A community go-to since 2001, locally-owned grocery store Turnip Truckย is celebrating 20 years in Nashville this year. The mom-and-pop neighborhood favorite โ with an extraordinarily helpful staff โ specializes in everything from health products and locally sourced produce to delicious prepackaged dishes you can serve up on the spot. Plus, they have killer salad and hot bars and an incredible organic juice bar, too! From fresh flowers to gourmet savories to a fabulous wine selection, the one-stop shopping doesnโt get any better, particularly since there are three locations to choose from: East Nashville, West Nashville, and The Gulch. Since there are so many great items to shop for, our team collaborated to come up with our top five Turnip Truck picks. We canโt wait for you to try them!
Locally Made Pasta
Handcrafted by a local vendor in small batches,ย Alfrescoย artisan pasta offers an authentic taste of Italy right here in Music City. From ribbons of thick fettuccine and spaghetti to frozen ravioli and tortellini, the Turnip Truck carries a beautiful array of options that lend traditional Italian flavor to whatever dish youโre preparing. Also notable, the store has a wide selection of shelf pasta to satisfy every palate and dietary restriction, too โ from gluten-free to brown rice or chickpea-based options.
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Argentinian Shrimp
Wild-caught with sustainable practices in Argentina, Argentinian Royal Red Shrimp are the crรจme de la crรจme of shrimp. โRoyal red [shrimp] are hard to find in Nashville, and these are delicious,โ says StyleBlueprint Founder and CEO Liza Graves, who adds that this particular type of shrimp retains its shrimp flavor but also delivers the butteriness of lobster. Two pounds will easily feed a large family, and theyโre easy to peel. Antibiotic- and additive-free, these shrimp are so tasty, they need only be sautรฉed with some butter for a beautiful dinner. If youโre looking to kick it up a notch, Turnip Truck Marketing Director Z Nelson says, โI love these sautรฉed with butter and onions, and tossed on some pasta with a squeeze of lemon.โ
An easy, inexpensive go-to, rotisserie chicken offers some serious versatility, whether youโre carving it to accompany mashed potatoes, shredding it for tacos, or layering it in a sandwich. We love the classic-brined rotisserie chicken from Springer Mountain Farms, which you can buy for $7.99. Itโs also 100% natural with no antibiotics, steroids, growth stimulants or hormones. โThe rotisserie chicken makes dinner prep so easy, and I donโt have to worry about all of the bad stuff thatโs in other commercial rotisserie chickens,โ says StyleBlueprint Director of Marketing Megan Casey, who loves to use it for homemade chicken salad. โI use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise,โ she says. โThen, I include marinated artichokes, Kalamata olives, red onion, and roasted red peppers for a twist.โ
Not that making your own guacamole is ridiculously labor-intensive, but sometimes you simply donโt have the time or energy to whip up your own. The Turnip Truck gives us a reason not to bother. โHands down, the Turnip Truck makes the best guac in the city,โ says Liza. โBetter than any restaurant, I promise!โ With simple, fresh ingredients, the in-house guacamole features ripe avocados, lemon juice, red onions and a dash of salt โ the perfect combination for snacking. If youโre looking for the best thing to dip into it, Z tells us the Santo Nino Tortilla Chips are perfection. Even better, theyโre made in Gallatin, Tennessee!
Whether youโre looking for a few bold cheese wedges and some crostini, or youโre building an epic platter of cured meats topped with oodles of festive garnishes, the Turnip Truck has everything you need to build the ideal grazing board. Let your culinary creativity abound! We love grabbing a little bit of this and a little bit of that โ fromย Smoking Gooseโs Gin and Juice Salami to herbes de Provence-rolledย Noble Springs Dairyย goat cheese, which is made in Franklin. From cornichons and marinated olives to sweet compote, candied nuts and artisan crackers, we could peruse the aisles for hours on end.
To find these delicious items (and so many more!), visit the Turnip Truck at the East Nashville location: 701 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206; Charlotte Avenue location: 5001 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209; or The Gulch location: 321 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203. Plus, be sure to check out the Turnip Truckโs โ20 Days of Givingโ celebration to commemorate 20 years in business. From May 1-20, you can enjoy daily giveaways and promotions.