These 6 Tennessee Food Sayings Outsiders Have No Idea What They Mean

Tennessee has a language all its own when it comes to food, and if you’re not from around here, you might find yourself scratching your head at the dinner table. From meat-and-threes to cornbread debates, the sayings and phrases we use can sound like total gibberish to outsiders.

But don’t worry – I’m here to translate the delicious dialect of Tennessee food culture so you can talk the talk and eat like a local.

1. Meat-And-Three

Walk into any down-home Tennessee restaurant, and you’ll hear folks ordering a “meat-and-three” without a second thought. This beloved phrase refers to a style of dining where you pick one meat and three side dishes from a cafeteria-style lineup.

It’s comfort food at its finest, served up fast and filling. You’ll find classics like fried chicken, meatloaf, mac and cheese, green beans, and cornbread on the menu.

Places like Arnold’s Country Kitchen at 605 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, have perfected this Tennessee tradition for decades.

2. Hot Chicken

If someone in Nashville tells you to try hot chicken, they’re not just talking about temperature – they’re warning you about serious heat. This fiery fried chicken is coated in a cayenne-based paste that ranges from mild to “why did I do this to myself.”

Born in Nashville, hot chicken has become a badge of honor for brave eaters. The spice level can make your eyes water and your taste buds sing.

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack at 123 Ewing Dr, Nashville, TN 37207, is where the legend began back in the 1930s.

3. Bless Your Heart Biscuits

When a Tennessee cook says “bless your heart” while handing you a biscuit, it could mean a dozen different things – but the biscuit itself is always sincere. Fluffy, buttery, and made from scratch, these Southern staples are serious business in Tennessee kitchens.

A proper biscuit should be tender enough to pull apart in layers, never dense or dry. Some folks prefer them with sausage gravy, while others go for butter and jam.

The Loveless Cafe at 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221, serves up legendary biscuits that tourists and locals alike crave daily.

4. Cornbread In Buttermilk

Outsiders might give you a strange look if you mention crumbling cornbread into a glass of buttermilk, but Tennesseans know this old-school combo is pure comfort. This traditional practice turns two simple ingredients into a satisfying snack or light meal that’s been passed down through generations.

The cornbread soaks up the tangy buttermilk, creating a texture somewhere between cereal and pudding. It’s an acquired taste for sure, but once you try it, you might just understand the appeal.

You won’t find this on restaurant menus – it’s a home kitchen tradition best learned from grandma.

5. Stack Cake

Ask for stack cake at a Tennessee gathering, and you’ll get a towering dessert made of thin, cookie-like layers held together with apple butter or dried apple filling. This Appalachian specialty originated when ingredients were scarce, so wedding guests would each bring a layer to build the bride’s cake.

The more layers, the more popular the couple was considered to be. Today, stack cakes are still made for special occasions across East Tennessee.

You can taste authentic versions at the Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store at 230 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862, in the Smoky Mountains region.

6. Goo Goo Cluster

When Tennesseans talk about Goo Goo Clusters, they’re not speaking nonsense – they’re referencing Nashville’s iconic candy bar that’s been around since 1912.

This round chocolate treat combines caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and milk chocolate in one gloriously messy bite.

It’s the first combination candy bar ever invented in America, and Nashville folks are mighty proud of that fact. The name supposedly came from the first words babies say.

You can tour the Goo Goo Shop at 116 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201, and watch these sweet treats being made while sampling different flavors.