The 404 Kitchen Slates Willett Whiskey Dinner With John Currence

John Currence is one of the most talented and outspoken chefs/restaurateurs in the South. His Oxford, Miss., restaurant empire has been an important part of popularizing the region’s cuisine for more than a quarter century, since back when he opened City Grocery on the college town’s main square. Currence has also trained a generation of chefs in his kitchens at City Grocery, as well as his other establishments, Snack Bar, Big Bad Breakfast and Bouré. He’s also the author of two excellent cookbooks and some of the most wicked and biting tweets on the interwebs.

So it’s a big deal that he’s traveling to Nashville to cook with Matt Bolus at The 404 Kitchen for a special dinner on Monday, Nov. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. And as the old infomercials used to say, “But wait — there’s more!” Currence and Bolus will be joined by master distiller Drew Kulsveen of Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Ky. Not only is Kulsveen the genius behind some fantastic whiskeys — including brands like Willett Family Estate, Noah’s Mill and Rowan’s Creek — he has also recently become a major fundraiser for the fight against cancer. Seriously, take a few minutes to read this amazing account by whiskey writer Fred Minnick about how Kulsveen threw gasoline on a relatively small auction to raise more than a quarter-million dollars for the American Cancer Society.

There will be a lot of culinary and distilling talent on display at this five-course dinner with whiskey pairings. At $175, it should be one of the most special meals of the year. Don’t believe me? Let the menu stand as my argument:

MENU

First Course

Fried Mississippi Catfish

cornmeal crusted | hush puppies | slaw | whiskey comeback sauce

Second Course

Poached Egg

butter lettuce | spicy greens | duck "bacon" lardons | fennel | shallot | lady peas

Third Course

Manchester Quail

parsnip | collard greens | apples | ham stock 

Fourth Course

Louisiana Grouper

banana leaf "curry" | Delta Blues basmati rice | cucumber yogurt relish

Fifth Course

Coca Cola Cake

bourbon | coke icing | roasted peanuts | bourbon brown butter ice cream

If you want one of the few coveted seats remaining, call 404 at (615) 251-1404 to make your reservation.