Today is the day when it’s totally appropriate to be suspicious of any news you read, but I can personally guarantee you that everything in this edition of Monday Menu is 100 percent true. Here at the Scene we like a good joke as much as anybody, but I’ve been admonished in the past for trying to sneak a story that was made up for the occasion by the goalie/editor, so no “fake news” here!
Besides, it’s a busy food and drink week in Nashville, so ain’t nobody got time for that sort of foolishness. On to the news you can use about food and booze.
I don’t throw the word “legendary” around often, but it’s appropriate when talking about Chris Hannah. In a town like New Orleans — which has been so important in the development of the mixology scene regionally — nationally and globally, Hannah has been one of the absolute masters of the city. He's worked behind the stick at spaces like Arnaud’s French 75 Bar for almost 15 years and at his own two Big Easy establishments, Jewel of the South and Manolito. If you think of an award for “best bar program” from the James Beard Foundation of Tales of the Cocktail, Hannah has won it.
So it’s an honor and a pleasure that Hannah has agreed to a quick two-night collab at Four Walls, the recently opened cocktail bar inside The Joseph in SoBro. Four Walls lead bartender Mickey Stevenson will join forces with Hannah from 5 until 10 p.m. on April 3 and 4 to create a special drink menu inspired by the new Southern/Modern exhibit at the Frist Art Museum.
Four Walls
Drawing creative influence from the exhibition and the cultural significance of Nashville and New Orleans, the menu will feature stirred cocktails from Jewel of the South, such as the Bywater (El Dorado Rum 5 Year, Smith & Cross Rum, Amaro Averna, Chartreuse, Orange Bitters and Peychaud’s Bitters) and Dandy Dillinger (Corsair Gin, Amaro Nonino, Cocchi di Torino Vermouth, Combier Kummel and Orange Bitters).
Four Walls plans to shake their offering, including the Emerald City (Corsair Gin, wasabi, lime, rum auricle, rhum agricole, Calpico, sesame oil) and Sorbet Petillant (Corsair Bourbon, Lillet Rose, lemon, demerara and Prosecco). A bonus collaborative cocktail crafted by both teams will round out the menu, so make plans to drop by Wednesday or Thursday, along with arranging a safe ride home. (Maybe plan for Wednesday so you can attend Iron Fork on Thursday!)
You’ll have to act quickly for this next one, because tickets were close to selling out the last time I checked on the inaugural Dine to Shine: Lighting the Night for Nashville's Children, a fundraising event hosted by local nonprofit organization Nashville Children’s Alliance in partnership with the group’s longtime partners at Noko on Friday, April 5. The restaurant contributes 1 percent of its net profits directly to the organization, supporting NCA’s mission to provide healing and justice for children who have experienced abuse or witnessed violence, all at no cost to the children's families.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a welcome reception followed by a keynote presentation from child abuse survivor/advocate Sasha Joseph Neulinger. Then there will be a silent auction and a multicourse dinner. Noko will serve some of its signature dishes along with contributions from neighbors like Sean Brock, Black Box Ice Cream, East Side Banh Mi, Butcher & Bee and The Indigo Road Hospitality Group (Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku, etc.). After dinner, guests will participate in a ceremony honoring each child who was forensically interviewed by NCA in the past year, before the evening concludes with drinks, music and dancing.
The few remaining $150 tickets are listed on the event’s website. If it’s already sold out by the time you read this, you can at least take a look at and bid in the silent auction, which will be open to the public until Friday evening.
Food Waste Prevention Week is a nationwide initiative designed to educate communities about sustainability and techniques to reduce waste. Network for Sustainable Solutions is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to put on a local event at Yazoo Brewing at 900 River Bluff Drive in Madison from 1 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.
The event is free, and attendees will experience the entire life cycle of our food system, from farming all the way to composting. Among the activities at the event will be:
Cooking/canning demonstration
Worm bin composting
Interactive and engaging activity designed for kids
Special brew from Yazoo using recovered food
A chance to win a weekend getaway to a Tennessee state park
Although it’s a free event, you are asked to preregister so they can get an idea of a headcount in advance.
