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Gus´ World Famous Fried Chicken

The Volunteer State´s stunning beauty, extensive history, whisky trail, and vibrant music culture are only some of the reasons to travel the here, and are a lot of things it´s known for: Southern sensibility, music and food. In terms of food, the variety of choices - from traditional fried chicken and barbecue to sophisticated international menus. With so many excellent spots to choose from, here´s my take on some of the best, a mix of old and new, down-home and trendy.

And to get there, book cheap flights to Tennessee here!

Chattanooga 

Maple Street Biscuit Company

Opening in 2012, the local outpost of a largely Southern chain quickly became a favorite "Chattanooga chew chew,"  known for its Southern staples, often with a twist. In addition to grits, biscuits with gravy, and fried green tomatoes, and chicken with waffles, a centerpiece of its menu is 17 sandwich choices that all use those flaky buttermilk biscuits and other ingredients like fried chickens as well as pulled pork, bacon, and even goat cheese (the "Squawking Goat" featuring spicy pepper jelly, even rated a shoutout on the Food Network). The interior is modern but the vibe is down-home, y´all!

Knoxville

French Market Crêperie

Crêpes, baguettes and croissants are a lot less popular in these parts than barbecue and fried chicken, but this intimate, indoor-outdoor spot downtown (plus another location in West Knoxville) run by Allen and Susan Tate have carved out an an devoted following, with very French-feeling décor and a menu of sweet and savory crêpes, baguette and criossant sandwiches, soups, and salads.

Stock & Barrel

This newish downtown burger and bourbon joint (above) has won accolades from the local Metro Pulse including best hamburger and best French fries. Whisky choices are numerous and so are the burgers -more than 20 kinds, each a speciality with distinct mixtures of ingredients (hot lovers should try the "Ring of Fire"!). It´s got plenty of outdoor as well as indoor seating.

The Tomato Head

In downtown´s Market Square just a few minutes the University of Tennessee campus, this cheery spot offers plenty of tasty food choices, from Mediterranean flavors like hummus to a variety of combinations of pizzas, salads,  and vegetarian choices, as well as pies, cobblers, and oversize cookies.

Mason, Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, and Knoxville

Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken

Behind an unassuming brick facade, this iconic spot (top) serves some of the juiciest/crunchiest spicy fried chicken in the state along with classic Southern sides. It´s a family affair, started in 1983 by Gus and Gertrude Bonner with the recipes - originated by his parents Napoleon ("Na") and Maggie Vanderbilt - in the town of Mason (pop. around 1,300), about 45 minutes northeast of Memphis. A downtown Memphis location followed in 2001, and now there are more than three dozen franchises through Tennessee and in 13 other states. But it's hard to beat the original!

Corky´s Ribs & BBQ

Memphis

Corky's Ribs & BBQ

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it´s known for the tastiest barbecue in a town legendary for it (and has won top honors as such more than 20 times). Their pit uses charcoal and hickory wood made of hickory, and their menu includes ribs as well as pork, chicken and beef, topped off with their fantastic fudge and pecan pies. It also have led to the establishment of seven other locations throughout Tennessee.

Huey's Burger

"The place to be for blues, brews and burgers" has been going strong for 44 years now, its name taken from founder Alan Gray´s childhood nickname and its Angus-beef Huey Burger regarded as the finest in Memphis. Its original spot is located on Madison Avenue in Midtown Memphis and you'll be surrounded by colorful murals, tooth picks hanging from the ceiling and checkboard tablecloths in red. There´s another location downtown, and eight more throughout the state.

Etch

Nashville

Etch

Located in Encore Tower near the Country Music Hall of Fame and downtown´s tony SoBro (South of Broadway) district, this dozen-year-old restaurant (above) is sleek and modern both in aesthetic and menu, with innovative items such as venison coated with za´atar (an herb from the Mediterranean Middle East): roasted cauliflower with truffle-infused pea purée, salted almost, feta crema, and essence of red bell pepper: and a rhubarb almond tart. Fun fact: owner-chef Deb Paquette, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, became this state´s first certified executive chef some 30 years ago.

The Loveless Café

Back to down home, you´ll love the Loveless, where Lon and Annie Loveless started serving their fried chicken and biscuits way back in 1951. Today its menu of Southern cooking includes country ham, hickory smoked BBQ meats, and daily specials such fried chicken n' gravy on Mondays and chicken dumplings on Wednesdays.

Monell's

Over in Music City´s historic Germantown district north of downtown, this 24-year-old eatery in a 1905 Victorian-style red-brick manse dishes out classic southern fare like BBQ barbecue ribs, chicken and dumplings, and fried catfish, along with hearty breakfasts including smoked sausage, fried apples, and corn pudding. One distinguishing feature at Monell´s is its family-style service, with large platters served at large communal tables, fostering a shared experience with strangers, plus - get this - a refreshing "no cell phones" policy to keep the focus on dining.

Prince's Hot Chicken

The "hot chicken" pioneered by Thornton Prince during the Great Depression is basically fried chicken liberally annointed with a mix of spices and peppers including cayenne, and his greatniece Andre Prince Jeffires still reels in hot enthusiasts at four Nashville locations (as well as one in Knoxville and another in Greenville, South Carolina) - with degrees of heat from mild to "XXX hot" - and sides including baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, and seasoned french fries.