The Tennessee Truffle - Southern Food With Modern Flair In Orlando North
Chocolate Gravy Biscuit with smoked salt photo by Thomas Routzong
The Tennessee Truffle
Southern Food With Modern Flair In Orlando North
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Just minutes north of Orlando, Florida attractions, Seminole County is experiencing a cultural and entrepreneurial resurgence. Called Orlando North by those in the know, it offers “an easier, wilder way to do Orlando” with “pristine nature parks, less crowded restaurants and more affordable hotels.”
We spent several days touring Seminole County meeting business owners. Here is just one of the excellent venues we discovered.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch and spoke with Nat Russell - Chef and Owner of The Tennessee Truffle Restaurant.
Can you try to describe The Tennessee Truffle in one sentence?
The Tennessee Truffle is Southern food with the modern flair.
How did The Tennessee Truffle come to be?
The restaurant came to be because I was sick of working late into the evening and never seeing my daughter.
I thought to myself what type of food do you like to eat? It went back to my childhood - southern food and sandwiches.
I thought I couldn't be alone.
What can you tell us about your menu and the inspirations / backgrounds of your dishes?
My inspiration for this has to be growing up in Memphis and eating at places like the Blue Plate Cafe, as well as many of our amazing barbecue joints. I like taking southern recipes tweaking them and using produce I can find right here in our back yard!
Why did you choose Sanford, Florida and what has been the response?
I chose Sanford for a couple reasons. First, I love how much I have seen this area grow in the past ten years. Second, I have always worked in other areas but I've lived in Sanford ever since my wife and myself moved to Florida in 2006. The support from our neighbors, businesses, and patrons has been overwhelmingly amazing! Everyone has been super supportive
What are your plans for the future?
Our plans in the future will be getting this place streamlined a bit and we would like too do more wine dinners as well as open up for weekend nights
Our Conclusion:
Our lunch included:
Chef Nat Russell has a talent for unique flavors and appealing presentation. We enjoyed every dish. The Sausage Gravy and Biscuits dish is excellent. The Chocolate Gravy Biscuit with smoked salt was so good that we tried (unsuccessfully) to cook it at home a week later. And the Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream was such a tasty surprise that we recommended it to several friends.
If you think you might enjoy “Southern Food With Modern Flair,” be sure to visit The Tennessee Truffle in Orlando North / Seminole County, Florida.
The Tennessee Truffle is located at 125 W. 1st Street, Sanford, Florida.
Their phone is 407-942-3977.
Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thetennesseetruffle/
Southern Food With Modern Flair In Orlando North
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Just minutes north of Orlando, Florida attractions, Seminole County is experiencing a cultural and entrepreneurial resurgence. Called Orlando North by those in the know, it offers “an easier, wilder way to do Orlando” with “pristine nature parks, less crowded restaurants and more affordable hotels.”
We spent several days touring Seminole County meeting business owners. Here is just one of the excellent venues we discovered.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch and spoke with Nat Russell - Chef and Owner of The Tennessee Truffle Restaurant.
Can you try to describe The Tennessee Truffle in one sentence?
The Tennessee Truffle is Southern food with the modern flair.
How did The Tennessee Truffle come to be?
The restaurant came to be because I was sick of working late into the evening and never seeing my daughter.
I thought to myself what type of food do you like to eat? It went back to my childhood - southern food and sandwiches.
I thought I couldn't be alone.
What can you tell us about your menu and the inspirations / backgrounds of your dishes?
My inspiration for this has to be growing up in Memphis and eating at places like the Blue Plate Cafe, as well as many of our amazing barbecue joints. I like taking southern recipes tweaking them and using produce I can find right here in our back yard!
Why did you choose Sanford, Florida and what has been the response?
I chose Sanford for a couple reasons. First, I love how much I have seen this area grow in the past ten years. Second, I have always worked in other areas but I've lived in Sanford ever since my wife and myself moved to Florida in 2006. The support from our neighbors, businesses, and patrons has been overwhelmingly amazing! Everyone has been super supportive
What are your plans for the future?
Our plans in the future will be getting this place streamlined a bit and we would like too do more wine dinners as well as open up for weekend nights
Our Conclusion:
Our lunch included:
- Anson Mills White Antebellum Grits, sorghum and crushed pecans
- Cured Atlantic Salmon with Florida oranges, greatfruit, cucumber and red onion slaw
- Gravy and Biscuits with pasture prime pork, fennel and sausage gravy
- Chocolate Gravy Biscuit with smoked salt
- Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream
Chef Nat Russell has a talent for unique flavors and appealing presentation. We enjoyed every dish. The Sausage Gravy and Biscuits dish is excellent. The Chocolate Gravy Biscuit with smoked salt was so good that we tried (unsuccessfully) to cook it at home a week later. And the Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream was such a tasty surprise that we recommended it to several friends.
If you think you might enjoy “Southern Food With Modern Flair,” be sure to visit The Tennessee Truffle in Orlando North / Seminole County, Florida.
The Tennessee Truffle is located at 125 W. 1st Street, Sanford, Florida.
Their phone is 407-942-3977.
Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thetennesseetruffle/
Article and photos by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
Email: SunnyHarborPublishing@yahoo.com
Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
