On the Menu: August 1 through August 7

by jbfauthor on July 30, 2010

Here’s what’s happening at the Beard House and around the country next week: Monday, August 2, 6:00 P.M. Enlightened Eaters: A Workshop Our series on cooking seasonally continues when Top Chef contestant and natural foods chef Andrea Beaman returns to teach guests how to prepare delicious summer dishes with just-picked ingredients from local markets. Participants will learn how to maximize the health benefits of locally sourced food by cooking meals packed with nutrients as well as flavor. Tuesday, August 3, 7:00 P.M. Modern Asian When former Buddakan NYC chef Michael Schulson opens a new restaurant, Asian food lovers sit up and take notice. Schulson, as per Frank Bruni, “breathes intelligence and creativity” into his food, and the chef has indeed breathed life into the Philadelphia dining scene with Sampan, where he serves an enticing menu of eclectic Asian dishes. Wednesday, August 4, 12:00 P.M. Beard on Books In My Empire of Dirt: How One Man Turned His Big-City Backyard Into a Farm, Manny Howard recounts his ambitious backyard farming project in Brooklyn. After months of marital strife, a mangled finger, and a freak tornado, Howard—a lifelong urban dweller and magazine writer—discovers that eating close to home is not always as idyllic as it first seems. With self-deprecating humor, self-satisfied pride, and an honest portrayal of his time on the Farm (as he begins to call his endeavor), complete with rabbits, chickens, and a vegetable patch, Howard asks readers to consider what it’s really like to eat locally and the meaning of responsible consumption. Wednesday, August 4, 7:00 P.M. Jersey Peach Nothing marks the arrival of summer like eating the first sweet, juicy peach of the season. To celebrate the fruit in all its warm-weather glory, we’ve asked Gotham Bar and Grill alum Tom Carlin, now the chef and owner of the landmark Gladstone Tavern, to craft an elegant farm-to-table dégustation starring Melick’s Family Farm peaches. Thursday, August 5, 7:00 P.M. Bohemian Mexican Named for an artistic neighborhood in Mexico City, Austin’s La Condesa reflects its namesake’s bohemian vibe with a menu of bold, contemporary Mexican cuisine. The immensely talented Rene Ortiz, who cooked with Daniel Boulud, Jean-Louis Palladin, and Douglas Rodriguez before becoming executive chef at NYC’s La Esquina, helms the restaurant. Saturday, August 7, 7:00 P.M. US/Mountain Celebrity Chef Tour: Steamboat Springs, CO Guest Celebrity Chef Bradford Thompson Host Chef Jon Demel Celebrity Chef Tour events are dinners that benefit the James Beard Foundation, in which JBF Award winners and other celebrity chefs travel to private clubs, resorts, and other exclusive venues across America to prepare dinners and promote the culinary arts. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308.