National Doughnut Day!

OK. I have to admit it - I LOVE doughnuts. My favorites? Krispy Kreme. The sugary glaze that slightly hardens on those fresh, warm doughnuts is pure heaven. Every time I eat dinner at El Mariachi (on Thompson Lane), I head over to Krispy Kreme to grab a doughnut - or two.

My favorites are maple iced glazed, chocolate iced glazed, chocolate iced cream filled, and the original glazed. What foodie or dessert connoisseur wouldn't indulge in these delectable sugary sweet delicacies?

Well, now doughnut fans all over the U.S. can indulge in one free doughnut in celebration of National Doughnut Day, June 1. Did you know that National Doughnut Day was established 75 years ago to commemorate the work of the "doughnut lassies" from The Salvation Army to thank them for serving doughnuts to soldiers during World War I? Follow this LINK to the world of Krispy Kreme for details.

Enjoy!

Barbara's is More Than I Can Describe

A friend recently recommended Barbars's Home Cookin' in the Grassland area of Franklin, Tennessee. Little did I know just how delicious it was.

Today, friends from church decided to give Barbara's a try. It's a traditional Meat 'n Three. The menu today consisted of Fried Chicken, Roast Beef (more like pot roast), Poppyseed Chicken, Crab Cakes, and more. Along with those entrees came the veggies: green beans, creamed corn, pineapple casserole, black-eyed peas, fried okra, cole slaw, cinnamon apples, and a host of other things. My order: Poppyseed Chicken, green beans, and pineapple casserole. Of course, the warm homemade rolls with a melt-in-your mouth consistency made it even better.

Little did anyone know just how wonderful Barbara's would really be. It was delectable, delicious, and to die for (at least for us foodies). The portions were so large that I asked for a "to go" box early on to save for tomorrow's lunch.

If you'd like to check out Barbara's menu, click HERE. Try it out. You won't be disappointed.

Nashville Does It Again!

I'm proud to be a Nashvillian. Not that I actually live in Nashville, but living in the metro area gives me the right to say that I am Nashvillian. Aside from being too far from the ocean, I actually love it here.

Nashville makes me proud because she's always evolving and changing, mostly for the better. Just recently, Forbes.com ranked Nashville as the fifth most affordable city to live in. To check this out, CLICK HERE. You'll find the article interesting.

And then, The Daily Beast ranked Nashville as the number 22 smartest city in America. Not too bad considering we compete with some major braniac cities around the nation. You can see the synopsis HERE.

Nashville is also the fourth real estate market most likely to appreciate, according to the Local Market Monitor. CLICK HERE to see the slide show. We've never had the major depression that other real estate markets have seen, but we have dropped a little. But we're on our way back.

Travel and Leisure magazine ranked Nashville one of America's favorite cities. We rank the friendliest city in the nation. Click this LINK to see the report.

According to a study done by Central Connecticut State University ranks Nashville as the 11th most literate city in the nation. Take a look at the top 20 HERE. This is a compliment considering Tennessee has had it's educational challenges.

Whether you live in Nashville or a suburb near it, we're all Nashvillians at heart.
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If you need help with real estate, give Jack a call. He knows the market and the area.

This Ain't Your Daddy's Burger Joint

Nestled in the heart of the trendy SoHo-esque part of Nashville, at 12th and Paris, is one of the city's newest additions, Burger Up. Opened just three weeks ago, Frothy Monkey proprietor Miranda Whitcome Pontes scores a "10" with this worth-the-wait-to-get-in upscale burger joint that's splashed with all the steel and clean lines of yuppiness. The oversized windows provide a great view of 12th Avenue South, and the local businesses and their greenscapes across the street.

Last week my friend, Erin, and I made a date to meet for dinner last night. At the last minute, we decided to try the 12th South eatery just for kicks. What we found inside was one single surf board embossed in red ink with the Burger Up logo as the venue's only artwork. Rows of heavy duty picnic tables, complete with comfortable individual bench seats, were filled with people throughout the restaurant. Never too close together, parties actually feel that they have some private space to chat.



Greeted by our server, Brian, we found that the restaurant is still in the process of "tweaking" it's menu. One glitch is that the burger section never mentions that fries are a standard side to the burgers. Brian forgot to address that little detail, so we ordered the onion ring tower which came as an appetizer.

The Fried Vidalia Onion Tower came with it's own dipping sauce, spicy lemon lime remoulade. The sauce added a zest to the lightly battered and fried rings, providing just enough flavor contrasts.

Our burgers came out fairly soon after finishing the rings. Erin and I ordered Woodstock burgers that come adorned with Benton bacon, Cabot white cheddar, and Jack Daniels maple ketchup. The all-organic burger comes sandwiched between the top and bottom of a homemade bun - a sure-fire hit. The burger's only drawback was that it needed more ketchup. Keep in mind, though, that I like condiments spilling out of the bun, so most other people will probably like the amount of ketchup that comes on the burger.

As the finishing pinnacle to our meal, we ordered the Smores Tiramisu. As a visual person, I imagined this dessert to be a layered concoction of graham crackers and marshmallow cream sprinkled with chocolate chips. Nothing could have been further from reality. Erin and I were totally surprised at the traditional appearance of the Tiramisu. The flavor of campfire smores was there, but with the tenderness and succulence of tiramisu. This tiramisu is Nashville's second best, deferring only to Amerigo's more classic version.

If you're vegan or a total organic eater, you'll find this place welcoming you with open arms. The food selection is also perfect for the person with an edgy palate. For a look at the current menu that they're still refining, CLICK HERE.

If you haven't been to Burger Up yet, you're missing out. Find it and go.
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To work with a professional and knowledgeable real estate agent in the Middle Tennessee area, give Jack a shout. You can reach him at 615-373-3513 x3840 or through email: jack@jackjernigan.com.