Highly respected Executive Chef Kelsi Armijo has overseen kitchens at some of the most esteemed restaurants in the country and now she’s bringing her culinary expertise and style to Nashville. As Executive Chef of The Hermitage Hotel’s new restaurant Drusie & Darr and café The Pink Hermit—which
is set to open in December—she is working under the direction of internationally renowned chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten to bring inspired culinary masterpieces to Music City.
With its home in the iconic hotel, the design and décor of Drusie & Darr’s bar and restaurant embraces
the beauty of the building’s history, through preserved 1902 Beaux-Arts stylistic features from the original oak walls to stunning vaulted ceilings. With over 40 restaurants that he operates worldwide, Drusie & Darr—which recently opened on November 17— is Vongerichten’s very first restaurant in the South. Even its distinctive name has historical significance as it pays homage to the hotel’s past general manager’s son and daughter, who grew up in the majestic hotel.
Just like Nashville, Drusie & Darr has a contemporary feel that is trendy but also warm and welcoming. Its menu is unique in that local-sourced ingredients are the stars of the show. Armijo plans to draw international attention to the culinary scene in Nashville by using ingredients grown close to home. In
order to showcase the best of Tennessee’s regional produce at its peak, the restaurant’s modern menu changes with the seasons. Taking it one step further, Drusie & Darr uses fresh ingredients from The Hermitage Hotel’s Garden at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Glen Leven Farm. In addition to utilizing the
freshest local produce, the meat, fish, and dairy products used in these hand-crafted dishes are locally sourced, where possible, and come from pasture-fed animals that are free of antibiotics and hormones.
“It is an exciting time for Nashville’s culinary scene,” says Armijo. “By translating chef Jean-Georges’ vision into fresh, locally inspired dishes and concepts, I am honored to help establish The Hermitage Hotel, and the greater city of Nashville, as an international culinary destination.”
Graduating from the College of Southern Nevada, Armijo has spent the last decade working her way up in the culinary world. Advancing through the ranks at a variety of prestigious restaurants in the country,
Chef Armijo has spent her career working alongside many prominent chefs in the industry. She comes to
Nashville from her most recent role, leading the culinary team at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Southern
California, where she worked her way from Chef de Cuisine all the way to Executive Chef. Earlier in her
career, she spent time in Las Vegas at Michelin-starred restaurant L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and also
working with James Beard-Award winning chef Shawn McClain at Sage. She initially launched her career
as part of Jean-Georges Steakhouse’s opening team at Las Vega’s ARIA, so it is exciting to be in such a
highly regarded role at his first restaurant in the South.
“…She has helmed some of the most innovate Michelin-starred kitchens in the U.S. and I am delighted to
work with her in her new role as Executive Chef at Drusie & Darr to bring the restaurant to life and
introduce a spirited new dining experience to Nashville,” shares Vongerichten.
Open Wednesday through Sunday evenings, Drusie & Darr is the perfect spot for both locals and those
visiting Nashville. Located in the heart of downtown, it’s a short stroll from venues like the Ryman
Auditorium, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Bridgestone Arena, making it the perfect place toenjoy a family meal, grab a fun drink before a show, or celebrate a milestone.
For those looking to enjoy an elegant dinner this Christmas, Drusie & Darr will be offering a special pre-fixe menu on Christmas Day.
615.244.3121
TheHermitageHotel.com