Justin Winters, the chef de cuisine at Cinquecento, said that he’s looking forward to trying out Southern Proper, a South End spot with a thoroughly Southern menu slated to debut March 1. Chef Jason Cheek, a North Carolina native, told Eater Boston that the menu will be “heavily oriented toward chicken and beer.” Winter said he’s excited for some authentic Southern cuisine.
Chef Jason Cheek, alum of lauded nearby hot spot Toro, culled inspiration from his North Carolina upbringing for Southern Proper, opening March 1 at 50 Malden St. on the ground floor of The Girard, a new luxury apartment building. Cheek is steering clear of the kitschy vibes and barbecue focus that characterizes most Yankee interpretations of American South cuisine, opting for less overexposed, Low country-oriented fare such as Carolina-style seafood, pig’s heads and chicken liver parfait, washed down with cool brown spirits
Openings: Southern food comes to the South End with Southern Proper, opening on March 1 (600 Harrison Ave. at Union Park Street) with executive chef Jason Cheek (Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey, Merrill & Co.) in the kitchen. Cheek grew up in North Carolina. He says he wants to “serve stuff people might not be familiar with,” such as chicken pilau, a favorite version of chicken and rice.
