Support our friends over at Deacon’s New South in this event. Here is a bit of information and how to vote straight from Deacon’s:
Deacon’s New South is proud to participate in The James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger Project™, now in its fourth year. Chefs across the nation are going head to head competing for the best burger with a minimum 25% mushroom blend to promote sustainability and smart food practices.
“The JB Burger” combines the late spring harvest with our penchant for experimentation by marrying flavors from home and around the world. We grind dry aged beef and blend it 65/35 with crimini and shiitake mushrooms, then top the burger with a thick slice of pan-seared halloumi cheese, some fresh mustard greens just picked from our farm, a chimichurri of Koji-fermented green garlic and scape, and a ragout of pickled mushrooms. Then we finish it with a sprinkle of toasted crimini dust and serve it on the best classic egg dough bun made anywhere, from Charpier’s Bakery here in Nashville.
The JB Burger is available to order at Deacon’s New South now!
Help Us Win! VOTE for our Blended Burger and help us win a trip to cook at a Blended Burger ProjectTM event at the historic James Beard House.
By casting a vote, YOU COULD WIN an expenses-paid trip for two to the Blended Burger ProjectTM event at the James Beard House in New York City!*
*No purchase necessary. Ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 7/31/18. Visit jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject to view Official Rules, including eligibility requirements, and judging criteria to cast your vote. Sponsor: The James Beard Foundation.
We are not affiliated with BarkHappy but we do love the ideas of the group and hope a local business will take advantage of this opportunity. Info below:
BarkHappy is a free location based social app to help people discover the dog friendly world around them. The app is now nationwide with tens of thousands of users and growing fast. We also host multiple charity events each month in major cities that offer unique opportunities for hosting businesses and pet vendors or other sponsors to increase exposure directly to dog owners, gain new customers, and increase revenue. The BarkHappy app allows its users all the following elements:
DISCOVER DOGS NEARBY Create a profile for your dog and see others near you! Send wags, messages, or invite others for a play date!
FIND DOG FRIENDLY PLACES ON THE INTERACTIVE MAP Find dog friendly restaurants, bars, hotels, parks, and more. Even see their pet policies and amenities!
ATTEND DOG FRIENDLY EVENTS & HOST YOUR OWN PLAY DATES Schedule your own private group play dates and invite your friends, plus see fun dog friendly events from BarkHappy or its partners!
Exclusive offers, Daily matches, and much more..!
Sponsoring or hosting a BarkHappy event will provide numerous benefits to your company or organization.
Through our app, you go directly to dog owners pockets! Our events have amazing attendance, and haveproven to drive record sales for local businesses or donations for charities. Every single business such as a Restaurant/Bar/Pet Store/Day care or other host of one of our events has seen record sales during our events and 100% of them have invited us back for more. Vendors that provide goodies or giveaways get direct engagement with an active dog community, and can also sell at our events if they like. We have events such as Bar Crawls, Movie nights, BarkHappy Hours and others that will typically sell out, sometimes see hundreds of attendees if capacity allows, and also help benefit local charities.
BarkHappy has addicted user base and fast growing following on multiple social media platforms, including:
Instagram – 20K+ followers (#BarkHappy –100K+ posts) – and growing daily!
Facebook – 6,300+ followers Twitter – 2,000+ followers
Or see this video created by one of our users at a recent event:
Yeah, we’re late. We had to be in Canada for a couple of weeeks. So, let’s get into this wonderful July pie list by ordering one of the special pies for a cookout or for yourself. Here are Caity Pies specials for this month.
TN Blackberries
Wild Blueberries
Slow & Low Rock & Rye Whiskey
CaityPies Cornmeal Crust
Handmade Pineapple Curd
Prichard’s Distillery Rum (Whites Creek, TN)
Toasted Coconut & Coconut Milk
Glaze Certified Naturally Grown Egg Yolk – used in fruit curd- Lost Weekend Farms (Madison, TN)
CaityPies Cornmeal Crust
Beard & Bark Smoked Pork Shoulder (Nashville, TN)
Handmade TN BBQ Sauce
Jack Daniels TN Whiskey (Lynchburg, TN)
CaityPies Cornmeal Crust
Organic Apples
Corsair Triple Smoke Whiskey (Nashville, TN)
Galena’s Pie Spice (Nashville, TN)
CaityPies Cornmeal Crust
Organic Sour Cherries ( Door County, WI)
Prichard’s Distillery Rum (Whites Creek, TN)
Handmade Coca-Cola Reduction Sauce
CaityPies Cornmeal Crust
PBR BACON EGG & BEER CHEESE
Country Ham Bacon, Gifford’s Bacon (Nashville, TN)
Certified Naturally Grown Egg Yolk, Lost Weekend Farms (Madison, TN)
Every city has it’s good things and it’s not so good things. New Orleans is no different. If you visit the Crescent City be prepared, this is a place with a whole lot of great things. Because of that attracts people which ultimately can make some good things not so good.
Let’s get this going and let’s get the bad out of the way.
The 5 Things You Are Going To Hate
The Heat- Unless you go when it’s cold during the winter (and it can get cold) there is only a small window of great weather. Typically late March through April is the nice season in New Orleans. The rest of the time there are some elements of heat or weather you are dealing with. The great Blues guitarist Albert King even has an Album called “New Orleans Heat.”Just keep hydrated with water. Every serving of alcohol (a shot of spirits, a glass of wine, a beer, etc) causes you to lose, on average, 4 ounces of water along with half of all the replacement fluid you consume over the following 2 hours. A good rule of thumb to compensate for these losses is to alternate between alcoholic beverages and water.
Drunks- We’re not talking about the locals. Locals know how to pace themselves. Although, we may even be talking about you. So, spare everybody. Pace yourself and take our advice from the last point. Be mindful you are a guest in the city. If you want to avoid the drunks we have tips for that. The earlier you get to the French Quarter the better the chance you won’t run into drunk tourists. In fact we went as most shops were opening and tours were starting and we pretty much avoided drunks the whole week. Now, if it’s Mardi Gras or Jazzfest it probably won’t matter what time you arrive as there is a party to be had 24 hours a day. Just be mindful that there can be some annoying out of state drunks ruining your trip. Don’t let it. Try to avoid drunk areas and times if possible.
Parking in the Tourist Areas- Pro Tip, park at Place d’Armes Hotel. It’s going to cost you a bit but it was our best place for parking. There were times it was full though and finding a spot may be tough. If it’s not open just get near the Toulouse Station Parking off Decatur Street. WARNING, if you use the app make sure the payment goes through. We came back with a boot on our car because our phone timed out and we didn’t follow our own rule to confirm the payment went through. It’s something you’ll hate is the parking but it’s something you’ll need if you have a car. If you have a place you want to go that you can take by streetcar, do that. It’s less expensive and it’s more charming than being stuck in your vehicle.
Hustlers- Most people who are trying to get the cash out of your wallet aren’t criminals in New Orleans. In fact most put on a good show. Tip the musicians and enjoy the performers in New Orleans. That said, if someone comes up and starts asking you questions and wanting to bet you on something, avoid them like the plague or as one tour guide told us to say, “I’m a Local.” Usually they will back off. It’s very rare though to get people who are unfriendly coming up to you and most are very respectful.
People Not Respecting the Culture- There is a bunch of what we don’t like that comes from other tourists. Knowing something about where you are going is beneficial to everyone around you. We’ve seen grown adults dancing provocative in front of a group of kids (many band performers are kids themselves) to people acting like many of the performers are a character from a movie they’ve watched and play towards stereotypes. Don’t ask every person for their Katrina Story. They will share if they want to and there are many museum like opportunities to see and hear those stories. We suggest taking a tour first day in the morning when you get there to start learning the history if you hadn’t read up ahead of time. Also, stop requesting “When the Saints go marching in.”
The 5 Things You Are Going To Love About New Orleans
The People- The locals may sound like they are a transplant from New York but that accent is pure New Orleans. The real locals of New Orleans love their city more than anyone loves their city. They’ve been through a lot and they want to protect their traditions. They also want you to have a great time, enjoy their city and then come back with more friends. The people are what make New Orleans. So much talent, love and it’s a joy knowing these are our fellow brothers and sisters. Pro Tip: Strike up a casual conversation about the city. The locals are great at getting a real feel for the city.
The Food- Yesterday we posted six places we loved about New Orleans Food. From snoballs, beignets, po-boys, red beans and rice, crawfish and jambalaya you can find someone doing it right all over the city. For the record, Shrimp and Grits is more Low Country Carolina. Some serve it but this is not what they are known for in New Orleans. I say that and then follow up with who cares. They seem to be cooking food from all over the world better than most. Only rivaled in my mind with culinary cities like Los Angeles, Houston or Miami. Pro Tip: Ask a local their favorite spot. They will tell you a place most people are overlooking.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
Williams Plum St. Chocolate Sno Ball
Dong Phuong Bakery Bahn Mi
Turkey and Wolf Bologna Sandwich
Cafe Du Monde Beignets and Cafe Au Lait
Camellia Grill Bacon Burger and Chocolate Freeze
The Culture- Seriously, get a tour about the art, history and music of the region. Learn the history of the Spanish, French and Enslaved before the United States purchased it in 1803. Find out about the history of Storyville, Treme and the brothels that started Jass now Jazz. Stand in Congo Square. Congo Square is an area the enslaved culture would gather and helped influence the creators of Rock, R&B, Jazz and so much more. Also learn more on a tour about The Native American and Mardi Gras Indian culture and how it’s reflected today during Mardi Gras. On a tour we took we went to the birthplace of Rock. Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Recording Studios, operational from 1945 through spring 1956, is rightly recognized as a birthplace of rock ’n’ roll through several seminal titles, when the music was still known as rhythm and blues. These included “Good Rocking Tonight” by Roy Brown in 1947, “The Fat Man” by Fats Domino in 1949, and “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard in 1955. In addition, there were many other important hits from J&M, such as “Tipitina” by Professor Longhair in 1953 and “See You Later, Alligator” by Bobby Charles in 1955. Even modern history of New Orleans is influencing music with New Orleans Bounce and Sludge Metal.
St. Louis Cathedral
Congo Square, the birthplace of American Culture
Congo Square Enslaved Monument.
Statue of Chief Allison “Tootie” Montana
French Quartour Kids Tour was our tour guide and if you have children we suggest all their tours.
Great American City- There is not another New Orleans. Nowhere in the world is anything like New Orleans for better or worse. This is a true look at what America is supposed to be. A Mix and mash of cultures working together. Sometimes slow to let go of traditions but a beautiful look at our future with an honest look at our past. Great places to visit from St. Louis Cathedral to abandoned Forts and repurposed buildings.
Entertainment- To say New Orleans is a music town is an understatement. To say it is a “Party Town” is also true. But, it’s also a sports city, a parade city, a museum city, an art city and so much more. You will run out of time before being able to see everything. The history in the city alone would take a decade to really see and understand. Like the food, moderation is best. That said, you won’t be moderating much. You will eat too much, you will consume to much and you’re going to have a great time in one of the South’s greatest cities, dare I say one of Earth’s greatest cities.
In April of 2018 (around Easter) something glorious happened. We visited New Orleans and the weather was glorious! Unlike most who visit now we experienced the highs in the mid 70’s. It was less crowded than usual. Other than the filming (Tom Hardy was filming his new Capone movie around the corner and The Purge TV show was also filming at nearby Loyola University) there wasn’t many crowds. So our conditions were perfect. Less also because Mardi Gras had ended and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was right around the corner. This gave us a great opportunity to talk to the locals who grew up in the area.
We most likely ate at a place you love. Full disclosure, the list below were our favorite spots and none of them were expensive. They also were very casual. So, there are fine dining places with awards all over their walls. This is not that article. We were staying in the Garden District off Magazine Street so we are also Garden District heavy.
The Camellia Grill
First off, leave the quarter. It’s a tourist trap. Get out into the Garden District and take a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar Line. As the line turns right onto South Carrolton, that is where you need to hop off. There you will find The Camellia Grill. Uptown locals, Tulane & Loyola Students and tourists are sitting side by side on one of the 28 stools in the small, yet nicely decorated room. The Beef Bacon burger’s are better here than most places I’ve eaten around the United States. The chocolate freeze with ice cream is a wonderful drink that is better than any milkshake I’ve had and very filling. I loved this place and if you follow me, you know I don’t usually eat meat or dairy. The Pecan pie is a Chocolate Pecan Pie fried in butter. Need we say more. Just order it and split it if you are already full. OK, also the service is what you have come to expect from every place in New Orleans but somehow it’s even better.
Camellia Grill Bacon Burger and Chocolate Freeze
See Menu by googling: “camellia grill new orleans menu” and Google has it for you. It’s the most accurate online we’ve found.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
This was not first on THIS list but it is definitely first in our family’s heart. We cancelled three other restaurant visits so we could go back for shrimp po-boys. Domiliese’s has been around since the 1920s for a very good reason. They are the best at what they do and what they do is make great po-boy sandwiches. The recently passed Anthony Bourdain featured this restaurant in his Layover show and they even have a sandwich specifically to honor him. But it was on our list to visit since we were staying in the neighborhood. This place is very popular with locals. It was confirmed by a high-five from a tour guide because we suggested this place to Canadian tourists. For us, it was the shrimp po-boy and that baguette. The shrimp was huge, fried and properly dressed sandwich on a baguette that had that perfect crunch. This is also another great spot for Loyola and Tulane students. Our daughter is not a shrimp fan so she grabbed the meatball and said it was superb. Also, they have great onion rings. There is a bar inside this restaurant. We got Barq’s root beer because we were told it was the local way.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
See Menu here: http://www.domilisespoboys.com/
Williams Plum Street Snoballs
A snoball place? I know, right. Not a place people usually put on a “Must Hit” list. Seriously though. We grabbed a variation of a banana flavor the two times we visited and the glorious chocolate with their housemade sweetened condensed milk was ordered both times as well. This place is great for the kiddos both big and small. Plus, I was not familiar with Snoballs being a popular and local treat in New Orleans. There are many snoball stands but the locals we talked to love this specific one. We had a wonderful conversation about how important this place was with people from the neighborhood and the wonderful owner Donna Black. Who, I have to say after meeting her during closing time, is maybe the most hospitable person in New Orleans in a city known for Hospitality. The joy and passion for Snoballs are real and it’s a locals kind of place.
Williams Plum St. Chocolate Sno Ball
Website: http://www.plumstreetsnoball.com/
Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery
Since the fall of Saigon the Vietnamese community has been a big part of New Orleans. Their work and contribution to New Orleans can not be understated. They went to work in the fishing, oyster and shrimping industry when they arrived in the gulf coast. Many of their children and grandchildren have taken jobs in other industries but their footprint and mark on New Orleans is still seen in the culinary landscape today. Some of those first arrivals opened up po-boy stands because let’s be honest, it was a bánh mì to them. There is just such a perfect similarity between these two delicious sandwiches. Also, Vietnam and the Gulf Coast are very similar in many ways and it takes form on each plate in both the traditional and Vietnamese restaurants. In the Early 1980s Huong Tran opened her storefront bakery next to her mother in-laws restaurant. We had come because of the King Cake which is always in high demand during the Mardi Gras season. Unfortunately we were there during Easter and there isn’t a need to make King Cake out of season. So, we settled on a bag of vietnamese candies, cookies and cakes, a great baguette and of course the Grilled Pork bánh mì. Mixed reviews on the treats as some were new flavors to our daughter and that’s to be expected. There was no doubt though the love of the bánh mì. The pork was more like a deli slice but tasty. The vegetables were wonderful and I dare say I will return and get a vegetarian version of the bánh mì. Plus, that baguette was perfect. It had the perfect crunch on the outside with a soft pillow on the inside. The bakery is filled with cases of cakes, candies and cookies as are the shelves. It is worth the drive if you are fortunate to have a car to get there yourself. Not sure what an Uber would cost to get there but it’s a bit outside of the city center.
Dong Phuong Bakery Bahn Mi
Website: dpbakeshop.com/
Turkey and the Wolf
We’re a bit late to the game when it comes to Turkey and Wolf. This is not the secret it was when we were told to visit. Bon appétit beat us there with a great overview video:
That said, this is the greatest hangover cure in New Orleans. This menu, which is a compliment, is some of the most alcohol absorbing food imaginable. We started with the deviled eggs with fried chicken skins with their own house made hot sauce. These are fantastic and are definitely an over the top version of deviled eggs. These may in fact be the Devil’s recipe. We had the Italian American sandwich (as of writing this it has been replaced on the menu). Not our favorite but that’s why the menu rotates. The star of the show in our eyes was the fried bologna sandwich with leighann’s bologna, hot english mustard, potato chips, shrettuce, mayo, american cheese on white. We had very basic soda but they have a full bar and the drinks have clever names. As the video shows these guys are doing something they love and it shows on the plate. They also work their tails off. As laid back as they seem in that video we ran into the owner huddled in the corner near the restroom working on his computer. When we came out he was making his rounds helping clear tables and make sure patrons were taken care of during the lunch hour. There is a reason this place is getting popular.
Turkey and Wolf Bologna Sandwich
Website: http://www.turkeyandthewolf.com/menu/
Cafe Du Monde
Sorry, but we have to be cliche. This is our one tourist trap must do. Cafe Du Monde is legendary and everyone suggests it. So the lines are long. Wait in the line. Sit down and be amazed how many of these little pillows of heaven are served in just the time you are sitting there. Get Beignets at the place that seems to do it best in our humble opinion. The Cafe au lait is wonderful hot while sitting and eating the beignets. Pro Tip: the frozen version is a perfect walking around drink on a warm day. While walking around and being a tourist sip on that cold coffee that is perfectly sweet. If you are in a hurry or driving out of town, grab a bag of beignets. The bag eating of beignets skills is one that all Southern Living citizens should perfect. This is the first tourist trap I visited that I loved being “stuck in.”
Website: www.cafedumonde.com
New Orleans has so much going on with the food scene. So many great chefs and so many nice dining options. Yet, we gave you these low cost options for a reason. These gems are the local, working man picks. That’s exactly what they are, local favorites. Yes, Commander’s Palace and Antoine’s do a great job. That said, I will take three visits to Domilise’s and a snoball over one visit to those places. Enjoy a nice dinner but don’t overlook the New Orleans way the locals do it. If you have a better place for Po-boys, beignets or snoballs leave them in the comments.
We’re constantly talking to chefs and restaurant managers about food trends and new diet needs by the customers. Vegan options is one many need help with and The Be-Hive is a great way to solve the Vegan issue. From The Be-Hive:
In addition to our retail line, which is available at wholesale cost by the case, we also offer a variety of products in bulk for restaurants and commercial kitchens, including:
Seitan Blocks – Perfect for developing your own plant-based menu items from the ground up
Marinated Deli Slices – A great addition to any sandwich menu
Chipotle Seitan Chorizo – Ideal in a hot bar or as a vegetarian option for burritos, tacos and bowls
Breakfast Sausage – Hearty, flavorful seitan and quinoa-based patties for biscuits or on the side for a breakfast/brunch menu
Wings – Satisfying pub grub, great with buffalo sauce or other condiments (requires deep fryer)
Interested in adding one of our wholesale items to your store or restaurant? Reach out to us at wholesale@bethehive.com for more information or a quote based on your needs and ideas.
Set for Friday and Saturday, June 29 & 30th, 2018, this year’s installment of the long-running Nashville makers market is shaping up to be another can’t miss summer event, with seasonal additions, new partners and a spacious location — plus the world-class mix of vendors longtime attendees have come to expect.
What’s familiar: Once again, the Porter Flea Summer Market kicks off Friday with a ticketed Preview Market, which includes early/intimate access to shopping and lots of extras, from complimentary drinks to bonus surprise swag. Saturday brings the full, free market (and the option to skip the lines with VIP Porter Passes.)
This year’s Summer Flea moves back to The Nashville Fairgrounds (625 Smith Avenue), into an air conditioned, indoor space that offers lots of room for attendees to shop and mingle, with plenty of parking and space for some of Nashville’s best food trucks to serve up seasonal food and drink options.
Applications will OPEN for the Summer Market on Monday, March 12th and close at MIDNIGHT on Sunday, April 15th. Summer Vendors will be announced on Monday, April 3oth.
Nashville’s Porter Flea was launched in July 2011, with a focus on celebrating modern handmade goods. Now in its sixth year, the juried and curated, semi-annual market is led by Katie Vance and her husband, HollerDesign owner Matt Alexander, who continue an emphasis on the handmade art and design movement, local businesses and community building. Along with connecting hundreds of local/regional makers with tens of thousands of shoppers, Porter Flea has earned consistent press praise, including being named Best Artisan Market by the Nashville Scene in 2012, and appearing in Southern Living, Garden & Gun, Native, Forbes Travel Guide, StyleBlueprint and other publications.
LOCATION
The Nashville Fairgrounds
625 Smith Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
EVENT HOURS
Friday, June 29th// Preview Market – 6-9pm (Indoors/Air Conditioned, Rain or Shine)
Saturday, June 30th // Main Market – 10am-5pm (Indoors/Air Conditioned, Rain or Shine)
ADMISSION
Friday, June 29th // Preview Market – $25 – PARKING IS FREE // BUY TICKETS HERE!
Saturday, June 30th //Main Market – 10am-5pm FREE ADMISSION – PARKING IS $5
So many great groups to buy produce from in Middle Tennessee. One of those is Old School Farm. Old School Farm is a nonprofit market garden creating meaningful employment for adults of all abilities growing organic produce in Nashville! Click here to learn more and sign up for their CSA program:
oldschoolfarm.org/csa-sign-up
More from Old School Website
Nestled in the heart of Bells Bend, ten minutes outside of Nashville lies a new, unique non-profit dedicated to producing quality farm-to-table food while providing employment for individuals of all abilities. Old School Farm was founded in 2013 on the belief that creating a sustainable farm can also produce sustainable jobs while giving back to the community at large. It is our hope that Old School Farm will become a model site where you will find individuals of all abilities working side by side.
This week two big albums drop at The Groove Nashville! Over the next two weeks you are going to need some cookout and get together music. Why not these two new albums that will be conversation starters:
Released Friday
“Pray for the Wicked”-Panic! at the Disco.Pray for the Wicked is the upcoming sixth studio album by American rock band Panic! at the Disco.
“Bad Witch”-Nine Inch Nails. Bad Witch is the upcoming ninth studio album by Nine Inch Nails.
We recently discovered while in Parnassus Books their new subscription box. ParnassusNext is a monthly subscription box of the best new young adult books, curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Always first edition hardcover books. Always signed by the author.
From Parnassus
Who is it for?
ParnassusNext is perfect for the kind of YA reader you are: You love a great story, you can’t forget a character, and you’re so in-the-know about what’s good that your friends ask you what they should read next. Your personal library is your custom-curated collection of the best reads and a who’s-who of fantastic authors. For you, it’s all about the book.
What’s in the box?
Each month, you’ll receive one beautifully packaged young adult book. No filler. And not just any book: a first edition, brand-new release, signed by the author. The books are carefully selected by the YA experts at Parnassus Books, who have years of bookstore experience and great relationships with authors and publishers.
Our selections have gone on to become New York Times bestsellers, been adapted into blockbuster movies, and have received tons of critical acclaim. They’ve been National Book Award nominees, New York Times Notable Books of the Year, made the Carnegie Medal short list, and have received about a zillion starred reviews. Our track record is full of books that became the must-have, everyone’s-talking-about-it, how-did-we-ever-live-without-it extraordinary YA reads. So yeah, that book you unwrap each month — it’s going to be big, we’re pretty sure.
Always signed? Really?
Really. We get the books straight from the first printing; the author writes their name in your copy; we ship it to you; and you add another signed first edition to your personal library. Every month.
Okay, how do I sign up?
Just sign up below for your subscription and choose whether you’d like 3, 6, or 12 months of books. You can also sign up to be billed monthly, for as long as you like. We use your billing information to bill you at the time of each mailing for only the cost of the book plus $6 for shipping. No membership fee. Absolutely no add-on costs. Then you just sit back and watch for the mail! If you choose to pick up your box in the store, we’ll scratch the shipping cost. We’ll hold your box for up to two weeks, after which time we’ll charge your account the $6 and ship it to you.
Click here to see a complete list of our past selections, including our most recent selection
