“This box formerly contained the Chicken Cordon Que, grilled asparagus, and smashed sweet potatoes–the special of the night at Puckett’s Columbia. As you can see, I cleaned my plate. Now I’m seriously contemplating eating the box.

This crew down here is doing an awesome job! Thanks again for coming to Columbia!”

-James Lund, Old Curiosity Bookstore on the downtown Columbia public square

It’s kind words like these (passed along straight to Andy) that give us a passion for what we’re doing! Thank y’all for being such good friends to our Puckett’s family. We so appreciate you.

Last month, we rounded out our 17^th rendition of Rising Star…. and found Chris James as this season’s winner. Seven weeks and 100 contestants later, the final round yielded Chris, who took home a $500 cash stipend, a one-year membership to Global Songwriter Connection and a chance to be featured in an upcoming Winner’s Round at Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant, with other established and well-known songwriters. The follow-up Winner’s Round has become a traditional bragging right for our winner, and an opportunity to make industry connections. It’s one of our favorite nights!

Chris, who moved to Music City in 2011 to pursue his career, told us that the contest has been an eye-opening experience and one that has re-affirmed his passion. The country music songwriter was a Rising Star finalist in the last series.

“I feel validated after winning the Rising Star competition. It’s helpful to have experts in the music industry critique my work and give me feedback,” he says. “Puckett’s is a great stage for undiscovered writers and talent. It was beneficial to me, because I met people who are involved in the industry and are willing to give constructive feedback.

“Plus, the audience at Puckett’s is unbelievable. They are genuinely interested in the music, and come to really listen.”

Other Rising Star finalists included Dani Elliot, Brandon McGuiness, and Benjamin Hoefling.

Puckett’s Rising Star competition is unique to the Nashville area, as the audience plays an integral role in the selection of winners. The contest features seven weeks of preliminary events, and the audience selects their favorite songwriter based on the emotional impact of the song. Following performances, a panel of industry judges selects their favorite songwriter based on the quality of the songwriting.

This series’ judges panel for the 17th season consisted of: Lynn Nichols, who has produced many hit records and currently has four songs on the newest The Band Perry album; Sarah Ross, an accomplished songwriter and member of Everlife; Trevor Sarver, who can boast five number-one songs on the charts; and Mohr, Rising Star co-founder.

Puckett’s Boat House is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.puckettsboathouse.com.

About Puckett’s Boat House

Puckett’s Boat House aims to stay true to local flavor while delivering an atmosphere that makes you nostalgic for family vacations and good times. The grill and oyster bar menu offers by-the-shore dishes reminiscent of the Gulf coast and the Big Easy, plus Southern staples that draw from the Marshall family’s Mississippi Delta and Memphis roots.

Enjoy Puckett’s trademark Southern fare and reputation for a live music venue—both with a Boat House twist.

When she first visited Nashville she fell in love with the people and the Southern culture. So, (despite her self-professed musical inabilities!) she packed her bags and set out on a journey to make Nashville her home. Autumn is now our beloved General Manager at Puckett’s in downtown Nashville–the one located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Church Street.

Below, we asked Autumn a few questions so that y’all can get to love her a little bit more!

Where are you from? I grew up in Northern Michigan enjoying the great outdoors. With four sisters and three brothers, my family was big on camping, snowmobiling, skiing, and boating.

How did you end up in Nashville? I had some close friends who lived in Nashville and I visited them often. I fell in love with Tennessee and decided to give it a whirl!

What did you do before working at Puckett’s? I started out as a server/bartender at Ruby Tuesday and quickly found my calling as a manager. In that time, I also met my husband Adam. We loved the area so much that we decided to buy a house and settle in Murfreesboro.I worked for Ruby Tuesday for about five years, before a friend told me about Puckett’s Grocery.

What was your impression of Puckett’s on your first visit? I stepped inside and immediately felt at home. I loved the concept and the down-home feel. My first impression was that it reminded me of my home- minus the sweet-tea. I already loved the atmosphere, but when I tasted the food, I fell in love.

When did you first start working at Puckett’s? They were opening a location in Nashville and I decided to go for it. I was hired in 2010 when the Nashville location opened its doors. My life quickly changed, I was introduced to all kinds of southern cookin’ that I didn’t know about.  What is a corn cake and what do you do with it? I fell in love with everything. My eyes were opened to a whole new world of culinary cuisine.

If you could only order one thing off of the Puckett’s menu for the rest of your life, what would it be? That is such a tough question…probably the fried chicken.

What makes Puckett’s unique from other Nashville restaurants? Puckett’s is very special to me because it reminds me of home, I feel like I am hanging out with my family when I am at work.  You get to know the locals, your staff as well as their families.  You feel a part of the Puckett family right away.

What is your favorite Puckett’s memory? One of my favorite Puckett’s moments are around the holidays and through all of the hustle and bustle of the city; when you walk into Puckett’s, its like sitting at your own kitchen table, surrounded by friends and family.

Next time you’re at Puckett’s on 5^th and Church in Nashville, make sure you say hello to Autumn!

The reason they are so good is because our pickles are made-from-scratch via a homemade recipe. With a lot of taste testing and the addition of a spicy spin, we think we got the perfect pickle (which is fun to say 10 times fast).

That Cajun kick you’re tastin’ comes from a perfectly concocted mix of sugar, vinegar, horseradish, and cayenne. And since we love our customers and want them to be happy all the time (not just when they are visiting) we have decided to graciously share this recipe that is very near and dear to our hearts–and stomachs.

So make ‘em and put them on a burger (June’s Burger of the Month is coming soon, so stay tuned), eat them out of the jar, or better yet fry them up and dip them in our BBQ sauce. Either way, we hope they bring all the goodness of the Deep South to your kitchen.

Puckett’s BoatHouse Quick Homemade Pickles:

½ gallon whole refrigerator pickles

1 cup of sugar

1 cup white vinegar

4 cups water

½ cups horseradish

1 tbsp. pickling spice

1 tsp. cayenne

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Directions: Cut pickles into desired thickness. Place cut pickles into a container. Combine ingredients into a mixing bowl and pour over pickles. Ensure pickles are fully covered. Place pickles into refrigerator. Turn pickles every couple hours. Allow pickles to marinate 48 hours for best results.

And on June 4, the restaurant hosted its 18^th season of Puckett’s Rising Star, a singer-songwriter, open-mic contest that began at Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant five years ago. The competition, which moved to the Boat House last season, is unique to the area because the audience plays an integral role in the selection of winners each week.

It’s the perfect summer hangout spot!

More info about the events:

It held its first two-day brunch over Memorial Day Weekend, a buffet that is now offered each Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You better believe the brunch menu is gonna be good, with Chef Carlos behind the helm. It’ll be an ever-rotating smorgasbord of 15 to 20 items, with selections ranging from baked tilapia and beer-battered cod to biscuits and gravy, French toast casserole and home-style potatoes. The brunch buffet is $15.95 for adults, and $7.50 for kids 12 and under.

In addition to the weekend event, they’ve also established a weekly “Ladies Day” event on Wednesdays. The all-day special includes exclusive dishes geared towards the feminine set, and deals such as half-price wine by the bottle and glass.

Manager Stacy Wray (you know how we love her!) came up with the idea. Here’s what she had to say’ bout it.

“I love the heart behind our restaurant and its community relationships. My hope is that our friends feel a connection with us here, and that they begin to feel that it’s an extension of their own kitchen. That’s why we started this particular event, to build on that family environment. We would love to be a part of a long-standing tradition among friend groups.”

To wipe out the Monday blues and attract another customer base, the Boat House also began hosting the PBH Corn Hole Tournament, a double-elimination game that includes 10 teams each week.  The tournament, which asks a $10 entry fee, begins at 6 p.m. and includes weekly prize money.

Here’s why General Manager J.T. Ward loves it:

“Corn hole is a game that I associate with friends, family and warm weather. I think that good-time feeling, and a little healthy competition, is a great fit for the Boat House. I hope it becomes a seasonal tradition, and something that locals can look forward to.”

The restaurant also has a weekly Boat House Blues Night, presented by Nashville artist and musician Billy Block.

WHEW. That’s it for us. It’s a lot, ain’t it? For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit Puckett’s Boat House at 94 E. Main Street or its website at www.puckettsboathouse.com.

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!

Here’s why it’s especially cool:

George, one of country music’s living legends, is turning 61 come May 18—but before he does, the “King of Country” is hoping to nab one last milestone as he embarks on his final U.S. tour. Have y’all seen the “Sixty for Sixty” social media marketing campaign for Strait’s latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” designed to make the tune his sixtieth #1 hit? Well, it’s comin’ to Puckett’s 5th & Church in a couple days!

On May 11 the #60for60 campaign will take front and center in downtown Nashville. One week before Strait leaves his 60^th year—and the campaign ends—we’ll have O’Donnell and Dillon on stage.

Dillon has co-written 80 published Strait songs, including “Ocean Front Property” and “Living for the Night”, along with a slew of others. O’Donnell, a Puckett’s on-stage regular, co-wrote Strait’s current single “Give It All We Got Tonight.”  Together the pair has helped take Strait to the top of the charts 59 times: Strait has more #1’s than any other artist in history!

“We’re honored to call Phil and Dean friends of Puckett’s, and know how fortunate we are to be in Middle Tennessee and have this kind of talent on our stage,” Claire Crowell (our director of operations!) said. “Guys like them really represent what we’re all about. I believe this is the reason we’re unique: because you can’t separate the music from the food at Puckett’s.”

The show will begin at 8:30 p.m., and tickets are $12 cover. To make a reservation, go here before they’re all gone!

Who: Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant

What: Phil O’Donnell and Dean Dillon

When: Saturday, May 11; 8:30 p.m.

Where: Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant
500 Church Street, Nashville, TN

Cost: $12

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 Williamson County. 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.

“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 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

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: