Kayla introduces Knoxville to their new neighbor and soon-to-be favorite breakfast spot, The Plaid Apron. With three very talented chefs in the kitchen, there’s no telling what amazing dishes you’ll discover…

The Knoxville community has become home to a very talented and unique set of people. I would like to introduce the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood to their newest neighbors, The Plaid Apron. Run by a three-man team: Drew and Bonni McDonald and Eric Ivy, this Knoxville café will be a wonderful addition to the community.

I had the honor of working with Drew when he was the sous-chef at Capitol Grille. It was my first serious restaurant job and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Drew was patient enough to answer all my questions and kind enough to help out every time I was in the weeds (which was often in those first few weeks). There was never a dull moment working with Drew. In the kitchen, every task was a pursuit of excellence. He was constantly looking for ways to improve and pushing others to do the same. He was fun to work with, whether he was talking about the time he spent in New Zealand or trying to scare all the pastry girls by jumping out of the walk-in freezer.

Now he is opening a place of his own, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The Plaid Apron will be a sophisticated neighborhood café serving breakfast and lunch as well as an extensive list of coffee and teas. In an effort to keep things local, The Plaid Apron will be working with farmers and meat purveyors in the area, and will change the menu often, according to what is in season. Every element of the menu will be made in-house, from fresh pasta to corned beef.

The Plaid Apron is also finding fun ways to give back, like serving Café El Puente as one of their house blends, which supports family-run coffee farms in Guatemala. The drink menu will include all the traditional fanfare: espresso, latte, and cappuccino. But if I know Drew and Eric, they will approach coffee like they do food, experimenting with some less conventional albeit brilliant combinations like a ginger and sorghum infused cappuccino with Cruze Dairy milk foam.

While the coffee and tea selection is reason enough to drop by for a visit, the food will keep you coming back. The Plaid Apron is a delicate balance between fine dining and casual… offering a healthy, seasonally rotating menu that will delight any foodie while simultaneously providing an affordable, family friendly atmosphere.

The breakfast menu covers a wide range from house-made pastries to omelets. My personal favorite might be the eggs benedict served on a goat cheese and herb English muffin, with Benton’s bacon, a poached duck egg, spring asparagus, and hollandaise.

Different pastas are made in-house daily for lunch, like lemon thyme gnocchi, sautéed in olive oil and fresh herbs. They also have a market salad and pizza that will be based upon what produce they receive from local farmers.

The Plaid Apron will be open for breakfast and lunch. But Drew and Eric look forward to serving a full seven to eleven course dinner around a community farm table twice a month. Allowing them to showcase their skills and bring a fine dining experience to their modest neighborhood. So please ask about the details on your next visit!

The Plaid Apron is excited to be joining the Knoxville family, and hopes to share the blessings God gave them with the neighborhood. Drew believes that if you support your community, your community will support you. So go ahead, stop by The Plaid Apron, say hello, and give them the chance to make your day a little brighter, and your stomach a little fuller.

The Plaid Apron
A Knoxville Café
1210 Kenesaw Ave
Knoxville, TN 37919