Known as “Music City,” Nashville definitely lives up to its nickname. While the Tennessee capitol was once mostly known for country music, pretty much all types of music can be found in the area these days. First and foremost, Nashville is considered a haven for songwriters of all genres of music. Don’t worry—there is plenty of country music to be enjoyed in the city that made it famous. However, if you’re a fan of rock-n-roll, R&B, rap or pop music, you can find it all in “Music City.” And contrary to the popular belief that Nashville is only about music, there is more to this charming Southern city than its nickname implies. Nashville actually has another, albeit lesser known, nickname which is “Athens of the South.” As odd as it sounds, there’s a good reason for it, but more on that later.
Aside from being a haven for songwriting and live music performances, Nashville is also a top U.S. recording spot and some of the artists that have graced its studios may surprise you. Obviously, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson come to mind, among many other country music singers. However, Kid Rock, Bob Dylan, Jon bon Jovi, Pitbull and Megan Trainor aren’t typically associated with the birthplace of country music. Those artists, and a host of other non-country singers, have all recorded music in Nashville.
United Record, one of only four existing vinyl manufacturers in the country, still presses vinyl records in Nashville and has been doing so since 1949. Records made there range from pop, jazz and country to reggae, hip hop and more. Maybe these music fun facts explain why the city isn’t called “Country Music City.”
Switching gears a bit, even Oprah Winfrey has ties to Nashville. She was raised mostly there by her father and, after attending Tennessee State University, eventually became a news anchor on a local channel. The rest on Oprah, as they say, is history.
If you’ve watched any television lately, you’ve likely noticed many fast food restaurant commercials advertising “Nashville hot” chicken. Yes, all these items are fried and no, at least the food in the commercials is not gluten-free. But have no fear, gluten-free dining in Nashville is not only possible, it’s amazingly delicious!
Getting Around
Downtown Nashville is very walkable, but there are many attractions worth enjoying that aren’t very easy to get to without a car. Uber and Lyft rides are available and various tour companies hit many of the area’s most popular sites. Our pick for getting acquainted with the area is the MUSIC CITY TROLLEY—a hop/on and off tour that stops at 17 locations around Nashville. Please note that the trolley schedule is limited from December to March. // www.musiccityhop.com
What to Do
Besides all the amazing and diverse types of music that can be enjoyed in and around the Nashville area, there are plenty of other interesting attractions available as well. History buffs can choose to visit the STATE CAPITOL, TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM OR ANDREW JACKSON’S HERMITAGE—or take in all three. The latter museum is located a bit outside the city and the full tour could take up the better part of a day. The FRIST CENTER is an amazing art gallery with permanent and traveling exhibits. Of note for the rest of 2016, Samurai: The Way of the Warrior will be on display from November 4th through January 16th, 2017. We love that visitors 18 and younger get in free to the Frist! // www.tnmuseum.org; www.thehermitage.com; www.fristcenter.org
Automobile enthusiasts are also in luck in Nashville. LANE MOTOR MUSEUM is home to the largest collection of European motorized vehicles in the U.S. From microcars to propeller-driven cars to amphibious vehicles—this place has it all. To say the museum’s collection is fascinating is not an overstatement. In fact, the place is amazing enough to impress those that aren’t that interested in cars at all. Photos are allowed, but touching the vehicles is strictly prohibited. Thus, this museum is a questionable choice for lively kids that aren’t in strollers. Here’s a fun fact about Lane Motor Museum. The building once housed a Sunbeam bakery, but don’t worry, we’re sure all the gluten is long gone! // www.lanemuseum.org
Depending on the time of year, CHEEKWOOD BOTANICAL GARDENS can be a stunningly beautiful outdoor space to visit. However, in cooler, less impressive growing months, the onsite art gallery is sure to impress visitors inside. Once the Cheek’s family 100 acre estate, it’s now a 55 acre attraction that opened to the public in 1960. It’s here that you’ll learn how Maxwell House coffee, Postum (now General Mills) and more than $40 million intertwined way back in 1928. The temporary exhibit in the original house during our visit was one of the most interesting we’ve seen in a while. Who knew that clay and dynamite could create such unique works of art! If you go, pack a picnic lunch as the gluten-free options are quite slim at the only restaurant onsite. // www.cheekwood.org
Just down the street from the Botanical Gardens is BELLE MEADE PLANTATION. This is another historic site offering lots of history for visitors to soak up. Tours of the grounds and mansion offer a peak into the world of thoroughbred breeding, among other things—all of which is truly fascinating. Paid tours include a wine tasting at the end. Keep in mind that most, but not all, of the wines at Belle Meade are very sweet. Limited gluten-free options are available at the onsite restaurant. // www.bellemeadeplantation.com
Now for the most unique attraction we came across in Nashville—THE PARTHENON. Remember that other nickname—Athens of the South—mentioned earlier? Well, that’s because in preparation for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece was constructed in Nashville. Upon learning of the existence of this Nashville landmark, one might assume it’s some kind of tourist trap not worth checking out. Thankfully, not only is that not true—this place is a must-see on our attractions list! Built to scale, the Nashville version of the famous Greek building was constructed of different materials (brick, stone and concrete instead of marble), but otherwise it looks pretty much like the original. And interestingly, both the Greece and Tennessee buildings took approximately 10 years to construct. Visitors can walk around the exterior (including the massive steps) and take photos for free, but the nominal admission fee to tour the inside is well worth it. In fact, one of the most incredible aspects of this place is the golden Athena statue which is also to scale, towering 42 feet high, to match the one in Athens. It’s truly something you have to see to believe! The Parthenon interior exhibits include impressive works of art, as well as an educational history of the building’s construction and the Tennessee Centennial Exposition it was built for. // www.parthenon.org
Lastly, for the most interesting music museum, look no further than the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME. This three story building in downtown Nashville is massive and filled with a vast amount of country music history exhibits located mostly on the second and third floors. No matter what era of country music visitors are interested in, everything and everyone related to country music seems to be included in this well designed museum. There are basic tours available as well as additional options that offer bus service to the historic RCA Studio B tour. There is something of interest for fans of Elvis, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban at this one of a kind museum! Don’t miss the amazing display of guitars here—a truly astonishing collection. There are several gluten-free options at the onsite taco restaurant as well. // www.countrymusichalloffame.org
Where to Eat
First up are the gluten-free bakeries in the area. If you want to stock up on gluten-free baked goods for your stay, Nashville has you covered. THE WILD MUFFIN offers every conceivable flavor of muffin you can think of and you’ll never miss the gluten! Moist and flavorful, these muffins are very filling and make for a perfect breakfast or afternoon snack. VEGAN VEE’S GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY offers an array of freshly baked gluten-free wares that are also free of eggs and dairy. Coconut oil plays an important role in many delectable treats at this charming bakery, but soy, nut and coconut free items are available daily. From brownies, cupcakes and donuts to savory rolls, Vegan Vee’s has you covered! If you’re visiting Nashville when the Farmers Market is open, be sure to stop by the OMG – THAT’S GLUTEN-FREE?! booth. Using real butter, eggs and all the “regular” baking ingredients—sans gluten flour, of course—this place specializes in making traditional treats that taste just like the real (gluten-filled) thing! // www.thewildmuffin.com; www.veganvees.com; www.facebook.com/OMGthatsglutenfree
Most Southern cities are proud of their barbeque offerings and with good reason—it can be absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, the gluten-free set tend to find this cuisine hard to enjoy, even when the actual BBQ meats are safe to eat. Passing on the bread part of the barbeque sandwich isn’t fun to start with and since most popular sides (like mac-n-cheese, cornbread and mashed potatoes with gravy) are also off limits, some people will pass on this dining option when traveling or at home. It must be said that several BBQ joints in Nashville have gluten-free meats, sauce and sides like slaw or green beans. However, one place is a stand out—though you might need to stand up to eat the food there. HOG HEAVEN offers take-out and (limited) delivery only, but their signature cornbread is naturally gluten-free. So you can have your BBQ, make a sandwich with the cornbread, and eat it, too! Succulent barbeque meats with sauce and cornbread sure sounds heavenly to us. // www.hogheavenbbq.com
Located somewhat off the beaten path for tourists, CRUMB DE LA CRUMB is definitely worth the drive! With a bakery case heavy on gluten-free options and a charming, Southern inspired dining room, most items on the menu here can be made gluten-free. The stand out selection for us was the killer She Crab Soup which ranks among the best we’ve had anywhere—and the other options on the list all contain gluten. However, we’re guessing that the gluten-free set probably comes here for the decadent desserts. With so many options it was seriously hard to choose just a few to enjoy during our Nashville trip. The lemon cheesecake was a thing of beauty, but we opted for a cupcake, a slice of custard trifle and a muffin. The cupcake and muffin were simply delicious, but the trifle was on a whole other level—it was magically delicious! // www.crumbdelacrumb.com
If you’re in the mood for pizza, it’s hard to beat the Neapolitan style option offered at PORTA VIA. The fresh wood fired crust is so much like what you’d find in Naples, Italy that you’ll be asking more than once if it’s really gluten-free. Thankfully, it is—it just doesn’t taste like it in any way, shape or form. Salads, gluten-free pasta and gelato are also available, but go for the pizza. From the cheese, toppings and sauce to the amazing crust—you simply won’t believe it’s gluten-free! // www.eatatportavia.com
Farm-to-table restaurants are plentiful in Nashville due to the area being dotted with farms that offer everything from cheese to pickles to bacon, in addition to fresh produce, of course. What might surprise you is that we found two such places that also happen to offer gluten-free bread!
SILO is located in an upscale, newly revamped city neighborhood a few blocks from the main downtown area. Paid parking is located in an open lot right across from the restaurant. The must-order appetizer in Nashville (at least, during our visit) was roasted cauliflower. Every menu we scoured had it. Seriously. Once we tried it, we got the hype. In fact, we could not believe that cauliflower could taste so delicious. Perfectly roasted until it reached the caramelized state, and drizzled with some delectable sauce—in a word the appetizer was divine! We also enjoyed the Deviled Eggs, Braised Pork Belly with Pork Jus and Roasted Corn & Jalapeño Spoon Bread. The latter is naturally gluten-free and as the name implies, is eaten with a spoon. It’s such a large serving that we took some of it to-go. We enjoyed it once as part of breakfast and another day as an appetizer before heading out to dinner. For dessert, we shared the Pot de Crème with Salted Caramel Sauce and Caramel-Bacon Popcorn. Bacon is always tasty, and it’s especially so as part of this creative and delicious dessert! This is the kind of place you want to be a regular at—great service, décor, owner and last, but not least, incredible food. // www.silotn.com
For a special occasion dinner, ETCH fits the bill very well. With its downtown locale in the Encore Tower building near Bridgestone Arena, this fast-paced restaurant comes off as a place to see and be seen. Simply put, the food is outstanding and the service attentive without being overbearing. In addition to another version of amazing roasted cauliflower, Etch also has freshly baked gluten-free rolls! There is a butter tasting appetizer which is the perfect way to enjoy the delicious rolls. But save room for the main course as many entrees are naturally gluten-free and most others can be modified to be so. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, pork, chicken, steak or even venison, Etch offers it all. Lastly, save room dessert like the Strawberry Pavlova. // www.etchrestaurant.com
Lastly, gluten-free travelers will most definitely want to check out AMOT {A MATTER OF TASTE} EATERY—likely more than once when in Nashville. That’s because everything on the menu is gluten-free! That’s right, no asking a zillion questions about the food and preparation of it. Just order anything your heart desires, sit back and relax—and enjoy some amazing food. Having so many options to choose from is a great problem to have when dining out. Our picks for dinner included Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Shrimp & Grits and both dishes were seriously delicious. The portions were so filling that we had to take the Flourless Chocolate Torte to-go for later enjoyment. The dessert was amazing—perfectly decadent in a way that has you enjoying every scrumptious bite!
Dinner at AMOT was so delightful that we decided to return for brunch and again, were blown away by the wonderful food. Since we rarely run across a menu with gluten-free Chicken & Waffles, ordering brunch was much easier. Like the chicken served at dinner during our first visit, the outside was crunchy and the inside was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The cornbread waffles were savory and the jalapeno maple syrup took this dish to another stratosphere of delicious-ness! As wonderful as the brunch entrees were, the appetizer we chose, Apple Fritters, were beyond delectable. The buttermilk glaze drizzled treats were too incredible for words—making them our favorite dining find in all of Nashville! // www.amoteatery.com
All about the Music
Though the first type of music that comes to mind when thinking of Nashville is still country, you really can find almost every type of music imaginable in and around the city. There are two main areas that offer various live music acts. One is called THE GULCH which is located in a mixed use development adjacent to the central downtown area. The other is HONKY TONK ROW which is made up of, well, honkytonks that line both sides of Lower Broadway. Touted as “A Living Urban Community,” The Gulch offers a mix of dining, retail and entertainment establishments. Both places offer many types of music which, by the way, is blaring out of each location as if to advertise what awaits potential customers inside. Strolling through either area can be a bit overwhelming to the senses, to say the least. // www.explorethegulch.com; www.honkytonkrow.com
One of the most famous downtown landmarks is the RYMAN AUDITORIUM. Built in the late 1800’s as a church, the structure eventually became an events venue and, in 1943, the first home of The Grand Ole Opry. In 1974, the Opry moved on to its much larger location on the outskirts of Nashville, but the Ryman still brings in talent from around the world year round. Again, much more than country music can be enjoyed at this one-of-a-kind venue. Most people don’t consider the likes of Annie Lenox, Aretha Franklin and ZZ Top to be country music stars. In addition to catching a show here, the optional daytime tours offer a great education on the structure and those that have graced its brilliantly designed acoustic stage over the years. One of Millie Pearls famous hats is among the interesting artifacts on display and the gorgeous stained glass windows (from the building’s church days) remain to this day. Also, if you’re musically inclined, you can record your own record in a sound booth at the Ryman! // www.ryman.org
When speaking to anyone who’s been to Nashville, the one thing most of them have in common is that they’ve all been to the GRAND OLE OPRY and sing its praises as the best experience of their trip. And, now that we’ve been to this must-do attraction in Music City, we totally understand why! Located less than ten miles from the city’s center, The Grand Ole Opry area is like a mini city unto itself. First up is OPRY MILLS—a typical suburban mall which mall-goers should enjoy. The largest two restaurants in the mall offer gluten-free menus. Next, we have the GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER, which occupies the largest land mass in this area. The sprawling property is worth checking out even if you don’t stay there. It’s kind of a mix between Disney and Vegas in terms of its cleanliness, themed-feel and attention to detail. Who doesn’t want an indoor gondola ride in the middle of a Tennessee resort? The only things missing are Mickey Mouse and a casino! There are gluten-free options in most of the onsite dining establishments so be sure to note your gluten-free needs when making reservations.
Now for the pièce de résistance of Nashville—the Grand Ole Opry itself. During the concert we enjoyed at the grandiose Opry Theater, there were seven acts. Like the original Ryman auditorium, the seats are comprised of pews which are much more comfortable than you’d imagine. Grand Ole Opry concerts are broadcast via radio worldwide so, in effect, the screaming audiences can be heard around the globe. Obviously, there is no other such show in the world that offers this experience. While we weren’t acquainted with three of the acts performing during our show, all were talented none the less. The remaining groups—Locash, Old Crow Medicine Show, Chris Jenson and Rascal Flatts were all remarkably entertaining! Even though the venue is fairly large, it has an intimate feel that’s unexplainable. Including its infancy as a radio only show, the Opry has been celebrating country music performances for just over 90 years. Regardless of their musical taste, this is the attraction that all Nashville visitors should definitely experience! // www.opry.com
Happy travelling! For more information on Nashville, visit www.visitmusiccity.com.
By Tiffany Janes
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