The Dish: Michael Symon
You already know your favorite chefs by the foods they prepare and the restaurants they’ve created. Now, get to know a different side of these culinary masterminds in our weekly The Dish feature. From behind-the-scenes kitchen talk to culinary soundtracks and Nashville recommendations, we’re bringing you the dish – straight from the pros.
Last week we checked in with James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer and teacher, Andrew Zimmern, and today we talk with award-winning chef Michael Symon in advance of this weekend’s second annual Music City Food + Wine Festival!

Favorite post-shift meal/late-night snack?
While I’m in Nashville, that would definitely be Hot Chicken!
Go-to cooking soundtrack?
I have eclectic taste in music. Anything from classic rock to metal to rap – here are a few songs from one of my playlists:
Which words or phrase do you most overuse in the kitchen?
Delicious.
Most underrated/overrated ingredient?
Underrated – Lemon
Overrated – Garlic
Favorite Nashville spot?
Definitely Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, as well as Husk and Adele’s.