Monday, December 7, 2009
News Revered restaurant Zola to close in January
Posted by Dana Kopp Franklin on Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Zola restaurant, one of the most highly respected chef-owned restaurants in Nashville, will soon close after almost 13 years in business.
Zola was chosen as the best restaurant in town in the Scene's 2009 Best of Nashville issue. Debra Paquette, a Culinary Institute of America grad, is Zola's chef, and her husband Ernie Paquette is general manager.
The two have decided to sell their restaurant and take a job jointly managing a Caribbean fishing lodge. They say they've had several job offers and haven't yet decided which island paradise they will select.
The chef came to Nashville from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and her husband grew up on the shores of Cape Cod. She said they've both been longing to get back to the ocean, and with their two sons grown, the time was right to take a plunge.
"You don't know what's on the other side until you go for it," she said. "I want to look out my back door and see the big blue."
Ernie Paquette was a professional fishing guide long before entering the restaurant business, and for 22 years he's owned South Harpeth Outfitters, which caters to local fishing enthusiasts.
The restaurant's last day will be Jan. 17. Along with their business partners, Rick and Vicki Bolsom, the Paquettes are putting the restaurant up for sale. The buyer can take it on either as a turnkey operation (space and equipment intact) or renovate it as a new concept.
Bolsom says the landlord, La Gasse Properties, is "completely open to a new restaurant and to negotiating a new lease." He said there have been several prospective buyers looking into the deal, but nothing firm yet.
Deb Paquette came to Nashville in 1981 and worked at several noted restaurants, including Bolsom's former eatery, Cakewalk Cafe. She was the original chef who launched Bound'ry in 1994 before returning to work with Bolsom as partners in Zola when it opened in 1997.
In praising Zola as the town's best restaurant, Scene restaurant critic Carrington Fox said: "With a menu of North African and Mediterranean delights delivered in understated elegance, Zola blends the timeless flavors of a desert oasis with the inventive whimsy of a modern metropolis."
Debra Paquette has trained many chefs who went on to success in other restaurants. She also has ardently loyal customers. One couple, she said, has eaten at Zola every Friday for seven years. She hopes all fans and friends past and present will stop by before Zola closes next month.
Comments (26)
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This is such sad, sad news. I'm happy for the Paquettes, but so sad for us Nashvillians! Zola has been my absolute favorite restaurant since I moved here 7 years ago. I've already called today to make one reservation for later this week, but plan to get in there many more times before the doors close in January.
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This is definitely a blow to Nashville's culinary scene. Plenty of restaurants come and go in this town, but this is definitely a departure to mourn. My husband and I ate at Zola's for the first time back in October for his birthday, and I had planned on many more delicious outings in our future... I guess we'll have to get as much in as we can before Jan 17!
This is very bad, sad and unexpected news. Zola will not be replaced. And too many good cooks seem to be deciding that, all things considered, they'd as soon be somewhere else.
I've been going to that place since it was Cakewalk (remember that?) and this does make me sad. I had a very memorable drunken night here (among many) when I ordered a chicken and it had figs coming out of its butt. I loved it.
First Mirror, though, and now Zola. Two big ones gone in a month. But let's all rave about, oh, I don't know, fucking dumbass Chipotle.
My dad and his wife were one of those weekly regulars for many years, and it was a frequent birthday spot for us. You'll be much missed, Deb, but so envied for the new adventure.
My wife and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary at Zola, as we had our first. I still remember our first dinner there as if it were yesterday; from the moment we stepped in the door, until the moment we left it was pure magic. The second visit was worth the wait. We are both happy for the Paquettes, and wish them well on their next adventure. We are just glad we got to experience Zola, even if only twice.
Say it isn't so...Martin and I love Zola, Deb and Ernie, Croix and Race, too!...I guess the best time to leave is when you are on top - But oh how they will be missed - not only for great, imaginative food and fabulous wines - but they gave to this community so generously! On a personal level we will sooooo miss them - on a culinary level their legacy will live forever! Best of luck! Sounds like a dream in the making for you two!
Can't believe we are lucky enough to have two reservations there this week!
Dear Deb and Ernie,
If you would like to stay with us on Grand Bahama Island while you make up your mind from among the many jewels of the Caribbean, holla.
We're catching wahoo right now, hoping for tuna.
Best,
Ruth Ann and Bill Harnisch
While we are all lamenting the demise of Zola and celebrating the owners bon voyage off into the sunset, let's also take a moment to lament the 15-20 employees who found out yesterday, just as you did with no advance warning, that they are losing their jobs. Kind of a crappy Xmas present. I hope all the restaurant owners that read this blog make some room for these fine folks because finding a restaurant job at this time of year in this job climate is next to impossible.
I not to sure that it is a wise decision to be heading toward a sea level lifestyle right about now. I recommend a place similar to Blue Moon Lagoon, on pontoons.
But hey, lets think about the possibilities of our new tenant here!
I'm going with the Scene's favorite dark horse - Shoneys. Or maybe the next iteration of a "potential franchise casual dining paradigm"
I've only eaten at Zola once, and while the food was quite good, the service was not. It took over an hour to get our food. I don't care how good it is, a hour is too long to wait. I've not been back since.
I am deeply upset that i will no longer get to talk to "mama" as many of us cooks have come to call her. She has helped mentor me and really got my foot in the door in the nashville restaurant scene. Without Deb i would probably have never really discovered my true passion for cooking and dining. WE love you and will miss you Deb.
I agree with TobintheGnome - the few times I was there, the service was beyond slow and the food was not worth the wait. IMHO this place has always been in the Pancake Pantry/Loveless category of once great (maybe)but the reputation just stayed on and on. The Yellow Porch - and now Red Pony - has it beat by a mile.
EastNashvilleBikeGuy says:
While we are all lamenting the demise of Zola and celebrating the owners bon voyage off into the sunset, let's also take a moment to lament the 15-20 employees who found out yesterday, just as you did with no advance warning, that they are losing their jobs.
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A large part of making this announcement 6 weeks prior to actually closing was to protect and help the staff have time, with the complete support of Zola management, to find future employment.
Top people who work at Zola will be wanted at the competition and in the meanwhile will have what everyone hopes is an uplifting experience through the end of the year and into the end of an era.
At the end it's all about the people.
Smart restaurant owners out there start shopping for key staff available 1/18/10
After I read the press release on the Tennessean website, I kind of sat in shock for a bit. Having worked at Zola for 3.5 years, I'm sad. I made a few phone calls since I'm a bit removed from everyone geographically, but I didn't get a lot of response. I think I was one of the first employees to find out.
Through the economic slump, we've hunkered down together to weather the conditions and I see Zola as a family. I've been completely dedicated. I am sad that I don't have a job, but "bytheway" suggests that we have plenty of time to find a new job in which case I'd have to say, respectfully, is wrong.
My heart goes out to my co-workers. We've been held to a higher standard than any other serving job I've ever held. I'd think that our little family could have said something before I read about it elsewhere. I admit to being hurt over that.
I love the Paquettes with all my heart and I will serve everyone that sits in my section until the day Ernie locks the front door and I do wish nothing but immense amounts of success and happiness for them in the coming years. However, my loss of senority/stabilty will present a loss of funds, stability and availabilty of school schedule that I've EARNED by investing in this company. Having been a dedicated employee and family friend, will any other employer know that when I'm looking to be hired? No. I'm starting at the ground again and trying to move up in the hierarchy all_over_again, which is more painful than you would know unless you'd worked this often thankless position.
I have all hopes that this post finds anyone affiliated with Zola with the knowledge that I love my job and I love my bosses, but I can't help what I feel. I'm entitled to that, since all is said and done.
Such a classy restaurant to end in such an unclassy way. Too bad as especially restauranteurs know that the final taste one has in their mouth is the one that lasts.
WOW.... huge news... FOND memories as a server and as a customer. I was there on opening day...
Thanks Deb and Ernie... I have learned so much from you both over the years..and shared lots of laughs.
I will miss my visits to Zola when I get home to Nashville..
All the best
John
This is very very sad. Someone needs to hire Aimme' Schmittendorf ASAP. She's a freaking rockstar.
