I hope everyone got some rest over the weekend, because there is a lot to tell you about in this week's Monday Menu. Take another shot of courage and start reading!
Thom Smyth
You never know what sort of weird connections whiskey can make, and I’m not just talking about at the bar in a Lower Broad honky-tonk. I’m a big fan of what distiller Lee Kennedy has been doing at Leiper’s Fork Distillery. In addition to the excellent bottled-in-bond bourbon and rye he produces, he has also expanded his operation to include Leiper's Fork House of Spirits, a tasting room at 334 Main St. in downtown Franklin and another impending tasting space in Nashville Yards.
He has also attracted the attention of one of London’s most respected mixologists, who has decided to come to Franklin for a residency all month. Thom Smyth has worked at the legendary Milk & Honey and is now the general manager at Milroy’s of Soho, one of the most famous whiskey bars in England. Smyth has introduced guests to a host of American whiskeys, and he’s a big fan of Leiper’s Fork.
In fact, the distillery was voted Whisky of the Year in 2024 by the W Club, a membership program for U.K. whisky enthusiasts to buy, taste and learn. So Smyth is coming to Nashville to put on a series of events over the course of May as guest bartender-in-residence at House of Spirits.
“Heritage and tradition have always been at the heart of what we do at Leiper’s Fork Distillery,” Kennedy shares in the official announcement, noting Tennessee whiskey originated from Scots-Irish settlers. “We make our small-batch whiskey out of a 200-year-old log cabin on family land, using grain harvested from our farm. Thom, being a renowned barman at an international institution, furthers our commitment to honoring the spirit’s long history.”
Here’s the calendar of events that are open to the public:
May 14: Irish Songs and Stories
May 21: How to Build a Cocktail, An Evening with Thom Smyth (Upstairs 6-7:30 p.m.)
May 21: Traditional Irish Music Session (Downstairs 7-9 p.m.)
May 29: Fireside Chat Cigar Night @ Leiper's Fork Distillery (Main Campus)
Make plans to welcome Smyth to the neighborhood sometime this month!
Billy Dec
Sunda owner Billy Dec has been working on a very personal project for a long time, and his efforts have finally come to fruition with the release of a new documentary called Food Roots, which is now streaming on PBS. It tells the story of how Dec traveled among the thousands of islands that make up his native Philippines in search of his last living elders and their family stories and recipes.
He traveled over land and sea, from bustling cities to tiny villages, and a highlight of the film is when Dec encounters a 108-year-old tribal tattoo master who adorns him with a new symbol of ancestral connection.
“I’ve always been incredibly proud of my Filipino heritage, culinary, traditions and culture, so to be able to take everyone to the other side of the world to share the beauty of the islands, people, food and more, on American public television that I grew up on, is a dream come true.” says Dec in the announcement of the film’s opening. “My hope is that Food Roots inspires people of all backgrounds to seek out and explore the lessons of their own ancestors, heritage, traditions. Perhaps through food like I did, or whatever resonates, taking learned expressions of culture, identity and connection, and celebrating them by sharing all with the world.”
The one-hour movie will stream throughout May, and you can watch a trailer at the official website of the film.
If you'd prefer to watch Food Roots as part of a communal experience, Nashville PBS is hosting a screening in Studio A at 161 Rains Ave. on Saturday, May 16, from 6 until 8 p.m. In addition to Dec's film, Nashville PBS will also show other short films to stimulate a conversation exploring the ways food connects us to family, culture and community. From the release:
They will screen some episodes from The Grocery List Show, an Independent Lens series. Each episode follows host Chrissy Camba — another Filipino chef and former Top Chef contender — and her guests as they "shop for ingredients, cook a favorite family recipe, and celebrate global food traditions over a shared meal."
Nashville PBS will also premiere a new Nashville short film about International Market and founders Win and Patti Myint, who introduced many Nashvillians to Thai cuisine.
Food will be provided by Sunda New Asian. Following the screening, Dec will join Nashville PBS president and CEO Becky Magura for "a conversation about food, family, storytelling and what it means to search for your roots."
This is a free event, but registration is required at this link.
It’s almost time for your friends at Frankies to blow it out at their Third Annual Block Party on Sunday, May 17, from noon to 5 p.m. at 925 Cherokee Ave. in East Nashville.
The free event is open to everyone, and you’ll be able to buy food and drink from their celebratory menu of fried shrimp po’boys, from-scratch andouille sausage hot off the grill and plenty of ice-cold drinks, along with live music all day and lawn games for the family.
Fashion and food are coming together at a special Feast on Fashion curated series presented by Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. In a special recognition of AAPI Month, organizers have invited Peter Som, a lifestyle expert, award-winning designer and author of Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage to be the guest of honor at an event they’re calling Feast on Fashion: Family Thai x Family Style: Dinner & Conversation. Family Thai is, of course, the title of chef Arnold Myint’s cookbook, and he and his sister Anna Myint are hosting the event at their International Market restaurant on Tuesday, May 19, beginning at 6 p.m.
During Som’s career as a high-end designer, he developed The Extra Taste, his culinary platform exploring fashion, interiors, design and entertaining. His debut cookbook features 100 elegant, approachable recipes rooted in his Chinese American heritage, Bay Area upbringing and French-influenced family traditions.
According to organizers, the evening will “unfold with lively conversation and a shared table where fashion, food and identity meet in an intimate dialogue-driven setting — supporting and strengthening the future of creative talent in our community.” Even more importantly, attendees will enjoy a multicourse family-style meal courtesy of the Myints and conversations with featured guests, thoughtfully designed to spark meaningful dialogue at the intersection of food, culture, fashion, and the AAPI experience. Attendees will also go home with a copy of Som’s book, so grab your tickets at International Market’s reservations site.
