SUMMER CLASSICS

Thanks to Angela, today we feature a written recollection of a recent event we did at our local destination for fashionable Southern finery, Billy Reid.

The peaches of my youth, they were fragrant, weighty, musky and sweet. They had thin skins with a touch of fuzz. Somewhere along the way, these perfect fruits faded into memory. The peaches I buy at the store now are from California, and I have realized the ones I always loved as a girl must have come from Georgia. What are the chances that I could convince the nice folks at my neighborhood Kroger to purchase tree-ripe peaches from a couple of states away? Thank heavens that we discovered The Peach Truck, hallelujah!

Our friends at Billy Reid recently hosted an in-store soiree celebrating two of the summer's finest offerings: peaches and baseball. We had the pleasure of figuring out just what can be done with a good Georgia peach. Peach-rosewater ice cream with pistachio brittle was cool, tangy, and creamy, perfect for the scorching temperatures outside. Homemade cracker jack with peanuts, pecans and smoked paprika lent a savory, spicy kick to the original sweet crunch. Hands could not be stopped from revisiting the bowl time and again. Baguette toasts were topped with fresh made ricotta, peaches and mint and finished with good Greek olive oil, sea salt and pepper -- what a sublime combination. The tray emptied as quickly as we could fill it.

The ambiance was nothing but pure Billy, a comfortable place to chat, the backdrop of a killer playlist for the evening, and a clothing style that only the fine cohorts who work there can effortlessly offer. The baseball element was provided by artist Christ Susi. You can see his masterful work on the website, but I highly suggest that you see them in real life. 

The bar was hopping and complete with stemmed Mason jars. The classic Bellini was tangy and sparkly! But the Peach Julep with bourbon, mint and muddled peaches, was the hands-down winner of the evening. You can't go wrong with a combination like that. We believe that when people linger and laugh and then come back for seconds (and thirds), we're doing something right. Success!

Sadly, peach season is dangerously close to being over (as in next week-ish). Go visit Stephen and Jess at The Peach Truck, and shake their hands in gratitude while you're at it -- they've made peaches a destination! Grab a box and bless your friends and family. And who knows, we may or may not be preserving that mid-summer flavor in a jar in a closet somewhere in East Nashville, just perhaps for your sipping pleasure in the near future.