Bin 6 South to debut curated fine dining, wine, and sake experience in downtown St. Pete
/Bin 6 South is currently under construction at 330 6th Street South in downtown st. Pete. A grand opening is scheduled for March 2022.
An immersive fine dining concept is coming soon to downtown St. Pete. Set in an intimate wine cellar and offering a culinary experience unlike any in the area, Bin 6 South is currently under construction at 330 6th Street South. If completed as scheduled, the grand opening will be held in March 2022.
The seasonally focused, rotating food and beverage program is the brainchild of seasoned restaurateur, culinary connoisseur, and Executive Chef/Owner of Bin 6 South Bren K. Ankrum, who has owned and managed restaurants in Atlanta and Philadelphia. With Bin 6 South, Ankrum is set on creating, “St. Petersburg’s most innovative wine cellar and tasting bar.”
Executive Chef & Owner of Bin 6 South, Bren Ankrum, and his wife, Donna Hargrove.
Picture entering a less than 600-square foot floor-to-ceiling, custom wine cellar. In the center, you’ll find a live edge wood table with enough seating for six diners and an additional six seats at the tasting bar.
The table will be set only after orders are individually placed, as each dish has unique plating and service. One patron’s experience can vastly differ from the person seated next to them. Think of an intimate, family atmosphere, with a complex culinary approach based on innovative preparation techniques.
“Reminiscent of the tasting rooms you’ll find in the boutique wineries and wine cellars of Tuscany or Napa Valley, we want guests to feel as though they’re dining with their friends in our wine cellar, our family space,” explained Chef Ankrum. “We want them to feel at ease and their focus to be on tasting amazing food and drink, and not about anything else.”
With a robust wine and sake program meant to pair with a range of international cuisine, Ankrum aims to highlight the versatility in fine dining by showcasing a flexible a la carte menu, a chef’s table experience, wine pairings, and themed dinners, while eliminating big format kitchen problems through a more targeted approach.
duo of Tea smoked duck, breast and confit of leg, sweet potatoes, and lotus root
Ankrum has appointed Freddie Gentile to lead the kitchen as Chef de Cuisine. Gentile has been in the food industry since he was 15 years old and received training from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. There he met St. Pete local and owner of The Twisted Indian, Lokesh Vale, whom he worked with prior to opening his own food truck. Gentile also has experience in fine dining, having worked at New York's Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern and Betony.
“Seasonality will be huge as it will drive the focus of the menu each day based on what’s fresh and available,” shared Chef Freddie. “We will grow most of our herbs on-site and focus heavily on locality and working with nearby vendors. We’ll also emphasize local purveyors, not just in the food, but with our décor, dining utensils, plates, glassware, and furniture.”
Upon opening, Bin 6 South will serve food throughout the day, with a streamlined lunch menu mainly composed of soups, sandwiches, and light bites. Come dinner time, guests can reserve a seat (or the entire table), to experience an expertly curated Chef’s tasting menu or a la carte options, ranging from one-time specials and fresh finds of the day to reinterpretations of classic dishes and experiential gastronomy.
Soft poached quail egg, enoki pork Fu nest, chili vinaigrette
“The beautiful thing is there won’t be inexperienced hands cranking out dishes,” said Chef Freddie. “We’re a small staff. It’ll be a chef cooking in front of you, having a conversation with you, and then sliding the dish your way.”
Some of the dishes that have been conceptualized so far include a soft poached quail egg with enoki pork fu nest and chili vinaigrette, a duo of tea smoked duck with sweet potatoes and lotus root, and beet carpaccio with goat cheese mousse, basil vinaigrette, and watercress. For dessert, Chef Freddie has been perfecting a piña colada panna cotta.
While culinary is critical, Chef Ankrum wants to ensure that the focus is on the wine. The team prides themselves on constantly tasting fine wines and sake from around the world to fill their bins and offer a diverse range of wine cellar selections.
Wine Director Danielle McCoy will continuously stock the cellar with a diverse range of white, red, and sparkling wine and sakes, from the universally beloved to hard-to-find.
Pina colada Panna Cotta
“We want to include popular pours for guests looking to sip on their favorite wines when they visit,” shared Danielle. “But we also want to surprise, delight, and educate our guests with rare classics and even up-and-coming wine producers that we know will stand out.”
Danielle also encourages guest recommendations as they will continuously be adding new labels and vintages to expand the cellar. Once open, Bin 6 South will also offer an expanded wine and sake collection for online purchase and local delivery via their website.
When asked about the balance between classic and contemporary, Ankrum emphasized, “We look to pay homage to the roots while we grow our new leaves. The one constant in life is that all things tend to change. Our offerings follow that pathway, changing, sometimes daily or week-to-week and we invite guests to join us in that journey.”
Bin 6 South is set to debut March 2022 at 330 6th Street South in St. Pete. Be sure to follow them online to stay up to date on a grand opening announcement and the latest news.
