Chef Trey Cioccia Brings Tennessee Christmas To New York City

Last night, chef Trey Cioccia, executive chef and founder of The Farm House in Nashville, brought members of his team to the James Beard House for a Tennessee Christmas-themed dinner. True to his brand and vision, the entire menu was locally sourced — but not locally to New York. At the end of the meal Cioccia said, "Everything on this menu that you touched today was either grown in Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, [or] Georgia."

Setting the Scene

The James Beard House dining room is warm, welcoming, and exudes holiday festivity.

A Taste of Southern Comfort Cuisine

Cioccia's sweet potato spoonbread with sausage balls and celery root mostarda, and chicken skin with apple chutney and hearts of palm.

Locally Sourced, High Quality Ingredients

Preserved corn pudding with poached oysters and crispy smoked cauliflower.

Small, But Flavorful, Morsels

Pigs' tail jam with black pepper-honey butter on crispy johnnycakes.

Eating Straight Off the Bone

Braised cows' tongues with grit clouds and marrow jus.

A Closer Look

Cioccia's chicken skin with apple chutney and hearts of palm.

A Sneak Peek

Pork-rind cones, prepped and ready to be featured in Cioccia's dessert.

Tasty Beginnings

Cioccia's first course is roasted squab with squab terrine, lentils, roasted garlic, pistachios, pickled cranberries, and deviled egg mousse.

In the Kitchen

Cioccia works with his team behind the scenes to prep the next course.

Ready to Serve

Salt-pork-rabbit stew with root vegetable.

A Cioccia Family Favorite

Fried brussels sprouts with celery cream, horseradish, chestnuts, Norwood cheese, and sunchokes.

Attention to Detail

Cioccia and his team plate up the next course.

The Finished Product

Crispy sweetbreads with biscuit crouton, biscuit purée, apples, cranberries, fresh and candied blood orange, and lollipop kale.