Not Your Standard Fare

Last night, I took my girl on a date to the only remaining townhouse in downtown Nashville, The Standard at The Smith House. As we walked up to the grand entrance, snowflakes softly floated around us. We pick the table by the front floor to ceiling windows that allowed us to look out onto the tiny courtyard and towards downtown Nashville.

The Standard is absolutely stunning in it's Victorian ways. It's like walking back in time to the 1840s as everything is perfectly restored.

From the impeccable waiter, we ordered the Zolo Malbec to accompany her Chicken Oscar and my Chilean Sea Bass, which was topped with saffron beurre blanc and served with jasmine rice and snow peas. It's one of the best meals that I have ever had. Honestly, if you're in Nashville, you've got to try this place!

On our table was a little historical information that is detailed on their website. The Smith family bought the home lovingly restored it with hundreds of thousands of dollars. As I was reading, I came across a line that said that Andrew and Rachel Jackson had taken their wedding vows in front of the fireplace mantle in the ballroom when the mantle stood in another nearby home. I just HAD to see it!

My uncle Jack has always told me that you'll never get what you want if you don't ask. Typical of my family, I asked. I requested to see the mantle. The waiter said that he'd be happy to show us.

A few minutes later, Joshua Smith, the owner came to our table. He told us to grab a glass of wine, because we were going to tour the entire place!

Absolutely fascinating! He explained how his father was a pastor and they always had a smallish home. In 2005, his parents and siblings decided to buy the grand home and the entire group moved from Memphis to restore it.

As he walked us around, he showed us the unexplained trap door in the side room that was installed in the early 1900s. Was it to hide the 'shine during prohibition? We may never know.

He showed us the courtyard that will be a wine bar for locals this summer and talked of plans to restore that area as well.

Then off to the back room to see the fireplace where President Jackson was wed. It's amazing to me how it sits back there in all of it's historical glory. I wish it could talk. Was she nervous that day? What did she wear? Was he all ruffled up for the big day as I've seen in so many pictures? Was it their first wedding that was not legal because her divorce wasn't final? Or was it their rushed-up second wedding that led to the duel where Andrew took a bullet for his love?

Joshua really made our evening. The food was wonderful, but when paired with the grand tour it made for an evening that will not be forgotten.

We will be back and we'll be bringing friends! Who wants to go?