By Chef Andrew Little
Chef Andrew Little moved to Nashville after working for many years in Pennsylvania's Dutch Country. His menu at Josephine is inspired by the time he spent in the region.
What is it about the Nashville food scene that excites you?
I think the most amazing thing about Nashville right now is the camaraderie between restaurants and chefs. This is great for culinary tourists because everyone is so passionate about living and working in Nashville. Another big bonus is that lots of Nashville chefs are actively in their restaurants.
Photograph courtesy of Josephine
You moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville to open a restaurant you describe as "American Farmhouse Cuisine." How does that translate to your menu?
A number of years ago I was chatting with one of our guests and they mentioned how they hadn't eaten some of the ingredients (beef tongue, heart, scrapple) on my menu since they were a child on their grandparents' farm. That conversation stuck with me as I was working to define my style of cuisine. The term 'farm to table' has been diluted and also doesn't really have much to do with a style of the cuisine; it just means you're buying food properly. I'm from the PA Dutch area of Pennsylvania. The first image that comes to most people's minds is a horse and buggy quickly followed up by the perfect farmhouse and well cared for farm property. In this instance, the American Farmhouse makes sense to me. I'm looking toward using the whole animal, preserving ingredients in season for use later in the year, and constantly tinkering with ways to make the ingredients presented to me interesting and fresh; all things you would do as a cook on a farm.
Photograph courtesy of Josephine
What dishes have you brought to Nashville from your time in Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country?
I think the number one dish people think of is Nashville Hot Scrapple. It's on our dinner menu and is a straight line between Pennsylvania and Nashville. We take our traditional scrapple recipe and coat it in hot chicken spices then finish it with a pickle vinaigrette. Another popular dish is a ham and dumpling dish that is known as 'schnitz und knepp' in Pennsylvania. We take the traditional apple, ham and dumpling dish and add some braised rabbit, country ham, mushrooms, pate au choux dumplings and an apple cider and rabbit stock sauce.
JOSEPHINE
2316 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204
T: 615.292.7766
www.josephineon12th.com
Chef Andrew Little's Nashville Picks
Photograph courtesy of Fox's Donut Den
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK | Fox's Donut Den
I'm pretty picky about apple fritters having grown up with them in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Fox's nails them. They are off the beaten path in Green Hills, but worth the trip for sure!
3900 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215
T: 615.385.1021
Photograph courtesy of Burger Shack
JUST A DRIVE | Burger Shack
This is a great little burger place that's located in Nolensville. Sometimes you just need to take a little drive and end that little drive with a great cheeseburger.
7175 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN 37135
T: 615.776.4044 | www.westcoastburgershack.com
Photograph courtesy of Sperry's
TRADITIONAL | Sperry's
I love a slab of prime rib, French fries, and a cold beer -- Sperry's does it the best, hands down. It's been around for over 40 years and still cranks out perfectly cooked beef, crispy fries and ice cold beer. I'm sure they do other things well, but I've never ordered anything else.
Belle Meade: 5109 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 | T: 615.353.0809
Mercantile: 5107 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 | T: 615.353.0809
sperrys.com
BURGERS + CHILI | Rotier's
This is another place for a traditional Nashville experience. They have been around a long time and everyone talks about their burger on French bread, but I think the real sleeper here is their chili.
2413 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203
T: 615.327.9892 | rotiersrestaurant.com
East Nasty at Biscuit Love | Photo courtesy of A La Mode Media
NEW TO NASHVILLE | Biscuit Love
Karl and Sarah Worley's Biscuit Love has been around for over a year. Before that they had an amazing food truck, but their spot in the Gulch checks all the boxes for me. They are super great people on top of being top notch restaurant operators. Don't miss the Bonuts or the East Nasty sandwich (biscuit, chicken thigh, cheddar, and sausage gravy)!
316 11th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203
T: 615.490.9584 | biscuitlove.com
Photograph courtesy of Burger Up
CASUAL | Burger Up
I do love grabbing a burger and beer here. A new location just opened up on the east side of town and is the perfect place to sit outside and waste an afternoon over great beef and beers.
2901 12th Avenue S, Nashville, TN 37204 | T: 615.279.3767
970 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206 | T: 615.650.9022
www.burger-up.com
Photographs courtesy of The Goo Goo Shop
EDIBLE SOUVENIR | Goo Goo Shop
I think it would be a shame if you left Nashville and hadn't visited the Goo Goo Cluster store downtown. Even more of a shame if you didn't buy all the Goo Goo Clusters!
116 3rd Avenue S, Nashville, TN 37201
T: 615.490.6685 | googoo.com
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