I can’t believe I’ve lived just one hour from Nashville, have driven right by on my way to the airport hundreds of times (especially during the holidays), yet have never been to the Opryland Hotel to see the one-of-a-kind atrium with its spectacular display of lights.

Apparently, I’m not the only one in town, because, on the overwhelming recommendation of two other longtime residents who had never been, I joined some new dining companions there this week, and they hadn’t driven down from Bowling Green to see it in 20 years.

If you are a Bowling Green resident who falls in one of those two categories, I recommend you venture on down, and while you’re there, I recommend the Water’s Edge Marketplace Buffet.

True to its name, the buffet had an international flair: From the tamales and chili from Mexico, to the pot stickers from Asia, and the Polish pierogies and tiramisu from Italy.

My dining companions and I started with a festive two bottles of wine and appetizers. Yes, appetizers at a buffet! Four kinds of cheeses, salami, prosciutto, and an olive and sun-dried tomato bar. This, coupled with eight different crackers and breads, including olive cibatta bread, all complimented the California pinot noir and a refreshing pino grigio.

We were glad for the sustenance, especially since a large party had descended onto the buffet, turning it into a cafeteria line instead, so that when we went back for salads, we were politely turned away.

The salads definitely had world flair with a Caesar, spinach and mixed greens with mandarin oranges and Asian dressing. Which leads me to one of my few complaints. Because this buffet was expensive, it felt much more like fine dining than an “all you can eat” attitude. Because of this, I looked to create a plate of food that fit well together, yet with food from so many different countries, I struggled to do so.

What I did opt for was the grilled salmon with pesto, a mixed green salad (that turned out to be too sweet for my theme) and some steamed zucchini that went well with the salmon and was seasoned with herbs to perfection. One of my dining companions commented that she could have eaten an entire vegetarian meal because of the zucchini, a delicious cauliflower dish, the salads and the marinated corn and garbanzo beans also included in this one of a kind buffet.

Other highlights for the verbal new crew of companions (especially after a few glasses of wine) included the pierogies, veal and chocolate fondue, which were berries on a small skewer with a ramekin of dark chocolate.

The consensus of what not to put on your plate included the pot stickers, curried lamb on toast and a peanut butter mousse that tasted as if they just took peanut butter from the jar and whipped it up – too thick and tasteless.

It is said, after building on for decades, that the Opryland Hotel is one of the largest buildings under one roof in the world! I would have to agree, because the trek I made from the hotel rooms to the restaurant was enough to increase my appetite, but the food coupled with the entertaining lights and show on the water’s edge was well worth the walk and well worth the drive.

— New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to Managing Editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or by e-mail at malexieff@bgdailynews.com.