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A – Almonds
Inside the market at Table 3 Restaurant and Market, hunt down these limited-edition, smoked Marcona almonds, courtesy of the restaurant’s operating partner and wine director, Elise Loehr. Once a year, she hangs small sausage bags full of the buttery Marconas in her friend’s 1836 three-story smokehouse, while he smokes hams. The lingering hickory scent will hit you when you open the bag and adds a heavenly aroma to each savory bite. $21 for 1/2 pound; Table 3 Restaurant and Market; table3nashville.comB - Butter
Roasted garlic basil, one of Wendy French Barrett’s handcrafted butter flavors under the label Wise Butter, is as versatile as it is delectable. Whether spread onto toast, tossed in a tangle of pasta, or melted over a grilled filet, it elevates a dish with ease. Wise it is, indeed. $8; wisebutternashville.comC – Condiments
“Chef’s Kitchen x93 Condiments by Lockeland TableCustomers have long clamored for Lockeland Table chef Hal Holden-Bache’s “Chef’s Kitchen x93 line of products. Released this year, the line includes his popular Smoked Peach Jam, also a Red Pepper Jam, and a dry spice blend called Gun Powder. $8-$10; lockelandtable.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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D - Delivered Cookies
Ok, yes, there are multiple cookie bakers in town. But we love that a membership into The Christie Cookie Co.’s “Cookie of the Month x93 program nets a new flavor every 30 days, like clockwork. So, whether you’re craving Snickerdoodle or white chocolate macadamia nut, your year in cookie heaven is covered. $34.99 per tin; christiecookies.com ×
E - Eggs
For fluffier omelets, lighter cakes, creamier custards, and richer scrambles, cooks in the know choose duck eggs. Which are their go-to? Karen and Ann Overton of Wedge Oak Farms, who raise Buff, Khaki Campbell, and Ronen ducks for meat, stock those remarkable eggs. $4.50 per half dozen; wedgeoakfarm.comF - Ferments
Kefir is a tangy, refreshing cultured beverage that’s valued for its beneficial bacteria, yeast, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Jason Provancha cultures kefir in three formats under the label Nature’s Cornerstone Probiotic Food and Drink. His cow’s milk and coconut milk kefirs are thick, creamy, and tart like yogurt. His water kefir is fruit based and lightly effervescent—like a healthy kind of soda. $6-$9; facebook.com/naturescornerstoneG – Genuine Homemade Pasta
From inside a tiny kitchen in Germantown’s Lazzaroli Pasta Shop, Tom Lazzaro and his mother-in-law, whom he calls Mama, hand-mix, knead, cut, and fill their fresh pastas and raviolis. You’ll find their pastas on menus from City House to 404 Kitchen—or stop by the shop, where you might catch a seasonal flavor, like porcini or chestnut pasta, cut into linguine or fettuccine. $5.99-$8.99 per pound; lazzaroli.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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H – Honey
Five years into his tenure, Beekeeper Matt Slocum’s sanctuary has grown from two to 29 hives at one point. The bees produce about 400 pounds of honey each year; Slocum only harvests honey once a year, usually around the summer solstice. The current hives at Glen Leven Farm are made up of a hybrid type of small-cell bee, which roam the 65-acre land just four miles South of downtown. The bees are mostly collecting nectar from Black Locust trees to produce a light, yellow, very sweet honey that’s tasty—like a stick of Juicy Fruit gum, there’s explosion of sweetness up front, followed by a light, floral finish. Glen Leven Farm Raw Honey is available in limited supply; $10; glenlevenhoneybeesanctuary.com ×
Tea blender Sarah Scarborough of Firepot Nomadic Teas has traveled extensively, making partnerships in Africa and Asia to source the leaves that go into all of her teas, including these iced versions, which come in classic black and passion fruit-lime. $10.49 per box; firepot.com
I – Iced Beverages
Using locally roasted fair-trade beans, Nashville’s first iced coffee microbrewery, Switter’s Iced Coffee, brews then chills the beverage to capture the full flavor. Available in black, sweet, honey, and single origin, each bottle is smooth, full-bodied, caffeinated pleasure. $4-$6; switterscoffee.comTea blender Sarah Scarborough of Firepot Nomadic Teas has traveled extensively, making partnerships in Africa and Asia to source the leaves that go into all of her teas, including these iced versions, which come in classic black and passion fruit-lime. $10.49 per box; firepot.com
J – Juice
Available in a brilliant rainbow of colors, each pressed-juice blend created by The Fountain of Juice is packed with health-boosting properties and vibrant taste. We’re partial to Laced Pineapple, a lush churn of the tropical fruit with lime, ginger, turmeric, and a kick of red pepper. $10; tfojuice.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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K - Kolaches
Sara Way has a love for all styles of kolaches, from Czech, which is a sweet variation, to the savory, sausage-stuffed Texas style. These handheld treats are made from dense yeast dough folded around jams or sausages and baked until golden. At her East Nashville bakery, Yeast Nashville, you can find a stellar version of these handheld pastries—and several others, too. $2.50-$3.25; yeastnashville.com ×
$16.99; seersuckercandyco.com
$6.99; googoo.com
Customized box of 16 for $25; chocolatefx.net
L – Local Artisan Chocolates
There’s no suffering sweet tooth in this town, especially for those with a chocolate vice. Consider Olive & Sinclair’s line of confections, Seersucker Original Candy Co., which produces the mouth-exploding Muzzle Loaders, a salted bourbon ball, and the liqueur-filled Cherry Bombes . For a daintier nibble, Goo Goo Cluster’s five-pack of Goo Buttons are each filled with a joy-inducing goodness . Then, of course, there are the whimsical and artfully crafted goods found at Chocolate F/X, where chocolatier Andrea Smith crafts everything from Darth Vader molds to these sublime, yet simple, chocolate-covered butter toffees.$16.99; seersuckercandyco.com
$6.99; googoo.com
Customized box of 16 for $25; chocolatefx.net
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If you had to identify one particular aroma to represent the South, it might be the blossom of the Magnolia tree. The husband-and-wife team behind E. Harlow’s Magnolia Bitters, Jon and Lindsay Yaeger, have distilled that essence down to a bottle of bitters that are perfect for adding to crafty cocktails served on a veranda, especially while wearing seersucker. $20 for a 4-oz. bottle; pourtaste.com
M – Mixers
Better than just about every other cocktail mixer on the market, Walker Feed Co. also stands out for being local and using high-quality ingredients. The blackberry margarita mix requires a splash of good tequila, ice, and nothing else. $10-12; walkerfeedco.comIf you had to identify one particular aroma to represent the South, it might be the blossom of the Magnolia tree. The husband-and-wife team behind E. Harlow’s Magnolia Bitters, Jon and Lindsay Yaeger, have distilled that essence down to a bottle of bitters that are perfect for adding to crafty cocktails served on a veranda, especially while wearing seersucker. $20 for a 4-oz. bottle; pourtaste.com
N – No-Fail Dried Seasonings
Forget the dried herbs at the grocery store and lean on the creations from Franklin-based J.M. Thomason Seasoning Blends, like the new Gaucho Espresso made with ancho chiles, hot paprika, and espresso, or their version of Garam Masala. What’s more, they donate 25 cents of each tin to Heifer International. $8.99; jmthomason.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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O – Oatmeal
The women behind Haulin’ Oats have made breakfast on the run healthy and satisfying. Add boiling water to the jar of organic rolled oats, dried fruits, nuts, and spices. Stir, and, in minutes, you’ve got a terrific meal to power you through the morning. $5 per half pint jar; haulin-oats.comP – Pickles
If you’ve had the crispy hot fish or roasted pickled chicken sandwich at The Hook, you’ve relished the garlicky sweet-sour pickles that accompany. Now, you can bring those gems home by the jarful to put on your own creations or to simply eat on their own. $5 per pint; thehooknashville.comQ – Quirky T-shirts
One should not cook naked—and Nashville’s many food trucks and other small food businesses provide just the right attire. Pick up one of the many quirky t-shirts found around town, like this one from Bare Naked Bagel, or the “It’s What’s Inside That Counts x93 version made at Hoss Loaded Burgers. Prices vary; foodtrucksnash.orgR - Roasted Coffee
It’s not just abotut the caffeine with Barista Parlor’s house-roasted coffee beans. The team has sought out single-origin, single-variety beans and roasts them in a way that best suits the fruit and flavor of the beans, like this fruit-forward El Cascabel. But the packaging, which is letter-pressed and crafted at Isle of Printing and hand-assembled at the roasting facility at Golden Sound, is just as stunning as the brew itself. $13-$50; baristaparlor.comS – Sweets
We’re still a little ways off from hot chocolate time, but the S’more Kit from Bang Candy Company is sure to help the fall fire pits glow a little brighter. Beyond marshmallows, Bang can set you up with a range of simple-syrup concoctions, as well as toffees, caramels, and the delightfully named Sparkle Bark. Prices vary; bangcandycompany.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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Parker has refined his work while expanding his product line. He offers “Original Soy Bean; x93 “Beans and Rice x93—a blend of wild rice and local soybeans; “ABC x93 —a clever meld of adzuki beans, black beans, and chickpeas; and an homage to the South, “Black Eyed Pea. x93 All of his beans, grains, and seeds are certified organic.
Since May, folks have been able to purchase Short Mountain Cultures tempeh at area farmers’ markets, as well as at Green Door Gourmet and High Garden Tea’s new “Root Cellar x93 in East Nashville. He also wholesales his products to area restaurants, such as the newly opened Farm Burger on Charlotte Avenue. $4-$5 for 8 ounces; $7-$9 for 16 ounces; shortmountaincultures.com
T – Tempeh from Short Mountain Cultures
Alabama native John Parker discovered his talent for making tempeh, a protein-rich fermented soybean cake, at Little Short Mountain Farm in Tennessee. Working with fellow fermenter Christian Grantham of Half Hill Farm, Parker shares a space in Cannon County Arts Center to take his business to the next level.Parker has refined his work while expanding his product line. He offers “Original Soy Bean; x93 “Beans and Rice x93—a blend of wild rice and local soybeans; “ABC x93 —a clever meld of adzuki beans, black beans, and chickpeas; and an homage to the South, “Black Eyed Pea. x93 All of his beans, grains, and seeds are certified organic.
Since May, folks have been able to purchase Short Mountain Cultures tempeh at area farmers’ markets, as well as at Green Door Gourmet and High Garden Tea’s new “Root Cellar x93 in East Nashville. He also wholesales his products to area restaurants, such as the newly opened Farm Burger on Charlotte Avenue. $4-$5 for 8 ounces; $7-$9 for 16 ounces; shortmountaincultures.com
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U – Ultra-fresh Seafood
Yes, we struggle with the fact that we are land-locked and, sadly, lacking in great seafood markets. But, thanks to the Nashville-connected couple behind Virgin Bay Seafood Company, Mike and Cathy Stoltz, we can now have pristine Alaskan salmon, halibut, crab legs, and scallops, shipped straight to town from Mike’s fishing boat. Pick it up at Porter Road Butcher, or sign up for their seafood CSA. Prices vary; virginbayseafood.comV- Vegetable Pulp Crackers
Krista Francis’ Hummingbird Cracker Company makes raw, vegan, gluten-free crisps that are ingenious and delicious. She uses pulp that local juice companies would otherwise discard and combines it with an array of nuts, seeds, and seasonings. Her savory “Fiesta x93 crackers have a pleasing undercurrent of heat. $3-$7; hummingbirdcrackers.comSee the full A-Z Local Pantry in our November issue!
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Matson moved to Nashville last fall and started baking last spring. In the year that he’s been crafting his bread here, he’s caught the attention of chefs all over town, as well as local buyers. He sells at the Richland Park and Vanderbilt farmers’ markets, as well as through Woodland Wine Merchant; Rolf and Daughters, who now buys his bread weekly, is his first major wholesale account.
Though it’s not your traditional neighborhood bakery, Matson hopes that his business will eventually become one. Using old-world and labor-intensive methods, his operation is not about quantity, but quality. gnarwhalbakery.com
W - Wood-Oven Baked Bread by Gnarwhal Bakery
Bread baker Michael Matson goes through a complex process at Gnarwhal Bakery. Over two days, he’s mixing and shaping the dough by hand, fermenting the dough overnight, firing the ovens, sweeping them out, and finally, in the wee hours of the morning, baking his breads.Matson moved to Nashville last fall and started baking last spring. In the year that he’s been crafting his bread here, he’s caught the attention of chefs all over town, as well as local buyers. He sells at the Richland Park and Vanderbilt farmers’ markets, as well as through Woodland Wine Merchant; Rolf and Daughters, who now buys his bread weekly, is his first major wholesale account.
Though it’s not your traditional neighborhood bakery, Matson hopes that his business will eventually become one. Using old-world and labor-intensive methods, his operation is not about quantity, but quality. gnarwhalbakery.com
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