Nonprofit involvement: Steering Committee member, Friends of the Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Chef, gourmand, world traveler, life of the party — these are just a few of the ways to describe Vivek Surti. As the founder of VEA Supper Club, named Best Supper Club by the Nashville Scene in 2012 and 2014, Vivek draws on his background as "an Indian kid raised in the South" to create memorable dining experiences that celebrate great food and cultivate meaningful conversation. In his role as the director of PR for Nashville Wine Auction, he is a driving force behind the organization's many charitable events, including Pairings and l'Eté du Vin. But perhaps one of the best things about Vivek is that he is always ready with an insightful recommendation or honest review about Nashville's constantly evolving roster of restaurants. Don't believe us? Ask him yourself the next time you see him around town.
If I were throwing a last-minute dinner party, I'd call ... I only throw last-minute dinner parties! I always have Champagne and party snacks (popcorn, potato chips) on hand for people to have as they walk in. Then, I’ll make some Indian food or put my friends to work by making homemade pasta.
When I have out-of-town guests visiting, I love taking them on restaurant crawls. I’ll take my friends to a restaurant for cocktails and appetizers first. Then, we’ll venture to another spot for entrées before checking out a place for desserts and more drinks. A lot of times, we’ll go out to some bars afterward and then hit up late-night menus!
My favorite restaurant for dinner is The 404 Kitchen. Matt Bolus is a good friend of mine and I’ve only had great meals there. The food is delicious, the service fantastic and the whiskey list really long. Lunch? Dozen Bakery. It’s a little off the beaten path in Wedgewood-Houston, but my friend Claire Meneely’s bakery has some great, healthy lunch fare. Get the salami sandwich on the house-made baguette with the farro salad. And don’t leave without some of the best chocolate chip cookies in town! Brunch? Prima. Going to brunch is a full-on experience. First, you get your beverages — that means water, coffee and Champagne for me. Second, the pastry cart comes around. Dean, the pastry chef, makes perhaps the best croissants and pastries I’ve ever had. Third, chef Sal Avila relies on his Mexican roots for a lot of dishes, such as chilaquiles and pozole. Besides, the restaurant is stunning during the day with those huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
The best new Nashville restaurant is Bastion. Ever since there were rumblings about Josh Habiger opening up his new spot, I couldn’t wait for it to open. I went on opening night and was blown away. His family-style feast menu is great for a group, and the a la carte options at the bar are great for a casual night out. I liked it so much that I rented out the whole place for my birthday party.
My favorite coffee shop is Crema. It’s the best.
My favorite place to get dessert is City House or Josephine. Pastry chefs Rebekah Turshen and Kayla May are so good that sometimes I go to their restaurants just to have dessert. Rebekah makes this coffee cream soda cake that is unbelievably delicious, and Kayla’s desserts — besides being works of art — are showstoppers.
The best place for cocktails is Old Glory! It's the coolest bar with the coolest drinks, and the Soler sisters are the coolest bartenders in town.
I buy my wine in Nashville atWoodland Wine Merchant. Will Motley’s store on the east side has been my favorite place to buy wine, beer and booze for a while. The staff is super knowledgeable, and it’s by far the best email list to be on. WWM focuses on wines that tell a story, and they’ve turned me onto a lot of great producers such as Broc Cellars out of California.
My favorite locally made products are Tom Lazzaro’s pasta at Lazzaroli and ties and pocket squares from Otis James.
For a quiet getaway, I like to go to ... I actually hate quiet getaways! When I go on vacation somewhere, I want to explore everything — the culture, the food, the music and the people. Just this past December, I went to Thailand by myself for nine days with nothing booked except a hotel room in Bangkok for two nights. It was the most fun trip I’ve ever been on.
The annual fundraising event I look most forward to every year is Nashville Wine Auction's Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend. Granted, I spend a lot of time working on this event with my job, but it’s by far the best wine weekend in town. Whenever you bring in over 25 winemakers from the West Coast and pair them with great chefs, it’s an event you want on your calendar every year.
The best place in town to bike, hike or picnic is Percy Warner Park.
One luxury I can’t live without is Champagne.
Currently in heavy rotation on my iTunes or car stereo is a mix of Bollywood music, French rap, EDM and a lot of '90s music.
My all-time favorite movie is Remember the Titans.
My favorite Instagram accounts are @jazon.zygmont, the chef at Treehouse (one of my favorite restaurants) takes some of the most stunning food pictures I’ve ever seen, and @nashvilleguru, my friends Abby and Josh are always covering what’s going on in Nashville, and it’s a great resource for anyone trying to find something to do. @tarunsurti, This is my dad’s Instagram and it’s hilarious. A mix of embarrassing pictures of me and my sister when we were kids, life advice and a documentation of every time he eats pizza (which is often).
The best place to see a concert is Ascend Amphitheater.
What brought me to Nashville was when I was 5 and ready to start kindergarten. My family moved from Manchester, Tennessee.
I've lived in Nashville for 24 years.
My most recent Nashville celebrity sighting was Sean Penn and Sheryl Crow at Burger Up.
My biggest fashion faux pas was when I wore pleated pants.
The trait I admire most in others is compassion.
My first job was as a bank teller at Fifth Third Bank.
The people who have influenced my life the most are my parents, Lata and Tarun. Ever since my sister and I were kids, my parents have been teaching us about life. Of course, we learned how to enjoy life, how to celebrate the special moments and to always help others. But we also learned how to face challenges and obstacles head on, to keep pushing forward and to always stick together. They truly are my biggest inspiration.
Other than my family and God, the people I'd love to have as a guest at a dinner party would be my closest friends, Olivier Krug (who would obviously bring my favorite Champagne of all time) and Kelly Kapowski (who would obviously be my date).
If I could trade places with anyone for a day, it would be Kid President. I’ve watched every single Kid President video on YouTube, and I’m inspired every single time. His message of “being awesome” has connected him to everyone from President Obama to Beyoncé to everyday kids around the world.
The thing I'd like to cross off my bucket list is to spend a year traveling the world.
My most treasured possessions are my memories, experiences and relationships.
The thing I hope never changes in Nashville is the people. The people of Nashville are what make this city an amazing place to live, work and play in.
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