Our STORY
The Flying Pearl - A Culinary Adventure
The Flying Pearl began with a property, but it was never just about development.
It began with a memory.
The project is named in honor of Pearl Laska — grandmother, traveler, storyteller, and pioneering aviatrix whose life embodied curiosity, resilience, elegance, and adventure.
Long before travel became commonplace, Pearl embraced the spirit of exploration. Aviation represented freedom, optimism, and the excitement of discovering the world beyond the horizon. She carried that same openness into the way she lived, the way she welcomed people, and the way she experienced different cultures and cuisines throughout her travels.
The Flying Pearl draws inspiration from that legacy.
The project was conceived by Jennava Laska, Pearl’s granddaughter, who transformed the property at 520 Benton Avenue into a gathering place intended to bring people together through hospitality, design, and shared experience.
As a licensed contractor, designer and developer, Jennava approached the project with a vision that blends thoughtful placemaking with emotional storytelling. Every aspect of The Flying Pearl — from the atmosphere and layout to the branding and culinary direction — was imagined as an extension of Pearl’s adventurous spirit and belief in the importance of gathering around a table.
The result is a place that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking: a modern neighborhood destination grounded in timeless ideas of hospitality, warmth, and human connection.
About
Pearl Laska
Pearl Laska lived a life defined by courage, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of people to connect with one another.
Born in 1909, Pearl was alway a trailblazer. In 1933, she learned to fly in a small Kinner Fleet biplane, becoming part of a pioneering generation of women aviators.
During World War II Pearl trained with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), helping open opportunities for women in aviation at a time when the field was almost entirely male.
After the war, Pearl followed her adventurous spirit north to Alaska, where she worked as a flight instructor and bush pilot. In 1946 she became the first woman to solo a single-engine airplane up the Alaska Highway, a remarkable achievement in one of the most rugged flying environments in the world.
She believed strongly that flying - and opportunity - should be available to everyone, and she trained many new pilots, including Alaska Natives who had long been excluded from aviation.
Pearl married merchant Lewis Lincoln Laska in Alaska, and their son was born in 1947. After her husband’s early death, Pearl continued running the family business while raising her child and maintaining her career as a teacher and pilot.
Her lifelong commitment to education continued as she earned a degree from the University of Alaska and later a master’s degree from Miami University of Ohio. She earned her special education teaching credentials at Peabody College (now Vanderbilt). She became the first special education teacher in Alaska.
Pearl’s love of flying and travel never faded. She visited over 90 countries in her lifetime and loved to try food from every corner of the globe. She held her pilot’s certificate until the age of 97 and received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in recognition of more than fifty years of safe and accomplished flying. She lived in Nashville until she took her final flight at 103.
Yet for those who knew her best, Pearl was more than a pioneering pilot. She was a teacher, a storyteller, and a grandmother whose life reflected resilience, generosity, and the joy of bringing people together.
Pearls son, Lewis was a long-time Nashville lawyer and taught business law at Tennessee State University for 44 years. Pearl’s granddaughter, Jennava, is a Tennessee contractor, designer, developer and built this space in her honor.
The Flying Pearl is dedicated to her memory and to grandmothers everywhere - women whose lives shape families and communities in ways both quiet and extraordinary.
Just as Pearl spent her life connecting people through teaching, adventure, and hospitality, The Flying Pearl seeks to bring people together around a shared table where traditions, stories, and meals create new bonds that feel like family.
Our history
Share when and why you launched your restaurant.
Our specialities
Describe your most popular dishes — what are you known for?
Our Philosophy
At The Flying Pearl, we believe that great food and great company go hand in hand. Our mission is to create memorable dining experiences by providing exceptional service and delicious cuisine. We are committed to using only the freshest ingredients and supporting local farmers.