Smoky flavors star at Food & Spirits event

Crowds follow nose to newest festival
The Tennessean • June 3, 2008
FRANKLIN — If you were anywhere near downtown Franklin Saturday, that aroma was more than hot dogs and burgers on a backyard grill.
The inaugural Franklin Food & Spirits Festival celebrated Southern fare with local chefs cooking dishes ranging from Loveless Cafe's fried chicken to Puckett's baby back ribs to barbecue from soon-to-be Franklin newcomer Jim 'n' Nick's Bar-B-Q. There were libations as well, including samples of beer from Nashville's Yazoo Brewing Co. and wine from Williamson County's Arrington Winery.
A steady crowd of visitors bought tickets to sample the culinary choices, but others took in free events, such as listening to live music and talking with food experts on hand to sign their books.
The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County is still in the process of estimating how many diners made it to the festival. But just glancing around the food booths, executive director Mary Pearce was pleased.
"We feel that for this being a first-year festival, the response was phenomenal. We're already thinking of ways to grow it in the coming years, like adding children's activities and storytelling," she said.
The festival raised money for the Southern Foodways Alliance, which is headquartered in Mississippi, and The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County's Save the Franklin Theatre campaign.