With over 13 years of experience as a writer and editor, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones has worked with notable publications like Lonely Planet, Observer, and Eater Nashville. These days, Jackie is spearheading the expansion of The Infatuation Nashville, amplifying trusted opinions on the local culinary scene. Get to know this week’s FACE of Nashville!
Tell us about your upbringing and career background.
I’m a Miami girl who found her way to Nashville in 2017 for the solar eclipse. I could feel the energy in the air — big things were happening in terms of growth, and I wanted to be part of that. So, my husband, daughter, and English bulldog, Coco, packed our bags and hightailed it to Tennessee a short year later.
My background is in communications, and I spent quite a bit of time in government public relations before burning out on the stress and the grind. I dove into graphic design for a while because, honestly, I just wanted to throw on a pair of headphones and lose myself in the art for eight hours a day.
But then Yelp launched, and in its early days, I was a superuser, blending my love of food and the written word in off-the-wall reviews that caught the attention of quite a few people. I started to get DMs asking if I would consider freelancing, and that snowballed into a full-fledged career as a lifestyle writer.
Since those early days, I’ve worked as an editor and writer for pubs and organizations like Lonely Planet, Eater, Time Out, UrbanDaddy, Observer, Nashville Lifestyles, Whole Foods Market, and Hard Rock Hotels. Currently, I’m leading the build-out of The Infatuation‘s Nashville site with guides and reviews.
What drew you to The Infatuation?
Having a strong understanding and strong opinions about dining in Nashville, I was approached by The Infatuation to write a “best restaurants” list about the city a few years ago. I really loved working with my editor there and writing in their voice, so when they were interested in expanding the coverage of the city a bit more, I was 100% on board.
They’re publishing new guides to the city each month. We’ll also revisit some of our existing lists and update them on a regular basis to ensure the coverage stays up-to-date, as so much is happening in our city.
How is The Infatuation different from other local food-forward publications?
The biggest difference is the strong opinion-based writing. There’s a definite point of view in the guides and reviews … There’s less industry-speak and a greater focus on the utility and dishes at a restaurant or bar. Why would you go to this place? What does it look and feel like? What are the dishes and drinks you should be ordering — or not? The writing leans heavily on topics that the average diner really cares about.
You’re launching a restaurant rating feature soon. Can you tell us more about what’s in store?
I really think this is going to be a game-changer for Nashville. The Infatuation‘s reviews will have strong opinions about restaurants — for better and, controversially, for worse.
Later this year, we’ll turn on ratings for Nashville restaurants, so readers will see a numerical score for the dining experience in question. Typically, there have been several visits to the restaurant before a score is determined and some debate with fellow writers and editors to ensure it feels accurate before it’s published. It’ll be an interesting new addition to the food writing scene.
What is your most memorable local meal in recent months?
There are a couple of recent experiences that come to mind. The new Sushi | Bar in The Gulch is such a special, well-executed omakase experience — the fish is some of the best, cleanest tasting seafood I’ve had in Nashville, and the preparation for each course was interesting without being too fussy.
Also, the Sun Room at the new Drift Hotel has such an incredible Art-Deco-meets-Fleetwood-Mac vibe. There’s a small plates situation happening there, with killer meatballs, roasted beets, and different conservas that you can layer on their tangy sourdough bread.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
This one’s easy. I’m going to pull from my Cuban roots and my great-grandmother’s exceptional cooking … picadillo (no raisins — that’s sacrilegious) with black beans and rice, sweet plantains, and diced Florida avocados doused in oil, vinegar, and salt. For dessert: carrot cake (I know it’s not Cuban, but it’s such a comforting favorite of mine).
When you aren’t working, where can we find you?
Curled up on the couch reading a book, sweating it out at a hot pilates class at The Hot Room in Brentwood, or hunting vintage and consignment finds all around Nash.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Write carelessly and edit ruthlessly. It’s the single best piece of advice for breaking through writer’s block, which, in my case, comes from pressure. The pressure of producing perfect copy, telling a compelling story, and doing it all under a deadline.
By acknowledging that the first draft is going to be garbage and just allowing anything (and I mean anything!) to make its way to the paper, I break through that pressure. Later, I come back to the piece and chip away at the mound of words like a sculptor with clay to reveal the art underneath.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Most underrated Nashville restaurant, shop, or local business: Restaurants: Subculture, The Treehouse, Sadie’s, and Red Perch. In terms of shops, Little Gourmand and Little Hats for their phenomenal selection of French and Italian foodstuffs, respectively.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for a meal, where would you go? Right now, it’s Mexico City. It’s such an exciting culinary incubator and a dream culinary destination.
Do you have a favorite cookbook? Cocina Criolla by Nitta Villapol. My great-grandmother swore by the recipes in this book and added her own twists to the dishes, which she commemorated in the margins of her personal copy.
Name three things you can’t live without. Dark chocolate, sparkling water, and a good hoodie-sweatpant combo.
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Nashville women are nothing short of inspiring. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
