OTM reports on dining in Nashville, and especially the 2nd annual Music City Food & Wine Festival.  Thank you to Infiniti for the use of their Pavilion, Joe Samfilippo, Franklin TN, www.infinitiusa.com. Visiting & Local Chefs collaborate, Mike Lata, FIG and The Ordinary, Charleston SC, www.eatatfig.com  & http://eattheordinary.com. , with Tandy Wilson, City House, Nashville, www.cityhousenashville.com; Beer & Liquor in Nashville, Baily Spaulding, Jackalope Brewing Company, www.jackalopebrew.com & Will Atkinson, Corsair Distillery, www.corsairartisan.com;  Two of Nashville’s most exciting new restaurants, Matt Farley, Executive Chef, Acme Feed & Seed, www.theacmenashville.com & Deb Paquette, Chef/Owner, Etch, www.etchrestaurant.com.

OTM heads west from Friuli to Veneto.  Two restaurants we loved 10 years ago, we found were still Great, and “In Search of Soave”, the Veneto’s misunderstood Vino Bianco.  Giuseppe and Lucia Zamboni, with translation by Simone Fortou, Trattoria Zamboni, near Vicenza, www.trattoriazamboni.it; Allan & Atttius Tarlao, Owners with translation by Laura Gereon, Tavernetta All’Androna, Grado; www.androna.it; Giovanni Ponchia, Director, Soave Consortium, Soave, www.ilsoave.com; Laura Rizzotto, Balestri Valda, Soave, www.balestrivaldi.com; Claudio Gini, Avienda Agricola Gini, Monteforte, www.ginivini.com; Marta Magnabosco, Avienda Agricola Monte Tondo, Soave, www.montetondo.it.

Friuli Part 2 – mostly Trieste.  Hedy & Susy Benvenuti, Owners, Duchi d’Aosta, Duchi Vis a Vis & Riviera Hotels & Harry’s Grill, Chef Federico Sestan, Trieste, www.duchi.eu; Bruno Vesnaver, Owner, Antica Ghiacceretta, Trieste, www.anticaghiacceretta; Gianluca & Massimiliano Sabinot, Owners, Vitello d’Oro, Udine, www.vitellodoro.com; Roberto Marussi, Owner. Al Bagatto, Trieste, www.albagatto.it.

Friuli & Veneto 10 years on.  OTM made a first visit to this area of NE Italy in 2004, the year we launched the program - so we thought it a revisit was overdue.  Old friends and New Friends extended warm welcome and generous hospitality at their restaurants, cantinas and lodgings.  At Orsone, Lidia & Joe Bastianich's Restaurant, B&B & Cantina - Andrea Sbrizzo, General Manager, Eduardo Valle, Executive Chef & Kelly Jeun, Sous-Chef, Wayne Young, Sales Communicatio & Marketing Mgr; Cividale del Friui, www.orsone.com ; Valter Scarbolo, Proprietor, Scarbolo Wines & La Frasca Restaurant, Lauzacco, Udine, www.scarbolo.com; Antonella Nonino, Family Nonino, Nonino Distillatori, Percoto, Udine, www.nonino.it.  More from Friuli next week.

A Program of New Stuff- new to OTM anyway.  Vanessa Lengies & Frankie Scanlon, Founders & Owners, Gustus Vitae, Salt & Spice Blends, Venice CA, www.gustusvitae.com; Chef John Doherty, Chicken Soup for the Soul BBQ Sauces, Broths, Meal Builders, etc., www.chickensoup.com/foods/; Tracy Panase, Director of Domestic Marketing, Microplane – new Kitchen Tools to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its founding; Russelsville AR, www.microplane.com; Christina Arokiasamy, Malaysian Food Ambassador, The Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation, www.malaysiankitchen.us.

Nashville’s Music City Food & Wine Festival, a Big Event You’ll  Love (no pun intended), Tim Love, Austin TX-based Restaurateur & Tennessee Farmer tells OTM all about it - upcoming September 20 & 21, www.musiccityfoodandwinefestival.com, and www.cheftimlove.com .  Then Experts give us fascinating insights about the liquids we love: Simon Brooking, US Global Ambassador, Laphraoig Scotch Whisky & Laphraoig Select, Islay Scotland, www.laphroaig.com; Jaime Joyce, Moonshine: The Cultural History of America's Infamous Liquor; Brooke & Luther Fedora, Chef-Owners, Horse & Hounds Gastropub, Charlottesville VA, The Foodie's Beer Book: The Art of Pairing & Cooking with Beer for Any Occasion; Steve Piatz, Minneapolis, The Complete Guide to Mead Making.

A Mostly Green program, plus a bit of comfort: Domenica Marchetti, The Glorious Vegetables of Italy, resides in Virginia, www.domenicacooks.com, Erin Riley Strong, The Green City Market Cookbook: Great Recipes from Chicago's Award-winning Farmers Market, Chicago IL, www.greencitymarket.org; Hillary Davis, French Comfort Food: the Flavors of a Cozy French Kitchen, resides in New Hampshire, www.hillary-davis.com.

North of the Border - Part 2.  Chefs at Taste of Toronto, Canoe Restaurant - High in the Sky over Toronto, Gastro-grilling from Canada.  David Neinstein, Barque Smokehouse, www.barque.ca; Damon Campbell, Bosk Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel, http://www.shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila/dining/restaurants/bosk/; Jeff Hopgood, Hopgoods Foodliner, www.hopgoodsfoodliner.com; Robbie Hojilla, Hudson Kitchen, www.hudsonkitchen.com; Monte Wan, Khaosanroad, www.khaosanroad.ca; Elia Herrara, Los Colibris, www.loscolibris.ca; Mark McEwan, North 44, One Restaurant, McEwan, Fabbrica, www.mcewangroup.ca; John Horne, Canoe Restaurant, http://oliverbonacini.com/Canoe.aspx; Ted Reader, Gastro Grilling: Fired-up Recipes to Grill Great Everyday Meals, www.tedreader.com.

A very special tribute to Chef Charlie Trotter, plus the Foods & Flavors of Texas & India.  Homaro Cantu, Moto Restaurant, Chicago, spokesperson for The Trotter Project, www.motorestaurant.com; Dean Fearing, Chef/Partner, Fearing's Restaurant, Dallas TX, www.fearingsrestaurant.com, The Texas Food Bible: From Legendary Dishes to New Classics; Rinku Bhattacharaya, Westchester NY, www.cookinginwestchester.com, Spices & Seasons: Simple, Sustainable Indian Flavors.

OTM headed North of the Border (no song intended) to cover Toronto's exciting dining scene and North America's inaugural "Taste of...." Event.  Here's the first batch of Chefs that we met. Susur Lee, Luckee Restaurant, www.luckeerestaurant.com;  Carl Heinrich, Richmand Station, www.richmondstation.ca; Cory Vitiello, The Harbord Room & THR, www.theharbordroom.com; Ben Heaton, The Grove, www.thegroveto.com; Stuart Cameron, Patria, Byblos, Weslodge, www.iconlegacy.ca; Lachlan Culjak, Yours Truly, www.yours-truly.ca; David Chrystian, Victor Restaurant, www.victorrestaurant.com; and to end a "Toast to Toronto, Sophia Pantazi, Owner, 66 Gilead Distillery, Bloomfield, Ontario, www.66gileaddistillery.com.  More of Toronto Top Chefs in 2 weeks...................

Beware, this is a very Meaty program!  Jennifer Johnson, Director of Marketing, Olli Salumeria, fine European style Organic Charcuterie (mostly Italian inspired), Mechanicsville VA (soon Oceaside CA also), www.olli.com; Tom Mylan, Exec Chef & Co-owner, Meat Hook, Brooklyn NY, www.the-meathook.com, The Meat Hook Meat Book; Brett Goodson, Founder, Bacon's Heir LLC, Atlanta GA, www.baconsheir.com, Inventors & Producers of Pork Clouds & Pork Dust - www.theporkdust.com; Mirella Amato, Founder, Beerology, Beer Tasting & Events, Toronto Canada, www.beerology.ca, Beerology: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Beer…Even More.

Taste of Toronto, next week July 24-27, 1st Taste of event in North America; then some unusual cookbook subjects & recipes.  Meghan O’Hanlon, Event Director, Taste Festivals Canada/IMG Group Canada, www.tasteoftoronto.com; Jeni Britton Bauer, Columbus OH, www.jenis.com, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Desserts; Laura Russell, Portland OR, www.laurabrussell.com, Brassicas: Cooking the World’s Healthiest Vegetables; Michelle & Suzanne Rousseau, Kingston Jamaica, www.2sistersandameal.com, Caribbean Potluck.

A selection of Delicious Food Products & Recipes:  David Barber, Partner, Blue Hill Farm, Blue Hill Savory Yougurt, The Berkshires, MA, www.bluehillyogurt.com; Lori Cardenas, Owner, Aunty Liliko'i Fine Passionfruit Products, Waimea, Kauai, HI, www.auntylilikoi,com; Lee Brian Schrager, Special Events Director, Southern Wines & Spirits, Miami FL, Fried & True: 50 recipes for America's Best Fried Chicken and Sides; Erin Alderson, Blogger at www.naturallyella.com, Sacramento CA, The Homemade Flour Cookbook.

PA Jorgenson, Eating with the Chefs, Stockholm, Sweden, www.fool.se; Lynette Kucsma,CMO & Co-founder, Natural Machines, Creators of the Foodini, 3-D Printer for Foodstuffs, Barcelona Spain, www.naturalmachines.com. ; James Peterson, (Is it) Done (Yet): A Cook's Guide to Knowing when Food is Perfectly Cooked, Brooklyn NY (parentheses added by OTM).

Three exciting Asian Restaurants in England - London & Manchester.  And good news from Justin Severino, the Cure'ated Dinner series at Cure, Pittsburgh, www.curepittsburgh.com. Bobby Chinn, Owner, House of Ho, London, www.houseofho.co.uk/, unconventional Vietnamese; Mimi Tokumine, Sake Sommelier, Shoryu, London (3 locations), www.shoryuramen.com, Traditional Ramen, huge Sake selection; Helen Tse, MBE, Chef-Partner, Sweet Mandarin, Manchester, www.sweetmandarin.com/, 3rd Generation interpretation of classic & contemporary Chinese, Sweet Mandarin Cookbook: Classic & Contemporary Chinese Recipes with Gluten & Dairy Free Variation.

Announcing Brooklyn Brewery Mash in Pittsburgh June 21-28, then on around the world. NOLA Chefs, New & Old, plus a Prominent Irish Chef talks about Irish Food & his DC area Restaurants.  Beer, more Beer & Food to match, from a leader in the Craft Brewery movement - http://brooklynbrewerymash.com; Alon Shaya, Chef-Partner, Pizza Domenica, www.pizzadomenica.com; Mike Regua Sr., Executive Chef, Antoine's Restaurant, www.antoines.com; Cathal Armstrong, Chef-Owner, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria VA, www.restauranteve.com, My Irish Table: Recipes from the Homeland and Restaurant Eve.

OTM returns to NOLA, the "Crescent City" and one of our favorite places to dine:  Ryan Prewitt, Chef/Owner, Peche Seafood Grill, www.pecherestaurant.com; Brian Landry, Chef/Partner, Borgne, www.borgnerestaurant.com; Miles Prescott, Chef/Partner, RioMar (also Little Gem & soon-to-come La Boca, a new Nikkei (Japanese/Peruvian) concept); Raoul Vives, Bellman (for 50 years), Hotel Monteleone, www.hotelmonteleone.com, also home to Criollo Restaurant, www.criollonola.com.

OTM goes Exotic, Cuisines & Ingredients.  Jean-Paul Gabriel, Thailand: the Cookbook, based in Belgium, www.jpgl.be; David Sterling, Founder & Proprietor, Los Dos Cooking School, Merida Mexico, www.los-dos.com, Yucatan: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition; Esha Ray, Co-Founder & CEO, Enray (now owned by J M Smucker), TRuRoots "ancient" grains, Lentils, Quinoa, etc., Livermore CA, www.truroots.com; Samir Bayraktar, NAR Gourmet Mediterranean Products from Turkey--Oils, Vinegars, Preserves, Herbs & Spices, www.nargourmet.com

OTM Visits with Artisan Bread Bakers, a Spokesperson for "Meatless all day", and a Sophisticated look at America's Favorite, Hot Dogs Buns & all.  Keith Cohen, Owner, Orwashers, NYC, www.orwashers.com, Artisan Bread: 100 Years of Techniques & Recipes; Josey Baker, Owner, The Mill Bakery, San Francisco, www.joseybakerbread.wordpress.com, Josey Baker Bread; Dina Cheney, Meatless All Day: Recipes for Inspired Vegetarian Meals, Cos Cob CT, www.dinacheney.com; Russell Van Kraayenburg, Haute Dogs: Recipes forDelicious Hot Dogs, Buns and Condiments, www.chasingdelicious.com.

OTM heads for some of London’s GREAT Galleries & Museums;  The National Gallery, Veronese, www.nationalgallery.org.uk; The National Portrait Gallery, David Bailey Stardust, www.npg.org.uk;  Tate Modern, Matisse Cutouts, www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern; The Barbican, Jean Paul Gaultier, www.barbican.org.uk/visitor-information; The British Museum, The Vikings, www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/vikings.aspx.  And of course more fine dining – three up and coming British Chefs, and a surprise ending to the show; Phil Carmichael, Executive Chef, Berner’s Tavern at The London Edition Hotel, www.bernerstavern.com; Hus Vedat, Head Chef, Barbecoa by Jamie Oliver, www.barbecoa.com; Adam Handling, Caxton Head Chef, Caxton Grill at St. Ermin’s Hotel, www.caxtongrill.co.uk; Camilla Goddard, Director, Capital Bees, Beekeeper for St Ermin’s Hotel & others, www.capitalbee.co.uk.

It's Award Season - OTM shares Winner's Excitement in London, anticipates the same in NYC.  April 28 at London's Guildhall, the World's 50 Best Restaurants for 2014 were announced.  We caught up with a few of the Excited Chefs & Owners: Highest New Entry at #17, Gaggan Anand, Gaggan, Bangkok, www.eatatgaggan.com; Biggest Mover, from #50 to #15, Virgilio Martinez, Central, Lima, Peru, www.centralrestaurante.pe, also Lima London, www.limalondon.com.  Chef Jean Francois & GM Pierre Siue, Daniel, NYC, www.danielnyc.com; “One to Watch”, Mark Bright, Partner, Saison, SF, www.saisonsf.com; Thomas Keller, Per Se, NYC, www.perseny.com, French Laundry, Yountville CA, www.frenchlaundry.com/; First ever on Top 50 from Russia: Vladimir Mukhin, White Rabbit, Moscow, Russia, www.whiterabbitmoscow.ru.

Preview of the James Beard Awards taking place tomorrow in NYC, Izabela Wojcik, Director of House Programming, James Beard Foundation, NYC, www.jamesbeard.org

Not enough Sweets for your Sweet Tooth at Easter?  OTM has more Sweet Guests right here!  Brian Nicholson & Sarah Huck, Red Jacket Orchards, Fruitful: Four Seasons of Fresh Fruit Recipes, Geneva NY, www.redjacketorchards.com; Kamal Grant, Owner, Sublime Doughnuts, Home Made Doughnuts: Techniques and Recipesfor making Doughnuts in the Home Kitchen, Atlanta GA, www.sublimedoughnuts.com; Amber Rose, Baker & Food Stylist, Love Bake Nourish: Healthier Cakes & Desserts Full of Fruit & Flavour, London UK, www.amberrose.co.uk; LindsayClendaniel,  Icecream Maker/Blogger, Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States, Annapolis MD, www.scoopadventures.com