When you ponder the definition of a potluck, what do you think? Whatever it is, the new pop-up Potluck is hoping to turn it on its head.
Owners Jimmy Nguyen and Tony Luu are eager to bring a diverse portfolio of experiences to Greenville’s dining scene and think of their business as a converse of the event. The first dinner took place Oct. 22, 2023, at Luu’s house. The partners and a former colleague devised a Japanese five-course meal, mostly for fun. Recognizing they couldn’t just name the dinner “Friends and Dinner,” they brainstormed and got stuck on a familiar word.
“Everyone knows potluck,” Luu said. “It’s pretty much like a gathering of people, but you bring food. But for us it’s reversed. You bring your body and we bring the food.”
If you experienced that first dinner or any subsequent dinner, you probably won’t have that experience again. No two Potluck dinners are the same.
Salmon mosaic with potage of asparagus, carrots and crunchy salmon skin; provided by Potluck, taken by Juan Soto“I think the cuisine is a reflection of us, and how other cultures and cuisine has influenced us and impacted us, and our just history by growing up around it,” Nguyen said. To deliver each experience, the partners do precise research to craft dinners and themes.
Nguyen was formerly the head chef at Foxcroft Food & Wine in downtown Greenville, which closed on Halloween. Cooking as a profession is new for Luu, who previously worked for a BMW supplier — a great job that ultimately wasn’t fulfilling. The two were introduced by Luu’s cousin and decided to grab brunch at Ink N Ivy on Aug. 27, 2023.
Since then, they have been traversing the private-dining and pop-up worlds.
The next Potluck dinner will take place Dec. 2 at Sum Bar and spotlight cuisine from Cameroon. To dine with Luu and Nguyen, visit bit.ly/44d4WZd. To inquire about private dining, visit potluckgvl.com.
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We love the holidays, but you can’t arrive for dinner empty-handed. Here are some options if you’re lost on what to bring if you’re a guest for Thanksgiving dinner.
First is a no-brainer: Flowers. Everyone loves a bouquet.
But if you want to add to the meal, might we suggest a fun bottle of wine? This month, we learned The Commons tapas bar, Paseo, features a monthly wine.
The wine for the month of November is Albet i Noya “Petit Albet,” a cava. Albert i Noya is a Spanish producer with its vines in the Penedès region of Catalonia. It is a blend of three varietals: macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada, each of which is indigenous to the area. The wine imparts citrus notes but is herbaceous and floral on the nose. It is drier and pairs well with food but is also delightful to sip.
Best of all, if you mention Paseo’s social media post for wine of the month, you’ll get a discount.
