The Nashville Food Project’s Blog
Together, their rhythm has been simple and steady. One experimenting. One anchoring. Both caring deeply about the meals that leave the kitchen.
At The Nashville Food Project, we are building the infrastructure that makes nourishment predictable and dignified. This is proactive work. It happens in kitchens designed to recover surplus and prepare consistent meals. It happens in gardens where neighbors grow food that reflects their cultures and preferences. It happens in partnerships that align farmers, clinics, agencies, and volunteers toward shared outcomes.
Through farming, she has been able to grow and share produce in ways that connect her more deeply to community. Food has opened doors. It has introduced her to people she might never have met otherwise. It has created opportunities to teach others about the importance of caring for the Earth with intention and respect.
Food, for Bianca, has always been a connector. A way to show care. A way to build community. A way to express love when words fall short. Her life has been shaped by faith, purpose, and a deep belief that what we make with our hands can change what happens in the world.
Nourish 2025 was a powerful celebration of food, community, and connection. From a beautifully collaborative meal prepared by top chefs to stories that highlighted the heart of our mission, the evening brought people together around a shared table and a shared purpose—to nourish Nashville.
At the Andrew Jackson Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, kids are spending the summer learning, growing—and thanks to The Nashville Food Project’s made-from-scratch meals—staying nourished, too.
Through the Sweet Peas Summer Eats for Kids program, sponsored by Jackson®, hundreds of healthy meals are delivered each week to support youth during a time when access to regular food can drop off.
This partnership is part of The Nashville Food Project’s Community Meals program, which brings nutritious food directly to organizations already creating safe, supportive spaces for young people.
Now in its sixth year, the collaboration with Jackson is helping serve over 100,000 meals this summer—fueling not just plates, but potential across the city.
Two volunteers from The Nashville Food Project received honors at the 2025 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards. Marcie Smeck Bryant won the Social Justice Impact Award, and Cheri Ferrari was a top finalist for the Charles Strobel Legacy Award. Presented by Hands On Nashville/United Way, the awards are Middle Tennessee's largest annual celebration of volunteerism.
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Garden bursting with zucchini? Last summer we grated excess zucchini and froze it to use later for this sweet treat.
Serves 60
Lightly grease 2 full size catering pans. Preheat oven to 325
Mix the following dry ingredients together: 5 cups flour 1 cup cocoa 2 tsp salt 1 Tbl baking soda 5 tsp baking powder 2 tsp cinnamon
Mix the following wet ingredients separately: 1 1/2 cups oil 4 cups sugar 6 eggs 4 cups grated zucchini 4 tsp grated orange zest 4 tsp vanilla 1 cup milk 2 cups chocolate chips
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until blended. Bake at 325 for about 30 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Vegetarian Lasagna
With the bounty of veggies we have in the summer, this recipe is one of our favorites. You won’t even miss the meat!
Serves 50 (use 3 full size catering pans)
Red Sauce: 10 lbs diced eggplant 10 lbs diced squash/zucchini 5 lbs diced peppers/onions 1/2 cup diced garlic 2 # 10 cans of diced tomatoes 20 oz frozen spinach
Saute garlic and onions in olive oil until softened. Add all other vegetables (except tomatoes) and cook until tender. Add tomatoes and season with salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Let simmer at least 1 hour until ready to layer.
Filling: 5 lbs cottage cheese 10 eggs 2 cups parmesan cheese 1 Tbl garlic powder
Mix above ingredients, set aside
White Sauce: 3 sticks butter 3/4 cup flour 12 cups milk 1 cup parmesan cheese 1 tsp fresh nutmeg salt and pepper to taste
Slowly melt butter, stir in flour until incorporated. Add milk 2 cups at a time until sauce starts to thicken. Add cheese and nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste.
3 lbs uncooked lasagna noodles (or any type short pasta)
Place small amount of sauce in bottom of 3 pans.
Prepare lasagna with following layers: lasagna noodles red sauce cottage cheese mixture lasagna noodles red sauce cottage cheese mixture lasagna noodles white sauce
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.