October 2015 Food & Drink Happenings – Nashville
Homegrown Taproom Grand Opening Weekend
Thursday, October 1st – Sunday, October 4th, 2015
Homegrown Taproom and Marketplace
2720 Old Lebanon Rd
Nashville, TN 37214
Homegrown Taproom & Marketplace quietly opened last month, bringing a wide selection of local craft beers and a chef driven dinner and bar menu to the Donelson community. Sadly, my schedule has not allowed me to visit yet, but I will be doing so very, very soon. Robin and Jennifer, the proprietors of Homegrown, are awesome ladies and I would love if all of you would get over there and check it out too!
Today kicks off their official grand opening weekend, with a five-course Farm to Pint Beer Dinner scheduled for tonight. They’ve partnered with Tennessee Brew Works for their beverages, and the menu has been crafted by their chef, Michael Moranski.
Farm to Pint Dinner
6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm)
Tickets are $65 and must be purchased in advance
Visit www.homegrownnashville.com/events for more information and tickets
The celebration weekend will continue with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2nd at 10:30 a.m. On Saturday, Oct. 3rd from 3-7 p.m. local brewers, including Fat Bottom Brewery and Little Harpeth Brewing, will be on-site with special brews.
Homegrown will feature live music sets throughout the grand opening weekend from 7-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday. Featured artists include Annie Mosher, Cheley Tackett, Lisa Oliver, Tommy Womack, Riley Anglen, Adam McDonough, and Weston and Mia Hill.
The final event of the weekend is an all-day beer brunch on Sunday, Oct. 4th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. featuring special Calfkiller brews, giveaways and a visit from the Calfkiller brewers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information about any of these events, or Homegrown Taproom & Marketplace in general, visit www.homegrownnashville.com.
Farmhand Dinner
Thursday, October 8th, 2015
6:30- 8:30 pm
Nashville Farmers’ Market
900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37208
Cost: $75/ person or $500/table (6 seats)
The Farmhand Dinner at the Nashville Farmers’ Market will begin with a traditional farmhand “Water Break”, except instead of water, there will be cocktails! Signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm, then the dinner bell will ring at 7:00 and feature a plated, innovative interpretation of farmhand classics. Some incredible chefs are participating, so this is sure to be fantastic:
Tyler Brown – Farmer, Rancher and Executive Chef of Capitol Grille, The Hermitage Hotel
Trey Ciocca — Chef of The Farm House
Paul Johnson & Ed Smith– Chefs and Owners, Bacon & Caviar Gourmet Catering & BBQ
Richard Jones – Executive Chef, Green Door Gourmet
Dale Levitski–Executive Chef, Sinema
Margot McCormack – Executive Chef, Owner of Margot Café and Bar & Marche Artisan Foods
Sam Tucker – Executive Chef, Owner of Village Bakery & Provisions
Laura Wilson – 2x Iron Fork Winning Chef & Chef/Owner, Citizen Kitchen
Nicole Wolfe —Chef, Owner Wolfe Gourmet Cakes
To purchase tickets, please click HERE.
Proceeds from the Farmhand Dinner will benefit the Nashville Farmers’ Market through our partnership with Tennessee Farmers’ Market Association
Champagne and Chardonnay
Thursday, October 8th, 2015
6- 8:30 pm
391 Jones Parkway
Nashville, TN
Cost: $125
Okay ladies, if the Farmhand Dinner isn’t really your speed, then this may be just the thing for you! At this exclusive cocktail party, you can enjoy a beautiful evening drinking Champagne and Chardonnay with your friends, while raising money to fund the fight against cancer.
There will be a Silent Auction filled with fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, special trips and luxury items. The $125 ticket price includes wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres.
The extraordinary wines for the evening are generously donated by Champagne Henriot, Domaine Parent and The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. Women interested in making a reservation may call the Nashville Wine Auction office at 615.329.1760 or visit www.NashvilleWineAuction.com.
Southern Provisions Fireside Chat
Friday, October 9th, 2015
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Green Door Gourmet
7011 River Road Pike
Nashville, TN 37209
Cost: $45/person (includes appetizers and beverages)
Green Door Gourmet is hosting a cocktail reception and fireside chat with noted food historian and USC professor Dr. David Shields, and acclaimed American food author and expert on southern cuisine, Nathalie Dupree ,on Friday evening, October 9th.
Dr Shields aka “the Rice Man” is credited with being instrumental in bringing back no less than twelve heirloom southern vegetables and grains through his work with Glenn Roberts (Anson Mills) and Chef Sean Brock. Nathalie Dupree has been a passionate culinary voice for southern food and entertaining. Her book Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking is a ground breaking collection of the best southern recipes from across the region. Her latest release Southern Vegetables goes more in depth on how best to utilize amazing produce.
This is an incredible opportunity to meet and learn from these respected authors up close and personal. Both will be signing their recent books, so if you have one already, bring it along. If not, a limited number will be available for sale during the event, or may be purchased in advance at www.greendoorgourmet.com/event-merchandise.
This is a very exclusive limited seating event, so hurry and purchase your ticket today!
Dhaba Chophouse
Sunday, October 11th, 2015
6, 6:30 or 7 pm seatings
51st Kitchen and Bar
5104 Illinois Ave
Nashville, TN 37209
Cost: $150 per person; Table of 4 required, so $600 per table
My friend Vivek is back with some new supper club concepts! The first dinner this month is at 404 Kitchen, but it’s already sold out, so no need to give you details on it. However, the second one still has some spots and looks like it’ll be a lot of fun.
“Dhaba Chophouse” will present a classic steakhouse experience with Indian accents. This dinner will be held at 51st Kitchen and Bar with Chef Tony Galzin and General Manager Caroline Galzin. The meal will be served family style, so for that reason, tables of 4 people are required. Prices include cocktail/wine pairings and gratuity. For more information, to see the menu and to buy tickets, visit the VEA Supper Club website.
Nashville Street Food Awards
Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Noon – 4 pm
~UPDATE – Venue Change!~
Nashville Farmers’ Market
900 Rosa L Parks Blvd
Nashville, TN 37208
Cost: FREE
I’m so excited to once again be a judge at the upcoming Nashville Street Food Awards! Free and open to all ages, the event is a friendly little competition between more than 25 NFTA members. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase food from all participating trucks, including a variety of their contest entries.
Categories will include: Best Taco, Best Between Bread, Best Smoked, Best Dessert, Best Hot Nashville, Best Vegetarian, Best Deep Fried, and Best Drink. There will also be two Nashville brands featured in categories, Best Yazoo and Best Christie Cookie.
Participating trucks include Bacon Nation, Bao Down, Bradley’s Curbside Creamery, Chapmans II, Coco’s Italian Market, Dawg Daze, Deg Thai, Electric Sliders, Grilled Cheeserie, Hoss’ Loaded Burgers, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Julia’s Bakery, Lil Choo Choo BBQ, Maggie Moo’s Mobile, Moovers & Shakers, Music City Brisket, Music City Rice & Roll, Nashville Burrito Co., Riffs Fine Street Food/Funk Seoul Brother, The Rolling Feast, Sehrt Seafood, Smoke Et Al, Smoothie King, Steaming Goat, and Taste of Nature.
For up to date information on the event, visit the Facebook page.
Tennessee Beer & Wine Festival
Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Noon – 5 pm
Two Rivers Mansion
3130 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Cost: $30 (early bird) or $45 (at the door)
So many competing festivals, how is one to choose? While I’ll be chowing down and judging the Street Food Awards, there’s another festival going on across town for those of you that love to drink. The Tennessee Beer and Wine Festival will be bringing beer lovers and wine aficionados together at the gorgeous Two Rivers Mansion.
60+ breweries and a multitude of wine companies will be there, and don’t worry, there will be plenty of food vendors too! For more information, visit the festival website.
Amanda Freitag Book Signing at Parnassus
Monday, October 19th, 2015
6:30 pm
Parnassus Books
3900 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215
You probably know her best from Food Network’s hit show Chopped, or perhaps Iron Chef America. I just happened to randomly meet Amanda Freitag three years ago at the bar at Martin’s BBQ in Nolensville. Since I’m a fan of Chopped, I immediately knew who she was when I saw her. Apparently I’d stumbled upon her sampling some of Pat Martin’s cuisine for another TV show she was set to tape. Lucky me! Here it was, the middle of the afternoon with no one else in the restaurant, and I got to join in on the feast plus chat with this lovely lady for a while. And I must say, she’s awesome.
Now Amanda has come out with a cookbook and will be making an appearance here in Nashville at Parnassus! She’ll be signing The Chef Next Door: A Pro Chef’s Recipes For Fun, Fearless Home Cooking on Monday the 19th so come out and meet her! I guarantee you’ll like her as much as I did.
For more information on the book and the event, click here.
Taste of Nashville
Friday, October 23, 2015
7 pm – 1 am
Rocketown
601 4th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: $100 (early bird, through 10/15) or $125
Nashville’s longest running food tasting event is just around the corner. Taste of Nashville will make a repeat appearance at Rocketown this year, and as always, they’ve gathered some of the best restaurants, food purveyors, bars and beverage creators that our fine city has to offer!
Just a few that have my attention: Acme Feed & Seed, Hattie B’s, Moto, Belle Meade Bourbon, Martin’s BBQ, The Patterson House, Fifty First Kitchen & Bar, Saffire, The Southern, and of course, one near and dear to my heart, Goo Goo Clusters. No doubt it’s going to be good! To see the full list as it’s updated, visit their website and to purchase tickets, visit the Evenbrite ticketing page.
Taste of Nashville is hosted by the The Phoenix Club and benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee and Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee.
Bad Bitches Brew
Monday, October 26, 2015
6 – 9 pm
POP Nashville
604 Gallatin Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
Cost: $85
includes all food, drinks and gratuity
I’m really excited about this dinner coming to Nashville in late October. The press release I received on it was the first I’d ever heard of the “Bad Bitches” chef series, but I certainly love the concept!
The Charleston-based chef series, which was started by former Fig sous chef Sarah Adams, Kelly Kleisner of Mirabelle Bakery, and Randi Weinstein of Butcher and Bee, preaches the word of female empowerment in the food and beverage community by hosting playfully themed and interactive dining events, that also happen to raise money for scholarships.
The Halloween-themed “Bad Bitches Brew” they’re bringing to Nashville will showcase some of my absolute favorite chefs in town: Deb Paquette of Etch, Maneet Chauhan of Chauhan Masala & Ale House, Allie Lane of Little Octopus, Rebekah Turshen of City House, Kayla May of Blushing Berry and Josephine, and Lisa Donovan of Buttermilk Road. Talk about some talent in the kitchen!
Chelsey Conrad of Butcher and Bee Charleston and Sarah Adams, founder of Bad Bitches, will also be contributing to the meal. They’ll all be joined by the female brewers of Nashville, including Tennessee Brew Works, Jackalope, Corsair, Mayday, Black Abbey, and more.
Note: if you attend, you’re encouraged to dress to theme. I’m already plotting my outfit.
For more information and tickets, visit the Eventbrite page.
Event proceeds will benefit the Pink Boots Society Nashville for the continuing education of women in beer and the Bad Bitches Scholarship fund.
Hmmmm, now I really want to go to Bad Bitches, but I believe it’s on the same night as our epic happy hour on the porch!
Also, will you go to one of Vivek’s November pop-ups with me since I’m missing these two? Pretty please?