Burgergazm … An Amazing Experience in Nashville
Today we made a day’s trek all over town in a regular dash for provisions …
First it was to McKay’s books … then to the best Asian Grocery anywhere to get basic ingredients for the month, Then to our favorite restaurant supply facility housed in an old WWII bomb factory building to get some stainless steel half-sheet cooling racks.
Then – it was to travel into the old section of town and park at a well known movie “art house” for a film / TV industry event to miss traffic and have enough time to enjoy supper somewhere. Then to walk back in time for the event.
The Asian restaurant we enjoyed last time was no longer there … so we strolled around and decided to first enter a “cutlery store” which was more entertainment we have experienced in years. I wish I could put it into words …
We were treated to Himalayan pink salt to taste as well as rare honey from coffee blossoms. Made by a specific species of honey bee living in a coffee bean orchard.
All was given to us from one of the most amazing members of the “Nashville Fabric” of genuine and interesting people that could only exist within these city limits.
We were then invited to a “super secret” coffee room – which we will take the guy up on …
We crossed the street to an eatery called “FIDO” … A very “college” feel for obviously being very close to the Vanderbilt campus. In an old “downtown small town USA” shopping strip with exposed brick walls and worn wooden floors of plenty of personality. No one seemed to smile – which is the common modern young adult attitude these days. Not smug – just preoccupied or down to business.
You could only ever have a more amazing time if you died and went to heaven prematurely.
I had to admit – I felt as if I were in a foreign country – or another planet described in a Jules Verne novel –
Yunjin said she had no feeling as such – Misun was digging the modern, yet 1980 sounding music on the speaker right above our booth … but we still felt like kids in a first time experience to Disney World all the same.
The atmosphere was indeed …
… 21st century Nashville.
I ordered a pair of Burgers – as we are always looking for new burger experiences. But we had no idea what we were in for …
At the top of the menu – there was only ONE burger burger listed to order …
“Local Burger”
The description was: ground beef and lamb, tennessee cheddar, caramelized fennel, fig aioli, fried onion, pickle, lettuce & bun
I ordered one with their “Amazing Fries” and the girls wanted the “Sweet Potato Fries” –
We could get an array of sides … like an amazing selection of soups – all listed by ingredients –
However, one must experience a burger with fries.
Delivered in record time –
… which was also amazing considering the long lines of Vanderbilt folks ordering … and in the booth behind us was two college girls with stacks of notebooks and a notebook computer studying something medical …
I did notice how cute they were – but cute girls are par for the course in Nashville …
We bit into the burgers … we were speechless !!!
Not only were these burger cooked and presented in a blissful level of loving expertise – the were an experience beyond mere culinary excellence …
The various dipping sauces served with the fries were amazing unto themselves. Misun went for the ketchup on the table of course – there was a bit much on the stone ground mustard already on the burgers – but taking the main goo off with a knife made a perfect thin layer. And also another flavor to dip the sweet potato fries in.
The only item I asked to leave off was the pickle.
Pickle destroys the flavor of anything – unless you want the main flavor to be pickle and the rest to be just for texture – but I prefer to taste everything.
FIDO has their logistics down as great as the food.
21st Century Nashville is just as wonderful to experience as Historical Nashville …
The New York Times has now deemed us the “it city”
… this “local burger” only found at FIDO seems to encompass why.
And to anyone who calls Nashville home – whether for the reason of permanent or temporary residence – this “local burger” seemed to say it all and summed it up quite well.
If you live elsewhere – I suggest a minimum of a week’s visit to Nashville to explore it as a local – or even a Vanderbilt student knows it and enjoys it.
We already know we are the “it city” – but we appreciate being acknowleged as such.
Here is a good listing of the FIDO MENU
Category: Tony Rollo Blog