It was a packed house at the Tivoli Theatre for the Scenic City Supper Club’s “Jewel of the South” dinner earlier this month. Home to nearly a century of performances, from silent movies to Broadway shows, the Tivoli features Beaux Arts style chandeliers, a high dome ceiling and a grand lobby – a fitting setting for the grandeur of the pop-up dinner series.
Launched by local restaurateurs chef Erik and Amanda Niel in 2015, the club hosts quarterly dinners in locales around town, bringing in guest chefs to work alongside area culinary talent to create unique menus tailored to the season and the setting.
This event welcomed Bill Briand, executive chef of Fisher’s and Playa and a three-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South. Leading the kitchen at his waterfront dining destinations in Orange Beach, Ala., he is known for creative riffs on Southern coastal cuisine and innovative dishes featuring local produce and just-caught Gulf seafood.
For this event, Briand was paired with Erik Niel, executive chef and owner of Easy Bistro & Bar and Main Street Meats; Kevin Korman, executive chef of White Bird; and Jacob D’Angelo, executive chef of Rolling J’s Bistro.
Amid trailing greenery and elegant table settings from Terra Flower Farm, the sellout crowd of 150 guests were treated to hors d’ouevres and cocktails, followed by a four-course meal highlighting Briand’s signature seafood which Easy Bistro bar manager Alex Howell expertly paired with brews from Hutton & Smith.