Jonas Family's Personal History Presents New
Era of Destination Dining on The Strip
LAS
VEGAS, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nellie's
Southern Kitchen, a Jonas family experience honoring their
matriarch's timeless recipes, has officially opened the doors to
its first West Coast location at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Helmed by Denise and Kevin Jonas,
Sr. – the parents of Kevin II, Joe and Nick (the Jonas
Brothers) and Franklin – in partnership with TLI Bedrock LLC,
Nellie's welcomes guests to a seat at the Jonas family table with
nightly live music, generous hospitality and timeless Southern
comfort food.
MGM Grand is the second restaurant location for Nellie's
Southern Kitchen, which began in Belmont,
North Carolina. Nellie's Southern Kitchen is a celebration
of Nellie, Kevin, Sr.'s grandmother, who lived in Belmont working in the cotton mills by day and
cooking delicious meals for her loved ones by night. Nellie
combined music and food into nightly rituals around the table,
forging the tight-knit traditions the Jonas family continues to
this day.
The opening celebration included appearances by Denise and Kevin Jonas, Sr., all four
Jonas brothers and Danielle
Jonas. Entertainment was provided by Jonas Group
Entertainment artists including Olivia "LIVVIA" Somerlyn,
Bailee Madison, Lanie Gardner, Hayley
Orrantia, Hello Sister, and Terri Jo Box along with special guest
Daniella Mason. Following the
party, the Jonas Brothers took the stage down the street at Dolby
Live theater at Park MGM for their residency performance.
See pictures and video from Nellie's
opening celebration, food and design images
Authentic, Comforting Southern
Cuisine
Nellie's welcomes guests to a seat at the Jonas family table to
enjoy recipes passed down from Grandma Nellie, and reimagined
favorites from executive chef Mario
Nichols, who was raised in North
Carolina and began cooking soul food with his family at a
young age.
- Appetizers – Guests will feel right at home with a mix
of Southern staples and delicious takes on favorites to kick off
their meal. The Collard and Artichoke Dip with collards,
artichoke and parmesan is an extra savory version of the beloved
starter. A Las Vegas exclusive,
the Southern Rolls feature BBQ chicken, creamy mac and
cheese and collards rolled in a crispy fried egg roll, served with
Nellie's signature sauce. No meal is complete without a basket of
Grandma Nellie's famous pillowy Biscuits with cinnamon-honey
butter and jam.
- Entrées – Fans of traditional homestyle dishes will be
enchanted by Nellie's Chicken and Dumplins, a must-try Jonas
family dish featuring chicken and house-made dumplins in a rich
broth served over silky mashed potatoes, gravy and collard greens.
For a unique variation on a seafood staple, guests can opt for Chef
Nichols' Shrimp and Grits with fried grit cakes and
blackened shrimp topped with Cajun cream sauce and fresh pico de
gallo. Guests also can enjoy fresh Fried Catfish filets,
salt-and-pepper fried and served with coleslaw, french fries and
house-made remoulade.
- BBQ Essentials – Bringing backyard favorites to the
dining table, Nellie's offers an assortment of burgers, steaks and
sandwiches served with classic sides. The Hawg Hill Pulled Pork
Sandwich features pecan-smoked pulled pork tossed in a tangy
sauce and served on a soft brioche bun with coleslaw. Guests
looking for something heartier will enjoy the Carolina
Burger made with specialty blended beef and served with chili,
slaw, onion and mustard; as well as the Chef's Choice Steak,
featuring Chef's selection of chargrilled steak and the option to
add shrimp or lobster tail for a full surf-and-turf
experience.
- Lighter Fare – For those opting for something
lighter, Nellie's serves up scrumptious salads including the
Nellie's Cobb Salad with chopped romaine lettuce, grilled
chicken, cherry tomatoes, diced bacon, bleu cheese and a boiled
egg; as well as protein-packed plates such as the Grilled Shrimp
Plate with grilled or blackened shrimp and grilled veggies.
Other dishes include the Molasses Glazed Salmon, featuring
wild-caught salmon tossed in a special South Carolina molasses glaze paired with
roasted potatoes and green beans; and the Cajun Chicken Bowl
with blackened chicken breast served with roasted potatoes and
trinity corn.
- Dessert – For the perfect send off, guests can indulge
in Nellie's rich Banana Pudding, which is made with
fresh bananas, layered and topped with whipped cream, then
garnished with wafer cookies.
Transporting Belmont to Vegas
The folkloric aesthetic of Nellie's Southern Kitchen, designed
by OLY Studio's Kate McIntyre,
transports visitors to Kevin, Sr.'s upbringing in Belmont. The charm of small-town North Carolina is recreated through weathered
barnwood, white shiplap cottage walls, and unique handmade
furnishings and artwork inspired by the beautiful Smoky
Mountains.
Design highlights include:
- Entrance – Guests enter through a sculptural hallway
inspired by the quilts Grandma Nellie collected and are welcomed
with her towering portrait, which celebrates Nellie's
simple-yet-remarkable life. Amongst other references, cotton from
the mill is transformed to diamonds in her hair. A banjo and spoons
at the front of her dress represent Nellie's lifelong love of
gathering friends and family around music and her home
cooking.
- Front Porch – The Front Porch invites diners to a bright
space reminiscent of Grandma Nellie's front porch, punctuated with
birdhouses and hanging flowerpot-inspired chandeliers overhead.
Table legs take on the form of tree trunks, signifying the beauty
of the Belmont region beyond the
cotton mills.
- Bar(n) – Nellie's bar area features playfully designed
tables that sit atop horse legs, as if guests just pulled up to the
stable. Kevin's uncle always joked if he ever opened a restaurant,
he would need a reserved table for knocking back a couple of beers
after work – so Kevin and Kate fashioned tables that could give him
a ride home, too.
- The Meadow – Private dining rooms evoke Belmont's blissful meadows. Memories of
running through freshly laundered sheets blowing in the wind
inspire the wavy, cloud-like roof. Walls are adorned with merry
paintings of blue skies, billowy clouds and green landscapes that
complement the blues and greens in the rooms' lush furniture.
- Night Owl – Featuring live music nightly, Nellie's moody
back room is built around a state-of-the-art performance stage and
A/V system designed by the same companies who oversee the
Jonas Brothers' concert experience.
A captivating full moon light fixture juxtaposed with chandeliers
emulating dew drops on blades of grass define the seated section,
which is watched over by large owl portraits. Cozy couches with
colors and textures inspired by nature offer a comfortable lounge
vibe for both dining and enjoying music.
Nellie's Southern Kitchen Partners
Share Their Excitement:
TLI Bedrock LLC Principal Andrew
Siegel: "It's an incredible moment to finally introduce
Nellie's Southern Kitchen to the Las Vegas Strip. We've been proud
to support the Jonas family in bringing their vision to life, and
to work with the entire MGM Grand team led by the outstanding
Mike Neubecker to deliver a truly
fresh concept to Las Vegas."
Kevin Jonas, Sr.: "My
Grandma Nellie's greatest desire was for people to enjoy themselves
around her table and on her front porch; everyone was welcomed.
We're so proud to celebrate the opening of Nellie's Southern
Kitchen in Las Vegas, where we can
share her time-honored recipes and gracious Southern hospitality to
visitors from around the world."
Denise Jonas: "Grandma
Nellie was a special lady who prided herself on making sure
everyone felt welcome and well taken care of. She would love
that we're keeping her traditions alive and providing guests
from all walks of life a place that feels like home."
Kevin Jonas II: "Nellie's
Southern Kitchen is a perfect reflection of our family's passion
for food and music. And the fact that we introduced Nellie's the
same weekend our Las Vegas
residency kicked off couldn't be better."
Joe Jonas: "Our family's
connection to Las Vegas has always
been strong as we've performed here many times over the years, and
it feels very special to now have a permanent piece of our family
history in the city for everyone to enjoy."
Nick Jonas: "In many ways,
Nellie's is a celebration of what people love about Las Vegas - amazing food, great vibes and
entertainment. We're excited to officially open the doors to share
all of this with our fans while commemorating our
Great-Grandmother's legacy."
Franklin Jonas, said,
"Having worked at Nellie's Belmont
location for several years, I've had a first-hand look at the warm
community it creates for both guests and employees, which makes
everyone feel welcomed. When you add Great-Grandma Nellie's recipes
and live music, there's a level of comfort and fun that makes
Nellie's feel different from every other restaurant."
Nellie's Southern Kitchen is located in The District opposite
the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It is open for lunch and dinner daily
from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Reservations are available on OpenTable
and MGM Grand's website.
ABOUT NELLIE'S SOUTHERN
KITCHEN
Nellie's Southern Kitchen is a family friendly dining and
entertainment experience celebrating the comfort food, hospitality,
great music and Southern charm of the Jonas family's 1769 roots in
North Carolina. The inspiration
for Nellie's Southern Kitchen comes from Nellie Jonas, Kevin
Jonas, Sr.'s grandmother, who lived in Belmont, North Carolina until she passed in
2011. Belmont is Kevin, Sr.'s
hometown and the restaurant's original location, which opened in
2016. Nellie's second location is now open at MGM Grand in
Las Vegas. The restaurant is a
partnership between the Jonas family and TLI Bedrock LLC, a
New York City-based investment
firm. For inquiries or more information, please contact
info@nelliessouthernkitchen.com.
ABOUT JONAS GROUP
Back in 2005, while Kevin Jonas,
Sr. was managing his sons – GRAMMY-nominated,
multi-platinum-selling group, Jonas Brothers – he formed what would
later evolve into Jonas Group Holdings, LLC. Offering a
diversified portfolio of entertainment, marketing and development
services, including talent management, music publishing, branding
partnerships, as well as audio, television & film production,
the Jonas Group family of companies is a globally recognized force,
helping all kinds of talented individuals realize and harness their
full potential in all areas of their career. The dynamic
company values quality over quantity with the belief that
authenticity, vision and hard work are key to success.
Leading these efforts alongside Kevin is Phil Guerini, Chief Executive Officer of Jonas
Group Entertainment and George
Kreis, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer of Jonas
Group Holdings, LLC.
ABOUT MGM GRAND
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is "The Entertainment Authority,"
creating the ultimate Las Vegas
experience. A variety of accommodations serve every need
while guests discover signature dining by celebrity chefs including
Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak,
Michael Mina's International Smoke,
Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill, Michelin three star restaurant
Joël Robuchon and Morimoto Las Vegas. In addition to a pampering
spa and salon and an elaborate 380,000-square-foot conference
center, the resort offers a wide-range of world-class entertainment
at the Grand Garden Arena; the epic KÀ by Cirque du Soleil;
world-famous dance crew Jabbawockeez; master illusionist
David Copperfield; Topgolf Las
Vegas; Brad Garrett's Comedy Club;
and Hakkasan Las Vegas. MGM Grand is owned by MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations,
visit mgmgrand.com, call toll free at (877) 880-0880 or find us on
Facebook and Twitter or follow our blog.
ABOUT OLY STUDIO
OLY Studio is a San Francisco Bay
Area-based company, owned and operated by Kate McIntyre and her design partner
Brad Huntzinger. The two have been
creating elegant designs and crafting high-end furnishings for
consumers, design customers and hospitality for over 20 years. OLY
Studio designed and furnished the original Nellie's Belmont and is excited to again collaborate
with the Jonas family and its partner TLI Bedrock LLC, exclusively
designing and crafting the furniture, lighting and décor for
Nellie's Las Vegas. Find OLY at
Olystudio.com and on Instagram @oly.studio.
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SOURCE Nellie’s Southern Kitchen