CMT Blog: Archive

You may not be able to get into the swanky Hutton Hotel in Nashville after Wednesday night's (June 9) CMT Music Awards. But you can drink what the stars are drinking, thanks to executive chef Charles Phillips. He's going to be making two special drinks for the official after party, and the June 7 issue of People magazine has the recipes. There is the Amplifier, which has sweet tea vodka, Grand Marnier, lemon and sugar. Phillips told me that was "just a local twist on the Arnold Palmer, because of the sweet tea." Then there's the non-alcoholic Guava Mango Shooter, which is pretty self-explanatory and sounds crazy healthy if you're into antioxidants. "It's summery and refreshing and part of this vertical buffet we're doing with all kinds of shots and sliders," Phillips said. And when he says sliders, he's not talking White Castle. Think more of a fresh lobster salad with fennel and tarragon and roasted garlic aioli on an all-butter mini brioche with specialty lettuce from a local farmer. Phillips is hoping Darius Rucker shows up, because he's a fan of his music and of the way he re-created himself after his Hootie & the Blowfish heyday. "Whenever he's around, he's kind and polite. He still seems humble, even after all his success," he said.