I visited Nashville, Tennessee this summer with my parents and boyfriend. We’re a big group of foodies. We like to seek out the best local eateries wherever we are. After doing some research for a couple of weeks, I mapped out some of Nashville’s finest local eats.
To make sure that your stomach is pleased at the end of your trip, there is one key to finding the best local spots. You need to go where the people are talking: social media.
Seeking out a restaurant’s social media is the best way to see photos of dishes, customers and the most important factor, in my opinion, branding.
I found a restaurant called The Flipside in the 12 South area of Nashville. Its Instagram is beautiful and up-to-date. High-quality pictures, intriguing food and an emphasis on marketing...I was sold.
But what are you going to eat? Trying a new restaurant usually requires that you step out of your comfort zone. Don’t buy the chicken finger platter at every single restaurant, unless you’re under 12 years old. Try something new!
Picking a dish is hard, with so many choices how do you narrow it down to just one? Here’s where the social media comes in handy. Look up hashtags and location pins to see what other people are eating. This is how I found The Flipside’s tater tot nachos.
That’s right, you heard me. It’s nachos, but with tater tots instead of chips. How about that for America’s ultimate comfort food?
They were deliciously amazing. I’ve been dreaming about them ever since, but I can’t drive to Nashville every time I have a craving for some cheesy tots.
So, I did what any normal person would do, well, if you’re a journalism major, and I contacted the restaurant for some recipe hints.
The Flipside’s Jason Sheer said that they were looking for a shareable appetizer with a twist that they could add to the menu. Everyone loves nachos, but they decided to replace the chips with tater tots.
“Ours are so great because we make our cheese dip fresh every day with a blend of chesses,” said Sheer. “We also chop up our bacon for a topping rather than using cheap bacon bits.”
So fresh cheese and bacon and I can have tater tot nachos in the comfort of my own home? I had to give it a try.
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Here’s the recipe I came up with:
(I didn’t measure anything; I like to just wing it when I cook.)
1 Pack of Traditional Tater Tots
1 Block of Mild Cheddar Cheese
1 Block Provolone
5 Strips of Crispy Bacon - Chopped
Tomato – Diced
Jalapeño – Diced
Avocado – Diced
Sour Cream (On the Side)
BAKE the tater tots according to the directions on the bag. Don’t just pop them in the microwave; they won’t get golden and crispy that way.
For the cheese sauce: Cut each block of cheese into small cubes. Put them in a saucepan, starting with about a ½ cup of milk. Add milk as you go if the sauce is getting too thick.
Pour the cheese sauce over the tater tots. Then, layer the diced ingredients on top however you please.
Top with hot sauce, if that’s what you prefer. I personally recommend putting some sour cream on the side for a delicious dip.
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I still long for The Flipside’s tater tot nachos, but my version definitely hit the spot. I hope you enjoy them as well!