Meet Our Publishers: Jill Melton of Edible Nashville

Before you started edible Nashville, what were you doing professionally?
I had moved to Nashville to launch Relish magazine, which was a food magazine distributed in newspapers (similar to the Parade model). Loved it for 7 years. Before that, I was at Cooking Light magazine for 15 years. 

What inspired you to start edible Nashville? 
Well honestly, the magazine biz had really sold out. Advertisers rule, and I was ordered to do stories that were strictly for the advertisers -- for instance, a story on hot dog toppings to accompany the Oscar Meyer hot dog ad. When this happened at my company, it was time to go. Readers deserve top-quality, unbiased content. I needed an exit strategy and a friend suggested edible Nashville. When I found out no one had it, not only was I astounded and thrilled, I also knew immediately that it was my next calling. I took it immediately! It is the perfect culmination of my experience, education, and love. 

What has surprised you the most about Nashville's food culture?
That it has exploded so quickly. I mean, when I moved here 10 years ago, there were very few places to eat. Birmingham actually had a better food scene. But now...wow!

Is there a food trend that you wish would just go away? 
I’m not wild about juice bars, or the celebrity chef culture. 

Tell us one of your all-time favorite stories you've published in edible Nashville. 
I love the story “We Are Family,” about the back of the house at Prima restaurant, published in our July/August 2015 issue. It’s a story about family and what happens in the kitchen and how they eat together. To me, food is love, and that is a perfect example.