Once or twice a year, I get the opportunity to travel for business, to a few excellent US locations, and attend healthcare-related conferences. So far, I’ve visited Las Vegas, San Antonio, and Orlando, and this past weekend, I got to add Nashville to my list.
My wife and I have always talked about taking a long weekend to the capital of country music to experience the bustling downtown Nashville atmosphere, listen to all kinds of great bands, explore the variety of bourbon-inspired drinks, and even catch a concert at the Grand Ole Opry.
Unfortunately, my wife decided not to accompany me on the business trip, so I spent a few days in the fantastic Gaylord Opryland Resort while learning many cool things about the EMR platform we use.
I do not recommend going to Nashville alone. It’s a little odd walking down Broadway in Nashville alone while sampling the atmosphere from the various bars and getting drunk on bourbon. Since it was only a few days, I stayed at the hotel, which I do not regret.
Calling the Gaylord Resort a hotel is an understatement. It is the pinnacle of a resort with a small village under an impressive glass dome, with plenty of bars, restaurants, and shopping opportunities, and within a 10-minute walk from the Grand Ole Opry.
The hotel room was of excellent quality, but my room was a long walk from the main entrance. It was not a problem; it helped me clock up my daily steps. And, you build up a thirst and appetite when you get all the walking exercise.
I got to sample the delicious Tennessee Tea cocktail, which is fantastic. It’s incredible, but I can also see how it can be dangerous, given its sweetness. After a few cups of “tea,” you can feel a friendly buzz and warmth throughout your body. Nothing scary, just a nice feeling.
Kentucky might have been the birthplace of bourbon, but Tennessee is certainly providing excellent products and competition.
The History of Bourbon Whiskey
Besides the nice weather, Nashville boasts a large selection of bourbon, which I find incredibly welcoming, especially since my recent fondness for the elixir of the Whiskey gods. Also, every place seems to have a band playing. The hotel had at least 5-6 areas with music, anything from a one-person band to a full-sized band – and mostly country music.
One late afternoon, I wandered over to the Grand Ole Opry. I’ve always been interested in seeing the venue and thought it was in Nashville Center, but it is next to the Gaylord Resort. There was a country music concert that evening, so I just walked past the building and spent a few hard-earned dollars in the souvenir shop. And there was a country band playing outside the venue to warm up the crowds.
My wife and I are already planning a long weekend in Nashville. I want to experience the nightlife with her and share some quality time while indulging in bourbon.
On my way to Nashville, I flew out from Newark Airport and was utterly amazed about the new Terminal A building. It was glittering new, and the service was top-class. Staff are friendlier when they work in a nice, clean, and well-functioning environment.
While I’ve also enjoyed flying out from Newark, the buildings have been rundown but still have good services. However, the new terminal project is a massive improvement and will impress travelers from around the US and the World.
Dinner a Winner
We had a family call while I was in Nashville, decided on a few simple meals for dinner, and agreed to use our bagels in the freezer for school lunches.
As you can understand, I did not get a chance to prepare food for the week, but my wife went grocery shopping.
Tonight, I will smoke tomatoes and garlic for the homemade (smoked) tomato soup, and then we will take some frozen burger buns, sprinkle them with olive oil, decorate them with mushrooms and garlic, and some parmesan cheese.
In parallel, I’ll prepare the Spinach and Shrimp lasagne. It’ll be in the large family-sized Le Creuset lasagne tray, which will feed the family for two nights.
Tomorrow, I will make the oversized cowboy stuffed meatballs. They’ll be stuffed with cheese and baked in the oven with tomato sauce or the Traeger, and then I’ll mix the boiled pasta into the tomato sauce in the tray. Jaime Oliver’s American food journey inspires the recipe.
The lunches will be made every morning, but I will grill the chicken thighs and prep the tuna salad when making dinners.
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Mozzarella and Pesto Bagel | Smoked Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread |
| Tuesday | Fried Noodles with Grilled Chicken | Family-sized Spinach and Shrimp Lasagne – part I |
| Wednesday | Bagel with Tuna Salad | Family-sized Spinach and Shrimp Lasagne – part II |
| Thursday | Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken | Stuffed Cowboy Meatballs with Pasta |
| Friday | Halloween Skull Calzone Pizza | Family BBQ Delights – Chicken and Seafood |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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The Viking Heart Within 