Chefs Katie Coss and Josh Cook
When Nectar Urban Cantina opened on McGavock Pike in Donelson in late 2017, executive chef Julio Hernandez wanted to create a community-focused Mexican-inspired restaurant in a neighborhood that was pretty much devoid of independently owned restaurants. He has definitely succeeded in garnering a fanbase of locals who appreciate his dedication to fresh seasonal cuisine and authentic Southern hospitality.
He still wants to give back even more to the community, so Hernandez has established a summer-long string of events he’s calling “Chef’s Series,” where he invites guests into the kitchen to create a signature dish for an evening, with proceeds going to local charities. For such an out-of-the-way locale, Hernandez has been able to line up some prestigious chefs for his series, including Holler & Dash’s Brandon Frohne, who cooked at the first event last month, and upcoming visits by Joey Molteni of Hathorne, and Hal Holden-Bache of Lockeland Table.
His next special evening will be this Wednesday, July 24 and feature some heavy hitters from Husk, renowned as one of the best restaurants in the region. Chefs Katie Coss and Josh Cook will join Hernandez in the kitchen from 5 to 9 p.m. to create a menu item that will benefit Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, a local no-kill organization that is “committed to 'Helping His Helpless' through quality care and healing, adoptions, and population control awareness." While they don’t have a physical facility, they encourage and arrange animal fostering opportunities to rescue potential pets from unfortunate fates.
Husk food in a comfy ambiance benefiting the animals? How can you pass that up? Don’t! The folks at Nectar want to offer this personal invitation to you: “Come out and join us as we have fun with friends and family while giving back for a great cause. Ahead of time we want to thank everyone for your continued support by allowing us to be a part of the community. We feel so welcomed by newfound and lifelong friendships that we hope to grow for many years to come.”
Nectar Urban Cantina is at 206 McGavock Pike. No reservations are required; just show up and eat some great food while you help out the puppies and kitties.
