Everywhere we went around town, we saw these Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co. bars. While this shop wasn't originally in the plans, once we saw how integrated into the local food culture they were, we made a stop.

They make lots of cool goodies, but the dark chocolate bars in these super cool wrappers are what I kept seeing everywhere. They have the 75% Cacao Southern Artisan Chocolate Bar, 67% Cacao Southern Artisan Chocolate Bar, Mexican Style Chocolate with cinnamon chili, Salt & Pepper Chocolate Bar, Cacao Nib Chocolate Bar, Sea Salt Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Coffee Bar, Buttermilk White Chocolate Bar, and Salt & Pepper Buttermilk White Chocolate Bar.

There were sample dishes near the bars, and the Mexican Chocolate one was interesting. The white chocolate ones were my favorites. I got a present to bring back home.

There were also Duck Fat Caramels (mmmgnhhhh) and Sea Salt & Vinegar Caramels (which I bought a couple of and devoured).

This shop is super cool. They do tours, and this shop even, surprisingly, sells their chocolate in two spots in West Virginia. It's darker chocolate, so if that's your favorite, this would be right up your alley. The caramels were very rich and delicious. But, local, handmade and very cool. Check it out if you're in the area.

On my first attempt to visit Tennessee Brew Works, they were closed for a private event (I discovered after walking inside...and being told 'nah.'). So, my first impression wasn't the best.

We returned the following night to try our luck once again. Makeshift parking nearby was all taken up, and this large building was filled to the brim with people.

I navigated my way through the crowd of people, past the band playing, to the bar to order a "Basil Ryeman," which is a farmhouse ale/saison with thai basil and rye malts. After getting my beer, I snaked my way upstairs to see if it was a) a bit quieter and b) any open place to sit. I finally spotted two empty seats near the end of a long table and made it our home.

This place was BUSY. And very loud. It's less of a tasting room and more of a bar. I tend to go for a bit more of an intimate vibe, so I can learn about the place and the beer. But, it wasn't bad. It wasn't particularly notable, to me. But I was able to leisurely sip on it, enjoying the malt-forward flavor and do a lot of people-watching. Some of which was very, very entertaining. Overall, not bad. Not my favorite. But not bad.

Nashville has a grilled cheese food truck. A GRILLED CHEESE FOOD TRUCK. HAVE I DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN. MAYBE.

As soon as I caught wind of "The Grilled Cheeserie," I stalked their website to find out where they'd be the week I was in Nashville. They were at something called 615 Day (Nashville's area code is 615, so they have a celebration on June 15. Kinda cool). And we followed them there.

This food truck, which serves up gourmet grilled cheese melts, is the brainchild of a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef. So, yes, it's hip and trendy. But it's also really friggin' good.

The Grilled Cheeserie has a few specialty grilled cheeses (fun fact: I used to call these toast 'n' cheese. Just what I grew up calling it. Until I said it outside of my household, and no one knew what I was talking about):

The B&B of Tennessee - $7.50
Buttermilk Cheddar, Heritage Bacon, Georgia Peach Jam on Multigrain Bread

Pimento Mac & Chee - $7.50
Housemade Pimento Cheese with Local Cheddar, Macaroni, Benton's Bacon Bits, Sliced Tomato on Country White Bread

Buffalo South - $7.50
Pepper Jack, Organic Pulled Chicken, Buffalo Sauce, Pickled Celery, Bleu Cheese Aioli on Sourdough Bread

The French Onion - $7.50
Swiss/Gruyère Blend, Onions & Shallots Slow Braised in Organic Beef Broth, Sherry Wine & Fresh Thyme on Rosemary Garlic Bread

If there's one iconic restaurant in Nashville, it's gotta be The Loveless Cafe. Located on Highway 100 just on the fringe of town, The Loveless Cafe serves up legendary biscuits that are quintessential Nashville cuisine.

In 1951, Lon and Annie Loveless began serving [fried chicken and biscuits] out the front door of their home to travelers who passed by on US Highway 100, the then primary route between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. Weary travelers found comfort and refuge at the cozy home and in the food the owners served to them while seated at picnic tables in the front yard. As the tiny house became a planned stop for treks along the Trace, Lon and Annie Loveless expanded their private home into the Loveless Motel and Cafe. Lon Loveless built and ran the property’s motel and was responsible for smoking the meats while Annie whipped up batches of her homemade preserves and scratch-made-biscuits - a secret recipe that remains unchanged to this day.

After a bit of a drive, we arrived to this property that houses the restaurant, as well as the hotel, event venue, a few shops and more. But, first, we went to the main restaurant, expecting a lengthy wait. Fortunately, we had no wait and were seated quickly.

Biscuits are immediately brought to the table with sides of peach preserves, strawberry preserves and blackberry preserves. The peach was my favorite, followed closely by the strawberry. Nice hunks of fruit atop a buttery, airy biscuit. Yes, please. And, you can get as many as you want - it's the free appetizer that keeps refilling.

I clearly couldn't get enough biscuits because I also ordered some for my main meal. The "Biscuit Sampler Platter" comes with your choice of four biscuits: Fried Green Tomato & Pimento Cheese, Barbeque, Country Ham, Fried Chicken, Bacon, Sausage or Steak.

I went with a fried green tomato & pimento cheese, BBQ, fried chicken and bacon. And, for my side, I got the hashbrown casserole.

All of these were tasty, though the fried green tomato and pimento cheese took the cake. It was different, and it pleasantly surprised me. Cheesy & fried - what is better? Next would have to be the fried chicken because I just can't get enough fried chicken biscuits in my life. The BBQ was good, not amazing. And the bacon was plain. I should've shoved some of that hashbrown casserole on it. That, by the way, was exactly what I was hoping for. It's your aunt's cheesy ambiguous dish at the family reunion that seems as though it has crack in it. ... Wait, is that just my family, or...?

This place is down-home, comfort breakfast food. Freshly baked biscuits? You got it. Everything with an added slab of butter? Definitely. Rich flavors, kinda hospitality and feeling like you're in your grandma's kitchen? Yep.

Grade: A

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden is an iconic burger place that melds an old-fashioned burger joint idea with a modern, hipster vibe and German wurst and bier. The branding is a throwback to an old-school soda shop, while the actual place has this sprawling, string-lit garden space, cool chalkboards and large windows.

Brittany and I met up with the Hatchers, the quintessential WVU couple that has now moved south to the Music City. I can't say enough amazing things about Whitney, and, as soon as Jeremy saw I was coming to Nashville, he sent me a spreadsheet full of places to go. Just to give you an idea of how great they are -- and how excited I was to meet up with them in town!

We put our names down and learned it would be about an hour before we'd be seated. And, we had to let them know when our full party arrived. No problems there. Around the specified time, we were beckoned inside and seated near the outdoor garden.

First up, how can I NOT get a milkshake? It was good - chocolate, but nothing too notable. But, good. For my sandwich, I ordered the "Cheeseburger," which came with yellow cheddar, swiss, muenster, tomato and roasted garlic aioli. Side of potato salad.

OK, guys, I made a rookie mistake and inhaled this damn burger before I had a chance to photograph it. I was so wrapped up in conversation and starvation that I forgot to get a photo. Ugh. What is this, amateur hour? Fortunately, Brittany snuck a shot of hers, and they are pretty similar.



It was really good. The bun was light and airy, the burger juicy and the trio of cheeses and the GARLIC aioli that just oozed out made for a delicious savory combo. I seriously devoured this. They are simple ingredients, really, but all combined together made for a damn good burger. Now, if only I got a photo to remember it by.



Grade: A