How Nashville's Restaurant Industry Would Change the World Through Food

To mark the relaunch of Eater today, the Features team compiled a collection of seventy-two of the best ideas for how people around the world are or how they plan to or how they want to change the world through food. A lot of the ideas are incredibly earnest. Some are ambitious beyond reason. But what they all have in common is a belief that, with hard work and good food, the world is headed in the right direction.

As a local component to this feature, we asked the Nashville community to chime in. So check out the national responses over here and scroll below to see what local thinkers and doers would like to do to change the world through food. Have a suggestion? Add it to the comments.

Tasha Kennard, Executive Director, Nashville Farmers Market: I believe that food brings people together and that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy food. At the end of the day, my hope is that the collective work of farmers, artisans, chefs, farmers markets, non profits, government leaders and the community will transform how we value our food system while supporting the local economy and creating better access to high quality, fresh food for everyone.

Jeremy Barlow, owner of Sloco, author of Chefs Can Save the World: To put the importance food plays in our future into a couple of sentences is almost impossible. Simply put, the earth, countries, communities, or...life is a web of interconnecting parts and food is the center. We can choose to build a sustainable society through it and around it; or we can destroy it by perpetuating a system that is based on non-renewable resources while simultaneously sickening those who are a part of it.

Dale Levitski, chef/partner at Sinema: I would like to have an effect on the world by simply making people happy. Good food, big smiles... makes the world a better place.

Sarah Gavigan, Otaku South, owner of POP Nashville: If I could change the world with food, I would introduce young children to all kinds of flavors and foods to set them up for a life full of diversity and exploration through food. Food is a motivator and an educator. You can fall in love with cultures through food. Create world peace through love and food.

Ben and Max Goldberg, owners of Strategic Hospitality (The Catbird Seat, Pinewood Social, Patterson House, others): We wouldn't say we are changing the world, but try to changing people's perceptions. We love Nashville and we've worked towards offering Nashvillians  different food and drink options, with ingredients they may have never tried and cooking methods they may not be familiar with. Hopefully we have guests that walk away from our establishments with an expanded palate and a deeper appreciation for what they consume.