Music City BBQ Festival!

Hey everyone! You never can get enough BBQ right? Well, there’s yet another BBQ  festival in Tennessee and it’s the Music City BBQ Festival in Nashville! This event takes place at First Ave at Riverfront Park at the foot of world famous downtown Honkytonk Lower Broadway, and is being held from August 26th to August 28th. Tickets are relatively cheap, depending on what you want to attend, but I’m sure that’ll it’ll be fun for all!

In addition to the tasty BBQ and the cook offs, there will be live music (I mean, Nashville is called Music City for a reason), and various demonstrations and presentations. Over 100 BBQ cooking teams will competing for cash and prizes in a Tennessee State Champion event sanctioned by the Memphis BBQ Network and the Kansas City BBQ Society. On Saturday, you will also find events at the Grand Ol’ Porker Arena including a “Peoples Choice Award“, where you can sample the teams fantastic BBQ, a Viking Cooking demonstration and a mini brew fest. And don’t forget about our Kid Fun Zone. The Music City BBQ Festival has something for everyone!

So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, this is definitely an event you should check out, and it’s only minutes from South Wind Apartments!

Have you been to any other BBQ events this summer?

photo credit: Maggie Hoffman

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• 2010 Music City BBQ Festival: More than Food and Entertainment [Kenneth Bargers] (ecademy.com)

Are Cupcakes Still Hot?

I think so! I can’t get enough of sweet treats on the go, I guess that’s why I love cookies so much. Even though others may say that the fad is over and whoppie pies are the new cupcake, I disagree. And after having an  original cupcake from Naticakes, you’ll be singing the same tune as me.

From the mouthwatering S’more cupcake to the chocolate raspberry truffle, your tastebuds will dance with joy after just one bite! There are so many to choose from, you’ll spend at least 30 minutes trying to decide!

The cakes are a little pricey at about $3 a pop, but they are well worth it. Don’t you think you deserve a little treat every now and then?

Have you ever had one of Naticake’s cupcakes?

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant

Now, where else can you pick up some groceries and party at the same time? I don’t know of too many places, but I do know of Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant. You can always get great live music and pretty decent food when you enter Puckett’s in the evening. Tonight they are having a Creole Shrimp Boil, and it’s free to get in, starting tonight at 6 pm.

Do you frequent Puckett’s?

Cupcake Mania!

Let me start by saying that I have a supreme sweet tooth, and that does me more harm than good most days. I’ve never been much of a candy person, but cookies and cupcakes? There are no words to explain the feelings of happiness that they give to me! Maybe it’s the convenience of the treats that make me love them so much, or the fact that there’s so much flavor packed into one tiny bite. I’ve stopped trying to figure it out long ago.

This being said, it seems like as of late there has been a recent cupcake craze. People have been on the hunt to find the most creative, most delicious, most unique cupcakes in existence. They’ve found some pretty good ones, and some pretty expensive ones as well. I’m sorry, I just can’t find myself paying $8 for ONE cupcake. I don’t care how elaborate the icing is. Luckily for you South Wind, you don’t have to travel to Paris to get a gourmet style cupcake. Go to Gigi’s. You may want to go when you’re in Nashville however, because it’s like a 22 minute drive from South Wind. Granted, her cupcakes are $3 a piece, but they are so intricately made and filled with so much love that the price is really a steal.

Just looking at some of the pictures of her cupcakes are enough to set my heart ablaze. But don’t just take my word for it, check it out for yourself. (And try the Southern Comfort. It puts me right at home!)

Have you ever had any of Gigi’s cupcakes?

Grocery Shopping Tip

Do you hate long lines at the grocery store? I know that I do, especially if I only have three items in my hand and have to stand behind someone who has 20. Plus, my patience really isn’t the greatest when I’m standing in a long line and have somewhere to go afterwards.

So what can you do to cut down on the time that you’re in line? Shop at dinnertime or even later. Surveys have shown that only 4% of shoppers shop between 9 pm and 8 am. They also show Wednesday as the least crowded shopping day. So if needed, head out to the grocery store tonight and see if the lines are reduced!

Do you have any grocery shopping tips?

Wild Ginger

Looking for a romantic, intimate place to have dinner with your partner? Why not try Wild Ginger on for size?

A while ago, a friend recommended the restaurant but I have not been able to find the time to go just yet, but a relative of mine went with a girl that he’d been seeing for some time, and told me some pretty good things about it. Though it can be a good place for a romantic dinner, you don’t necessarily have to have a sweetie to enjoy the atmosphere.

Upon walking in, you privy to the chic atmosphere and gently hum of ambiance music. A live band is set up on the patio, so you have your choice of listening pleasure. He said that the wait staff is very amicable and eager to please.

Beginning with the Yum Yum Rolls, he described the experience as a burst of flavor on your tongue. Looking at the menu, I can see why he loved it so much with the Japanese sweet potato, asparagus, shrimp, and Japanese honey mayo. For the entrée, he choose the Hanger Steak Napoleon, which he said was fantastic.

I’ve never been a big fan of sushi, but I was told that this restaurant had a good deal more to choose from, if you had the money for it, seeing as how it was a little pricey for dinner. They have daily lunch specials for $8. I think I will go ahead and try Wild Ginger out, I just don’t know when yet.

What about you? Is this someplace that you would eat? Have you ever eaten here?

Photo credit: Debs

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Parmesan Heroes

Hey South Wind! Love Chick Parmesan? Love sandwiches? Why not combine the two in this lovely little recipe?

Chicken Parmesan Heroes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup(s) dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan
• 1 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• 1 onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 1/3 cup(s) canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree (from a 28 ounce can)
• Pinch dried red-pepper flakes (optional)
• Cooking oil, for frying
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/3 pounds in all)
• 2 eggs, beaten to mix
• 4 small (about 6 inches) hero or other sandwich rolls, split

Directions:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper.
• In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, red-pepper flakes, and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.

See the rest!