nashville chefs getting creative during covid-19 pandemic

As Nashville restaurants scramble to pivot to a curbside carryout and delivery model in the face of the Coronavirus crisis, many local chefs have come up with creative ideas to continue to delight their customers and streamline services at the same time.

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Beloved local chef Deb Paquette runs the kitchens in two popular Nashville restaurants, Etch in the urban core of SoBro and etc. in Green Hills. While downtown is essentially a ghost town with all of the entertainment venues that drew Paquette’s customers to the area currently closed, Green Hills is a much more residential neighborhood filled with plenty of families who are still looking for great food during these troubled times.

So Paquette made the difficult decision to shutter Etch for the time being and consolidate her staff and operations into the kitchen at etc. In addition to merging her kitchen crews, she has also created a new carryout menu of items from both restaurants, essentially a “greatest hits” representation of her cuisine. To simplify the ordering and preparation processes, etc. offers a prix fixe menu designed for two or four diners where guests can still pick their own favorites from a list of several options. Pricing is $50 for two and $100 for four. Diners can simply call in their orders in advance to (615) 988-0332 and give them an arrival time between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. The staff will have the meal bagged and ready to be deposited in your front seat as soon as you pull up in front of the restaurant where the valet stand used to be.

The menu changes frequently to offer some variety to repeat customers, but diners can expect favorite dishes like Paquette’s iconic Roasted Cauliflower & Truffled Pea Pesto, or Smoked Turkey, Apple and Brie Salad among the first course options. Paquette usually offers four choices of entrees featuring Paquette’s deep layers of international flavors in dishes like Lamb Loin with Chickpea Bulgur Salad, Feta, Mediterranean Eggplant Sauce and Tomato Jam or an Iberian take on Roasted Chicken Thighs served with Papas Bravas, Spicy Tomato Sauce and Zucchini Squash Ribbon Slaw. Vegetarians have great choices as well from options such as a recent offering of Carrot Enchiladas with Poblano Sauce, Smoked Corn Puree, Pumpkin Seeds, Kale Pesto and a Cheese Blend.

In addition to the prix fixe menu, etc. offers add-on options like family-sized sides of vegetables, rolls and decadent desserts at affordable prices, because you’re worth it! The restaurant is also selling wine and beer to go at prices that are quite comparable to what you’d find at retail wine & spirits shops. Because of the alcohol options, whoever picks up the meal must be at least 21 years old and show ID, so don’t send your teenage driver on this particular errand just because they’re aching to get out of the house. The etc. carryout service is available every day except Sunday from their location at 3790 Bedford Ave.

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