Oak Ridge Residents Enjoy a Symphony of Flavors

Fire & Salt

Music and food are the perfect pairing, and, in Oak Ridge, not only are the proprietors of some of the area’s best restaurants creating delectable menus, but they’re also musicians. The result? A soulful culinary scene that never misses a beat.

Dinner and a Show

Beau James and his wife, Linda, opened 201 Cafe and Wine Bar in the spring of 2022 in the historic Jackson Square, which, during World War II, was the primary shopping and entertainment district for Oak Ridge residents when the community existed as a secret city. The cafe and wine bar occupies a space that originally opened in 1942 and served as the district’s grocery store. 

The couple decided on a 1930s speakeasy vibe with a Mediterranean-inspired menu for the restaurant. 201 Cafe and Wine Bar hosts live music each weekend, carving out a niche as a place where people can enjoy live jazz on Friday nights and dance bands on Saturdays. Live music lovers appreciate the state-of-the-art sound and light system at 201 Cafe and Wine Bar. 

201 Cafe and Wine Bar

“I want people to come here and have a mini-concert experience,” says Beau, who, in addition to running the restaurant, is a bass player with the local ’70s R&B band 110 in the Shade. 

The restaurant’s menu features dishes from regions throughout the Mediterranean, with appetizers like garlicky hummus and a feta bake with roasted grape tomatoes. Main dishes include chicken piccata and homemade pasta, and, for dessert, limoncello mascarpone cake. 

Guests can order from the wine list, grab a beer or enjoy a cocktail. The bar team is especially known for their infusions, says Linda James, with cocktails like a French 75 crafted with a lavender-infused gin and an Old Fashioned made with a bacon-washed whiskey. 

“We have a growing number of independent, small, locally owned restaurants in Oak Ridge,” Linda says. “They’re real jewels in the community.” 

Eat Like a Rock Star

Chef Alex Gass opened Fire & Salt — an approachable fine-dining restaurant with seasonal plates — in December 2022 after catering for some of the music world’s biggest names. The Oak Ridge native has been able to blend his love for food and music by cooking for bands and musicians across genres, including Widespread Panic, Van Halen, Elton John, Chris Stapleton and Drake. 

His impressive culinary career was influenced by family. His grandmother prepared meals for hundreds of people within their church and an uncle taught him the art of smoking meats, sparking a lifelong love of cooking. 

Gass’ motto? “Food is joy.” 

For his dishes at Fire & Salt, Gass sources as much as he can from local farmers and purveyors and helps buy up whatever is underselling at markets. The strategy helps curb food waste, as Gass puts creative spins on seasonal dishes like salads with mustard greens and flatiron steaks topped with herbaceous and bright chimichurri. 

While much of his menu rotates with the seasons, some staples that resonate with regulars include the Pork Porterhouse with a honey-bourbon glaze, a grilled chicken risotto with gorgonzola and a sherry reduction, and the shrimp and grits plated with local mushrooms. 

As for his concert connections, he’s still catering to the music industry: “I’ve broken back into cooking for rock stars,” says Gass, who is also working on bringing a music festival to the Oak Ridge region. 

Just like food, music has always been a big part of his life. Besides being a chef, he’s the bass guitarist for Entente. Locals just might catch a performance from Gass and his fellow band members (who are also part of the local restaurant scene) as they perform around East Tennessee.