Favorite Things continued....

Being a Southern girl, I do love southern food.  One of my biggest weaknesses is fried foods.... and try as I may to avoid them, every once in awhile I do splurge.  Fried pickles, fried green tomatoes, fried okra (it has to be good though), and any kind of fried bread (especially doughnuts - yummmm) are my public enemies numbers one, two, three, and four.  But let's just focus on one of these for now:  fried okra.  I am not a fan of okra - and in fact cannot stand it in any form.  However, there is a local restaurant here that makes the only fried okra I will put in my mouth:  The Bell Buckle Cafe located in historic Bell Buckle, TN.

 Bell Buckle, TN

A railroad town located south of Nashville, Bell Buckle is a quaint small town free of all the commercialism that plagues many towns all over the country.  Staying true to it's roots, this 450 person artist's community has music, shops, history, and good food - that's it.  Mostly residential, the actual town square in only about one to two blocks long... and that is a literal description.  There is only one side to the town center - the other is railroad tracks and farm land.  In the center of the town railroad square is the Bell Buckle Cafe - a casual and fun establishment that has an actual record company that issues recordings by cafe artists.  The menu is a true meat & three with choices such as BBQ pork platter, chicken fried steak, smoked chops, catfish fingers, and of course.... fried okra.

Bell Buckle Cafe Menu

If you are a dessert lover - which I am to the core...  the cafe has fresh pies and cobblers each day.  You absolutely cannot leave without trying one of these scrumptious items - make sure you leave room for dessert!!!

I have not been to the cafe in a few years - my current location means a drive of almost two hours to get there, but my memories are still fresh and I'll get there again some day.  If you are ever in that neck of the woods, go visit Bell Buckle.  It's a slow pace, but worth the stroll.

Favorite Things...

One of my passions is food....  luckily, it doesn't show in my wasteline!  I am an amateur foodie, but don't get hung up on the technicality of food - I just enjoy the flavors and how a good meal makes me feel.  Food is universal - it connects us by necessity and comfort.  Nothing means more to me than creating a meal and sharing it with friends and family.  A bond is formed over food - good conversation, reliving memories, talking through problems, laughing over good times....  food, without the boob tube, is the centerpiece of reconnecting to the people we love. 

Not only do I love to cook, but I also enjoy going to restaurants...  some are disappointing, and some are memory makers.  A night out eating a good meal is so satisfying - each bite savored with a glass of good wine, or finished off with a mouth watering dessert.  Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of my favorite recipes and restaurants...  just an inside look at what makes me happy.  Enjoy:

In honor of being in Louisville last weekend for a wedding, I have to include Lynn's Paradise Cafe.  I was introduced to this spot several years ago by a friend who lives in the area.  Back then Lynn's had not quite gained the notoriety it enjoys now, but it was definitely on it's way.  If you are ever in the area, please don't pass up the opportunity to drop in....  breakfast is the best meal of the day.

 Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Lynn's Bourbon Ball French Toast