Music City Eats

Benefits of listening to music while eating

There are benefits of listening to music when cooking, but eating there is also a pleasant influence that will positively affect our body.

Eating with music improves digestion, as it provides a positive and more relaxed environment. Digestion is much heavier when stressed, so listening to music can help your body and mind relax. Let’s see the benefits of listening to music while eating.

Something very important to consider is that the body absorbs nutrients better when it is calm, so music is the perfect element to free you from stress and nervousness when it comes to eating.

Music also has the power that we eat correctly: the same rhythm helps us chew food for the necessary time, setting a healthy rhythm.

Along with this, music avoids unnecessary distractions that can cause us to overeat. That is, we can eat more consciously if we listen to music.

Benefits of listening to music while eating

It is not a new thing to mention that music has great power in us. Doing a simple practice like listening to your favorite song generates feelings of excitement. It can reduce stress in people, especially when you hear something that you like and is related to your mood.

In addition, this also influences the level of productivity. According to a study by the University of Maryland in the USA, it mentions that any activity carried out with music obtains better returns, especially when a person performs creative work or is involved in routine situations.

It should be noted that music must tune us to rhythms that develop an optimal sound to motivate the auditory sense and improve our concentration. Therefore it is necessary to have the correct equipment.

But how does this happen? The brain can register everything that passes through your ears. For this reason, music plays an important role when it comes to entertaining the less conscious part of our mind. When preparing a recipe, the rhythm of the music exerts a positive influence of ambiance to motivate, amuse and lighten the work in the kitchen.

It is recommended especially for those who do not like to cook and maintain a negative mood. Listening to music while preparing food can help reduce stress and develop a source of inspiration. It is even a means to optimize time management because each song has a certain duration.

Of course, it should be noted that listening to music when you do activities that involve a minimum of concentration has both advantages and disadvantages. In addition to being a stimulating factor, it can become a distraction that leads to mistakes or accidents. An investigation by the University of Maryland, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that in the last 6 years, accidents due to headphones tripled.

In short, this type of system abstracts the person from their surroundings, which can mean a danger when cooking. For this reason, it is recommended that, if you want to make music your ally in culinary art, you make use of speakerphone and wireless systems.

On the other hand, according to studies from the American Cornell University published in the journal Psychological Reports, eating and listening to music at the same time directly influences people’s digestion and achieves changes in the perception of taste and appetite.

Eating with a feeling of relaxation allows us to ingest about 175 calories less, on average, in each meal and we can enjoy our food much more. On the contrary, if you eat with stress or emotional charge, the five senses are not used to properly taste food.

You may also like to read, Health and music festivals: seven tips to get out unscathed

Health and music festivals: seven tips to get out unscathed

Watch the conditions of what you eat, avoid mayonnaise and other sauces with raw eggs, meats that are not properly cooked, and plan your meals in advance depending on the accommodation

During the summer and especially in these environments it will be essential that you take care of your hydration by drinking enough water

Avoid areas near the speakers and take some small plugs with you just in case. There are special ones that, although they do not avoid listening, cushion the pressure on the eardrum

Eat Right

To begin with, and according to the data that this comparator has had access to, eating healthy can prevent up to 8 out of 10 diseases. It also reduces the risk of being overweight, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, heart problems, cancers, etc. That the festival is not the excuse to eat badly.

Watch the conditions of what you eat, avoid mayonnaise and other sauces with raw eggs, meats that are not properly cooked, and plan your meals in advance depending on the accommodation. If you have chosen an apartment it will be easier, but if you sleep in the camping it will be more limited. In that case, the idea is to do it with a small refrigerator and include ingredients such as ham, cheese, nuts, muesli, fruit, and other vacuum-packed foods.

Do not forget to brush your teeth after each meal, plaque begins to act after seven minutes. Also, brush your tongue and take the dental floss with you. If you forget and don’t have access to a supermarket, use paper napkins and water to remove as much plaque as possible.

Sun protection

Protect your skin from the sun and choose the most appropriate sunscreen based on its characteristics, how and when to apply it, and so on. Apply the cream at least half an hour before going out in the sun and apply it regularly. Look at the protection factor (SPF) and verify that it has UV and UVA protection. And that it has the CE seal – means that it has passed the controls of the European Union.

Also, protect your eyes and choose suitable glasses. You should know that not using them increases the risk of aging of the retina and that it is related to a greater number of eye diseases. The lenses should have the same CE label and a minimum UV filter of 99%. Keep an eye on the category number of the filter and don’t be guided by the color of the lens.

Hydrate well

During the summer and especially in these environments it will be essential that you take care of your hydration by drinking enough water. To this must be added the effect of alcoholic beverages that are usually consumed at festivals, which increase dehydration.

Protect your eardrums

While enjoying music is the great goal of any festivalgoer, doing so does not require damaging their eardrums. And is that any sound that exceeds 80 decibels can be traumatic for the ear. Avoid areas near the speakers and take some small plugs with you just in case. There are special ones that, although they do not avoid listening, cushion the pressure on the eardrum. They will also help you to fall asleep and for the pool if there is one.

Remember to dry your ears when you get out of the water with the towel. And be careful with dives and dives, especially from great heights, where the pressure change is noticeable. And where there is the sudden entry of water into the ear canal. Do not bathe in waters that are not clean enough, especially in ponds and the like, a source of germs and bacteria.

Footwear and clothing: what to pack

Equip yourself with the appropriate clothing for the festival and pack a warm garment, preferably a comfortable and loose jacket that allows you to cover yourself if the temperatures drop. Find out about the weather before you leave and stay away from colds.

Regarding footwear, the best thing to do to go to a festival is to do it with closed footwear, preferably breathable. Forget heels, uncomfortable sandals, and others. These celebrations usually take place in open places, where dust and other external agents are the order of the day. Also, be aware that crowds can expose your feet to stomping and other impacts that could damage them. Do not forget to bring some flip-flops to avoid fungus in the camping showers, and pack socks that let your feet breathe.

Keep calm

Our mood is capable of influencing our behavior and is part of our mental health. And sometimes nerves can play tricks on us. To avoid surprises, the best thing to do is to organize the trip in advance, prepare all the documentation in advance, and even get travel insurance to avoid surprises. These are especially useful in case of traveling abroad, if the transport company – plane, train or the like – loses our luggage, steals us, an emergency situation occurs that forces us to return, and so on.

If you are going to travel by car, check the conditions of your policy for roadside assistance; “Some companies offer their clients another vehicle so that nothing stops their journey, but others only cover certain kilometers afterward”, comments Carlos Bruggemann, co-founder of Acierto.com. Before picking it up, likewise, check it properly (one in four drivers does not). Find out about traffic conditions and the best way to go before leaving home to avoid the crowds that this type of event usually entails. Once at the venue, setting up a meeting point with your friends is another trick that will allow you to stay calm.

Beyond what has been commented on and in somewhat more general terms. You should not forget to bring a small small aid kit that has the essentials: plasters, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, tape, some analgesic and anti-inflammatory, a few scissors, iodine, etc. . And don’t forget about the prophylactics!

In case of going to a festival abroad, check if your health policy has assistance outside our borders. You can also hire a specific one. Something that would not hurt, especially if you are going to travel outside the European Union (the European Health Card allows access to the national health system of those countries of the European Economic Area, but there are public co-payment and reimbursement systems). The ideal thing is to acquire one that covers illness, accident, and evacuation of the patient by medicalized plane. And if any risky activities are to be carried out, the coverage must specify them.

You may also like to read: These are the benefits of eating while listening to music!

These are the benefits of eating while listening to music!

Music and food are great allies. That is why, at MercadoRoma Coyoacán, we enjoy organizing Jazz and DJ nights to offer you a very complete and balanced culinary experience.

And the thing is, music brings us great benefits when we enjoy it with a plate. And we, to encourage you to enjoy a night of Jazz and/or DJ, we share some of the benefits of listening to music while you eat:

Improves digestion

Here we show how mood influences our body. To have correct digestion it is essential to have a relaxed and positive environment, so the music will be your faithful ally to build it.

We eat what is necessary

We tend to unconsciously understand the action of eating as secondary, giving more importance to what we are doing while we eat. Watching television or chatting with other people distracts us in such a way that we do not realize if we are chewing correctly or, even, it makes us so distracted that our brain does not detect that we are satiated and continues to demand more food. The music ends all this, making it clear that the important thing is your diet.

Helps to lose weight

Many people want to lose weight, but recognize that it costs them a lot to consume fewer calories each day. Music can also help us at this point and is that various studies have determined that eating while listening to relaxing music causes us to ingest 175 calories less since it will keep our stress at bay.

Makes us happier

Among the benefits of music we find increasing our optimism, and more if we are accompanied. In fact, mealtime can be seen as a break from our routine to ‘recharge our batteries and continue our day with much more energy.

Create an entire experience

There is nothing better than eating typical food from another country and having music in the background that takes us to those far away places, something that can be complied with the high variety of international food that we have in MercadoRoma Coyoacán. So, if you want to enjoy a meal with experience included, feel free to put this technique into practice. You will not regret it!

So, now that you visit us for a Jazz or DJ Night, have dinner and enjoy your dishes in a better way by spending a unique night in MercadoRoma Coyoacán, since each week these events have 100% free admission. We will wait for you here!

Exotic Jackfruit, how much do you know about the super fruit that is cooked instead of meat?

There are some fruits that have such particular properties that they become superfoods in all respects. One of these is the jackfruit, also called Jaca or giaco. It is an exotic fruit that we could describe as a kind of a cross between pineapple and mango. At least in terms of shape, color, and type of pulp.

Valentine’s Day 2021: Ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day in times of a Pandemic

Although there are still a few days to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2021, it may be that this year, is still suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, which forces many couples to change their plans regarding how they usually celebrate this day. However, we do not have to be discouraged because the truth is that there are many ideas, we have so that this next Valentine’s Day is the most special of all.

Valentine’s Day 2021: Ideas to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Although any other year a good plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day could be to have a date in a restaurant having dinner by candlelight or to make a getaway to a romantic hotel, this year and due to the pandemic the best solution may be, Or the best plan is to stay home and prepare something special. So, in case you know what to do exactly or need a little inspiration, nothing like resorting to the series of ideas that we offer you below:

Romantic Dinner at Home

Staying home with your better half is a perfect idea to strengthen, recreate or establish a magical intimacy; In addition to what we say, it turns out that it is the best plan in these times. To get the most out of your evening, avoid cooking too much, as you risk falling asleep on the couch after you’ve finished cooking. You can prepare a simple menu, accompanied by a bottle of wine, and a special dessert that you can buy instead of cooking. To make everything more beautiful and special, you can dine on the terrace, with some candles or indoors, with a little soft music in the background and little lighting to make everything much more romantic.

Home Theater Session

A simple plan that you have probably already put into practice on more than one occasion during the days of confinement, but since what we are going to celebrate is Valentine’s Day, nothing like choosing a romantic movie that you both like or that you have not yet viewed. To this, you have to add a blanket and some good popcorn or order a pizza or that restaurant meal that you like the most (and that you know that they can take you home, due to the issue of restrictions and the closure of many businesses, so it is better to do the consultation with time).

Special Massage

What better way than to start Valentine’s Day by relaxing, but don’t choose any specialized center, but transform your bedroom into a massage center. To achieve this, you just have to turn off the light, light some scented candles, put on relaxing background music, prepare the bed or better if you have a suitable stretcher, on which to place a soft sheet and a few rose petals, heat an oil indicated to massage and give your partner a relaxing massage. It is sure to be a very intimate and romantic moment that you will always remember.

Dinner in Bed

Whether you cook yourself or order food at home (we remind you that it is better that you check first if the restaurant you want to call is open) you can organize dinner on your bed in your bedroom and accompanied by a good wine or if You prefer it, from a bottle of champagne. It may seem strange, but it is very relaxing, and also if you think about it you will not miss anything, since you can enjoy great company, your favorite food, something to toast and what is undoubtedly the most comfortable place in the whole home.

Hot Bath

This is a perfect idea only for those who have a bathtub at home. If so, you can take the opportunity to enjoy a nice hot bath together, but creating a romantic atmosphere with scented candles and background music. Enjoy the moment in complete relaxation and add if you can, a few rose petals in the water, it will surely be a romantic surprise to receive your partner. If you like them, you can also add a few bath salts that have a special aroma and that will also help you relax much more.

Get Out of The Routine

Surprise your partner by doing something you normally never do. If we were not in a pandemic, this could imply going to a concert or renting a balloon ride, for example, but if we have to stay at home we can for example: cook as a couple, paint a picture, organize an activity that we have to follow online (such as a yoga class) or even create a photo album of our dates from previous years,

Romantic Games

The last of the plans that we propose to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to prepare some romantic games to liven up the night. You just have to make some cards and write on them all kinds of kisses that you can think of, then fold them and put them in a box and ask your partner to take one of the cards from inside the box. He will have to kiss you exactly as it is written on the card that he has drawn.

Easy Orange Turkey or Chicken Soup Recipe

Serves/Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked turkey or chicken tiny dices
4 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup small shell pasta
1 (16-ounce / 454-g) package frozen mixed vegetables
3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
Orange slices halved (optional)
Herb sprigs (optional)

Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Teens

When you imagine a typical school lunch, what do you see? A sad squashed sandwich? A bruised apple and a few carrot sticks? In the age of technology, those boring lunches are a thing of the past, while the future is creative meals.

3 healthy recipes with chicken broth

With the drop in temperatures so typical of the winter months, what you want the most is to drink a homemade broth that helps you warm up quickly. One of the easiest broths to make while being delicious is chicken. With this broth, you can make a multitude of dishes that are perfect to drink during the cold months. Take good note of these 3 wonderful recipes with chicken broth that you can make whenever you want and satisfy your family or guests.

Tips for recognizing your musical instrument

Thefts of musical instruments are very frequent. The price of the instruments is what most attracts the attention of thieves and they do not miss the opportunity when they see them.

Soft frozen prawn curry: quick seafood recipe to bring India to the table

Indian cuisine can seem complicated by the number of preparations and ingredients that, sometimes, ask for their recipes. But we can take many licenses to be inspired by its gastronomy and thus prepare dishes as tasty, easy, and inexpensive as this mild curry with frozen prawns. You don’t even have to remember to defrost them.

Best time to travel to Italy

Sicily has little to do with the Dolomites, or Milan with the beautiful Tuscany. And yet they all belong to the same country. This is why it is so important to plan carefully when traveling to Italy. It depends on your interests as well as in the area of the country that the best time is summer or winter. Let’s break down the best dates to make your Italian vacation a real success.

7 tips for using music against stress

Music is one of the best remedies for relieving stress. Whatever our tastes in the matter. And not necessarily special relaxation sounds.

Indeed, everyone has the freedom to listen to music that makes them comfortable.

7 cocktails in the world that you can’t stop trying

Traveling includes much more than just strolling the mysterious and exotic streets of our destinations. Mixing with its inhabitants, eating the typical dishes, and drinking like the locals is also part of the experience. And, so that yours is complete, from Exoticca we tell you about some cocktails in the world that you cannot miss when you travel to their country of origin.

Winter travel: the 5 best destinations

One of the advantages of winter travel is that you can find offers at more than interesting prices. When the cold arrives and the hours of light diminish, many people begin to long for the warmth of the summer sun. Why not seek warmth in the dead of winter?

Music on! 5 cities in the world for music lovers

Each place in the world has its own rhythms and rich musical culture. But these 5 cities have reached extraordinary potential in this regard. They still have the character of a magnet for important concerts or annual music festivals, which makes them true meccas for any lover of one of the most ancient artistic expressions in history.

8 trips for 8 love stories

Although if we talk about love, most of us would come to mind cities like Paris or Venice, the truth is that there are destinations that give off a special romanticism just by contemplating them. In this selection, we show you the landscapes that have managed to inspire writers and filmmakers to set in them some of the best-known and most awarded love stories of universal culture.

Typical dishes of Italian food

Italy has very varied gastronomy that reflects the cultural diversity of its regions and historical experiences. Like the Spanish, its food is included within Mediterranean gastronomy considered one of the most complete and healthy worldwide.

Trisha Yearwood

Country Music Artist, Author, Actress

One of the highest-selling female artists in Country music history , a New York Times Bestselling cookbook author, and now a Food Network star, Trisha Yearwood has a habit of surpassing expectations.

Tim Love

Chef & Owner of Loveshack, The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse and White Elephant Saloon

Tandy Wilson

Chef, City House

Tandy Wilson opened City House in Nashville’s historic Germantown district in December 2007 in space that had formerly housed the working space for artist and sculptor Alan LeQuire.

Sarah Gavigan

I guess you would call me a country girl if you knew I was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee. If you really want to get down to origin though, I’m half Sicilian and half Irish, which means I am genetically predicated to be loud and eat a lot. I think that describes me much better than a country girl.

Roderick Bailey

Chef/Owner, The Silly Goose

As the Chef and Owner of The Silly Goose in Nashville, Tennessee, Roderick Bailey loves food. But, that hasn’t always been the case. As a child, he was an extremely picky eater – until he experienced New Orleans. When he was seven years old, Roderick’s parents took him to New Orleans, giving him the opportunity to eat at some of the city’s classic culinary institutions: K’ Pauls, Commander’s Palace, Galatoires & Antoine’s. After a few mouthfuls, his relationship with culinary experiences changed forever; Roderick became passionate about food, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Robert Grace

Growing up in Tennessee and north Georgia, Chef Robert Grace was steeped in rich, southern cooking with farm-fresh ingredients. He has been working in kitchens since the age of 16, ultimately following his passion for food to Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island to earn a degree in Culinary Arts.

Phillip Krajeck

Chef and Owner, Rolf and Daughters

Native southerner chef Philip Krajeck has created a restaurant that embraces his passion for local and seasonal food while honoring Nashville’s history and culture. The result is a neighborhood restaurant housed in a historic landmark showcasing the talent, ingredients, and culinary tradition of the region.

Peter Gago

Chief Winemaker, Penfolds

Peter joined the then Penfolds Wines Pty Ltd in 1989. He started his tenure making sparkling wine, then reds, and served as Penfolds Red Wine Oenologist before being appointed Penfolds Chief Winemaker in 2002, making him only the fourth winemaker to be responsible for Penfolds’ flagship wine, Grange.

Pat Martin

Chef, Martin’s Bar-B-Que

Pat Martin began cooking barbecue over 20 years ago while in college. Seven years ago Pat turned his passion into a profession and has quickly garnered recognition as one of the top Pit-Masters in the country.

Nick Pellegrino

Creator & Chef, Mangia Nashville

Nick Pellegrino, the creator of the pop-up restaurant phenomenon, Mangia Nashville, brings a level of culinary richness and excitement that is new to Nashville’s dining landscape.

Nancy Silverton

Chef, Author, & Co-owner, Mozza Restaurant Group

With partners Mario Batali & Joe Bastianich, Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Singapore, as well as Mozza2Go and Chi Spacca in Los Angeles. Silverton also founded the world-renowned La Brea Bakery and Campanile Restaurant, an institution that Angelenos cherished for decades.

Michael Symon

Chef/Owner of Lola, Lolita, Roast and B Spot

Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul. Growing up in a Greek and Sicilian family, the Cleveland native creates boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes at his four restaurants in America’s heartland: Lola, Lolita, Roast and B Spot. He also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on the Food Network.

Matt Farley

Executive Chef, The Southern

Executive Chef Matt Farley began his culinary journey in rural upstate New York at the age of 17. He moved to New York City in 1995, where he worked his way up in the kitchens of some of the Big Apple’s most lauded restaurants.

Margot McCormack

Margot spent many Saturday mornings as a little girl in the kitchen with her mother frying doughnuts, baking bread, and making candy. Cooking was fun and it tasted good, so it was restaurant work she turned to for a part-time job while studying creative writing at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Margot excelled in the work and was quickly promoted.

Larry Carlile

Executive Chef, SILO

Larry Carlile developed his passion for cooking at a young age, refining his skills in restaurants such as Radius10, Virago, and LIME. Working his way up in the culinary world, he is now the proud Executive Chef at Silo, an elevated southern restaurant in Nashville, TN.

Joseph Lenn

Executive Chef, Blackberry Farm

Joseph Lenn, the executive chef of the Barn, leads his team in providing the Foothills Cuisine for which Blackberry Farm has come to be known. A Tennessee native, Lenn is garnering national attention for his talents in the kitchen.

Jonathan Waxman

Chef, Barbuto; Author

Jonathan is a native Californian. Raised in Berkeley, he was nurtured in the food arts from an early age. His father was raised in the Bronx & his mother in Bedford-Stuyvesant. They loved to cook. They went to great lengths to educate their sons in all things culinary.

Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo

Chefs, Animal & Son of a Gun

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo are Los Angeles-based chef-entrepreneurs who blend innovative and seasonal cooking with ambitious dining experiences. They opened an Animal restaurant in June 2008 to widespread acclaim.

John Currence

John Currence was born and raised in New Orleans to a family that loved to cook and spend time in the kitchen. His parents’ travels during his childhood, combined with the family’s several years in Europe, brought the dishes of the world to their dinner table, while time spent hunting and fishing in South Louisiana began the education in the foods of his home.

John Besh

Besh Restaurant Group, Author, TV Personality, John Besh’s Family Table, New Orleans, LA

John Besh is a chef and a native son dedicated to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. In his restaurants, entrepreneurial pursuits, and public activities, he preserves and promotes ingredients, techniques, and heritage one mouth-watering dish at a time.

Jennifer Justus

Raised at the table of a meat-and-three, Jennifer Justus had her Southern food education on plates of fried chicken and turnip greens. But she received her formal training at Boston University where she created her own food writing curriculum with courses in both Journalism and Gastronomy, a cultural study of food founded by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin.

Jeni Britton Bauer

Founder, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Jeni Britton Bauer has honed her ice cream-making skills for nearly two decades and is the author of The New York Times best selling Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. In its 8th printing, the cookbook dubbed the “homemade-ice cream-making Bible” by The Wall Street Journal earned Jeni a James Beard Award, America’s most coveted honor for those writing about food and the culinary arts.

Jay Flatley

Executive Chef, Tavern

Jay Flatley was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, where he began cooking at a young age with his mother and sister. Like many chefs, Jay started his restaurant career washing dishes in a neighborhood restaurant. He moved to Dallas, TX, and began cooking for Outback Steakhouse, where he learned all areas of the restaurant. After Outback, Jay began cooking in a privately-owned restaurant, where he decided to further his career and attend culinary school. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America, and shortly after, returned to New Orleans to be a Sous Chef at the Crescent City Brewhouse. While there, he worked for three years, before and after Hurricane Katrina, until going to the Gulf Coast where he was Chef De Cuisine for the upscale dining restaurant, Fire.

After two years on the beach, Jay moved to Nashville, TN, and began cooking at Lime, where he became Sous Chef. Finally, in 2013, Jay became Executive Chef at Tavern in Midtown, M Street’s cool-casual, gastro-pub concept. As Chef of a local “foodie favorite,” Jay has been able to explore his creative mind by creating fun, inspired, and mouth-watering dishes.

Hal M Holden-Bache

Chef, Lockeland Table

Hal M. Holden-Bache is the executive chef and owner of Lockeland Table opening in August 2012 in Nashville, TN. However, his love of cooking began years before this most recent restaurant venture. As with many chefs, Hal’s culinary education began at a young age cooking alongside his mother, preparing the family meals.

Giovanni Francescotti

Owner, Giovanni Ristorante

Giovanni Francescotti was born in Trento Italy Oct 12th, 1950. He was raised in London where his father was in the restaurant business. Giovanni later moved back to Italy in 1973 and attended The Wine and Food Institute of Trento. He then opened a family restaurant with his sisters which he later sold to them and emigrated to New York in January 1981.

Giada De Laurentiis

Chef, Author, Television Personality

Emmy Award-winning personality Giada De Laurentiis has become a household name. With an impressive background of culinary training and a unique, personable charm, she is a globally revered celebrity chef who continues to prove her skill and accessibility not only with her expanding presence beyond Food Network but also with the great success of her cookbooks, brand alliances, newly launched food products and a recurring role on Today.

Erik Anderson & Josh Habiger

Co-chefs, The Catbird Seat

Erik Anderson was born to be a chef. His father worked as the Sous Chef at the famous Drake in Chicago, and his parents owned their own restaurant for many years. While much of his initial experience comes from experimenting at home, his professional gigs have given him an expansive knowledge base to accompany his innate skills.

Edward Lee

Chef, 610 Magnolia

Chef Edward Lee’s culinary story could only happen in America. One part Southern soul, one part Asian spice, and one part New York attitude, Lee is a Korean-American who grew up in Brooklyn, trained in NYC kitchens, and has spent the better part of a decade honing his vision at 610 Magnolia restaurant in Louisville, KY.

Donald Link

Executive Chef and Chief Executive Officer, Link Restaurant Group

Donald Link
Executive Chef and Chief Executive Officer
Link Restaurant Group: Herbsaint, Cochon, Butcher, Calcasieu, and Pêche Seafood Grill

DJ Mel

2013 Flavors of Nashville DJ

DJ Mel will be spinning during The Flavors of Nashville at Public Square Park.

Deb Paquette

Executive Chef, Etch Restaurant

Deb Paquette is well known in Nashville where she’s lived and worked for the last thirty years. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, she became the first woman in Tennessee to qualify as a certified executive chef.

Dana Cowin

Senior Vice President and Editor in Chief, Food & Wine

Dana Cowin is the editor in chief of Food & Wine, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. At Food & Wine since 1995, she oversees the award-winning print magazine and its website, as well as digital e-reader editions, mobile applications, and branded books.

Chris Chamberlain

Chris Chamberlain is a food, drink, wine, spirits, travel, and personal interest writer based in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived his entire life except for four years in California where he studied liberal arts at Stanford University and learned how to manipulate chopsticks. He is a regular writer for the Nashville Scene and their “Bites” food blog. He is also the Southern correspondent for FoodRepublic.com, a national website dedicated to “Drinking, Eating, and Living the Way a Man Should.”

Charles Phillips

An intrinsic passion for quality and community provides the foundation for Executive Chef Charles Phillips’ work. His diverse seasonal menus for Nashville’s 1808 Grille center on fresh, sustainable ingredients, including locally grown produce, and exemplify the joy of shared experience—from field to market to kitchen to table.

Carey Bringle

Peg Leg Porker

With deep-seated roots in the West Tennessee BBQ culture, I developed an appreciation for BBQ at a young age. Having parents who grew up in Memphis, it was inevitable. To say that my family had a passion for it is an understatement.

Barclay Stratton

Chef, Merchants

As chef of one of Nashville’s most storied restaurants, Barclay Stratton helms the second-floor kitchen of Merchants Restaurant, delivering refined cuisine with a Southern touch. His Texas roots, innate creativity, and knowledge of various cuisines make him a great asset to the Strategic Hospitality team, and further position Merchants as a top restaurant in Music City.

Arnold Myint

Born in Nashville, TN, Arnold spent a majority of his childhood traveling between his parents’ homeland of South East Asia and touring the world as a competitive and professional Ice Skater. After attending the Institute of Culinary Education and a short stint in New York City, Arnold returned to Nashville to begin his culinary pursuits. Being raised in the restaurant industry, the proprietorship is not unfamiliar.

Aarón Sánchez

Mestizo, Author, TV Personality, Chopped, Motochefs, New York City

Aarón Sánchez is the co-star of Food Network’s hit series, Chopped, as well as the star of FOX Utilisima’s #1 rated series Aarón Loves NY and their new travel-food series MOTOCHEFS. Aarón is the chef/owner of Mestizo, located in Leawood, Kansas.