With the Mostes’ On the Ball

Getting to know the owner of Host & Toast Luxury Concierge

The Basics

Name: Anne Elizabeth McIntosh

Title: Founder/CEO, Host & Toast Luxury Concierge

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Zip Code: 37209

With a quintessential Southern hostess as her mother, fourth-generation Nashville native Anne Elizabeth McIntosh has always loved bringing people together for one-of-a-kind experiences. However, the idea for Host & Toast really came to life after a girls’ trip to Austin, Texas. Anne Elizabeth was greeted by a perfectly stocked Airbnb, a service that — at the time — was unavailable in Nashville, and her perfect marriage of hospitality and entrepreneurship was realized.

Years in Nashville: All my life!

Number of Cheeses

Sampled: Definitely hundreds — maybe thousands!

What started in 2020 as a one-woman business has grown to a small-but-mighty team of three women with a single goal: providing bespoke service and Southern hospitality to make hosting and entertaining as simple and enjoyable as possible. Whether designing a VIP weekend for a company retreat, a grazing table for the next A-list soirée or an extravagant birthday celebration, Host & Toast allows clients to enjoy more of life’s special moments and spend time with those they love.

BY KARIN MATHIS PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC ENGLAND

What did you initially want to be when you grew up? I’ve always wanted to help and serve others, and I originally dreamed of becoming a pediatric surgeon.

What inspired Host & Toast, and how has your business changed as Nashville evolves? After several years in hospitality and then several years working with entrepreneurs, a concierge company was the perfect marriage of both. Our services are always evolving to meet our clients’ needs, whether they are visiting or in town long-term.

What legacy would you like to leave in your community? Before H&T, I enjoyed working in community engagement for different organizations, so if I were braver, I would probably run for city council or another office. I always strive to emulate the Nashvillians from my childhood memories, and I hope that translates to a legacy of warmth and kindness.

What’s a memorable occasion or order you had the most fun with? The number one thing I recommend to visitors is a songwriter experience. We also love creating events for friends; recently, we were able to arrange a pretty spectacular professional fireworks display for a Champagne Supernova birthday celebration. It’s not often that you pull off professional fireworks in Green Hills!

What is the process for creating your boards? We create lots of different kinds of boards (cheese & charcuterie, brunch, s’mores, etc). Our traditional boards always start with cheese, sourced from local or small, familyowned creameries through local cheesemonger The Bloomy Rind. Next come the meats, and from there we use honey, jams, fresh produce and some delicious herby Valencia almonds — our own special recipe.

What does your ideal board look like? A multi-dimensional grazing table, including not only cheese & charcuterie, but also fresh crudités, dips and sweets. My ideal board showcases as many local businesses as possible, from cheeses and meats to local produce and honey!

Favorite ingredient to use? I’ve yet to tire of cheese, especially soft cheese. My favorite is probably either Hawkins Haze from Blackberry Farm or Red Rock, a sharp cheddar with a hint of blue cheese. I’ll confess, though, the jams and jellies are probably my very favorite — you can’t beat a fig jam!

What’s an unexpected flavor combination that you love? A holiday gingerbread goat cheese! The sweetness of the gingerbread pairs so well with the tartness of the goat cheese — when you drizzle it with honey, it is just the most delectable bite!

Given the chance, what else do you love to discuss? Mental health: I’m glad people are starting to talk openly about depression and other mental illnesses, but there is still so much work to be done. I’m serving on the board at Family & Children’s Service; if a person ever finds themself in need, they have fantastic crisis and counseling services for our community.