Now that some of the dust has settled following Thursday's Best of Nashville issue dropping, we can return to the business of discovering what should fill your culinary and social calendar for the next week. And it’s going to be jam-packed with opportunities, so I hope you’ve left some blank lines on your to-do list!
First up is what should prove to be a fascinating foray into the world of Guyanese cuisine courtesy of chef Dustin Gonsalves, who has worked locally at Cafe Roze, Roze Pony and The Optimist. For this “Banwari” pop-up at the East Nashville location of Hearts on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 5 until 9 p.m., the chef will showcase the flavors of his homeland, Guyana.
If the weather allows, he’ll set up on the patio at Hearts and deliver hand-held dishes to a soundtrack of Caribbean and Calypso music. Among the dishes he has planned to serve as part of the a la carte menu are:
- Indo-Guyanese curry chicken with aloo, dhal and roti
- Afro-Guyanese metemgee, a root vegetable and ripe plantain dish cooked in coconut milk with fried fish
- Guyana’s national dish, pepperpot, a mixed-meat stew made with cassareep — a syrupy reduction of cassava juice, spiced with cinnamon and clove
The chef describes his inspiration this way: “My goal with this pop-up is to introduce Nashville to Guyanese cuisine, which is rich in cultural diversity but relatively unknown here. Growing up in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood (Little Caribbean), I was surrounded by Caribbean flavors, and now I’m excited to share these beloved dishes from my childhood, such as Indo-Guyanese curry chicken, Afro-Guyanese metemgee and our national dish, pepperpot."
The bar staff at Hearts will come up with cocktail pairings that you can expect to be heavy on the rum and Guyanese flavors. It’s a pay-as-you-go situation, so no tickets are required, but they would appreciate it if you RSVP in advance so they can plan ahead.
If I had to rank my favorite mongers, I think I’d go with cheese, fish and rumor, in order. But "fishmonger" could shoot to the top of my list once Fishmonger, the restaurant, finally opens in Nashville. While we wait for them to complete their buildout in the Neuhoff Building and join a host of other notable restaurants headed there like the next projects from the teams behind Kisser and Peninsula, the ‘mongers have got another pop-up planned as they introduce themselves to Nashville.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the kitchen team from Fishmonger will offer a specialty menu at Star Rover Sound starting at 6 p.m. Diners will get a preview of some of the plates and drinks that we can all expect when Fishmonger opens, including select raw bar items and their famous fish sandwiches. Make your reservation at Star Rover Sound’s events page.
If you’re a fan of Volunteer Gardener on PBS, you can join the show’s hosts at a special homegrown luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Green Door Gourmet at 7007 River Road Pike. The day will include a tour of the farm’s grounds, a lunch inspired by the bounty of the season and a pumpkin-carving demo by local artist Lundy Cupp. Wine, beer and a seasonal mocktail will also be available.
Proceeds from this event will go to support NPT's cultural, educational and civic programming, and you can contact motero@wnpt.org if you have dietary restrictions. Tickets are available online.
Finish off the busy weekend with a Spoo-kiki Drag Brunch Spectacular on Sunday, Oct. 27, with seatings at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Skye Lounge at Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown. The headliners will be Vidalia Anne Gentry and Cya Inhale, with special performances by Justine Van de Blaire and Fay Ludes, Guests are encouraged to sing along and watch the show while enjoying delectable family-style brunch offerings as well as specialty cocktails and bottomless mimosas. Brunchers can secure tickets at this link for $45 per diner.
