Feasting on a Passover Seder Meal at Fonda on 12th

For the second year, Fonda on 12th offered a Mexican inspired seder meal for either dining in or take out. The seder meal tradition for Fonda originated in its New York home base by its Jewish owner who wanted to offer another culinary option for the Passover season. We gathered at Fonda with friends for dinner on April 7 and, as last year, there was a minyan in the restaurant. Speaking with the manager, the Passover seder meal attracted more in restaurant dining this year than last. 

Reflecting a mixed Ashkenaz/Sephardic palate, the meal began with a mixed plate of whitefish salad/jalapeno spread, chopped liver (with a little kick to it), an apple based charoses, and a salsa verde to accompany a plate of matzah.  Instead of chicken soup with matzah balls, the soup offering was a very inspired oaxacan mushroom hominy soup flavored with chipotle cream. Two mains were spread before us: a braised lamb, white beans and artichoke stew accented with a mole verde and chicken Veracruzano, a Mexican tomato stew. Braised carrots (referred to as a carrot tzimmes) and Passover green rice accompanied the mains. All were flavorful and well seasoned. 

Two desserts followed: a Mexican chocolate budino (a very light chocolate mousse) and prunes soaked in wine. There was nary a bite left on the table. 

In our home seders, some of us may have ventured beyond the usual Passover seder meal offerings as my family has in the past. It is encouraging that to see at least one Nashville restaurant taken the path to offer a Passover seder meal that reflects the tastes of the Sephardic/Latino Jewish tradition. 

There was a recent article in The Tennesseans that listed those Nashville restaurants that were offering seder meals/foods during Passover. For some reason, Fonda on 12th was not among them. 

According to the manager, the Fonda on 12th Passover tradition will continue next year.  Take advantage next year for something different.