Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.
1) Centennial Cafe, West Nashville
Nashville’s restaurant scene is both excellent and influencer-y. (Those who complain that Nashville has bad food are simply mad that we don’t have their favorite dish from their favorite restaurant in whatever city they moved here from.) The inluencer-y aspect can occasionally make dining out a bit insufferable, however. Instead of quality and comfort, restaurants lean into plating and vibes. As an established curmudgeon, I think you can stick your vibes the same place your kale salad and quiche belong. So when I find a place that is A) quality, B) affordable, and C) utterly unattractive I fall in love. Centennial cafe is just that. It is a tin-roofed cinder block building stocked with formica tables and chairsthat were probably salvaged from a Shoney’s. They serve breakfast and lunch, with different specials each day. The wait staff has been the same for as many years as I’ve been going (8+) and they are all efficient and friendly. You will likely find several retirees chewing the fat (literally and figuratively), multiple cops and firefighters, a handful of construction workers, some neighborhood folks, and a family or two trying to feed their kids without going broke. And the biscuits are delectable. Or, in the spirit of Centennial Cafe, the biscuits will make you want to slap your mama.
2) Firecracker Chicken
This is the first meal my wife ever made for me when we were dating. She introduced me to it, and apparently won my heart with it. It is bit of a labor of love, but absolutely worth it. It is one of those meals that demands that you set aside some time and focus on cooking, and it is ideal to cook alongside someone else. We make it probably monthly at our house. You can modify the sauce to be more sweet or more spicy (or more of both) to your preference, and I highly recommend doubling the sauce. It’s easy to multiply for a crowd or cook for one or two. We always eat it with rice, but it could be great with noodles as well.
3) J & G Blues by Gene Harris
All soul and groove and joy. Enjoy.
