Morgan Barth, a career educator, worked as a classroom teacher and a principal until he retired. A Nashville, Tennessee resident, Morgan Barth enjoys cooking as a hobby.

Nashville has a food history as rich as its music history, being home to staples such as the meat and three. Nashville, named after Revolutionary hero Francis Nash, is known for the Grand Ole Opry, which made it the Music City of the United States. Generally, good food accompanies good music, and Nashville has plenty of it.

One of Nashville’s most iconic meals, the meat and three, started as a lunch staple for farmers. As farm workers moved to factories, the meat and three filled their lunch boxes.

A simple concept, the meat and three includes one serving of meat (fish, pork chop, steak, chicken, ham, or meatloaf) and three side dishes, such as southern favorites macaroni and cheese, salad, vegetables, spaghetti, greens (collard, turnip, or mustard), and potatoes. In restaurants, the meal usually is served with cornbread and sweet tea.