Wednesday, February 27, 2008

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?

27 comments:

Dana said...

*waves hand madly* Please?? I just Mapquested Nashville and it's only an 8 hour drive. I can be there in time for dinner!

Blissfully Wed said...

That's beautiful. I've been to The Gaslight Lounge (next to it? behind it?) before.

Thanks for sharing.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Dana: Come on down!

Bliss: Yeah, it's changed a LOT since then. Totally revamped. Glad you're back!

Jay said...

That's a really cool looking place. Of course, when I think of all the social faux pas I would commit in there I break out in a cold sweat. LOL ;-)

Em said...

Looks like a very cool place. Was it a special occasion?

Spiky Zora Jones said...

It's a wonderful place. I love to do stuff like that. Like...I've visited all the missions in California...just because they are history. I've gone into mansions in the south...beautiful. They are wonderful. I want to hang out with you...lets visit old cemetaries...ooo, scary.

ciao babes.

Unknown said...

Jumping up and down wildly....take me, please take me....it looks so beautiful.

Diva said...

Me & Big T come to Nashville for short getaways from the childrens. I'd love to add that to the places we just gotta go.

captain corky said...

"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."

Don't leave out the wine. ;)

Sign me up!

Biscuit said...

OH! It's like a grown up field trip! With booze! Sign me up!

R.E.H. said...

That place looks awesome! I'm definitely going there when I get to Nashville.

And, I love how friendly they seem to be - what with the grand tour and all. That's the kind of service I like.

Pictures of the place are stunning, I must add once again!

Christo Gonzales said...

thats so cool. a great time made even greater....I bet you two were all gussied up to boot...

MrRyanO said...

I too have trap door that hides my 'shine. Small world!

Cooper said...

I love old places like that!! It looks wonderful. They are VERY few and far between in the northeast...putting that on my "place I have to go" list.

Jeff B said...

Great food, great company and the grand tour. Sound like an awesome night.

Anonymous said...

I'd so love to go there one day, but when I walk into places like that, an alarm goes off, cuz' they've got sensors that can detect that I can't afford it. I get booted everytime!
Serious.
FMD

dickiebo said...

Yes please! Count me in.
As a lifelong Country & Western fan, I've always dreamed of visiting Nashville, and this place would make a wonderful 'finale', don't you think?

Schmoop said...

I haven't been to Nashville in years. I had a brother who lived there for awhile. Thanks for the virtual tour. Cheers!!

buffalodick said...

Now that was cool! That's not going out to eat, that was a dining experience!

The Mistress of the Dark said...

That's gorgeous. Pencil me in :)

tt said...

I completely adore places like that! It lets your mind wander or a while and dream up whimsical stuff.
Thanks for the info! It's now on my 'places to go'...
Loved all your descriptions too. clever gal!

One in Ten said...

oh how wonderful
it sounds like a great place to vist
I have a cousin down there thats wants us to vist this summer I think that would be a place to go
thanks for sharing
love your blog page

g-man said...

Hand in the air making the "Horseshack" Ooo ooo Ooo. :)

Sounds like a great evening. Food, wine, and cool sights, what's not to like. :)

Odat said...

Sounds fantastic....I wanna go!
Peace

Glitterstim said...

Oh! Oh! Me! I wanna go!

What a delightful place! I've never been to Nashville, but I'm noting this for when I do. Wonderful!

:o) BJ

dawn said...

i so love this post.

Just your everyday average married momma... said...

Doggone it... I knew you were in Nashville..I just knew it... I was there just 2 weekends ago and I said...hmm I think I blogger gal I "know" lives around here somewheres...... Poot..should have done my homework for real and quit "pseudo stalking" you and seen what was up.. we went for a night out @ Printers Alley (though we did miss the Nude Karaoke - aww shucks) and such.... awww maybe next time eh? I'm not nearly as cool as all the great stuffs you blog about, but I am lots of fun to look at...well at least my chest is anyhow...so they say...