We always knew Stacy Wray was a special lady, but it took a little poking and prodding to learn that she’s really a Renaissance Woman!

As one our Puckett’s Boat House managers, we can always count on Stacy to light up a room. She’s the one in the middle of all the PBH Corn Hole Tournament action, rootin’ on the underdogs one minute, then chatting up our on-stage musician the next. She’s also the one you can thank for coming up with Ladies Day every Wednesday!

Turns out, Stacy’s full of good ideas. Another one of our favorites ideas she’s had is to relocate to Franklin, Tenn. from Colorado about three years ago, with her husband and two boys. Her second spark of genius was to begin waitressing at Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant.

She worked for Puckett’s in downtown Franklin for nearly two years, and you can bet she made some friends there! After gaining some experience managing another family-owned eatery in Cool Springs, Stacy joined our family again this past February—this time helping run Puckett’s Boat House!

Below, we get to know Stacy a little bit better so that YOU can get to love her a little bit more—and show you just why we consider her our “Renaissance Woman.”

Why do you like living in Franklin? There’s no question that this is truly one of the friendliest places I’ve ever lived (and I’ve lived in Oregon, Montana and California!) or visited. It must be the hospitality—I don’t think I’ve ever known strangers to go out of their way like they do for you here. We’ve (my family) been able to make really good friends, and quickly.

What did you do before moving to Franklin? My husband and I owned double-sided coffee shops in Colorado.

What do you like about the Puckett’s family of restaurants? What I really love about Puckett’s is that they have a family environment at every one of their restaurants. It’s a real community. You get to know the customers as friends, and I love that about Franklin specifically.

What about the Boat House specifically? I love the heart behind this particular business, and the heart in the community involvement. It’s a very comfortable place to be. My hope is that our friends feel a connection with us here, and that they began to feel that it’s an extension of their own kitchen.

I also am proud of the food. It’s a lot of real, made from scratch cooking. It’s very rooted in the South, and authentic to this part of America.

Do you like to cook? I love to cook. I was going to go to culinary school way back when—I was accepted and everything!—and I’ve always been in love with cooking. I’m genuinely inspired when I come to work because of that.

What’s your favorite dish to make for your family? An oriental-stuffed flank stank, with a Parmesan-parsley rice. My family knows I want to spoil you if I cook that!

What’s your favorite dish at the Boat House? The Sanibel Salmon, for sure.

What do you do in your free time? I’m a writer. I just finished writing my first book! It’s about how the Lord has healed my heart. It’s written to have a companion journal in hopes the reader will discover what God has in store for their hearts. I hope it’s a springboard for others to write about their journey. I’m looking into self-publishing now!

I also write music, I really love doing that. I co-wrote a song, and I just learned that NSAI is taking it to their monthly publisher lunch! It’s called “You Buzz Me.” It’s a really fun song.

Wow! Anything else? Well, I paint and play the piano too. I’m also really passionate about gardening.

…..see what we mean? Next time you’re in Puckett’s Boat House, make sure to give Stacy a shout. She’s sure to inspire you!

April showers bring…Cinco de Mayo! Although this year’s April showers are lingering longer than we’d hoped, May is one of your favorite months. And because we can’t limit our love of Mexican flavors to just one day, May’s Burger of the Month (BOM) is an ode to some of your favorite South-of-the-border ingredients–with that Puckett’s twist you look for in all of our dishes.

“When I think about Spanish influences in my cooking, Chorizo is one of my favorite flavors. In many restaurants I worked in, Chorizo con Huevos was a staple among the guys in the kitchen, and we would fix it every Sunday before the restaurant opened. So it was essential to put Chorizo on the burger for May. This burger is ‘muy bueno!’ if I do say so myself! We allow you to enjoy Cinco de Mayo all month long!”- Puckett’s Brand Chef, Keith West

 CINCO DE MAYO

Burger Bun (grilled)

1 Tbl Mayo

1 Lettuce Leaf

2 Sliced Tomatoes

2 Red Onion Rings

1 Puckett Burger

2 oz Crumbled Chorizo

1 Tbl Crumbled Feta

½ Tbl Cilantro Leaves

1 Lime Wedge

Burger Bun

[Serve with a side of chips & pico de gallo!]

Burger of the Month
Each month, Puckett’s chef Keith West creates a “Burger of the Month” to serve to our friends. It’s always quirky, it’s always carefully crafted and it always makes us lick our chops. We’re going to start sharing some of those exclusive recipes with you!

 On March 5, 1863, the Battle of Thompson’s Station raged around a sweeping 50-acre property and one Williamson County plantation home.

On Thursday, May 2, Homestead Manor will commemorate 150 years since the skirmish with its grand re-opening as an event venue site from 6-9 p.m….. and Puckett’s Trolley is going to be on site to celebrate with these guys!

Y’all are all excited to celebrate the ca. 1816 historic landmark—a property that was as a ground-zero site for 6,000 Civil War soldiers—which will now serve as a private venue for community and corporate events, weddings and more. The open house event will showcase the versatility of Homestead Manor, as well as give everyone a first look at the newly renovated (fabulous, as Ms. Dolly Parton would say!) space.

The evening will include guest speakers who will educate partygoers on the manor’s heritage, and a special re-enactment of historical events pertaining to the location. In addition to music, entertainment and other activities, Pour Taste, Java Breeze, Puckett’s Trolley and Lipman Bros. will offer complimentary food and refreshments. Beer, wine and additional food will be available for purchase at a suggested $1 donation. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County.

Today Homestead Manor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the property has a conservation easement through The Land Trust of Tennessee.

It is managed by Puckett’s Events, an events company owned by Andy and Jan Marshall of our Puckett’s family of restaurants (that’s us!). Hope to see y’all there.

For more information, please contact Event Coordinator Jill Begin at jill@puckettsevents.com.

Who: Puckett’s Events

What: Grand re-opening of Homestead Manor

When: Thursday, May 2; 6 p.m.-11 p.m.

Where: Homestead Manor
4683 Columbia Pike, Thompson’s Station, TN 37179

Cost: Free

Did y’all see THIS story in this weekend’s Columbia Daily Herald? Well, the stars just happen to be performing at Puckett’s in downtown Columbia this Friday evening… and boy is it going to be on heckuvah performance.

The 2SteelGirls are taking our stage at 15 Public Square to give our local audience a first listen at their debut single “Train Wreck”–the very same song that they’ll be belting out come May 10 when this mother-daughter duo appears on the “Today Show.”  That’s right, our Columbia friends get to hear the track even before Hoda and Kathy Lee bend their ears!

(As seen on: you may have caught Allison and Krystal Steel of Columbia on Nashville’s Channel 4, using their God-given talent to secure a spot on NBC’s “The Voice” last season. Or, you may have recognized their voices on Blake Shelton’s Christmas album. Either way, you gotta agree that this is going to be one rockin’ Friday night!)

In order to haul their band and equipment up to the Big Apple to perform on the morning show, the pair has to muster the money to get there. At Puckett’s, we’re charging a $10 cover to get these women to NYC! Support your hometown, and help ‘em out. We’re all booked up for the show, but if you call (931) 490-4550 we’ll put you on our waiting list!

Do you have an idea of how the 2SteelGirls can raise money to get to the Today Show? Email them here.

Check out 2SteelGirls’ blind audition on “The Voice” here:

Well, spring was supposed to have sprung…that groundhog sure fooled us. With the cold days in April, we knew y’all would need a real pick-me-up!

How we conceived the April’s “Burger of the Month”:
“So many people come to Puckett’s for the burger. And it is the South, so it made sense to fry it! Our next task was how to top it.The burger itself just screamed southern comfort food. Now, I’m a huge fan of bacon and onion jam.  So I thought, ‘why not make an onion jam using Southern Comfort liquor?’ To compliment the crispy fried burger I wanted to add pimento cheese on top. To cut the richness of the pimento cheese I added some sweet ‘n’ tangy chow chow. Because in the south we put chow chow on everything, right?!” -Puckett’s Brand Chef, Keith West

Once you taste all these flavors in the same bite, you can see why this burger is  Chef Keith’s favorite one yet! Below, Keith shares onion jam recipe that really gives this dish a kick. Enjoy y’all!

Onion Jam Recipe:

1 Red Onion Diced

2 TBL Bacon Grease (sub Olive Oil)

2 oz. Southern Comfort

1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Water

½ Tbl Corn Starch

1 Tbl Cold Water

Sautee Red Onions in bacon grease. Sweat onions down until they are dark and caramelized. De-glaze the pan with Southern Comfort. Add in red wine vinegar, sugar and brown sugar. Once dissolved, add water and salt. Allow the mixture to simmer for 30 minutes. Combine the corn starch and cold water in separate bowl. Slowly stir into mixture until a jelly like thickness. Cook on low 10 more minutes to allow corn starch to cook out. Serve hot or cold.

Burger of the Month
Each month, Puckett’s chef Keith West creates a “Burger of the Month” to serve to our friends. It’s always quirky, it’s always carefully crafted and it always makes us lick our chops. We’re going to start sharing some of those exclusive recipes with you!

What started as a little country store 60 years ago in Williamson County has evolved into a popular restaurant and music venue, now with three family-owned locations in three different counties. Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant will open the doors to its new downtown Columbia store this Wednesday, March 27. Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. at the 15 Public Square location.

Owner Andy Marshall said the concept for a Puckett’s on Columbia’s Main Street has been several years in the making, and that the grand opening will be a pivotal moment for the family.

“We have labored over finding the right location so that we could plug into the Columbia community, and this feels like a monumental day for us,” he said. “We’re excited to become a part of another thriving downtown scene whose star really seems be on the rise.”

Marshall, who owned several independent grocery stores before purchasing Puckett’s, said that he and his team have worked to maintain its original “mom and pop,” Southern vibe. Though it expanded into a restaurant and live entertainment venue several years ago, Puckett’s is known at both its downtown Franklin and downtown Nashville locations for home-cooked meals in a fun, familiar setting.

“We’ve tailored our dining experience and our live music towards our Puckett’s origins because we still wanted to maintain that feeling of sitting in your own kitchen,” he said. “This Columbia location will uphold the tradition of quality food that’s tied to our Tennessee roots, and a gathering spot for friends and family members to catch up or hear the results from a recent songwriting session.”

The former factory and warehouse building measures more than 26,000 square feet, and includes a second-floor event space that exceeds 8,000 square feet. In addition to a first-floor dining room with two private areas, Puckett’s will launch a creamery later this year that will serve homemade chocolate and vanilla ice cream in fresh-baked waffle cones.

To transform the three-story interior, the Marshall family worked with local builder Joe Whidby to craft hand-hewn tables and added the floor to ceiling grocery shelves that are becoming a Puckett’s hallmark. Williamson County “picker” William Powell helped to bring nostalgic elements, including old signs, photographs and memorabilia that celebrate Maury County’s history.

The location kicked off its operations with a sneak peek and neon sign-lighting ceremony on March 23. The grand opening event on Wednesday will include a ribbon cutting with the Maury County Chamber of Commerce at 10:45 a.m.

Puckett’s will host musicians on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. For more information about the restaurant, go to www.puckettsgrocery.com.

More about Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant:

With locations in downtown Franklin, downtown Nashville and downtown Columbia, the Puckett’s roots go way back to the 1950s, and a little grocery store in the village of Leiper’s Fork, Tenn. Ever since then, we’ve been focused on providing friends new and old with great food and Southern hospitality.

When it comes down to it, Puckett’s is a community kitchen, with live pickin’ performances just a few feet from your table. Authentic comfort food—barbecue smoked slow ‘n’ low over cherry wood, the home-cooked sides, even a few upscale dishes—is what Puckett’s aims for you to remember. For more information, go to www.puckettsgrocery.com.