Lola's Chicken Adobo
The native dish of The Philippines, this chicken adobo comes from Josie "Lola" Villacorte, mother of Nicole Payne. Nicole owns Red Perch in the new Sylvan Supply building off Charlotte Pike with husba...
A Taste of The Philippines at Red Perch
If Lola is serving her chicken adobo - Lucky you
Josie Villacorte stirs a bubbling pot of chicken adobo (the national dish of her native country across the sea, The Philippines), getting on her tippy toes to see all the way in. Josie, or “Lola” (a popular nickname for grandma in The Philippines), may be petite but she is a large personality in the kitchen, bringing with her many years of experience in the restaurant industry. (She still owns one in Chicago.) Lola is the mother of Nicole, who owns Red Perch with husband and chef Cam. They started out in The Arcade downtown, serving Cam’s native Australian fish-n-chips and poke bowls reminiscent of Hawaii, where they met. When COVID hit, they “popped-up” around town at friend’s restaurants and the farmers markets, serving fish and their other specialty, paella.
Photo 1: Lola pulls chicken out of the adobo sauce
Photo 2: mural at Red Perch
They opened the current Red Perch in fall of 2021 in the new Sylvan Supply building off Charlotte Pike. While their menu has a regular rotation of fish, fish-n-chips, clam chowder, poke bowls, and banh mi sandwiches, they love injecting the new and surprising, including Lola’s adobo and pancit (a traditional Filipino noodle dish). That is, when Lola is in town, visiting from her home in San Francisco.
We were lucky enough to get her chicken adobo one day in December. Flavorful from soy sauce, vinegar (used in the traditional dish), and coconut milk, she makes it in a large pot and serves it up to lucky guests for as long as it lasts. It’s a cinch to make and she was gracious enough to share her recipe with us. The best way to find out when Lola is in town (or what specials Red Perch is dishing up) is to follow them on Instagram @redperch.
Red Perch
Sylvan Supply, West Nashville
redperch.com
@redperch
Photo 1: Red Perch specializes in fish-n-chips and seafood, unless Lola is in town.
Photo 2: counter space at Red Perch
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