What? Another story about Nashville SC on Bites? Is this now a soccer site? Well, have you seen the performance of the other pro teams in Nashville lately? And Nashville SC has definitely leaned into the local culinary community, including a recent initiative that was part of their Hispanic Heritage Month programming.
A significant portion of the most ardent supporters of the team are of Hispanic heritage, and many of them have been notably, and regrettably, absent from recent matches at Geodis Park. The usually raucous supporters' standing-only section behind the goal has been a very visible symbol of the fear and uncertainty surrounding what it is to be an immigrant during these "ICE-y" conditions.
To help draw attention to Nashvillians of Hispanic descent, Nashville SC partnered with Mesa Komal, the shared commercial kitchen and business incubator at Conexión Américas at the Casa Azafrán Community Center at 2195 Nolensville Pike. More than two dozen companies work out of the space, cooking for catering gigs and food trucks and as market vendors. Some of them also rotate through a dedicated restaurant space on Belmont’s campus called the Mesa Komal Cafe.
The cafe is also where Conexión Américas representatives sat down for video interviews with Mesa Komal business development manager Java Hemmat and the owners of three local businesses that operate out of the Mesa Komal kitchen, Wacamole, Donut NV and Birria Babe. These interviews dropped shortly after Nashville SC’s Hispanic Heritage Night, where they earned a 3-1 victory against Houston on Sept. 27.
Andy Najar
Along with the local entrepreneurs, the video also features an interview with MLS All-Star Andy Najar, a newcomer to the team and Nashville this year after signing with the club from Olimpia in his home country of Honduras. The talented right-back has been instrumental in converting Nashville SC into a 100-meter team, triggering the offense with long and accurate passes to start breaks. He has also played in more than 50 international matches for the Honduran national team in his career.
So it's interesting to see such an obviously talented and comfortable player a little out of his element as he discusses his lack of ability in the kitchen along with his love of trying all sorts of food. He addresses the international makeup of Nashville, with players from more than a dozen different countries on the roster. Najar notes that he feels the city demonstrated that same sort of diversity, and it added to the strength of both his team and his new adopted city.
As part of the special evening, all three featured food trucks were present at the pre-match Fan Fest, and the team store sold special edition Hispanic Heritage Month pins, scarves and Hatch Show Print posters — with 100 percent of proceeds from the pin and a portion of proceeds from the poster benefiting Conexión Américas and a portion of the scarf sales going to support the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.
The Nashville Predators and the Tennessee Titans have also celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in the past, but never in a way that was so closely related to the culinary community, so kudos to SC. The Preds are actually hosting Hispanic Music Heritage Night this Saturday, Oct. 25, and I’m pretty certain that good tickets are still available.
