NASHVILLE, TN
AVO was our first destination after touching down in Nashville in 2017. I could hardly wait to try one of the drool-worthy dishes I’d been scoping out online in preparation for our mother-daughter vegan food tour of Tennessee. AVO was everything, the perfect start of what turned out to be one of the most epic trips of our lives.
Fast forward seven years, AVO is still going strong. Owned and operated by the beautiful and kind Annie Choo, AVO isn’t just a great place for a healthy, plant-based meal; with cocktails, wine, and beer, it’s also perfect for unwinding with friends.
Thank you, Meghan, for modeling our margs
Pro Tip: AVO offers a happy hour menu Tuesday through Friday, 4:30p to 6p, and it includes the frozen Avocado Margarita for only 9 buckaroos.
The fabulous, tangy, make-you-melt-in-your-seat signature blend is made with Lunazul tequila reposado, orange liqueur, avocado, lime, orange, agave, and cilantro. It’s basically a guilt-free green smoothie.
Come hungry for a taste of Chef James Ford’s culinary artistry
Ford not only crafts exquisite vegan meals but caringly plates them in generous portions, like the Kale Caesar. My jaw dropped when the monstrous salad—kale, cashew parmesan, sun dried tomato, roasted garlic, fried chickpeas, hemp seeds, and walnut Caesar dressing piled as high as a small mountain—was brought to the table. Intimidating? Yes. But also so good I left no chopped leaf behind.
Kale Caesar
Lentil-Walnut Burger
Possibly the greatest starter of all-time: AVO’s Fried Cauliflower, prepped three ways—buffalo, sweet & spicy Korean, garlic parm. While I didn’t get to try the cruciferous veggie sweet & spicy Korean style, the other two coulda brought tears of joy to my eyes.
From the shareable options, the OG Nachos with savory cauliflower-walnut chorizo and creamy coconut queso get a notable mention.
Another top rec: the Lentil-Walnut Burger. Phenomenal! Sandwiched between a Village Bakery sweet potato bun, the protein-packed lentil and walnut patty is topped with coconut American chz, lettuce, tomato, onion, beet ketchup, and chickpea mayo.
My AVO food and cocktail wish list
This thriving vegan business has four menus—lunch (L), dinner (D), happy hour (H), and brunch (B)—with sooooo much more I want to try! 😩
If my Foodie Godmother granted me six wishes, here’s what I’d ask for:
💫 Fried Hash Brown Sando (B): cashew chèvre, blueberry demi, dressed herbs, toasted local bread
💫 Cornbread Pancake (B): gluten-free pancake with berries and vanilla cream
💫 Penne Pesto Primavera (L/D): pistachio-walnut pesto, roasted veggies, sun-dried tomato, cashew parm
💫 Cauliflower Steak (D): harissa spiced cauliflower, caramelized onion risotto, marinated sweet peppers
💫 Vegan Vampire (L/D): Lunazul tequila blanco, blood orange, lime, agave, habanero, spicy rim
💫 Cosmic Cosmo (H): Cathead vodka, orange liqueur, lime, pomegranate, cranberry, glitter
For more deliciously kind vegan food in Nashville, check out Graze and The Southern V.
EXPLORING THE CITY
Last month I traveled to Nashville to co-work with Meghan, my dear friend and colleague. Between long days of drafting our year-end fundraising plans and not having a car, we didn’t even have a chance to see the city by day.
There were bright spots though… Coconut lattes from Caliber Coffee Co., mock tuna melts at Graze, avocado margaritas at AVO, finding a Voodoo Doughnut at the Nashville airport… And the fact that our third musketeer just happened to be in town too?!
Left to right: Me, Eve-Marie, Meghan
Ugh. *Wishing for another vegan Chocolate Ring right. meow.*
I knew Voodoo Doughnut had multiple locations (21 to be exact, with two more opening soon), but I wasn’t expecting to stumble across one at Nashville International Airport. What a sweet surprise. 😜
Portland born, Voodoo Doughnut offers a variety of vegan options—a couple of classics, plus wilder creations like the Old Dirty Bastard and adorably decorated Voodoo Doll.
And with my pink bag of sugary goodness, I was off! ☁️✈️☁️
