Interview #1 – Charlotte Miller, Owner of A.M.O.T. (A Matter of Taste Eatery)
By April G.
- Charlotte Miller
Charlotte Miller is the owner of A.M.O.T. A Matter of Taste Eatery in Nashville, Tennessee and one more reason to love Music City. She brings love to East Nashville one plate at a time. We thank her for being gracious enough to share her story with SWLW at the restaurant on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Charlotte’s parents came to Nashville in 1979 so that her mom could go to Vanderbilt. Charlotte later graduated from Hume-Fogg High Academic Magnet in Nashville and went on to study at the University of Southern California. After graduating, she began her travels to follow her passion with food, literally taking her around the world. Five years ago while she was in town visiting her family, her brother invited her to dinner in East Nashville. Literally laughing out loud, she responded with negativity because the East Nashville she had known was not where she wanted to eat any meal. (good ‘ol East Nasty as the locals used to call it). Her brother explained to her that times had changed while she was gone and she should investigate. After dinner that evening she decided to agree with her foodie brother and it contributed to the choice to move back home.
Three years ago Charlotte wanted to get back to her roots of southern cooking, that she was raised on, and add her own spin of Asian culinary and Caribbean flare to it. She decided that East Nashville was the perfect spot to have the brunch time hot spot she had desired and the location seemed fitting with the surrounding development… A.M.O.T. was born! When asked about her history with food and why she chose to leave Nashville, she stated, “It was weird for me, because being a black woman, I ran away from being that because when I worked in the kitchen, they thought that was all I could do, was make biscuits and fried chicken. I purposely went a totally different route.” After working in every aspect of the food industry from marketing to management, she wanted to be back in the kitchen doing what she loved. Feeding family was one way she worded what her “job” is. Charlotte said, “I want to serve a meal that you look at and say, would I want this to be my last meal if I was on my death bed, would it be that good?”
Charlotte explained to me that the goal of A.M.O.T. was to have people eating around a table and having good conversation just like her family did when she was growing up. Her passion for bringing people together shows in her establishment in every detail of the décor and the menu. She implied that at any given brunch you could look around the room and see a family of five, a gay couple, a black women’s luncheon, a loner at the bar and five hipster musicians in skinny jeans. But to her, they are families coming together to eat. A.M.O.T. welcomes diversity and all types of people in its open airy atmosphere.
Charlotte stated if there was one thing about the industry in Nashville she would change it was how “Farm to Table” has become a luxury and it should be more accessible to everyone. This area has an abundance of amazing farmers markets and homegrown goodness and it should be something we can all experience without breaking the budget. She referenced silver queen corn and won my heart. You know you are southern when you can talk types of corn. As we were talking at the A.M.O.T. bar, one of her employees walked by and was asked him to sum Charlotte up in one word. The one word he chose was “generous”. He spoke of her kindness and what a big heart she has for the people in her life as well as stranger at the last table on the patio.
With each new adventure in Nashville we discover amazing people, music, art, food and pretty much anything you can imagine. We like to hashtag these things as #onemorereason to love Nashville. While A.M.O.T. is definitely on the list, we wanted to know what her response would be if asked what her #onemorereason was. Charlotte responded “The music” and smiled that big smile that she sports all day. The music is what brings these people together and A.M.O.T. is where they eat like family.
Please visit the website to learn more about A.M.O.T. and Ms. Charlotte Miller. http://amoteatery.com/
Location:
A.M.O.T.
1100 Fatherland Street #101
Nashville, TN. 37206
(615) 866-8144
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