Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is as close to a rock star as a chef can be.
With the big regional Michelin star announcements coming up in Greenville, S.C., on Nov. 3, foodies in Nashville are speculating about which restaurants might be recognized and how many stars they might receive. I've heard people actually predicting which local spots might receive three or two stars, and I’m trying hard to temper expectations locally — in the first year Atlanta was covered by Michelin, the entire city had only five restaurants that received a single star apiece. These upcoming announcements cover Atlanta, plus the rest of Georgia and six other states including Tennessee, so I’m trying to keep folks from being disappointed if the results aren’t as splashy as we would like.
Let’s put it this way: Chef Vongerichten has worked at or operated restaurants that have totaled double digits in Michelin stars, so if Nashville were to sniff at half that many stars, it would be a remarkable accomplishment. Jean-Georges currently operates almost 50 restaurants around the globe, so when you think culinary celebrity, he should be at the front of your mind. With so many different operations, any chance we get to see him at his Nashville restaurant — Drusie & Darr at The Hermitage Hotel — should be a special occasion!
Speaking to the world-renowned chef about one year of Drusie and Darr
And we’ve got one coming up next week as the chef visits to be a part of the opening of a new exhibit from renowned celebrity photographer Timothy White. The Hermitage has chosen an exhibition of White’s portrait work featuring musical icons with connections to the hotel, including Bruce Springsteen, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Jon Bon Jovi, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and others to display throughout the restaurant.
After the opening of the exhibit next Tuesday, Oct. 21, at a by-invitation event, chef Vongerichten will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in the kitchen at Drusie & Darr. while there’s no guarantee that you’ll get to see him if you happen to make a reservation on one of those two evenings, I do know firsthand that one of his favorite things to do when he’s in the Drusie & Darr kitchen is to work the wood-fired oven — so you might get a pizza from a Michelin-starred chef or possibly even the opportunity to meet him.
It’s not like you need an excuse to eat at Drusie & Darr anyway. It’s always a fantastic choice for an evening out! But you can bet the kitchen staff will be at their absolute peak performance when the boss is in town, so you might as well take advantage of that opportunity too.
