A new breath of life flows through the City of Music as it grows its own culinary reputation. Nashville has started to create its own take on southern style American Cuisine while adding its own laid back twists only to be expected from the casual people of Nashville.

This isn't the first baffled response I've had since planning my food tour of "Music City", which, with its country music heritage, baloney-touting honky-tonk bars and landlocked location, has never been known as a US culinary destination.

Until now, that is. Because there's a new energy to Nashville's food and drink scene that has been getting the city noticed lately. It's being driven by a crew of home-grown entrepreneurs and creatives drawn to the city's reinvigorated music scene and laid-back lifestyle. It is also driven by a new-found interest in southern barbecue - currently starring on menus from New York to London - with food scenesters raving about collard greens, pulled pork, chicken and grits.

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