Yolan Combines Music and Food for Upcoming 'Tour of Italy' Dinner Event

Valentine’s Day fell on a Monday this year, so if you accidentally dropped the ball on doing something special as a celebration of love, I’ve got an opportunity to dig yourself out. Last spring, Yolan downtown began offering a series of special wine tastings, usually showcasing wine from a particular region of the country.

But for its next big event, called A Tour of Italy — which is coming up on Tuesday, March 8 — Yolan is planning to take guests on a food, wine and musical tour of five different regions. In addition to a menu crafted by chef Tony Mantuano and wine pairings curated by his wife Cathy, Yolan has reached out to Nashville Symphony concertmaster Jun Iwasaki to put together a string quartet to accompany each course with selections from some of Italy’s most renowned composers, including Verdi, Vivaldi and master of the spaghetti Western soundtrack Ennio Morricone.

The lovely classical music will fill the cozy dining room of Yolan to wrap diners in a sonic hug as they enjoy plate after plate of fantastic Italian food. Cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the music and meal to follow.

Reservations in advance are mandatory at the event website, and tickets are $295 per person for dinner and the show. That price is exclusive of tax and gratuity, but if it gets you out of the post-Valentine’s doghouse, it’ll be worth every penny. If you still need convincing, check out the food/wine and music pairings below:

A TOUR OF ITALY 

Featuring Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony 

Campania

Polpo alla Luciana octopus, tomato, Calabrian chile, house focaccia 

Mastroberardino ‘Novaserra’ Greco di Tufo 2019 

Andantino from String Quartet in E Minor by G. Verdi 

Veneto

Risotto fumet, fried smelt, fines herbes 

Quintarelli ‘Ca de Merlo Bianco’ 2019 

Spring from The Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi 

Lazio

Carbonara mezze paccheri, guanciale, Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Hidden Holler Farms egg, black pepper 

Cantine Volpetti Cesanese del Piglio 2020 

Love Theme for Nata from Cinema Paradiso by E. Morricone 

Toscano

Manzo 45-day dry-aged rib roast, black truffle, local root vegetables, fondant potato 

Tenuta Buon Tempo ‘Riserva’ Brunello di Montalcino 2010 

Minuet from String Quintet in E Major by L. Boccherini Bonet 

Piemonte

Valrhona Caramelia custard, Marcona-infused rum, crispy amaretti, bitter caramel 

Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Chinato NV 

Crisantemi by G. Puccini