August 2017
Kevin and Andi Broadie are back with a new restaurant incarnation, Ex Nihilo, to replace their previous effort at Eleven on First. The restaurant was popular, but when a space opened up at Allan Sandler’s building at 14 Guanajuato Way, they decided to move in another direction.
“At Eleven we focused specifically on Basque, which has an amazing food culture,” Kevin said. “In the three years we were there, we did 38 different menus, changing out every 3-5 weeks, and focused exclusively on small plates. At Ex Nihilo, we are expanding into a wonderful larger Latin vocabulary incorporating the flavor profiles and techniques of Argentina, Portugal, Spain and the Caribbean. We will also always do Basque dishes. An additional benefit is that we will be able to have entrees as well as our beloved small plates. Yes, the menu will absolutely be seasonal and will change on a regular basis.”
Kevin grew up in Ashland, was a Grizzly, and attended SOU before transferring to UO. Four years ago he and Andi had the good fortune to return to Ashland and opened Eleven, which was very well received. With the larger space at Ex Nihilo, they’re looking forward to expanding the menu.
“Ex Nihilo means ‘something from nothing,’ which I quite like as that is what a chef is always trying to achieve,” Kevin said. “One of the things I am terribly excited about is the craft cocktail component. It had been exciting to see Alchemy invest in a bar program and the folks at Oberon’s stepping up the local bar scene. I think that is one piece of the puzzle missing from the local dining scene. We are looking forward to offering fresh, original, creative cocktails to enhance our guests’ experience.”
Ex Nihilo will also continue the Eleven tradition of focusing on the beautiful wines created by local wineries. “It is fabulous to see the recognition our region is getting, and the diversity is astounding,” Kevin said.
Once they have dinner service dialed in (and the gods all laugh at their temerity) they plan on providing entertainment.
“We are currently developing an in-house troupe of players that will perform Thursday and Saturday evenings,” Kevin said. “On the other nights we will bring in some of our outstanding local musicians. In the autumn and through the holidays and into winter we will put on a series of wine dinners and themed dinner nights.”
Ex Nihilo will also offer brunch on Saturday and Sunday. For more info, call 541-248-4728, and you can visit them on Facebook.
