Since Nicki is a proud graduate of the University of the South and I have a cabin nestled in the woods close to campus, you may notice quite a bit of restaurant news from on top of Monteagle mountain arriving here on Bites. With the weather improving for outdoor activities and spring break coming up, the mountain makes a great destination for a day trip or a nice weekend getaway.
Apparently, we're not the only Nashvillians interested in the dining scene up there. Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ward Cammack has maintained a residence in Sewanee since 2005. After his political ambitions were dashed by the McWherter Mafia and the Haslam Express in late 2009, Ward and his wife Shelley started to consider moving permanently. They also began to seek out business opportunities to keep themselves busy in their new home.
Their first move was to buy Shenanigans, a venerable Sewanee favorite located in a house that has only recently been shored up to stop the decades-long slow collapse that caused patrons to keep an eye on the front door for two reasons. First, it was always important to track the trapezoidal door opening for signs of recent settling and impending structural failure. Secondly, you needed an escape route if the aforementioned catastrophe actually happened while you were emptying your mason jar of Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale.
Fortunately, after an extensive rebuilding effort, the Cammacks won't have to worry about those sort of things anymore. Not that they are neophytes to the restaurant biz. In fact, Ward's college job at Tulane was working as a waiter at the famous Commander's Palace. Shelley spent some time working at Houston's, so she knows her way around a kitchen and dining room as well. Since purchasing the restaurant, the Cammacks have worked their way through every job in the place, including washing dishes, baking desserts, learning the voluminous sandwich menu which covers an entire wall and paying the bills.
