by Blythe Ford, Messenger Staff Writer

On Nov. 29, James Beard Award-nominated chef Julia Sullivan officially opened Judith, a tavern-style restaurant, in the Old Steam Laundry building on Ball Park Road. The restaurant is Sullivan’s second establishment, but first solo project. The name, Judith, is an homage to Judith Ward Lineback, who was the first woman to matriculate at the University of the South in 1969. Sullivan’s father also graduated from the University in 1969, and she grew up visiting family friends here in Sewanee as a retreat from Nashville life. The habit has continued to the present, with Sullivan expressing a love of the natural beauty of the Plateau in an interview on Monday.

Sullivan is an acclaimed chef, named as semi-finalist and then finalist for Best Chef: Southeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The James Beard Foundation, established in 1986 to honor celebrated chef James Beard, is a nonprofit organization that, according to their website, “celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive.”

Since 1990, the James Beard Foundation has issued awards for excellence in all aspects of the food, beverage and related industries in the United States. Sullivan, as a 2019 semi-finalist for the Southeast region, was one of only 21 chefs across the region who were so honored.

Her first project, Henrietta Red in Nashville, is a seafood restaurant and oyster bar focusing on fresh ingredients, and is similarly acclaimed by the James Beard Foundation, “Bon Appétit,” and “GQ.”

Sullivan explained that for Judith, while she continues the focus on fresh, local ingredients, she seeks to “be connected to Sewanee as a place and the needs of the community.” The result is an American tavern that sources ingredients primarily from Middle Tennessee, as nearby as Midway Mushrooms. The restaurant employs locals and undergraduates from the University, making it truly an institution of the mountain.

Sullivan had been planning to open a new establishment for some time, but the location was uncertain. “I couldn’t really envision my second restaurant in any of the options in Nashville,” she explained. A friend contacted her upon learning that the Old Steam Laundry was once again for sale, and she seized the opportunity to begin her new project in a place she loves. The hours of operation were set in part so that Sullivan could continue to spend time hiking here on the mountain on her days off.

Judith is open 4–9 p.m., Thursday through Monday. The menu offers a number of appetizers to share while having a drink at the restaurant’s bar; beer is not yet served but is anticipated to join the selection of wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages currently available. Three salads prepared with greens from the McMinnville area and six entrees fill out the offerings for now, with a dessert menu in the works but currently including a vanilla soft serve. The menu will change seasonally as the availability of ingredients fluctuates, but the focus will continue to be on meals that fit the needs of the community. Sullivan highly recommends trying their house-made sourdough, the trout rillettes that evoke her expertise with seafood, and the pappardelle pasta featuring mushrooms from Midway. There are multiple vegetarian options, as well as select substitutions to make certain dishes vegan. There is at least one gluten free option in each section of the menu; gluten free bread is not currently available.

Private events will be available to book after the new year. Sullivan does not intend to offer outside catering through Judith.

Judith has done well the first nights open. “We hope to have good momentum moving forward,” Sullivan expressed, further elaborating that the restaurant will continue to evolve as the staff become more comfortable with their roles and the needs of their customers become clear. All in all, Judith promises to be a great addition to dining on the mountain.

For more information go to <https://www.judithtavern.com&g...;.