Last week, I told you about a ceremonial tuna cutting taking place at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Sunday, Sept. 7, starting at 6 p.m. The organizers really want to fill the house, because once you commit to breaking down an entire tuna, you end up with a mess of meat on your hands. Nobody wants to waste this rare treat, and it’s important to respect the fish.
So to help boost attendance, they’re offering a special 50 percent discount for Bites readers — really, for anyone who uses the code TUNA50 to make their reservation — which will save you $100 on the experience. I’ve been a part of one of chef Alfredo Bueno’s tuna demos, and I can attest that it’s a delicious treat and fascinating process. Grab your discounted spots today!
If there’s one thing that I’d like to teach you today, it’s that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. The Americanized margarita-fest instead commemorates an important victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on Sept. 16, which is actually thought of as the first day of their war for independence from Spain, an effort that lasted from 1810 until 1821. That’s why chef Roberto Santibañez chose Tuesday, Sept. 16, as the date for his special celebratory dinner at Fonda on 12th. He’s calling the dinner A Journey Through the Evolution of Mexican Cuisine, so expect a culinary history of the region ranging from dishes popular before the Spaniards came to power to the iconic Independence Day dish, Chiles en nogada.
The plate of stuffed poblano peppers is topped with a cream sauce, parsley and pomegranate seeds to represent the colors of the Mexican flag. (That’s hard to do in the U.S., because there really aren’t a lot of choices for truly blue food.)
After a cocktail reception and appetizers at 6 p.m., guests will sit down to a four-course dinner with tequila and wine pairings. Tickets to the dinner are $95 and are available through Resy.
I’m annually reminded how long I’ve been doing this job when I receive the announcement of the upcoming Tennessee Beer, Wine and Shine Festival returning to Two Rivers Mansion on Saturday, Oct. 18. This is the 15th iteration of the festival, and I’m pretty sure I’ve covered them all. Tickets are now on sale at the event website for the festival, which raises funds for nonprofit organizations in Donelson and Hermitage. To date, the event has raised more than $750,000 for local charities.
Attendees can expect at least 2,500 beer, wine, seltzer and even moonshine fans spread across the Two Rivers estate, sampling beverages from some of your favorite producers. Tickets include a commemorative tasting glass, all the samples, an invitation to the official afterparty at Scoreboard Bar & Grill on Music Valley Drive and free line dancing at Nashville Palace. VIP tickets are also available, and they include entry an hour before the regular noon opening, a gift bar, special tastings and a cigar.
