If you’ve ever wished your charcuterie board came with a side of girl power and Southern charm, A Dame Fine Picnic is your dream come true. Hosted by Les Dames d’Escoffier Nashville — a powerhouse organization of women in food, wine, and hospitality — this signature summer fundraiser returns Friday, September 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Musicians Corner in Centennial Park. And let’s be honest, there are few better ways to spend an early fall evening than on a blanket, under the trees, eating your way through a chef-curated picnic. Trust us, you do not want to miss this one.
So, what’s on the menu? A custom selection of bites from some of the South’s most iconic culinary queens. We’re talking picnic contributions from the likes of Trisha Yearwood and Maneet Chauhan, along with an all-star lineup of local favorites, including Cafe Roze, Margot Café, City House, etch, Bloomsbury Farm, Triple Crown Bakery, Goo Goo Cluster, and many more. It’s like the culinary equivalent of a mixtape made by all your favorite chefs — except edible, and served in a charming basket for two.
Each picnic basket, priced at $92.41, feeds two and is packed with surprises — think sandwiches, salads, sweets, sips, and probably something you’ll dream about for the rest of the month. Only 125 of these beauties will be available, so once they’re gone, they’re gone. (Consider this your sign to purchase tickets now.)
While the food is reason enough to come out, it’s the why that really makes this event shine. All proceeds support Les Dames d’Escoffier Nashville’s mission to fund scholarships and career advancement for women in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. So, you’re not just indulging — you’re investing in the future of women-led kitchens, farms, bakeries, and beyond.
Here’s the full list of participating chefs and restaurants:
- 8th & Roast Coffee Co
- Aloha Fish Company
- Bear Creek Farm
- Belle & Bottle
- Belle Meade Winery
- Biscuit Love
- Bloomsbury Farms
- Cafe Cheeserie
- Cafe Roze
- Charpier’s Bakery
- City House
- Conrad Nashville
- Cookie Fix
- The Corner Market
- D’Andrews Bakery
- Dozen Bakery
- etch
- Goo Goo Cluster
- Hattie Jane’s Creamery
- Mama Blanche
- Margot Café
- Mary Bobo’s
- Nicky’s Coal Fired
- Pastabilities
- Prince’s Hot Chicken
- Saturated Ice Cream
- Thistle Farms
- Triple Crown Bakery
Bottom line? It’s a picnic with purpose. Whether you come for the food, the tunes, or the experience, A Dame Fine Picnic is one delicious way to do good. Bring a picnic blanket or a lawn chair, soak up some live music, and settle in for an evening of serious eats with soul. Or, if you prefer your picnics couch-side and sweatpants optional, feel free to take your basket to-go and enjoy it wherever you’re happiest.
Either way, this is one picnic you’ll want a front-row seat for.
Event Details
Musicians Corner, Centennial Park, 2500 West End Avenue
Friday, September 12, 2025
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
$92.41 per basket (serves two)
Reserve your picnic basket on Eventbrite.
See you on the lawn … with napkins and wine tumblers at the ready!
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