On the Menu: December 6 to December 12

by jbfauthor on December 04, 2009

Here’s what happening at the Beard House and around the country next week: Sunday, December 6, 6:00 P.M. 8th Annual Greens Holiday Party Join the James Beard Foundation Greens as we celebrate the holidays with great food and drink at the 8th Annual JBF Greens Holiday Party at the historic James Beard House. Don't miss this chance to explore our muse's home and sample culinary delights from some of the city's most exciting chefs. Master mixologist Michael Waterhouse will create delectable holiday cocktails using Bison Grass Vodka and Bull Dog Gin and a selection of fine wines from Palm Bay Imports and Stella Artois beers will also be served to keep everyone in good spirits. Monday, December 7, 6:30 P.M. Friends of James Beard Benefit: Milkwaukee In 1989 Sanford and Angela D’Amato transformed their longtime family-owned grocery store into a sleek dining room serving trendsetting contemporary cuisine prepared with rigorous French technique. Twenty years, a JBF award for Best Chef: Midwest, and endless accolades later, Sanford remains one of the country’s finest restaurants. Tuesday, December 8, 7:00 P.M. Tuscan Opulence Formerly a country retreat for the Medici family, Villa La Massa is one of Italy’s premier destinations, offering guests stunning scenery and the rustic yet regal cuisine of Andrea Quagliarella. This winter the chef returns to the Beard House to serve an elegant menu fit for royalty of any era. Wednesday, December 9, 12:00 P.M. Beard on Books In New American Table Marcus Samuelsson shares his unique perspective on American cuisine and his affection for regional cooking traditions. Throughout the book the chef pays his respects to the generous people who shared recipes and inspired him with their dedication and spirit. Filled with delicious dishes and the stunning photography that has become a hallmark of Samuelsson’s cookbooks, New American Table is a warmhearted tribute to this country’s unique cuisine. Wednesday, December 9, 7:00 P.M. Savoring Southern California’s Bounty Southern California’s renowned produce provides inspiration for many area chefs, but few more so than Eric Wadlund, the former chef of Eric Ripert’s Azur by Le Bernardin, the desert outpost of the famed New York eatery. Experience Wadlund’s SoCal-inspired and Pacific Rim–inflected interpretations of classic American dishes. Thursday, December 10, 7:00 P.M. Best of Dallas When Scott Gottlich, an alum of NYC’s Le Bernardin and L.A.’s Aubergine, returned to his native Dallas to open Bijoux with his wife, wine director Gina Gottlich, it instantly became one of the city’s most highly regarded restaurants. Join this dynamic team, which also includes the chef of their latest eatery, and experience Dallas dining at its best. Friday, December 11, 7:00 P.M. Family-Style Feast: Pork and Lamb Described as a meat “prodigy” by The Feedbag’s Josh Ozersky, charcuterie-crazy chef Bobby Hellen has wowed critics with his polished approach to Resto’s rustic menu. For this truly unique event, Hellen will be roasting a whole pig, lamb, and more in the Beard House garden for a spectacular family-style feast. Saturday, December 12, 7:00 P.M. Seasons of Québec Given her many stints at Michelin-starred restaurants, it’s no wonder that there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about Judith Laflamme’s refined, technique-driven cooking. Now the private chef at the Québec Government House, Laflamme will prepare a holiday menu celebrating the seasons of her native province. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308. (Photo by Krishna Dayanidhi)