Last year I attended the ART WORKS NOW fundraiser at the home of Barbara Johnson(who founded this amazing organization www.artworksnow.org) and her spouse the amazing Ruth Gresser (founder/owner and chef of the Pizza Paradiso group here in the DC area). It was great last year and even more fun this time as Will joined me and we went home with tons of auction prizes. Only several dozen people can fit into the huge open kitchen at their home where some 8 or so tables were filled with food and art lovers who came to eat some of the most exciting cooking around.
The evening started outside with cocktails/mocktails/prosecco and hor's d'oevres cooked by Chef Jamie Knight who works under Jamie Leeds of Hanks Oyster Bar (who was sadly ill) and offered up some awesome Harissa Scallops in pastry cups, luscious Lamb Chop Lollipops with herb crusted black olives and a superb (but a bit difficult to eat) Kataiff wrapped artichoke hearts with parmesan mousse. With just one chop, several scallops and one artichoke we were filling up, so slowed down and just after an hour of yummy cocktails(tequila based) headed inside for dinner.
The first course came from NY's Elizabeth Faulkner of Falk Yeah! (That's a great name for a company) and was called Super Greens & Crunchy Vegetables Salad with Carrot Hummus & Feta Cheese (FB pictures of course). This sounds pretty basic but there were farm fresh snow peas, collards, broccoli, radish and carrots with a superb hummus made from carrots, mung beans and yellow beets. The toasted grain braid was awesome as well. As you know, I am not a beer person, but this pairing of NV Right Proper Brewing Company's "Diamonds, Fur Coats, Champagne" Berliner Weisse made right here in DC was truly spectacular. The almost sparkling wine-like beer was not as beery(read yeasty) as beer is and when you ate the salad, the beer taste dissolved and you felt you were having a sparkling white wine!
One of my favorite chefs in the world is Anita Lo, and I was devastated a couple of years ago when her famed Annisa closed in NY, even after she had just had a massive success cooking in the (Obama) White House. Chef Lo has futur plans, but for now I was thruilled she was available to come to DC and cook one of the best dishes I have had in ages: Grilled Quail with Szechuan Peppercorns and Potato Sesame Salad. The salad looked like noodles, but was actually potato and it cut the spice of the pepper perfectly. A 2016 Hahn Winery Pinor Noir from Monterey California was ideal; so much so that I asked for extra(twice) and came back to it at the end of dinner for more!
The main course came from NY's famed Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy, a famous veggie dining spot we shall have to try with Samuel soon (if we can get in!). She offered up a Smoked Cauliflower & Waffles with Horseradish Cream & Maple Syrup that was so reminiscent of Chicken & Waffles we thought we were eating that! The cauliflower was roasted and fried two times; I wish I knew the process as it was truly delicious and impressive. We went back to a white wine, 2016 Patient Cottat "Le Grand Caillou" Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, which was okay, but this dish could have easily stood up to a nice big red!!
Dessert was just as awesome: Cherry Pistachio Financier with Cherry Blossom, Honey Roasted Figs and Yogurt Sorbet (and a gooseberry), from Migdaliz Velez-Rayes of Ana G. Mendez Culinary Arts.
The pairing was an NV Arvero Limoncello from Campagnia, Italy., which was a bit too sweet for my taste (and I adore limoncello).
How much fun was this and we went home with super coffee (Tanzanian Peaberry from Southeastern Roastery), cupcakes, cookies (that spelled A,R,T) and of course all the awesome auction items, including a delivery this fall of white & black truffles!!
