurants is all about!

More details including menus and reservation information are available at www.nashvilleoriginals.com

Wendell Smith's in Nashville (meat and three series, part 1)

The first in our series about meat and three restaurants in Nashville. We'll have more coming up in the future so come back and check them all out.

Nashville Experience Walking Tour by Corey Webb