Seen the Morning Light, And It Ain’t Because I’m an Early Rise..

So. Charleston Wine and Food Festival. 2014. Sean Brock, Drew Robinson, John Currence, Donald Link, Angie Mosier, Rodney Scott and…. Me. We cooked one of the most fun and inspiring dinners together at the Alabama Tent Revival on the Saturday night of the festival to celebrate and support Jim n’ Nick and The Southern Foodway Alliance’s recognition of the Archibald family of Archibald’s BBQ in Northpoint, Alabama.

The food was phenomenal and the company was outstanding. I made Alabama Lane Cakes with Atlanta’s own Angie Mosier – a gal who somehow manages to make you fall in love with her five thousand times more every time you get to spend time with her. Working the pass with this crew, a world class shit-talking fest if I’ve ever seen one, was something dreams are made of. I’d love to say that I have plenty of stories to share, but it was all in the moment. And the moment included a lot, like a lifetime’s worth, of incredible whisky.

The one and only Angie Mosier, setting the tone at Nick's BBQ for our Tent Revival.

The one and only Angie Mosier, setting the tone at Nick’s BBQ for our Tent Revival.

Nick of Jim n' Nicks and Sean.

Nick of Jim n’ Nicks and Sean.

Donald Link of Pesce and Cochon - he was waxing super poetically about his days as a grill cook at this exact moment.

Donald Link of Pesce and Cochon – he was waxing super poetically about his days as a grill cook at this exact moment.

This badass pass. An impressive line up from start to finish.

This badass pass. An impressive line up from start to finish.

My contribution: The Alabama Lane Cake.

My contribution: The Alabama Lane Cake.

I think everyone liked it, especially Edward Lee.

I think everyone liked it, especially Ed Lee.

BMR in New York/Photographer and Friend Andrea Behrends (with some Thanks sprinkled in at the end)

BMRSSNYC72-3226

As I plan my 2014 Calendar, which has yet another incredibly exciting Sunday Supper planned for New York, I wanted to take a moment to tell you about this trip – but it’s likely that you’re better off if I just show you. You know how when you’re having an incredibly big moment in your life and you actually, afterward, feel like you were completely stoned and buzzed and dizzy and breathless through the entire thing? That’s pretty much how this trip to New York was. Words actually fail me.

BMRSSNYC72-3000 BMRSSNYC72-2986

We toured the Chelsea Market, I taught my very first Southern Baking class with a group of some of the most amazing women I’ve ever met (including the dear, dear Charlotte Druckman who became an “instant favorite person ever” person), we cooked for a room full of lovely New Yorkers and, in between, ate the best punjabi, pizza, chinese, thai, italian and snuck into male-only middle eastern eateries in the middle of the night to eat hummus and drink black tea. Best whirlwind trip of my life.

(A big thank you to Sarah Simmons and her crew at CityGrit for gifting us the use of their kitchen and dining room!)

BMRSSNYC72-3576

So, it is with much gratitude to Andrea Behrends for capturing all the little and big moments of this trip, the nuances of each day, all of the gestures, all of the friends that showed up to support us, all of the food that we were able to so eagerly prepare and present, all of the guests who came and ate and laughed and had their own very, separate and intimate experiences outside of us. Thank you Andrea for being there and for the really wonderful gift that these pictures are.

BMRSSNYC72-3032

BMRSSNYC72-3583

BMRSSNYC72-3274

BMRSSNYC72-3809

BMRSSNYC72-3650

BMRSSNYC72-3964

BMRSSNYC72-3925

BMRSSNYC72-3980

BMRSSNYC72-4228

BMRSSNYC72-4022

BMRSSNYC72-3835

BMRSSNYC72-3785

BMRSSNYC72-3800

BMRSSNYC72-3895

BMRSSNYC72-4064

BMRSSNYC72-4115

BMRSSNYC72-4138

BMRSSNYC72-4263

BMRSSNYC72-4255

BMRSSNYC72-4309

BMRSSNYC72-4312

BMRSSNYC72-4154

BMRSSNYC72-4341

BMRSSNYC72-4375

BMRSSNYC72-4177

BMRSSNYC72-4453

BMRSSNYC72-4465

A MOMENT OF SERIOUS, I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING YOU, GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY 

As I write this and share these pictures, I’m feeling a rather spontaneous inclination to to say thank you. I should probably wait for an end of the year wrap up, but screw it. My heart says “now”. Thank you to my friends who have all made this thing work, simply by showing up to wash dishes, by carrying heavy ass boxes of dishes all over god’s green earth, by taking the most beautiful and meaningful pictures of all these important moments, by cleaning corn, by playing a live show for my guests, by setting tables and pouring wine and making playlists and by taking trash bags full of fish carcasses in your brand new car to a dumpster because the one at the restaurant was locked and not hating me when one ripped and made your brand new car smell like fish for months and months. I don’t know how I deserve people like you in my life, but I’m so grateful. Bare with me while I gush, will ya?

BMRSSNYC72-3074The one and only Jessica Cheatham, BMR would likely be a big pile of neglected, sad, twitching broken dreams and, I, an overworked, stressed out pile of twitching brokenness without you and your immense love and kindness and strength of friendship and dedication. You’re the hardest working girl I know. Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou and I love you. You’re remarkable.

Photo by A. Behrends

Photo by R. Green

Heidi Ross for being the strongest sounding board I’ve ever had and for putting in so many hours of your time simply because you believe in my ideas. You’ve brought order and style and enthusiastic partnership to my, ahem, romantic and batshit crazy brain.

Photo by A. Behrends

Photo by R. Green

John Donovan for being everyone’s hero, every damn time. But mostly, for being my hero. You make me win at life.

Photo by A. Behrends

Photo by R. Green

Molly Levine for being the best sous I may ever have. I miss you every time I cook a Supper. I can’t wait for the next time we step foot in a kitchen together… In San Francisco.

Photo by A. Behrends

Photo by A. Behrends

Andrea Behrends – you’re always there with a camera, a badass attitude and serious server skills to bus tables and fill water. I love being around you. I love you’re heart. I love you’re joy. I love your ability to make a room full of super badassery come to life.

Photo by H. Ross

Photo by H. Ross

Joy Shaw for saying yes even when you should have said no and for always, always, always being my back up plan, and for always having a cocktail in my hand every time I plated the last plate – you were always a life saver and still are.

Photo by H. Ross

Photo by H. Ross

Robin Riddell Jones for being smart where I am lacking and making sure that everyone always had a lovely glass of wine to sip.

Photo by A. Behrends

Photo by A. Behrends

Alisa Martin, Caitlin Mello, Teresa Mason, Leia Buchanan, Shannon Wright, Sean Brock, Josh Habiger, Courtney Jaye, Mack and Holly Linebaugh, Heather Routh, Libby Callaway, Susan Sherrick, Aaron Clemins, Molly Fitzpatrick, Nicole Wolfe, Kahlil Arnold and the whole Arnold’s family, Mike Wiley, Melissa Shoaf, Kindy Girdley, Ryan Green, Mark Tucker, Laura Wilson…

Photo by M. Tucker

Photo by M. Tucker

I feel like George Bailey at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life when I think of all of you. “No man who has friends is a failure.”

You all make me my most capable self. I love you all.

Here’s to the end of a year, a New Year to follow and many more memories!

WHEW! Let’s Catch Up, Shall We??

These last six months… I can really, barely wrap my mind around where to begin. There are so many photos to share, so many stories to tell, so much that was seen, eaten, sipped, sung, bellowed, guffawed, gulped…. I really feel like maybe a bulleted list of the last six months might be a better summation.

But bullet lists are for jerks. I want to have the time it would take to tell you all the details, show you all the pictures, tell you about all the food. And, I really feel like I CAN. In time. And, maybe if that time isn’t NOW, I can at least hope that I took copious enough notes to remember the better parts to share with you very soon. In the last six months, I’ve been to New York with my team of brilliant hoodlums, the wonderwall that is Jessica Cheatham, the super-multi-talent that is Andrea Behrends and a visitor chef, Aussie globetrotter Trisha Greentree, to teach baking classes and serve a Sunday Supper to a whole new audience. I’ve been to and baked for the remarkable and utterly life-changing event that is the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium where the topic was Women, Work and Food and where I met the most incredible people I may ever meet on this planet, heard some of the most inspiring words spoken and cooked with incredibly gifted and generous chefs whom I will always feel are my family now. I was asked to host a Supper in the Studio with Emily Leonard to be covered by a talented team for Anthology Magazine that consisted of Anna Watson Carl, Amy Dickerson and Jenn Elliot Blake. I’ve recorded two episodes of Mind of a Chef with Sean Brock. I’ve been invited to host intimate Suppers with the likes of the wonderful folks at Jack Daniels in Lynchburg as well as with Arnold’s Country Kitchen to benefit The Land Trust of Tennessee – not to mention in various, lovely private homes in the South. I’ve worked with the beautifully curated shows that are The Joint Series with Susan Sherrick and Libby Callaway and in leagues with Josh Habiger and musician Joe Fletcher. My biscuits were listed as #5 best biscuit in the country by Food and Wine Magazine (say wha?!!). All the while, I’ve been doing some of the most rewarding and important work of my life with some of the finest cooks I’ve ever met at Husk Nashville, and also helping to oversee the pastry in Charleston at the original Husk with the sensationally brilliant Travis Grimes. I’ve been wonderfully busy. As John T. Edge would say, “Everything is in motion” and I couldn’t be happier. (Notice how I’ve just made a bullet list in paragraph form? That’s SUPER jerky, right there, isn’t it?).

AND, I have pictures! SOMEwhere! And I promise to show them to you. SOON!

For now, I want to tell you all thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Bucket fulls of thanks to so many people.

And, I also want to tell you what’s ahead! I feel a real-deal bullet list coming on…

This year, in lieu of my usual Thanksgiving Pie Extravaganza Sale in which I drive everyone around me crazy for a week in order to obsess over the production of 100+ pies, I will exclusively be selling pies at Peter Nappi to benefit The Magdelene House at their Thanks&Giving Show with several of the loveliest Nashvillians I know: Emily Leonard, Peter Bradley Adams, Heidi Ross, the entire Peter Nappi Team and Thistle Farms. Understanding, of course, that this doesn’t fill your Thanksgiving Day pie needs, but it does get you in the spirit of things all while you get to eat some damn pie. It’s kind of a perfect thing!

Print

On Sunday, November 24th, I will be hosting a Sunday Supper (the first since New York!) at the home of acclaimed artist Buddy Jackson. It will be a Supper billed as a private viewing of many of his most recent works, as well as many of his previous works. Curator and art dealer Susan Sherrick will be on hand, with Buddy himself, to discuss the work with guests as well as to provide information for collectors regarding purchase. I’ll be posting the menu and a link to purchase seats to this Supper later this week! If you’re not familiar with Buddy or his work, please check him out here on my other ridiculously talented pal Mark Tucker’s website.

I’ll be posting December events within the next couple of weeks. But, I’m excited to announce that there is a Holiday Sunday Fete in the works and the date is December 15th. Stay tuned for exciting details!

Thank you for letting me barely catch you all up. I’m still here! And, happily, everything is delightfully and wonderfully “in motion”.

With much love and thanks,

Lisa

April: Joint Gallery Breakfast Photos, Cooking w. Yazoo Supper, Anthology Magazine Spread and BIG NEWS!

I feel like I’m about to inundate you with massive amounts of amazingness. I hope you’re sitting down.

JointJessBiscuit

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to host the Gallery Breakfast for Joint Project One, a three day photography pop up courtesy of my dreamboat friends, the ever-wonderful Susan Sherrick who curated and uber-talent Libby Callaway, organizer. Under photography by Richard Avedon, Lee Friedlander, Horst P. Horst, Mikael Kennedy, William Klein, Saul Leiter, Vivian Maier, Sarah Moon, Irving Penn, Heidi Ross, Josef Sudek, Joshua Black Wilkins and Josh Wool we drank sangria, roasted pear champagne cocktails and then, afterward, were treated to a curator’s tour by Susan. The morning was a delight for me. (Photos by the lovely and talented Andrea Behrends. Thank you Andrea for being so incredible and such a badass, always).

One last big thanks to Libby and Susan, and to Nick and Lina Dryden to opening their new and stunning under renovation home for such a wonderful experience! (And, one last big fat shout out to my girls Jessica Cheatham, Alisa Martin and Holly “Jean” Linebaugh for helping me to make all things possible this weekend. Love you three.)

JointPastry JointTable JointME JointPrepTable JointLibby JointBiscuit JointJam
JointGuestsatTable
JointDrydenBaby JointBiscuit2

JointGravyPlateJointCleanPlate

April has been full of activity and big news! The cat if officially out of the bag and we’ve announced my placement as Pastry Chef at Husk Nashville. Sean Brock and I have been chatting about this venture for a few years now – first when he opened Husk Charleston and then, when it was a more feasible venture, Husk Nashville. To say that I’m both honored and nerding out over the opportunity in equal measures is an understatement. Sean is a wonder. And, he’s one of the first chefs I’ve met who really digs deeply into history with an academic eye in much the same way I do. We have a lot in common, though I truly feel like I’m flattering myself for making such a statement. I’m just thrilled to be working with someone who wants to talk about the historical constructs of cane sugar and flour. It’s a dream opportunity. Chris Chamberlain made a lovely little announcement here.  It was also announced on EaterNational here (which, for cooks, is a big damn deal). I walk around constantly pinching myself at the opportunity. And, I’m ready to get to work. Big time. You’ll be hearing much more about this, don’t you worry.

Also in April, we are delighted to be participating in an Anthology Magazine spread for their summer issue featuring the work and studio of another dreamboat friend, Emily Leonard. I’ll share more post-production. I’m looking so forward to it!

Our next event! We’ll be Cooking w. Yazoo on Tuesday, April 23rd at 6pm. This is a little different for us on two accounts: it’s on a Tuesday night and you need to go HERE to make your reservations! These seats are limited so go get one before they sell out. It’s going to be a fun night full of beer, sausages, beer, ice cream, beer, rye rolls, mustard, beer.. Amazing things. My dear friend Aaron Clemins, executive Sous at City House, will be our Guest Chef. Aaron is as good as a brother to me. He and I opened City House together and spent many long days together talking about food, making food, eating food, dreaming about food and complaining about front of house nonsense together. I’m incredibly lucky to call this guy a dear friend and a massive inspiration. He is no nonsense and remarkably smart in all his approaches to food. I adore him and I can’t WAIT to be in a kitchen again with him. I learn something every damn time I talk to that man and it goes double when we’re slinging food around a kitchen together.

Here’s what we’ve worked out for you all:

April 23rd Buttermilk Road/Cooking w. Yazoo Supper

w. Guest Chef Aaron Clemins, City House Executive Sous Chef

Amuse Bouche:

Beer Cheese Pale Ale Biscuit Bite

First Course:

Apple, Fennel and Radish Salad w. Pecans and Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Main Course:

Trio of Housemade Sausage: Smoked Sausage, Bratwurst, Chorizo

Bread:

Seeded Rye Rolls

Sides:

Aaron’s Suarkraut

Roasted Radish “Potato” Salad

Cauliflower and Red Cabbage Slaw

Dessert:

Ice Cream Sundaes:

Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Malt Ice Creams, Yazoo Porter Caramel, Sweet and Salty Beer Nuts, Cream and Candied Bing Cherry

 That post was a mouthful! As always, please contact me directly if you have any questions about our next supper.

Best to you all and see you at the table!

LD

Images of our Evening: Buttermilk Road Sunday Supper at Barista Parlor!

We’ve been so swept away in our holiday festivities that we haven’t had a single moment to share with you the images that we are so grateful to Ryan Green for taking last Sunday at Barista Parlor. Really, we’ve had such a blast at all of our Suppers, but somehow this one night really has settled into the entire staff’s minds as a favorite. I had such a really magnificent crew of gals by my side. The usual suspects where there: Alisa, Joy and our new regular Jessica Cheatham were there making sure everything that I didn’t have time to consider was not forgotten. And then we had some special guests: Molly Levine was such a great help in the kitchen, like an old pro. And the sweet, ever efficient and lovely Salome Steinmann was all hands on deck – the girl who anticipated everyone’s needs and arrived with them in hand before we even had a chance to ask. Thank you ALL for being such good energy, great fun and good help! More please!

The guests were equally lovely and lively. Plenty of wine was consumed, lots of laughter, good music, a beautiful space (thank you Andy!) and only one cloth napkin was set on fire.

We’ve taken quite a shine to Ryan Green, a lovely fella whom we made the acquaintance of during our Catbird Seat Supper. Native Magazine sent him our way to shoot us for a feature they are doing and he’s got a good eye, a great temperament and fits right in with our pace. Enjoy his shots of our night at Barista and then head over to his website (http://www.30mileswest.com/) and enjoy him some more. Thank you, Ryan!