Margot McCormack is Chef & Co-Owner of Margot Café & Bar and Marche Artisan Foods in Nashville. She was named a semifinalist this year for the prestigious James Beard Awards as Best Chef: Southeast. We had the exciting opportunity to catch up with the busy chef to get her thoughts on the upcoming Music City Food + Wine Festival.
Why did you want to get involved with the Music City Food + Wine Festival? It’s a premier event in Nashville. It’s a chance to be out in front of a huge audience. Our time to be a big deal.
This isn't your first-time round at MCFW, right? What's your favorite part about the Music City Food + Wine Festival? Is there any one event you look forward to more than others? I like the harvest night event- it feels like a really cool party.
You'll also be a featured chef during the Grand Taste, correct? Can you talk a little about what and how you'll be preparing for the Grand Tasting? We always do something that represents our brand well- something we actually do in the restaurants so when people come they’re not mislead. There’s so much meat and alcohol we try to provide something healthy and often vegetarian.
Do you like meeting foodies at festivals? I like meeting food people any time any where.
There is always bound to be musicians and celebrities partaking in the festival. Is there anyone you would love to meet? This year it’s definitely Ruth Reichel and Gabrielle Hamilton.
Is it good to talk to chefs at the festival and swap ideas, or are you a secretive bunch? I don’t necessarily talk shop as much as dispense hugs and high fives.
What sets Nashville apart from all other cities, food-wise? I think we’ve got a really unique culture of not only food, but the chefs preparing it and the farmers and artisans growing it.
Any new Nashville restaurants or chefs on your radar that you're looking forward to checking out? Just went to Folk. We’re going to Lyra tonight. Peninsula next week and I’m still trying to get to Bastion!
Finally, what's one tip you can give festival goers? Come hungry!
Tickets & More Information: Music City Food + Wine Festival ticket options still available include Friday Night Ticket and Saturday Ticket and a limited number of Gospel Brunch Tickets. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.The Friday Night Ticket ($165 per person) includes single-day access to Friday, September 14 festival programming at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, including the Official Drink of Nashville competition and the Friday Night Throwdown; Grand Taste, with more than 80 beer, wine, cocktail, and culinary tastings; access to Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint & Friends; and more.
The Saturday Ticket ($165 per person) includes single-day access to Saturday, September 15 festival programming at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, including Grand Taste, with more than 80 beer, wine, cocktail, and culinary tastings; cooking demos; panel discussions; access to Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint & Friends; and more.
Gospel Brunch Ticket ($85 per person) will return to Walk of Fame Park on Sunday, September 16, featuring a dynamic roster of restaurants and chefs serving creative brunch favorites. Get a jump-start on the day with eye-opening cocktails, wine, coffee, and a spirited live gospel brunch performance from Gayle Mayes.
For more information, please visit http://www.musiccityfoodandwinefestival.com or follow us on Instagram (Instagram.com/musiccityfw) Twitter (Twitter.com/musiccityfw) and Facebook (Facebook.com/musiccityfw) #MCFW.
Music City Food + Wine is generously sponsored by: Nashville Convention + Visitors Bureau, Toyota and FOOD & WINE.
About Music City Food + Wine Festival: Music City Food + Wine Festival is produced by GRAMMY-award winning artists (and Nashville residents) Kings of Leon, world-renowned chef Jonathan Waxman, Vector Management’s Ken Levitan and Andy Mendelsohn, and Austin-based C3 Presents – producer of Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin’s Zilker Park.
About FOOD & WINE: FOOD & WINE is the ultimate authority on the best of what’s new in food, drink, travel, design and entertaining. FOOD & WINE has an extensive social media following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and Snapchat. FOOD & WINE includes a monthly magazine in print and digital; a website, foodandwine.com; a books division; plus newsletters, clubs, events, dinnerware and cookware. FOOD & WINE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Affluent Media Group.