I’ve never been one to care if people look at me while I pray. Since high school, into college, and up through grad school, I openly prayed before I ate my food around teachers, peers, and friends.

No, not loud ostentatious prayers—simple thanks for God’s providence. Amen.

But I’m from Los Angeles. The land of reputation, peer pressure, and self-representation. I’ve been laughed at, stared at, or uncomfortably waited upon by servers with hands full of food and not a clue what do with it while heads are bowed and eyes are closed. It’s LA. And I love it.

But SweetBabyJesusPeople, have you been to NASHVILLE?! It’s the most spiritual city I’ve been to. F’real. They make us Angelinos look like Philistines! 😉

But I digress. As a Foodie, I do exhaustive research for the must-eats of a city. Whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, linner, or dinner, I want to know all the hot spots!

[Insert Pancake Pantry here]

If Jesus ate in Nashville, he’d eat at Pancake Pantry for the following reasons:

  • Pancakes are modern day replicas of manna: circular disks of gluten goodness. Duh.
  • People pray before their meal. Like, everyone. Seriously.
  • Pop icons Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber always stop there while visiting Nashville. [And we all know I love me some pop music!]

As the waitress brought my two sets of pancakes and extra crispy hash browns with cheese [yes, I said TWO sets of manna and greasy carbohydrates WITH cheese], the affluent business couple to the right and the college girls on the left smiled at the sheer ecstasy I displayed while receiving my meal.

I quickly grabbed Annie’s hand and I prayed for our meal. When I opened my eyes, the people around our table opened their eyes and picked up their heads. They were praying with me?! Oh yes ya’ll, they joined me in prayer!

Shortly thereafter, a couple walked in and sat next to us after being served their food. The large, intimidating man looked like he was straight thug life forevah and his rotund girlfriend looked like she could throw me clear to Memphis. But within a nanosecond of being seated, he grabbed his girl’s hand and prayed a soft, sweet prayer of grace.

And stared, mouth gaping wide, at the level of flagrant gratitude given to God. It was like the United Nations of Pancake Unity with a Latina, a writer, a affluent business couple, and two urbanites.

If you’re ever in Nashville, eat at Pancake Pantry. But be ready to pray with your neighbors 🙂

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