Kevin Nashan, chef-owner of Sidney Street Cafe, aims to bring the coastal flavors of Acadian cuisine to Benton Park in early August when he opens The Peacemaker. Nashan first hinted to Sauce that he had plans for the former Niche space at 1831 Sidney St., in March, and announced his concept today.
Nashan, who garnered his first James Beard Foundation Award nomination for Best Chef Midwest this year, recently celebrated 10 years at Sidney Street and said this project has been in the works for two. “I’ve been planning it for so long. I take my time. I hope to do it right,” Nashan said.
The Peacemaker, which gets its name from a classic po’boy-type sandwich of fried oysters stuffed into a hollowed-out loaf of French bread, will offer classic lobster and crab dishes, as well as oysters, gumbos, chowders and more. The dishes will celebrate the connection between New Orleans and Northeastern coastal cuisine that occurred as Acadian culture moved south in the 1700s. The lobster and crab shack will also feature dishes like lobster Frito pie, peel-and-eat shrimp, house-made corn dogs, and seasonal pies for dessert.
Nashan traveled extensively to research and experience the cuisine he plans to serve. “I obviously went to Maine. I spent a lot of time going back and forth to Louisiana, down to Maryland, to [Washington] DC,” he said. “There’s been lots of field trips. Even if I’m cooking an omelet, I still go online or look at a cookbook because it reinforces, even though I’ve made it a thousand times.”
The beverage program will stick with classic brews and cocktails befitting a crab shack. “It’s not a real program: beer, beer and beer, Dark and Stormys, Sazeracs – anything along the coastline. We won’t be a flashy bar, but we’re not trying to be,” he said. “The whole project is fun. We’re not taking ourselves too seriously.”
Demolition has already begun at the 3,000-square-foot space, which includes the former Taste bar next door. “We’re bringing it down to its roots – going back to concrete, brick and wood. It’s going to be shack-y with polished love to it,” Nashan said. He expects the space to seat 130, with some snagging a coveted spot at a raw bar featuring a 130-year-old stone oyster trough.
The Peacemaker is just steps away from Nashan’s current restaurant. The proximity between the two will be a big plus, he noted, but there’s also the people factor when its comes to juggling two restaurants; Sidney Street’s Robert Zugamier will serve as The Peacemaker’s pastry chef and Chris Nashan as its general manager. “Hire incredible people who have your back and you have theirs,” he said. “It’s a lot of training. Plus, we’ve been at this game for 10-and-a-half years. It’s neat to give these people an opportunity for growth.”
Ligaya Figueras and Catherine Klene contributed to this report.
-photo by Greg Rannells
This article appears in June 2014.