Bang, bang you’re fed

. . . no hole in your head, erm, stomach. Okay, enough of my chirping like a canary. Down to business. . .

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This weekend I had the opportunity to scout out the West Nashville Farmers Market with my true and lovely comrade Lucy Grunkemeyer. Although the market on the whole was promising, what really stood out was the outpost of The Bang Candy Company headed by Sarah Souther.

Bang makes these charming marshmallows and simple syrups, among other things. Sarah deserves a twenty-one gun salute for her creativity in making interesting simple syrups. The menu for Italian sodas this weekend was as follows:

• Hibuscus Orange-Flower Ginger
• Rosemary Ginger
• Lavender Rose
• Strawberry Mint
• Habanero Lime
• Celery

I took the opportunity to try a Lavender and Rose flavored Italian soda. The Lavender and Rose Italian soda isn’t a punch in the mouth: it was subtle and lingered pleasantly. Of course, do you really want lavender to punch you in the mouth, or rose? No, that would be like a wrinkled hag trying to pull off a Lady Gaga getup.

Anyways, here’s the thing, when I left the market, I couldn’t stop thinking about that Italian soda. In fact, all I could think was, ‘DRAT, I should have bought a bottle of that simple syrup.’ It would be magnificent in making cocktails and an excellent hostess or housewarming gift. Mmm. . . just imagine a Habanero Lime whiskey? Or, a Celery and Vodka?

My hat is off to Sarah for doing something that is fresh and inventive on the culinary trail here in Nashville. That twenty-one gun salute is ringing in my ears, “bang, bang, bang, bang, . . . “