PROGRESSIVE DINNER

ERIN GWYDIR Opinions Editor

When I first moved to Knoxville, I was very enthusiastic about the city. It doesn’t stand out when compared to other cities in the region besides being host to the reputable University of Tennessee. However, the main thing that made me embrace the unique value Knoxville has to offer was the food. People from all backgrounds concentrate in cities — no matter how scruffy or small — and with them will come a beauty that, in my opinion, is best shown through food.

Cuisine is more than an outing with friends and family, it’s a representation of culture and love put into a time of sharing and peace away from the hardships of the day or the summit of celebration for important chapters of life. It’s a warm hug to your heritage and a chance to add to it with your own creativity and care. Even if you’re not chef-ing it up, enjoying food with people you care about is just as important.

Just ask your closest English major; breaking bread has been a symbol for so much more than filling an empty stomach for centuries. Sharing a meal often means an acknowledgement of trust and peace between parties as well as important times in many cultures for breaking fasts for religious reasons. Transcending all possible divisions in language, beliefs and class, sharing cuisine is the universal symbol of unity. Far be it for the sharing of those diverse styles of food to be lost on good ole’ dirty Knox.

My favorite spot to introduce friends to is Kaizen in Old City. Kaizen is a small restaurant that embraces Japanese food Izakaya style. Izakaya can be most closely compared to Spanish Tapas in their purpose.

They are small plates usually served with sake, beer or whiskey. Izakaya is casual dining meant to highlight the social outing rather than the food itself. However, I find it hard to pay attention to what my friends are saying once those bao buns hit the table as our starter.

If I’m not trying out an entrée I haven’t had before, I’ll stick with my classic favorite Dan Dan noodles, but every other choice I’ve had has been memorable and usually turned into a recommendation for whoever I’m with. I’m having a hard time writing about it right now without taking a ride down there and ordering the takoyaki with the dry fry eggplant.

The executive chef and owner of Kaizen is Jesse Newmister, who trained in Charleston, South Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky. Newmister chose to incorporate other styles such as Szechuan and Thai into his menu at Kaizen, and I’m not complaining. Kaizen’s menu also features a multitude of vegetarian and vegan menu items that don’t hesitate to be the star of the show and usually are featured as daily specials.

As much as I love Kaizen, going exploring around the city to find unique foodie spots is one of my favorite things, and I encourage everyone to do so. Chick-Fil-A will always be here for you when you come back. Happy munching!

A traditional bun served at Kaizen on Nov. 1, 2017.

File / The Daily Beacon

Erin Gwydir is a freshman at UT this year studying political science and cinema studies. She can be reached at egwydir@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff. KAITLYN PILCHER Staff Writer

In the past few years, the nutrition tea business has been booming in the South. Knoxville is home to several of the establishments across the city, but one that’s just a short drive from UT’s campus, located at 4457 Kingston Pike, is Rocky Top Nutrition.

Rocky Top Nutrition is a tea and shake bar that opened March 28, 2020. Since their opening, they have held a variety of events for students at the university and created drinks for every craving.

Whether you’re craving a tasty and energizing drink before working out or a protein shake to take a break and enjoy a nice meal replacement, Rocky Top Nutrition can provide it.

As for their teas, their menu includes three different levels, which include aloe, one of their boosters and lift-offs.

The aloe included in these teas support healthy digestion and nutrient absorption. You can choose cranberry, mandarin or mango flavored aloe to add to your drink.

For their boosters, they have a variety that can promote different functions within the body. This varies anywhere from a collagen beauty booster to those that help to reduce body fat.

If you’re stopping by to get a quick drink before going to the gym, you can include a preworkout booster that aids in healthy blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles.

The lift-offs that are offered come in flavors of lemon-lime, orange, pomegranate and tropical fruit to provide a sweeter taste to your tea.

Additionally, they even have combos that are offered in three different levels, as well as funsize, pre-workout and post-workout options.

For these combos, you’ll choose one of their shake choices and the tea level you want included with it.

Their level one combo includes a meal replacement shake along with a level one tea. However, their fun-size combo includes a half sized shake along with a tea that includes either a liftoff or booster.

They have a large choice of different flavored shakes. Within these choices, some of the shake flavors are gluten free.

Their shake flavors are divided into six different categories. There is the top-10 list, chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, fruity and coffee lovers.

If you want a small snack to go along with your choice of drink, they also sell protein bars, express meal bars and protein bites.

On the other hand, if you’re not looking for a tea or shake to drink, you can order various other options.

They offer small shots of their boosters and aloe. Additionally, they sell aloe water, electrolyte sport drinks, iced coffee and a pre-work-

A strawberry lemonade tea is highlighted in front of the Rocky Top Nutrition menu in Knoxville on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily

Beacon

out tea.

Due to their close proximity to campus, Rocky Top Nutrition is also very involved with students. When the semester started, they offered a 10% discount for students.

Furthermore, many sororities have used Rocky Top Nutrition for percentage nights to fundraise money for their chapter. When participating in these nights, it is a very simple process. All one has to do is mention the sorority being sponsored to the cashier. The sorority then earns money for their philanthropy events.

Sierra McMillan, a sophomore and member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, provided information on these percentage nights offered by the store.

“It’s a really good place to get a nutritional drink to begin with and they’re super helpful when any sorority wants to hold a percentage night there,” McMillan said.

The store also has very promising reviews online and is loved by students and nonstudents alike. The Facebook page for the store posts some of its beloved customers and drink flavors.

Elizabeth Archie, a fan of the drinks offered, spoke on the store.

“The staff is friendly, the drink options are fantastic and it’s just overall a great place to go to for a drink,” Archie said.

If you’re thinking about stopping by Rocky Top Nutrition, their hours range from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and they are closed on Sundays.