It sounds like a hackneyed line from a country song, but Nashville will always have a special place in my heart. It’s often referred to as Music City, owing to its rich musical history, the vast number of musicians who live and work there, and its electrifying nightlife scene with spirited options every night of the week. But it’s also a hub of fantastic food, rousing restaurants and exceptional Southern cooking. I relocated there in January 2013 to be the chef de cuisine at Husk, which was an amazing experience. Since then, I’ve been back several times, and often recommend it to people.

My days always started with a cup of joe and a pastry at Barista Parlor, the city’s hippest coffee spot in East Nashville. Owner Andy Mumma runs a tight ship, serving up sensational coffee and amazing snacks. For lunch, I would typically gravitate to Arnold’s Country Kitchen, a family-run eatery that has been going for more than three decades. Opened by Jack and Rose Arnold, it’s now run by their son, Kahlil Arnold. It’s located in an unassuming concrete-block building, and you order dishes like meatloaf, mac ’n’ cheese, collard greens and fried catfish at the counter. They probably do beyond 500 covers in one day, but by some miracle there is always a seat.

Nashville is also famous for its cayenne-flavoured fried chicken, which would later inspire me to open Belles Hot Chicken in Australia. There are many iconic places to choose from, including Prince’s and Bolton’s, but my favourite remains Hattie B’s. Their hottest chicken is ‘Shut the cluck up’, but I find their regular hot version satisfying enough. The other essential Nashville experience is a night of honky-tonking. You roll into a bar on Broadway with live bands, dancing and endless Pabst beer. The bologna sandwiches and fried pickles are pretty good, too.

Now that the coastal cities in the US have become so expensive, many young creatives have moved to Nashville. Artists, performers, chefs, fashion designers – you name it. Peter Nappi in Germantown has incredible leather goods and boots hand-made in Italy, and is always worth a visit. Germantown is also home to one of my favourite restaurants, Rolf & Daughters. They serve Mediterranean-inspired food, but not as you know it, and their pasta dishes are phenomenal. Chef Philip Krajeck has become a great friend.

Working at Husk, alongside chef-owner Sean Brock, was a pivotal experience for me. I was able to create the menu, train staff and engage with local farmers every day. I learned to master dishes like shrimp and grits, okra stew and, of course, southern chicken. Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Jack White, and The Black Keys would all come in for dinner. The food there today is as good as it’s ever been, and it’s an essential stop for tourists and locals alike. After dinner, head to The 5 Spot, a bar where they host different theme nights. I like Motown Mondays. It’s a gas.