I recently met up with my cousin in Music City, AKA Nashville. We used AirBNB and booked an apartment in Midtown. Surrounded by bars, restaurants and Vanderbilt University just down the street, the area is bustling with people of all ages. We hit a couple of bars, ate at some wonderful restaurants, walked downtown Nashville and Saturday evening we sat bundled up in layers while people watching and sipping wine.

The last time I saw my cousin we were in high school. I knew this trip had to include alcohol as we reminisced and caught up with each other’s lives. Of course wine would have to be a part of the trip and I knew I would be lugging bags from my car up three flights of stairs so I wanted something easy to carry.

Aha, box wine! I used to shake my head at boxed wine but it has come a long way and those tetra boxes filled with that yummy juice comes in very handy for travel. Instead of lugging several bottles of wine, one Black Box Cabernet was more than enough for the weekend.

Aromas of blackberry, plum and a hint of vanilla. Plum, black cherry and cocoa flavors combine with smooth tannins and a long finish.

3 liter boxes contain four 750ml bottles. I keep one on hand at home as I like that I can grab just a glass and put the box back in the wine fridge since the wine stays fresh for four weeks. I also like knowing that the box and bag are more eco-friendly than conventional glass bottles. The older I get the more important the Earth is to me and I try to take care of her. A few years ago while traveling via plane; I purchased two of the small tetra Black Box wines for packing in my luggage. I didn’t have to worry about breakage and it didn’t add a lot of weight to my luggage. They’re also great for picnics, if the area allows alcohol.

Pork Belly with tomato tower. -A take on the BLT

Saturday morning we had breakfast at Noshville, a NY style Delicatessen located on Broadway in Midtown. A must order, the corned beef hash, that tasted of all spice and juniper berries. Dinner was at Bound’ry, serving modern cuisine at affordable prices. We dined on Belgian Ceasar Salad, which I recreated as part of our Easter Dinner, Korean Beef Wraps and my favorite… Chili Charred TN Pork Belly. Our belly’s full we headed back to the apartment, grabbed some wine, bundled up as the temps were in the low 30’s and sat outside for some people watching.

This trip proved I really have changed since leaving Tampa. In the past I would have loved being in the middle of all the bars, restaurants and well, the “action”. Having spent the last 3.5 years on a quiet country road where the nosiest things are the roosters the all night noise, the traffic and the crowds were just a bit too much for me.

Bathtub cooler – Paradise Park Trailer Resort – Downtown Nashville

The first night I laid in bed, trying to block out the loud music coming from 20 something year old’s birthday party in the parking area, the noise coming from the bars, streets, cars, sirens, etc. At that moment I thought, I’m no longer a “City Girl”, no I prefer quiet country life now…sigh. I’m not sure if that makes me old or just settled and happy. I’m going for the latter.

By the time I loaded my car on Sunday, after brunch at The Tavern (get the Singapore

Singapore Fried Rice

Fried Rice) I was ready to get the hell out of Nashville and back to open roads. I would have loved to have more time with my cousin and I’m hoping we can get together again sometime over the summer. This time I think we’ll pick a quiet spot in the mountains or maybe near a lake.