The Loveless Cafe OR Mmmmmm.

Last week at this time I was with my folks in Nasvhille. Dad had surgery, everything went well and while he's recovering slowly, we expect him to be up and at 'em again soon.

While in Nashville(pre surgery of course) we made a stop at my favorite restaurant, The Loveless Cafe. I love the atmosphere at the Loveless. Relaxed, simple, homey...from the minute you pull up. It even looks like granny's house.Go ahead, sit a spell before or after your meal. They don't mind, really.The inside is as inviting as the outside. Of course I adore how they've used aprons and tablecloths on the windows.And there's a porch for those days when you feel like taking it outside.Surrounding the cafe in what used to be the motel are several artsy-fartsy shops and a Trace bike shop. They were closed that day, but I got a big kick out of these...whatever they are. I assume smaller versions are sold in one of the shops. What are Jack and Sally doing in Nashville? At the Loveless? Neither of them look like Ham and Biscuit kinda folk to me.I think I've posted about my affection for the food at the Loveless before, so, I'll try not to go on endlessly about how down-home-just-like-your-sweet-southern-mamaw-used to-make-good the food is.Hot biscuits and homemade jam come just as soon as you sit down. Speaking of biscuits...we walked in and Carol Fay, the famous Loveless Cafe Biscuit Lady was standing behind the register. Of course I didn't realize it was Carol Fay, the famous Biscuit Lady until about two minutes later. And then came the delayed reaction. "Hey, was that Carol Fay, the famous biscuit lady? I think it was. It WAS! Shoot! I should have said hello...I should of asked for a photo with her!" Of course then I didn't want to look like a complete dork getting all googly-eyed over the biscuit lady, so I did nothing. Shoot! It was not unlike the time Shea and I walked right past Sting's son, lead singer of Fiction Plane, on the streets of St. Louis. Yes, THAT Sting. I'll warn you. The serving sizes at the Loveless are meant for two people. Even the sandwich was huge. Plenty left over for lunch later in the week.

For me it was barbeque, mac & cheese and hashbrown casserole. Hiding under that mound of bbq are hoe cakes. If you've never eaten a hoe cake, my best description would be this...imagine the flavor of cornbread fried up into the consistency of a pancake. YUM! For Mom, collard greens(which I would not touch w/a ten foot pole) white beans, caramel sweet potatoes and grilled pork chops in an onion gravy.Just a BBQ sandwich and a salad for Dad.
After our meal, Mom and I made a quick stop at Hams & Jams where a girl can get her fix of Loveless goodies to take home. Here's what I picked up...Mark LOVES the homemade granola and I will be making a batch of biscuits using this mix very soon!

You can pick up your own biscuit mix, hams, jams, cookbooks and other Loveless goodies like this super cute handmade in Nashville apron(why didn't I buy one?) at Hams & Jams online. The online shop is great, but if you're close enough, next time you're in Nasvhille, should make the trip to The Loveless Cafe. I think you'll be glad you did.