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TRENDSETTING Cagey at their Craft A "I see this new way of dining as being a very up-close and personal experience between chefs and diners. It allows us to really interact with guests throughout the meal," says Anderson. Habiger adds, "Now we can experience the entire meal with our diners, from the first bite to the last, and there is an enormous amount of satisfaction in that for everyone involved." Beverage Director Jane Lopes takes wing at The Catbird Seat in Nashville. On the artful menu, standouts from the sea include grilled "cat tails" with Island Creek oysters and lovage, and rolled skate with cuttlefish in its own ink, mussels, black radish and black tapioca pearls. Thoughtful entrées are enhanced with unique elements, such as smoked pheasant breast with black garlic, Cheerwine (a Southern wild cherry soft drink), foie gras and cèpes. Lamb is combined with peaches, roasted onion, quatre épice milk, thyme and nasturtium. The culinary journey ends on a sweet note with intriguing flavor combinations such as burnt pineapple with cherries, vanilla sponge cake and bourbon-oak ice cream. Creating a colorful spectrum of beverage pairings to accompany each course is Beverage Director Jane Lopes, formerly of Chicago's The Violet Hour. Pairings navigate flavor profiles of a road less traveled, from a dry, nutty sherry with grilled meats, to rosé with beef carpaccio, to mead with stinky cheeses. As with the dinner menu, guests can expect the unexpected, with constantly evolving offerings that will change daily and remain unlisted. Named in honor of author James Thurber and sportscaster Red Barber, who coined the phrase "He's sitting in the catbird seat," the restaurant presents a curious setting, created to alter one's senses, placing the emphasis on food and drink. www.thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com 36 / the tasting panel / may 2012 CUISINE AND COCKTAILS ARE BROUGHT UP-CLOSE FOR GUESTS WHO TAKE THE CATBIRD SEAT IN NASHVILLE new type of fine dining is emerging in the burgeoning gastronomic landscape of Nashville, led by rising star chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson in partnership with restaurateurs Benjamin and Max Goldberg, owners of acclaimed Strategic Hospitality, known for venues including The Patterson House, Merchants Restaurant, Aerial and Paradise Park. The Catbird Seat is a stunning concept: a venue that introduces a tasting room of 32 seats surrounding a full showpiece kitchen where the chefs are stationed. Situated atop the renowned Patterson House cocktail bar, The Catbird Seat is a modern temple of haute cuisine, Nashville-style, as interpreted by the soulful brilliance of the two young chefs. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CATBIRD SEAT