One of the most enjoyable hours of dining in my life took place back in 2017 as I took a break from my jam-packed schedule covering the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Between running from event to event, I called an audible and snuck over to The Charleston Grill inside the venerable Charleston Place hotel to sit down with famed chef Michelle Weaver and a representative of the hotel.
I expected it to be the normal sitdown interview with maybe a bite or two, but apparently my dining companions were in the mood for a break too! We mutually decided that the focus of our hour together would be to try as many unbelievable wines as possible — bottles that you would never expect to see available by the glass at any price.
Ostensibly, the idea was to show off the restaurant’s Coravin wine preservation system, which allows them to keep open bottles fresh. But really we were just taking a tour through France and Germany by the glass and allowing chef Weaver to pick out some pairings from the menu. I still remember a 2002 Künstler Riesling Spätlese Trocken off their "Bucket List" of by-the-glass wines that was an amazing complement to a small plate of venison tenderloin with foie gras and a huckleberry-port sauce.
You just don’t forget stuff like that! I reluctantly returned to the festival grind after that hour together, but the week had already clearly peaked.
That’s why I was so excited to see that chef Weaver is coming to town for a fun weekend residency at Marsh House Aug. 23 and 24. She was recently named culinary ambassador for The Charleston Place, freeing her from many of her kitchen duties and allowing her to travel a little more often for trips like her visit to Nashville. Marsh House x Michelle Weaver will be a collaborative series featuring Weaver’s innovative approach to Southern cuisine during a special dinner Saturday night and a more casual patio cookout the night before.
On Friday night, chef Weaver will be cooking on the Marsh House patio, bringing a taste of her Charleston to Nashville. Ticket price includes food, drinks, tax and gratuity. Join Marsh House for the kickoff to the guest chef weekend by reserving your tickets on Resy. On Saturday night, the vibe will get a little more formal as Weaver and the Marsh House culinary team collaborate on a four-course dinner with carefully selected wine pairings. The ticket price of $150 is all-inclusive, covering food, wine pairings, tax and gratuity.
If you’re a cocktail fan, get ready for the next edition of the big Nashville Cocktail Festival on Saturday, Sept. 7, at East Park. Organizers have compacted the event into a single evening of tasting and education from 6 to 10 p.m.
There will be artisan spirits producers and brand representatives on hand, along with local mixologists whipping up some really special cocktails for the assembled tipplers. There will even be some make-your-own-cocktail stations if you want to experiment with your own recipes.
General admission tickets are $70 in advance or $85 at the door for unlimited tastings, so save enough money for a rideshare by picking up your tickets in advance at the event website.
