If you are looking for a wonderful place to take Mom for Mother’s Day you have to consider Mother’s Day Brunch at Gaylord Opryland hotel’s Market Place buffet at the Water’s Edge Restaurant.  My husband and I decided to try the Easter brunch and it was wonderful.

The setting is beautifully reminiscent of a southern garden on a bright spring day, complete with a river running through it. Just the kind of setting any mother would love. Executive Chef, Jason Kroll who has been managing the kitchen for some time now is a real pro at creating homemade southern style foods that elevate brunch to new heights.  This is one hotel chef who is so down to earth he even cures his own Canadian style bacon!  

True to the Nashvillian style that runs through the hotel complex, the broad range of dishes here feature regional specialties and cooking.  Items on the brunch vary from week to week but always feature a wide range of cold salads that include traditional items such as salad greens, slaws and potato salad but also can have some great specialty offerings such as a cold couscous and zucchini or hearts of palm.  There are also two soups offered, such as their classic and well done ham and bean soup (hubby’s favorite) and a shrimp cocktail (not the small peel your own shrimp but the large juicy variety) bar that is big enough to satisfy anyone.  Breads range from an Italian focaccia to down home style country corn bread or muffins – all freshly baked on premises.  The main courses also vary a bit from week to week and the holiday brunch is a special buffet.  There are traditional chicken and fish hot plates along with a range of standard and creative vegetables all for the choosing.  The buffet boasts a selection of fresh carved items to choose from each weekend.  On most Sundays there is a classic baked ham.  Not just any old ham though, Chef Kroll offers his guest a Kentucky cured white marble farm ham that is oh so good.  Other seasonal items could be a Steamship Round of Beef, traditionally roast whole turkey or young baby lamb.  Each comes with appropriate dressings and fixings that can range from stuffing to au jus gravy to sweet and tart chutney.  All are well done.  

And of course, dessert.  One of the fantastic things about a buffet is that, if the spirit moves you, one can always have desert to start, in the middle and at the end of the meal.  At this buffet the spirit might be tempted to do just that, as there are a range of traditional items, such as bread pudding, ice-cream and fruit pies, to creative stylized items, such as a wonderful chocolate-lavender gelato all for the sampling.  And, just for fun, as well as for your gustatory enjoyment, there is always a make-your-own cupcake station, complete with assorted icings and toppings.

One of the most impressive things about this brunch is how often the food items are refreshed and replenished.  There is nothing less appealing then seeing one scoopful of mashed potatoes or slaw in a big old dish that seems to have been sitting around for days.  Not here, the items are replaced frequently, displayed attractively and they are all kept at just the right serving temperatures.  No rushing here either.  Taking your time in the spacious seating area is just fine.  Here’s a hint, if you want to sit in an area that is a bit quieter try the lovely tables just in front of the hostess stand.  You may have to walk a few more steps to the serving areas but if you want to feel as if you are in a private garden retreat, this is the place to sit.  Don’t worry the table servers cover this area very well so your drink order and table bussing will not suffer in the least.

Chef Kroll has not yet announced his Mother’s Day menu but I just know, as any nice young man would want; he will do his Mother proud on this special day for all moms.  Who knows, maybe he will have a special treat for all the moms who come to celebrate with their family that special day.  Also Gaylord Opryland Hotel is celebrating Mother’s Day in an exceptional way with a “Family Affair” event on May 9th starting off with personal time for mothers and sons at the "Mom Prom," and fathers and daughters at the "My Heart Belongs To Daddy Dance." Then, at the end of the night, everyone will join together for a fun-filled Family Dance Party! Definitely sounds like a great way to spoil Mom.

Hugs

The Savvy Old Lady