When hospitality group LeBlanc + Smith brought the latest edition of their popular Barrel Proof bar from New Orleans to Nashville, it made Germantown a lot cooler. Now they’re bringing another taste of the Big Easy to Music City with a special pop-up event with a visit by acclaimed chef Mason Hereford on Tuesday, March 26.
Hereford is best-known for his elevated sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf, named one of the most influential restaurants of the decade by Food & Wine and Esquire. It was also named Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Appétit. In addition to his flagship sandwich shop, Hereford also operates a breakfast restaurant named Molly’s Rise and Shine and a new ’80s-themed spot called Hungry Eyes. He has also written a cookbook based on some of the recipes from his sandwich shop — he elevates classic sandwiches with slightly chef-y details.
Hereford will work with Barrel Proof’s executive chef Todd Pulsinelli to create a special menu for the evening pop-up, promising offerings like a Collard Green Melt with slow-cooked collards, Swiss cheese, pickled cherry pepper dressing and coleslaw on toasted rye, and the Fried Bologna Sandwich with hot mustard, potato chips, shredded lettuce, mayo and American cheese on big toast. A promised side dish that especially caught my eye was the Korean Hot Fries topped with brisket bulgogi, spicy mayo, peanuts, cilantro and sesame.
If you’re planning to visit the pop-up, be aware that quantities will be limited, so get there early. It’s not like Hereford will have access to a bottomless pantry of Big Easy ingredients, so when they run out of an item, it will be officially 86'd for the evening. Even then, it’s always worth dropping by Barrel Proof for one of their classic cocktails or to sample some of their voluminous library of whiskeys.
The fun kicks off at 4 p.m. Tuesday, so don’t be late.
