1 of 2
Nashville Lifestyles editor, Erin B. Murray with Caleb FollowillPhoto by Kristin Luna
2 of 2
Nashville Lifestyles editor, Erin B. Murray with Caleb FollowillPhoto by Kristin Luna
The food and music festival, Music City Eats, recently descended on Public Square, bringing together big-name chefs and musical talent. Kings of Leon front man Caleb Followill, along with brother and drummer Nathan Followill and Austin-based C3 Presents, spearheaded the weekend-long festival. Despite a new album dropping (the band's sixth) and an impending world tour (including a U.S. leg that begins in late Januaryexpect to see them in Nashville in February or March), Caleb and his band mates took in plenty of food and drink over the course of the weekend. We caught up with him in between tastings and cooking demos for a quick chat about the festival, playing Petty Fest, and his love of cooking.
Nashville Lifestyles (NL): Tell us a bit about how Music City Eats got started.
Caleb Followill (CF): I had the idea a couple years back I was sitting on my balcony and trying to decided where I was going to eat that day. I was thinking: What kind of food do I want to eat? And I was thinking about what kind of food we don't have yet in Nashville. There are a couple things I've discovered from around the world and my travels, cuisine wise, that I think would be really good in Nashville and people would accept it.
So then I was thinking: How do we get people like that to come here? And it hit me: Food festival. So I immediately texted my manager and a chef friend of mine, Tim Love [of Fort Worth, Texas], and said, 'we gotta do a food festival.” The next morning, I walked across the street to have lunch [at Giovanni Ristorante] and people just walked in the door and said, 'we're in.” Everyone was in. I thought it would be a longer process but it was instant.
NL: We can't imagine you were eating at spots like Giovanni back in 2004 when you were playing the side stage at Bonnaroo. When did you get into fine dining?
CF: No, I didn't each much back then. I always loved cooking, from an early age. I kind of wanted to be a chef.
NL: Really?
CF: Yes, that was one of my passions. And I still am, I cook every meal in our house. My wife is learning how to cook now, too.
NL: What's your cuisine of choice?
CF: Whatever I taste on the road, I try to do that at home. Chef Jonathan Waxman (of Barbuto in New York), I've gone into his kitchen and he's taught me a few things. I've altered them slightly. Tim Love, I always cook with him. We have a lot of really close chef friends who show me the ropes a little bit. And lucky for me, they don't ask for singing lessons after.
NL: Tell us a bit about Petty Fest; have you played them elsewhere?
CF: Me, Nathan, and Jared have done them but never together. It's always on separate occasions. It's a lot of fun, basically like a big karaoke jam with good artists up there singing. It's not a big stressful, high-pressure thing. So it's always a good time. So, it was one of those things where, Music City Eats, ok, everyone's going to expect something musical and people were asking, 'you guys gonna play?” And it was like, 'no, we're not gonna play while people are eating.” It kind of hit me and my manager at the same time: Petty Fest. It's a no brainer. This town is so populated with great artists so, I mean, this is the first year and I think as time goes on, hopefully if we're fortunate enough to continue doing this, I think that the artists who come and go will be really special.
NL: Ok, let's talk about a few of your favorites in Nashville. Best burger?
CF: I am very, very, very picky about burgers. Because I make a damn good burger. So that's, really…that is hard for me. My burger is the best burger in Nashville, I think.
NL: Breakfast?
CF: You're tough. Because I don't eat breakfast. I also make the best omelets. Out at my farm. But best breakfast? I'll give it a go. I really like the brunch at Stone Fox.
NL: How about a date night?
CF: City House
NL: Cocktails?
CF: Rolf & Daughters
NL: Honky Tonk?
CF: Robert's
NL: Italian?
CF: I mean, City House is my favorite. I'm really good friends with Giovanni and he's going to be mad that I didn't say him…but, it's City House.
NL: Hot chicken?
CF: I'm from Memphis so Gus's is my favorite and they just came to town but the Nashville staple has to be Prince's.
NL: And, lastly, how about barbecue?
CF: I'm a Memphis boy so it's hard. But Peg Leg does a dry rub and that's my thing. But Martin's is also really good. I'm going to go with Peg Leg, he's standing right over there looking at me right now, in fact.