How Nashville’s Tailor Tells a Family Story Through South Asian Flavors | Eater Nashville
"When I sought a permanent home for the supper club I opened Tailor on Taylor Street in Germantown, naming it for my family’s history in textiles and as a nod to my paternal grandfather, N.M. Tailor; I partnered with Tandy Wilson so I could run Tailor on the lower level while he operated Mop and Broom above. As chef-owner I present what I think of as first-generation American food, fusing South Asian American flavors and the meals and traditions of my childhood with Nashville influences—examples include a traditional Gujarati pairing of dhal, bhat, shak, and rotli, my mother’s catfish recipe that adds Indian spices to a Southern staple, and a nostalgic summer tomato sandwich on homemade bread that became a standout. Dining is communal with two seatings nightly; I visit the dining room with each course to share the stories behind the dishes, and each service ends with house-made chai made from my father’s Gujarati tea recipe with a secret spice blend and fresh ginger that he perfected over 10 years. Tailor earned national recognition (Bon Appetit’s The Hot Ten; Thrillist’s Best New Restaurants) and I was a 2019 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast; the team is celebrating its fifth anniversary and is considering selling our famed chai in retail soon." - Kellie Walton
