Rudy's Jazz Room

*Note: As of right now, Rudy’s Jazz Room is temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Check their website for updates.

We stumbled into Rudy’s Jazz Room accidentally one night and had such a fun time. It was packed! We were lucky to grab a ticket and a seat at the bar. Cocktails and jazz in a low-lit basement… so cool! From what I know, sometimes there are covers and sometimes there aren’t. You can check on their website which band is playing and if you need to bring cash.

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Sun: 11am-12:30am

Mon-Wed: 5pm-12am

Thurs: 5pm-1am

Friday: 5pm-2am

Saturday: 11am-2am

Address

809 Gleaves St.

Nashville, TN 37203

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Barcelona

Ahhh… Barcelona. You can always count on this Spanish Tapas restaurant to lift your spirit. It’s located in Edgehill near Bella Napoli and Old Glory. It can get busy, so reservations ensure you get a table. Some of our favorites: the meatballs, shrimp, and the charcuterie and cheese selections. My favorite cocktail is the Guns & Rosés… super refreshing. You can never go wrong with red wine either!

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

MONDAY- FRIDAY

4pm-10pm

SATURDAY
12pm-10pm

SUNDAY
12pm-9pm

THEY ARE CASHLESS right now (due to COVID-19)
Credit/debit only

Address

1200 Villa Place Nashville, TN 37212

Greenhouse Bar

Greenhouse Bar in Green Hills is where locals meet for happy hour. They have a fire pit, large outdoor patios, a variety of drink options, and their bar is in a freakin’ GREENHOUSE. The entire place is an Instagram picture waiting to happen. Keep in mind they don’t serve food (I’ve never seen anyone with food but you may be able to grab some sandwiches next door and bring them in. Ask the bartender). They ALWAYS check your ID no matter how old you are. Seriously. Bring your ID! They are wack about it. Like, even your Grandma needs to bring hers.

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WEBSITE: CLICK HERE

Hours

Every day, 4pm-3am

Location

2211 Bandywood Drive, Nashville TN 37215

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Bella Napoli Pizzeria

Bella Napoli Pizzeria in Edgehill is located in the cutest alleyway (great for pictures) and has the best pizza and pasta. I especially love the lasagna with red wine. They have outdoor seating with string lights (very romantic) but the inside is cozy too. I recommend grabbing a drink at the secret bar (Secret Glory) beside Bella Napoli before or after dinner! You can make a reservation on Open Table or on their website or you can walk in. Sometimes there’s a wait, sometimes there’s not.

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My sister and her fiancé. They’re so cute!

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

MONDAY - THURSDAY: 11:00AM - 10:00PM

FRIDAY - SATURDAY: 11:00AM - 11:00PM

SUNDAY: 12:00PM - 10:00PM

HAPPY HOUR: MONDAY - THURSDAY 4:00PM - 6:00PM

LUNCH MENU: MONDAY - FRIDAY 11:00AM - 4:00PM

Address

1200 VILLA PLACE #206, NASHVILLE

The Filling Station

The Filling Station is a small, local beer store in 12 South; they sell six packs and individual bottles/cans plus draft beer that you can sit down and drink inside or outside on their cute patio. You can even take your cup of beer to-go… so cool! Just be sure to drink it off the property and buy a snack to go with it… it’s TN law. We like taking our to-go beers and going for a stroll through the pretty neighborhood.

P.S. They have their own parking lot; if you’re looking at the entrance, it’s located to the right. Super convenient! They card everyone, so don’t forget your ID.

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Me and a Tree

Our boys enjoying their beers outside

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

• 12 South Location

Sunday – Thursday: 11AM-10PM
Friday and Saturday: 11AM – 11PM

1118 Halcyon Ave Nashville, TN 37204

• East Nashville Location

Monday and Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday and Thursday: 11AM – 10PM
Friday and Saturday: 11AM – 11PM
Sunday: 11AM-10PM

904B Main Street Nashville, TN 37206

Bongo Java - Belmont

Bongo Java is located in the Belmont neighborhood; this is a quaint, college neighborhood that’s always hustling and bustling. This is a great place to drink your coffee on a patio and people watch. This time I ordered an oat milk chai. They have a million different drink and food options, breakfast all day, an outdoor patio, and quick service and seating even during its busiest hours. I love this place!

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Bacon, egg, and cheese on an Everything Bagel.

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Every Day 7am-8pm

Address

2007 Belmont Blvd Nashville, TN 37212

Phone

615-385-5282

M.L. Rose

In my opinion… the best burger in Nashville. I have lost count of the number of times we have eaten here. It’s a classic spot for beer and burgers, but their menu is expansive: they also have salads, wraps, quesadillas… etc, plus drinks other than beer if you’re not a beer fanatic. I ALWAYS get the AN.M.L Style burger with the waffle fries: two smashed patties, American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles and “awesome sauce”. This burger tastes as good as it looks. I love M.L. Rose because they can accommodate big groups, they have a large outdoor seating area, and they have multiple locations so there’s always one near you! Although I will say the Sylvan Park location is my favorite due to its large size. Hope you will check out M.L. Rose! It’s become one of our favorite places (if you go for brunch, make sure to get the crispy hash browns🤤).

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*FYI, I always get burgers without the bun... because a gluten overload makes me feel “meh”.

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Mon – Thur 11am-10pm
Fri 11am-10pm
Sat 10am-10pm
Sun 10am-10pm

Locations

SYLVAN PARK (my personal fav)

4408 Charlotte Ave
Nashville, TN 37209

MELROSE

2535 8th Ave S, Ste 107
Nashville, TN 37204

CAPITOL VIEW

431 11th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203

answer.

answer. is a small, classy spot in Sylvan Park. It’s great for a date night. The menu changes based on the season and is “globally inspired”. There is parking in the back, but it’s quite small so you may have to find a spot on the street. They take reservations (on their website or over the phone) and accept walk-ins as well.

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This picture was taken around Christmastime. We ordered the vodka cocktail, and it was a nice blend of booziness (is that a word?? 🤪) and sweetness. It was my first time visiting and the place was quite cozy, the service was wonderful, and the color of the vodka cocktail really got me in the Christmas spirit!

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Dinner
Tuesday – Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm

Pre-Order Family Suppers - Wednesday & Sunday

Happy Hour - will return when we can seat guests at the bar.

Address

132 46th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37209

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1-minute Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Cup

Last night I wanted something sweet after dinner, but I didn’t want to take the time to bake anything, so I came up with this 1-minute microwave Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Cup! It’s gluten free, six ingredients, and takes only five minutes to put together.

Ingredients (serves 1-2 people depending on how hungry you are… I ate the whole thing, lol)
-1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
-1/4 cup nut milk (I used almond)
-2 tsp coconut sugar
-1/4 tsp baking powder
-1 T creamy nut butter (I used 🥜)
-1-2 T mini chocolate chips (sub dairy free to make this recipe #dairyfree and #vegan )

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a microwaveable bowl, except for chocolate chips, until nice and smooth.

2. Add half the chocolate chips and stir into the mixture, then add the rest on top.

3. Microwave (I covered with a paper towel just to be safe 🤷🏼‍♀️) for 1 minute to 1 min and 15 seconds (depending on how much you want the center to be done). I like more of a doughy consistency, so I go for one minute.

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Feel free to experiment by using whatever ingredients you have on hand. Don’t have coconut sugar? Use regular. Don’t have GF 1 to 1 flour? Use whatever you have!

Tea Sandwiches and Paleo Berry Scones

Tea time for one! I think sipping on a hot cup of tea and eating cute mini sandwiches definitely counts as “self-care”. It’s rainy and cool today in Nashville so I put on some comfy, warm clothes and threw myself a tea party. In the future, when this pandemic is over, this would make a really great girls’ brunch (and I would add champagne cocktails along with the tea). Hope you guys are staying sane and getting creative with activities/meals! Some days are easier than others, am I right?

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• For the egg salad:

I mixed one hard boiled egg, 1 T of homemade mayo, a squirt of mustard, a pinch of paprika, and salt and pepper in a bowl. I topped the sandwiches with a little more paprika for decorative effect ;)

• For the cucumber sandwich:

I spread a layer of whipped cream cheese on the bottom and next came smoked salmon. I decided to place a thin slice of cucumber on top instead of in the middle to make it pretty!

• For the sandwich bread:

I used whole wheat bread, cut off the crust, and cut into rectangles and triangles. Cold bread is easier to cut, so I put the bread in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand.

• For the scones:

I googled “Paleo berry scones” because I had almond flour, berries, and maple syrup. Although they look delicious, they turned out kind of dry. They also took, like, 40 minutes to make. I would recommend buying scones from your favorite store or bakery, or using real flour if possible. There may be a better paleo scone recipe out there, I just haven’t found it yet!

• For the tea:

Black tea is the most common tea used for “tea time”. You could use something like Earl Grey, or you can simply raid your pantry and see what you have! I happened to have chai, and it was delightful.

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I ate everything you see pictured myself except for one of the scones. This amount is perfect for two people to share if you want something light, or if you’re really hungry like I was, it makes a great meal for one, too.

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Gin & Jam Cocktail

Date night with the husband this week was trying a new cocktail recipe: the Gin and Jam Cocktail! I thought I’d heard of everything, but nope! It’s a little strong, a little tart, a little sweet, and a lot DELICIOUS 😜. If you don’t like gin, you can swap out vodka, and you can add more or less of whichever ingredients you like or don’t like. For example, most Gin and Jam Cocktail recipes call for simple syrup, but I skipped it, and ended up with a more tart/strong drink. If you like your drinks sweeter, you can add more simple syrup, or just stick to the original recipe.

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)
2 oz gin (1 big shot) I used @bombaysapphireus
1 tsp jam (any flavor, I had raspberry)
2 T lemon juice
1 T simple syrup (or sweetener of your choice)
1 egg white
Put all ingredients in a shaker and shake, shake, shake! Pour over ice in an old fashioned glass. Garnish with a lemon spiral and/or small spoon of jam. I ended up with a beautiful light pink drink!
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*If you don’t like strong drinks, leave out the egg white, pour into a larger glass, and add club soda!

Gluten Free Trail Mix

Deconstructed trail mix...a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, a little bit crunchy...my favorite type of trail mix. My favorite mix consists of unsweetened banana chips, raw unsalted nut mix, freeze dried blueberries and mango, goji berries, @glutinofoods pretzels, @purely_elizabeth granola and dark chocolate chips! Add a scoop to the container to dole it out, no thank you to hands on my trail mix. Bonus: Add some milk and call it cereal! 🤷‍♀️

Gluten Free Chicken Enchilada with Rice and Beans

I don’t know what to tell you… I’ve been eating Siete Cassava Flour Tortillas EVERY DAY for lunch. Today I tried to recreate a Mexican Restaurant experience with a Chicken Enchilada and a side of rice and beans.

Ingredients (serves 1):

2 Siete Cassava Flour Tortillas

Siete Enchilada Sauce, to taste

Siete While Spicy Queso, to taste

Shredded chicken (cooked and seasoned with spices)

Amy’s refried black beans

1/4 cup white rice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Microwave two tortillas for 12 seconds to make them easier to work with. Layer them together in order to make one big enchilada.

3. Inside, stuff them with chicken breast and top chicken with some enchilada sauce. Roll and place the enchilada in a small baking dish (used more enchilada sauce as the nonstick coating on the bottom of a baking dish).

4. Once the tortillas are rolled into a big enchilada, put a layer of enchilada sauce and Siete white spicy “queso” (dairy/gluten free) on top.

5. Bake for 15 minutes for about 15 minutes to warm everything up.

6. Meanwhile, cook rice according to package directions on the stove and simply add some Siete enchilada sauce when it was done to give the rice some flavor.

7. While rice cookes, heat a serving of Amy’s refried black beans in a pot or in the microwave.

8. I could have topped the rice and beans with more Siete queso, but I went for the real thing. After I put shredded Mexican cheese on the rice and beans, I popped them in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese. 

BON APPETIT!

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza by The Defined Dish

High Rise Bridgette Skinny Jean

A cleaned up version of the Taco Bell classic!

Ingredients (serves 2):

FOR THE TORTILLAS:

• 4 tortillas I use Siete Brand

• cooking spray

FOR THE GROUND BEEF:

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 lb ground beef

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

FOR THE QUICK ENCHILADA SAUCE:

• 1 tbsp ghee

• 1 tsp arrowroot powder

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 1/2 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1/4 tsp cayenne optional

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 3/4 cup beef broth, low sodium

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

FOR THE PIZZAS:

• 4 tbsp refried black beans (I use Amy's brand organic refried black beans) *omit for Paleo

• 1/4 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese

• 1 roma tomato, optional (cored, seeds removed and diced small)

• 1 tbsp, optional (finely chopped)

• 1 green onion, optional (thinly sliced)

For the full recipe click here

*Note: Instead of making my own enchilada sauce (because I am LAZY) I used Siete Enchilada Sauce! And I seasoned the ground beef with taco seasoning that I had already made.

*Second Note: The first time I made this, I didn’t have enchilada sauce so I used pizza sauce mixed with Cholula hot sauce and it was surprisingly awesome.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Banana Bread

Made this Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Banana Bread by Chocolate Covered Katie, because what else are you gonna do during quarantine!? I was looking at what ingredients I have left in my pantry, found a can of pumpkin puree and a ton of GF flour, so I decided why not. This recipe is vegan and dairy free if you use dairy free chocolate chips (oops, I used regular ones) and is completely gluten free.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill’s…1 cup cassava and 1 cup GF 1-to-1)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 3/4 tsp each: salt and baking powder

• 1/2 tsp each: cinnamon, ginger (I didn’t have ginger so I omitted), and pumpkin pie spice

• 1 large overripe banana

• 1/2 cup each: pumpkin puree and maple syrup

• 2 Tbsp sweetener of choice (I used coconut sugar)

• 1/3 cup oil or milk of choice (I used almond milk)

• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

For the link to Katie’s recipe and full baking instructions, click HERE.

Cacio e Pepe (3 ingredients, 10 minutes)

Who says cheesy pasta is just for kids? This Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper pasta) is a grown-up, sophisticated, cheesy pasta and the perfect date night meal in (because sometimes going out to crowded restaurants on the weekend is overrated). Light a candle, put on some Italian music, pour a glass of wine, and make pasta instead!

Ingredients:

-Bucatini pasta

-Pecorino cheese

-salt and pepper

*Note: We made pasta for two. The amount of pasta and cheese you use is up to you! We used about 2/3 of a box of bucatini pasta, and about 1/2 a block of pecorino cheese.

Directions:

1. Boil water in a large pot

2. Cook pasta according to package directions or until it is done the way you like it!

3. While pasta cooks, grate cheese in a skillet next to the pasta pot on your stove (do not turn on heat). Add some freshly cracked pepper to your grated cheese.

4. Once pasta is done, add pasta to cheese skillet (no need to drain the pasta, just scoop it out of the water). In addition, add a little pasta water to the cheese.

5. Combine pasta and cheese with two forks until cheese is melted and pasta is creamy.

6. Serve immediately, and add a little extra grated cheese and freshly cracked pepper on top!

*Note: A slightly different method is to add the pasta water to the cheese/pepper mixture FIRST and combine to make a cheese “sauce” and then add the pasta last. Whichever method you use is up to you!

*Note: This pairs great with a glass of pinot grigio or cabernet sauvignon!

True Food

True Food is located right in the middle of the Green Hills action. They have a nice outdoor area when the weather’s nice and have a great selection of healthy food. Their brunch is especially great… the quinoa pancakes are out of this world. Last night I went for dinner, and I had the perfect cold-weather meal (it’s really cozy inside at night, too, I found out!).

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I ordered the Spaghetti Squash Casserole, pictured above, (crushed organic DiNapoli tomato, caramelized onion, zucchini, fresh mozzarella) and I added their chicken sausage on top 😍. This paired perfectly with a glass of Sangiovese. Next time I go, I can’t wait to try their Gluten Free Lasagna!

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Sunday-Thursday: 11:00am-9:00pm

Friday & Saturday: 11:00am-10:00pm

Address

3996 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

Frothy Monkey (12 South Location)

One of my favorite coffee shops in Nashville, if not my favorite coffee shop in Nashville, is Frothy Monkey. They have multiple locations, with the smallest, coziest, and busiest being in 12 South. This place has awesome coffee and specialty lattes, breakfast food is served until 5pm, and they have a huge selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, omelettes, desserts, and more.

During peak days/hours, the 12 South location is slammed and you can expect a wait; put your name in, and do some shopping in the neighborhood. They’ll text you when your table is ready.

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The Grit Bowl: smoked cheddar cheese grits with chilled prosciutto, arugula, house-pickled okra, and dijon sour cream

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MENU: CLICK HERE

Hours

Daily, 7am-8pm

Locations:

12 South

2509 12th ave. south
nashville, tn 37204

Downtown Nashville

avenue of the arts
235 5th ave north
nashville, tn 37219

The Nations (this one is huge)

1400 51st Ave N
Nashville, TN 37209

East Nashville

1701 fatherland ave
nashville, tn 37206

Franklin

125 5th ave south
franklin, tn 37064

The Patterson House

Dare I say it? I’m gonna say it. This is my FAVORITE bar in Nashville. The dim lighting, the thoughtful, curated cocktails… it’s perfection. Be prepared to wait a little longer than usual as your cocktail is prepared…the bartenders are “artists”. Keep in mind they are in the process of relocating to The Gulch, so stay tuned for when they reopen.

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Visit Website Here

Hours

Temporarily Closed as they move from Midtown to The Gulch

Address

Bill Voorhees Building

700 8th Ave S

Nashville, TN 37203

Gluten Free, Vegan Tostadas

As a non-vegan, I love when I accidentally make a meal that’s delicious and then go, “Oh, wait! This is VEGAN!” These Vegan and Gluten and Dairy Free Tostadas are made with Siete Foods Cassava Flour Tortillas and cashew queso, refried black beans, blacks beans, enchilada sauce, and smashed avocado. YUM!

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Directions (serves 1):

1. Place 2 Siete Foods Cassava Flour Tortillas on a baking sheet and broil for a few minutes until browned and crispy (watch them closely, they burn fast!!!)

2. Take them out of the oven, turn off broil, and set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Top the tortillas with refried beans, black beans, @sietefoods cashew queso, and some enchilada sauce (use a much or as little of these ingredients as you want to)

4. Bake at 375 for 5-10 minutes to warm ingredients through, and then added the smashed avocado last

This meal is #glutenfreeand #vegan yet filling and delicious! Plus it is so versatile... pile on whatever toppings you can find in your kitchen! In the future I will pile/distribute the toppings more evenly but I just wanted it to look good for the gram 🤪