Germantown Cafe Remembers Chef Jay Luther: Friday, June 29

A note from Kay West – writer, food critic and friend to StyleBlueprint:

Dear friends,

Nearly ten years ago, two aspiring young restaurateurs took a leap of faith on a street-level corner of a new building at the corner of 5^th and Madison near downtown Nashville. With the opening of Germantown Café in October 2003, Chris Lowry and Jay Luther joined the emerging movement of independent, locally-owned restaurants that were transforming and re-energizing older neighborhoods, providing a welcoming gathering place for their fellow urban pioneers.

With Lowry in the front of the house and Luther in the kitchen, the partners created a cozy bistro that was a key player in nurturing historic Germantown into the vibrant, thriving neighborhood it is today. 

News of Jay Luther’s tragic death was shocking and heartbreaking; the healing for the Germantown Café staff has just begun. As friends of Jay and Chris, their employees and their restaurant, Kim Totzke and I wondered what we could do to help. Given that in loss and grief, the South traditionally turns to food for comfort, the answer was obvious and simple. We could love and support the Germantown staff by letting them do what they do best—feed us.

While Germantown East remains closed for the time being, this Friday night  Kim and I will be standing at the door of the original Germantown Café at 1200 Fifth Avenue North, and we hope you will come by for dinner. We suspect there might be some adult beverages enjoyed. And the kitchen staff will be preparing a special complimentary item to honor Jay that evening.

Reservations for Friday June 29^th can be made by calling the restaurant at (615) 242-3226 or by clicking on this link: www.germantowncafe.com.

Kim and I hope to see you Friday night, and if not that evening, the Germantown Café staff hopes to see you soon.  We love all y’all.

–Kay West