Pinewood Social
Nashville, Tennessee
Relaxing, dining and playing in one space is at the heart of Pinewood Social’s innovative concept. This new venue easily transitions from coffee and morning brunch to cocktails and fine dining. There’s also time for bowling and karaoke in between.
A white-marble coffee bar invites java lovers to enjoy an outpost of Nashville’s beloved coffee shop, Crema. From the coffee bar, the 13,000-square-foot space unfolds into an area filled with leather chairs and low-slung couches on polished concrete floors. A communal table with plenty of room for laptops divides the room. At the massive copper bar, bartenders chisel ice from a 300-pound ice block for individual cocktails.
“Our craft cocktails are really special, and inspiration is definitely there. Plus we have six craft beers on tap and an extensive whisky, bourbon and rye list,” said spokeswoman Tara Tocco.
The restaurant’s large booths and tables surround the four-sided bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus were developed by nationally known chef Josh Habiger, who has worked at Ilinea in Chicago, Fat Duck in London and, most recently, Nashville’s Catbird Seat. He used historic menus uncovered at the New York Public Library for his inspiration behind dishes such as the pot roast served with roasted carrots, turnips and gravy. Popular fried chicken is available in family-style servings. Pies remain the cornerstone of Pinewood’s dessert offerings.
“Josh is from Minnesota, and he wanted to focus on the Midwest comfort food that he grew up with,” said Tocco.
Six bowling lanes reclaimed from a Bowl-O-Rama in Indiana feature vintage ball returns and scoring tables. Each lane has a lounge area with a dedicated server to allow guests to eat and drink without interrupting their game. Private rooms offer karaoke. And outside, two dipping pools and a large patio invite groups to hang out for happy hour or dining.
Southern Food and Beverage Museum
New Orleans
The newly revamped Southern Food and Beverage Museum will celebrate its formal grand opening and first birthday party at its new location in September. Meanwhile, the museum is planning opening celebrations throughout 2015 for each of its special collections. The first, on February 5, will center on the Museum of the American Cocktail .
Dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of Southern food, drink and culture, the museum showcases many ethnicities, from African-American and Caribbean to French and German. Each particular food item, such as barbecue or spirits, is highlighted by state.
The museum also houses a full-service, fine-dining restaurant called Purllo. The name refers to a type of low-country rice and pea dish from the Carolinas. Visitors can nosh on restaurant food while exploring the museum displays. The logo of the restaurant is on certain exhibit items, and those can be ordered and eaten while enjoying the museum.
“For instance, visitors can look at the snowball exhibit, a shaved-ice snow-cone-like confection created in New Orleans, and then go get one in the restaurant,” said director Liz Williams.
In the demo kitchen, chefs and cookbook writers share their knowledge. Groups can schedule demonstrations on specialties such as gumbo, bananas foster and jambalaya. The cuisine and guest chefs aren’t limited to the South. For souvenirs, the Pantry store sells numerous cookbooks, handmade jewelry associated with food, hand-carved roux spoons, bitters mix kits for craft cocktails and more.
