The staff at Southern Living magazine has put together an interesting list of influential people they call "
50 People Who Are Changing the South in 2015." Music City is well-represented on the list, and all our indigenous honorees have at least some connection to the food and drink scene in town.
In truth, it's a list of more than 50 people, since some of them are grouped in pairs and triplets. Included in this group are brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. The Nelsons are recognized for revitalizing the century-old Green Brier name with their release of Belle Meade Bourbon, and even more significantly for their new distillery near Marathon Village featuring a beautiful copper pot still they've named "Miss Louisa."
Sam Davidson, Stephen Mosely and Rob Williams were included in the list as the proprietors of Batch, a service providing locally sourced gift ideas that started out here in Nashville. Begun as a subscription service, Batch has expanded to ship artisan items from Memphis, Charleston and Austin to all 50 states, spreading the love of the South across the country. Plus, they've opened their first physical store at the Nashville Farmers' Market to allow us locals to conveniently pick up or ship their boxes of goodness.
Two other quasi-locals were also included in the list of movers and shakers. Chef Sean Brock of Husk was recognized both for his culinary achievements at Husk, McCrady's and Minero's in Charleston, and also for his new cookbook Heritage. The much-anticipated book delivers on Brock's promise to share his fanaticism about Southern foodways and heritage ingredients, and even includes a section featuring our own Pat Martin of Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint.
Finally, Caroline Randall Williams is lauded for her writings about African-American culture, particularly with regard to food. Along with her mother, noted Nashville author Alice Randall, Williams is publishing a cookbook and African-American culinary examination to be titled Soul Food Love. The book comes out via Random House next month and promises to redefine soul food with a healthier take on traditional recipes. I'm really looking forward to that one!
Congrats to all the Nashvillians on this prestigious list.
