Nashville Food Blog

We're halfway through Nashville Originals Restaurant Week 2009, or as I like to call it, "Get your ass to your personal trainer next Week." Have you been taking advantage of the incredible opportunities offered by our local independent restaurateurs to try out a new place you've never been to or an old favorite you've missed of late?

The 25 participating restaurants represent a whole gamut of dining options, from comfortable neighborhood pub fare to haute cuisine and everything in between. While offers may vary (tip o' the hat to Billy Mays), most establishments are giving diners a choice from a limited menu of an appetizer, entrée and dessert for either $20.09 or $30.09. Other restaurants are presenting one prix-fixe menu with no choices, but which may be items that are usually not on the regular menu. Still others are opening up their entire menus for patrons to mix and match their own trip down gustatory lane.

All three options are attractive in their own ways. You have the opportunity to experience the individual personalities of these restaurants within the context of the owner's choices of what they wish to feature.

As Arnold Myint expounds on his personal blog A Hint of Myint:

I feel like this event is a perfect opportunity for chefs and restaurants
to showcase new ideas and creations. It's a chance to introduce flavors
and philosophies to both new and loyal patrons that are not available
every day. The $20.09/$30.09 shouldn't be looked at as a 'combo meal.'
The chef's creativity and individuality in how they translate this
promotion is where the true value should be found.

Here's a glimpse at some participants and their offerings:

Prix Fixe-No Choice
Flyte
MafiaOza's
Mirror

Some Choice off Regular or Special Menu
The Acorn
Cabana
Cha Chah
Cross Corner Bar and Grill
Fido
Jackson's
Jimmy Kelly's
Mambu
Midtown Cafe
Noshville
PM
Provence
Rumba
The Standard
Sunset Grill
Tin Angel
Wild Iris
Yellow Porch
Zola

Total Menu Choice
Allium
Germantown Cafe

To check out all the menus, head on over to the Nashville Originals' website.

So far this week, I have enjoyed a very nice dinner in the pleasantly packed and chummily noisy Tin Angel and a leisurely evening of gourmet adventures at Flyte. Tin Angel reflected Southern charm with a menu of fried green tomatoes with crawfish sauce, a smoked beef brisket in whiskey BBQ sauce served over Tennessee cheddar grits and accompanied by jalapeno slaw and a balsamic strawberry crème brûlée. A wine flight selected to accompany each course was offered and greedily accepted for an additional $10.09. It was a great deal and a great meal.

Flyte featured the creations of new executive chef, Jen Franzen. Jen has reshaped the entire menu since her promotion from sous chef, but her special selections for Restaurant Week were indeed special. A vibrant cold cucumber mint soup preceded the Berkshire Pork Tenderloin served over a golden jewel mix with peach-and-bacon hash and cinnamon gastrique. A light Buttermilk Panna Cotta with grilled strawberries sent us all home happy. Matching wine flights (Flytes?) were also available at ridiculously reasonable prices.

Reservations are requested if you want to take advantage of these special deals at any of these restaurants. So check your calendar and start dialing. Please share your plans and experiences in the comments below.

Remember, many of these places may be closed on either July 4 or 5, so this offer is limited. Operators are standing by!

That one was for you, BMays.