Patrice continues to torture me. This morning she again forced me to go to the hotel gym. But she rewarded me after that. Get your mind out of the gutter. We went on a food tour of Nashville which unfortunately was a walking tour. First off we were given a pulled pork sandwich which was not up to Memphis standards. Then a luscious cupcake which preceded barbecued brisket. I guess they consider cupcakes an appetizer in Nashville. The brisket was better than any of the beef I got to judge in Memphis. Unfortunately neither of us can remember the name of the place so I can’t give you a recommendation [I did some work. The place is called Butchertown Hall and is located at 1416 Fourth Avenue North]. We followed that with macaroni and cheese which was just okay but then some amazing chocolate. I was ready to just stay in the chocolate shop, not because the chocolate was so good (it was) but because the air conditioning was fantastic. Yes it is hot and humid in Nashville. After the tour we decided to take a side trip to Prince’s Hot Chicken. This has been recommended as a can’t miss place in Nashville. So Patrice and I decided we would get a two piece meal and each have a taste. It was like having just one more stop on the food tour. The place is a dump (see below). But we have had great food in dumps before. Unfortunately this was an exception to that rule. The chicken was good but not spectacular as I had been led to believe.
After a rest stop at the room we went to the famous Grand Ole Opry. I am not a big Country Western music fan but this is an iconic place and I just had to go. I was not aware but the Opry shows are actually a radio show. The performances are simultaneously broadcast on WSM 650 AM Radio in Nashville (and also online at WSMONLINE.COM). I was not expecting to enjoy it very much but felt if we are in Nashville it was just something we needed to do. My friend, Gary, went so far as to predict we would leave before the show ended. Quite the contrary. We had a fantastic time. I didn’t know any of the performers except one, Charlie Daniels. He is now 80 years old and didn’t look a day over 79. He was spectacular. He played a couple of tunes and then said “We recorded this song in 1979 and have ended every show since then with it.” He and the band then played “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (the only song I recognized all night). If you don’t know that song then you didn’t see Urban Cowboy.
Paul Schaeffer (from the David Letterman show) was also one of the performers. He said he was very excited to be playing at the Grand Ole Opry and it was like a second bar mitzvah. No one laughed and I leaned over to Patrice and said, “Wrong audience for that joke.” After the show I spoke to my friend, Gary to tell him that he was wrong and that I loved the Grand Ole Opry show. His analysis, “You love shrimp and grits. You love BBQ. Now it appears you love country western music. Okay, seems to me that you are becoming a redneck.” I told him he was way off base. But after further consideration he might be right.
Tomorrow we are off to Atlanta.
Robert Reiss Travel Blog and Other Ramblings 