Discover a Few Things to Feel Good About

I’m guessing more than a few of you are looking for something to break the haze of malaise right about now. Fortunately, local restaurants and distilleries are there for you, so stay hungry and carry on.

Nov. 18 will mark 10 years since chef Maneet Chauhan first opened her popular Chauhan Ale & Masala House restaurant at 123 12th Ave. N., introducing Nashville to her playful approach toward elevated Indian cuisine. To mark the occasion of her 10th anniversary, the chef has come up with a celebratory special meal to combine her heritage with her adopted hometown.

From Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 18, Chauhan will offer what she is calling an Ode to Nashville Meat-and-Ten Royal Thali. A thali is a traditional South Asian platter which is served family-style to the table, usually featuring a main entree surrounded by accompaniments.

The center course will be Nashville hot hariyali chicken kebabs served with a plethora of sides, including saffron pulao, black-eyed pea daal, tikka masala mac-and-cheese and more.

No reservations are required for the meal deal, although you are welcome to snag your seats in advance, because at just $48 per person, this should prove to be a popular promotion.

With all the new chefs and restaurants arriving in Nashville, it’s unfortunately easy to overlook some of the talent that has continued to excel in their own kitchens. The kitchen at Peninsula is tiny, yet chef Jake Howell and his team continue to pump out incredible Iberian cuisine on the East Side.

Howell, a past Iron Fork champion at the Scene’s annual cooking competition in 2019, doesn’t seek out acclaim or attention. He prefers to keep his head down and focus on the small plates that have earned him a stellar reputation. So it’s nice that chef Chris Crary of 1 Kitchen is shining a little spotlight on his compatriot by inviting Howell to be the guest chef for 1 Kitchen’s upcoming Chefs by Nature dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Crary and Powell both love to cook vegetables, and the menu for this 10-course feast will definitely be veg-forward. The Chefs by Nature series focuses on fresh ingredients from local sources, so that should be right up Powell’s alley. The lineup of fun and creative dishes include a squash tartlet and onion custard, sweet potato tea, lion's mane mushroom and more.

Tickets for the feast which, will run from 6 to 9 p.m., are $125, with the option to add a gin-and-tonic flight, wine pairing or tonic cocktail pairing for an additional $50.

Seating will be limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged.

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail invites you to celebrate the holiday season at a series of winter pop-ups at Middle Tennessee distilleries and tasting rooms that they are calling Carols & Barrels. From Nov. 11 through Jan. 5, the participating establishments will decorate for the season and offer cocktails and entertainment based on holiday traditions.

Among the themes are “classic holiday movies.” These include Big Machine Brewery & Distillery’s riff on Christmas Vacation, Nashville Barrel Co.’s take on Elf, and Standard Proof Whiskey's Home Alone-themed offering. Leiper’s Fork Distillery, Jack Daniel’s Tinsel Cascade Hollow/George Dickel also play on the idea of Christmas in Tennessee.

If you're in a nostalgic mood, Big Machine Distillery & Tavern in Berry Hill is taking on a Candyland theme, while Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville will be converted into a winter wonderland, and Franklin’s Stable Reserve promises to be "Making Spirits Bright." George Dickel will partner with Pullman Standard Cocktail Bar & Lounge in Cummins Station to create "The Pullman Express" (without all the creepy Tom Hanks characters of the original), Chattanooga Whiskey celebrates that old holiday chestnut with silver and gold, and of course Peg Leg Porker Spirits tasting room will "Deck the Hogs."

These are all drop-in events, so no reservations are needed. If you want to map out your own holiday spirits crawl, check out all the offerings at the Carols & Barrels website.