It's finally time to put August and its infernal heat in the rearview mirror, and I say good riddance! While September may start out in a similar fashion, it should get better. Also, there are a lot of exciting culinary events to look forward to, so let’s end the summer with a bang!
September happens to be Bourbon Heritage Month, and Gray & Dudley at The Untitled Nashville Hotel (I swear that’s actually its name!) is celebrating with a limited series pairing dishes with specially selected whiskeys. "Bourbon & Bites" will be offered daily from 3 until 9 p.m., with happy hour specials from 3 until 6 p.m.
The lineup will change weekly, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with a week of “Smoke & Sips” featuring select Belle Meade Bourbons paired with cherry-smoked pork belly BLT sliders and a pecan-smoked chicken flatbread. Sept. 14-20 will showcase Bib & Tucker Bourbon offered alongside warm duck fat buttermilk biscuits, crispy cheese, a local cheese board and more. The final week from Sept. 21-27 will be a classic “Bourbon & BBQ” pairing featuring products from Old Forester served with smoked barbecue meatballs, pulled pork mac and cheese, house-smoked brisket and other treats.
Brand representatives will be on hand each Thursday of the series from 3 until 6 p.m. to share more about their respective products and lead curated bourbon flights and weekly cocktail specials.
I’ll admit I had never heard of the Nashville School of Traditional Country Music until I learned they were throwing a Harvest Moon Bash at Bloomsbury Farm on Sept. 26. This fundraiser will help support the school’s mission to preserve traditional country by teaching a new generation of musicians to respect it and how to play it.
The dinner party in the gardens at Bloomsbury will feature autumnal cocktails from Belle Meade Bourbon, a four-course dinner prepared by ex-Margot chef Hadley Long, a hayride around the farm and a convivial bonfire. Erin Rae will provide the live musical entertainment. Tickets to this intimate evening are limited and are available at Bloomsbury Farm’s website.
I also recently learned about The Aloe Family, another local nonprofit that provides tutoring, groceries and job training for vulnerable families. As a fundraiser for their programming, the organization is presenting a series of Latin-inspired baking demonstrations. The two-part ticketed series at Prepped Palate will feature Jesus Colmenares of Bueno Bakery, Isabel Sanchez of La Salvadoreña Pupusas, Marla Belen from Marla Baked Goods, and Tamara Yanez, the owner of MOR Empanadas, on Sept. 30 and Oct. 29.
The first date is “Bread & Pupusas Night” with Colmenares demonstrating sourdough bread, and Sanchez making traditional pupusas. The late October demos its titled “Empanadas & Flan,” with Marla Baked Goods joining Mor Empanadas for an Argentinian empanada and chocoflan demonstration.
Each ticket helps fund The Aloe Family’s job skills program. There will be two options for each class: 5:30 to 7 p.m. or 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Prepped Palate at 1619 Ensley Blvd. A $95 ticket includes coffee, wine, beer, charcuterie and tastes of the dishes. Visit The Aloe Family website for more details and to buy tickets.
