SPECIAL RESTAURANT FEATURE - SAVOR THE MOMENT

By Kathy Fox

With Maury County continuing to thrive, it is very fitting to see many new culinary delights opening. Even during the past few years, new restaurants were popping up amid the pandemic. As we explore some of the new restaurants and a hometown fav, remember there are plenty of beloved favorites that have stood the test of time. Enjoy the flavor explosion that is right in your backyard and show your support for all the local restaurants. They depend on you now more than ever. Bon appétit!

Brick Grilled Chicken with an avocado chimichurri sauce

HEN HOUSE PHOTOS BY ROSS JAYNES VISUAL MEDIA CO.

HEN HOUSE FOOD TRUCK

COLUMBIA

(931) 982-8726 | henhousetn.com

There’s a new food truck in Columbia, the Hen House, and it madeits debut on August 15 offering farm-to-truck clean healthy locallysourced food. The husband-and-wife team, Nic and Jada Jones,recently moved to Tennessee from California and wanted to offersustainable healthy comfort food but did not want to start with abrick-and-mortar restaurant. The next best thing is a food truckof course, and as Jada said, “We thought a truck would be a littledifferent and a lot of fun to take to various places to meet people inthe community.”

Nic and Jada are both very passionate about wellness and eating as clean and organic as possible. That became a challenge for them so they decided to tap into Nic’s expertise and culinary experience to create and merge health-conscious comfort food with a seasonal menu that will be sourced locally for the truck’s menu.

Nic has been a chef for 24 years and in 2021 was named Best Chefin Napa Valley. Growing up with an Italian mom and grandma, hespent a lot of time in the kitchen with them. At 16 he graduatedhigh school early and took his first job washing dishes. With hismom’s encouragement, he later enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu inPasadena. This allowed him to expand his cooking skills and his firstbig culinary job was with Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Plancha beets and goats cheese crema salad with pumpkin seeds

HEN HOUSE PHOTOS BY ROSS JAYNES VISUAL MEDIA CO.

Since then, he has climbed the ladder working at well-respected establishments such as Abruzzi as Chef de Cuisine, Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch as a Sous Chef, and as Executive Chef of Goose & Gander in Napa Valley. Additionally, Nic is also a Certified Sommelier and according to Food & Wine, Nic’s dishes “epitomize a menu that brings together impeccable ingredients, smart technique, and old-school deliciousness.”

Working from a list of local suppliers Chef Nic and Jada are bringing the freshest ingredients possible to the Hen House so he can create delicious healthy comfort foods. Utilizing local organic providers as much as possible, produce has been sourced from Allenbrooke Farms, which is certified organic and located in Spring Hill. Proteins will come from Taylor Family Farm in Ethridge, and True Blue Farm in Culleoka, providing 100% non-GMO pastureraised chickens and farm-fresh eggs. The Noble Springs Dairy, a grade A goat dairy and artisanal goat cheese-making operation, is the perfect source for Nic’s dairy items.

Patatas Bravo - potatoes, green opnions with a spicy red sauce and aioli Street corn on the cobb - elote sauce, local farm cheese, lime, chili, cilantor

HEN HOUSE PHOTOS BY ROSS JAYNES VISUAL MEDIA CO.

The current seasonal menu features mouthwatering protein options like Brick Grilled Chicken or Smoked Turkey Leg. For salads, the appetizing and colorful Heirloom Tomato & Stone Fruit or Plancha Beets & Goat Cheese Crema are sure to please and loaded with flavor. Looking for the perfect healthy sides, try the delectable Sauteed Mushrooms, Garden Radishes, or the Patatas Bravas.

In addition to the food truck pop-ups, the Hen House will be offering catering, grab-and-go items, and is available for hire at private events. Visit henhousetn.com for additional information and follow them on social media at @henhousefoodtruck for seasonal menu information and where to find the pop-up events.

Giant loaded baked potato - Smoked meat potato with pork topped with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onions.

The very first menu JJ’s offered was small and limited but featured basic barbeque and sides such as baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw. Over the years the menu expanded adding house favorites like giant loaded baked potatoes, sloppy joe sandwiches, meatloaf sandwiches, smoked chicken wings, and desserts. Last year buffalo chicken was added and has become a huge hit. The sides are all house-made as is the Alabama white sauce which is very popular. “We make everything homemade. We grind the cabbage for the coleslaw, dice the potatoes for the cheesy potato side, and even make the salads fresh. Everything is truly homemade and that's a bit unusual for restaurants nowadays,” Webster said.

JJ'S BARBEQUE

900 HATCHER LANE • COLUMBIA

(931) 381-3463 | jjsbarbeque.com

Founded in 1998, JJ’s Barbeque is the oldest family-owned BBQ restaurant in Maury County, and for good reason. Barbeque is an experience, where you can taste and smell the smoke in the meat, and JJ’s Barbeque is out of this world!

The secret of the moist luscious North Carolina-style barbeque at JJ’s is a simple fact they smoke it for 18 hours. Owner Julie Webster, said, “That’s really what makes the difference. It’s smoked using hickory for a very long time at a low temperature with a homemade barbeque rub using a secret blend of spices. You will definitely taste the rich flavor in the moist meat. It’s delicious!” For those wanting other meats options, no worries. Turkey and beef are also available as is catfish. The pulled turkey and beef are roasted overnight in the oven and are just as mouthwatering and delicious as the pork.

JJ’s Barbeque first started in a gas station in Columbia that is no longer around, but continues to be a family-owned and operated business. Webster’s son Chris has the task of managing the smoker, daughter Sarah is the manager, and her husband is the business consultant, behind the scenes helping Webster with everything and anything she may need. Another reason for the success and longevity of the business is that Webster herself is a very hands-on type of owner. “I'm a very present owner, which has made a big difference over the years to our success,” Webster said. Being in business for nearly 25 years these days is almost unheard of and a huge accomplishment proving Webster’s philosophy and work ethic are true.

JJ’s Barbeque also prides itself on its excellent customer service. The customer service is top-notch, and the staff is friendly and helpful to all their patrons. They make you feel like family and are looking forward to serving the community yummy food for another 25 years!

To order online visit jjsbarbeque.com or stop by and dine in. Follow them on social media at @jjsbarbequeofcolumbia and give them a shout-out when you do.

Nashville Hot Chicken, Southern Caramel Cake, and The Memphis

MAMA D'S MAC N' CHEESE

5075 MAIN STREET • SPRING HILL

(615) 302-8033 | mamadsbakedmacncheese.com

If you love cheesy mac and cheese, then look no further as Mama D’s Baked Mac N’ Cheese uses eight different kinds of cheese to make their homemade gourmet baked mac n’ cheese. The delicious cheesy mix is the perfect comfort food and is something everyone in the family will enjoy.

Dana Cohen, aka Mama D, founder of Mama D’s Baked Mac N’ Cheese started baking mac and cheese for her family and friends more than two decades ago. She enjoyed bringing her mac and cheese to family gatherings and holiday celebrations because it put a smile on everyone’s face. However, as time went on people started asking her to bring it to gatherings and soon she had to start bringing more than one dish because it was devoured so quickly.

For years, her friends would ask her to sell it to them but instead, she would give it to them. Finally, her husband Terrell suggested it was time to begin selling it since there were so many people wanting to purchase it. At first, Cohen thought about starting with a food truck, but shortly thereafter a space in Spring Hill opened up where Delta Bound used to be. That was an opportunity she had to jump on and Mama D’s quickly came to fruition.

Mama D’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant. In fact, all of Cohen’s immediate family members are listed on the LLC paperwork to prove it. The recipes are all hers, but it is a family endeavor as they work together daily with her. Each gourmet dish of mac and cheese begins with her signature eight cheese sauce and then is baked with different toppings.

Cohen’s favorite is the Nashville Hot Chicken. This mac and cheese dish is topped with chicken and Mama D’s homemade Nashville Hot Chicken recipe garnished with pickles — five stars, for sure! Terrell’s favorite dish is Little Italy because it reminds him of the first time Dana ever cooked for him. He was only 19 years old at the time, but he knew she was special!

When you visit Mama D’s make sure to save room for some of her delicious desserts too. At Mama D’s, each dessert is homemade and a true labor of love from the cakes to the cookies and brownies. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, you must try either the carrot cake, Southern caramel cake, or the insanely delicious chocolate cake. Your taste buds won’t be disappointed!

Visit mamadsbakedmacncheese.com to view the menu,and follow them on social media for daily updates at@mamadsbakedmacncheese.

Chicken Breast/Leg Quarter side of collard greens

BIG SHAKE'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN

822 S. MAIN STREET • COLUMBIA

(931) 398-5060 | bigshakeshotchicken.com

If you are a fan of Nashville hot chicken, then you can bring on the heat at Big Shake’s Nashville Hot Chicken, located off the square in the old Lucille’s building in downtown Columbia. Touting a menu that entices your palate, items like chicken and waffles, jumbo chicken tenders, hot chicken tacos, fried chicken or catfish, and the nationally known shrimp burgers, founder Shawn Davis created, can be found on the menu along with sandwiches and combo plates of Nashville hot chicken.

If you haven’t heard the story about Big Shake’s it is inspiring. Shawn Davis, aka Chef Big Shake, started cooking when he was just 12 years old. Years later married with kids, Davis’s 10-yearold daughter decided to become a pescatarian which paved the way for Davis’s first creation, the “Original Shrimp Burger.” Everyone loved it and Davis realized there was an enormous market for beef burger alternatives, so in 2007 he and his wife, Robin, started CBS Foods Incorporated. Davis appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in May 2011 to pitch his shrimp burgers, which led to Big Shake’s Hot Chicken and Fish flagship opening in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2014.

The first time Amy Mcgee, a baker by trade, ate hot chicken at Big Shake’s in Franklin, she immediately knew it was something special and loved the food. A few years later, Mcgee took Belinda Corkern and her son to dinner there and they also thought it was fabulous. So much so that Corkern’s son got a job there. Mcgee and Corkern both have restaurant backgrounds and were working at Merridee’s in Franklin, but wanted to do something on their own. The logical choice for them was to open a Big Shake’s franchise and in December 2021, Big Shake’s Nashville Hot Chicken opened in Columbia.

The duo selected Columbia because Mcgee, an avid music fan, used to frequent CITIES and Bistro 822 in Columbia, both live music venues that have since closed. The duo liked what Columbia downtown offered and at the time they were searching for a location, Bistro 822 closed. Mcgee explained, “The main reason we wanted the space at 822 was that there was so much history in the building with the live music and nightlife. We wanted to bring that back to the community along with really good food.” And good food it is! With favorite dishes like Hot Mess Chicken Sandwich, Loaded Whiting Fish Sammich, or Big Shake’s Chicken & Fish Combo Plate, you will be coming back for more.

Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos with white beans and seasoned fries

When you stop by 822 S. Main Street for some hot chicken or fish, a beer, and live music, make sure to notice the ‘Made in Muletown’ sign behind the bar and the collage of posters near the stage. These are pieces from Bistro 822 that Mcgee and Corkern kept paying tribute to years gone by. Live music can be heard every Friday or Saturday and check out Instagram to see who’s playing next at @bigshakescolumbia. To view the menu or order online visit bigshakeshotchicken.com and if you are feeling it, order your chicken with heat level Executioner — we dare you!