Reinaldo “Reny” Alfonso, an old friend of the Memphis culinary community, is back in town and getting ready to take the helm at the new Bog & Barley restaurant, which is owned by Celtic Crossing owners DJ and Jamie Naylor.
The Irish restaurant, which will be located in a 7,100 square-foot space in the Regalia Shopping Center at 6161 Poplar Avenue, is slated to open in 2022.
Alfonso is director of operations for Bog & Barley, as well as Celtic Crossing.
Former chef de cuisine at Chez Philippe at The Peabody, Alfonso more recently has been corporate chef at Starr Restaurants in Philadelphia. “So, my role was always doing independent research on different cuisines and opening new restaurants for the company. We’ve done English pubs. I can’t name how many concepts I’ve done. The end goal is to develop systems to make restaurants successful. Team building. Internal promotions. You name it.
“DJ and I have always had a good relationship ever since I did leave Memphis 11 years ago. And one day we were just talking on the phone and we struck up an idea for me to come back to town and do some projects. So here I am.”
Bog & Barley will be “more of an elevated take on the Irish pub with the emphasis of a strong whiskey program. And modern interpretation of Irish cuisine.”
And, he says, “It’s going to be a scratch kitchen with good ingredients and the emphasis on freshness. It’s not going to be a fancy restaurant. It will be an elevated restaurant. It’s going to be straightforward. Just a place you can come and grab a pint and have a great meal at the same time.”
As for the decor, Alfonso says,”It’s going to look like an Irish pub. A dark Irish pub. The builder of the bar is from Ireland. High ceilings. Warm, inviting place.”
Alfonso won’t be cooking at Bog & Barley. As director of operations, he says, “I’m focusing on the kitchen. Building teams for the kitchen and menu development.”
And it’s nice to be in Memphis again, Alfonso says. “I am extremely happy. It’s nice to be back.”