On the Menu: January 21 through January 28

by jbfauthor on January 20, 2012

Saturday, January 21, 7:00 P.M. Elegant Austin Steak When a steakhouse has to satisfy the appetite of an owner who is also a Pro Bowl football player, you know it has the chops to rise above the rest of the herd. Join us for a taste of modern steakhouse cuisine at this meat lovers’ Beard House dinner. Monday, January 23, 6:30 P.M. Oyster Tasting at Wild Edibles Join the JBF Greens as we kick off 2012 with an oyster tasting at Wild Edibles Oyster Bar and Restaurant. Since it first set up shop in a tiny Soho space nearly 20 years ago, Wild Edibles has been a leading wholesale supplier of handpicked ocean specialties to New York’s finest restaurants. Today the company operates retail locations in Murray Hill and in Grand Central Market; its Murray Hill space doubles as a cozy seafood restaurant. At this walk-around cocktail party, the Greens will taste an array of hand-shucked oysters, including the Black Crescent, a new oyster exclusive to Wild Edibles that will be served for the first time at this event. Chef Gavin Citron will also prepare a few delicious seafood hors d’oeuvre, which will pair perfectly with a selection of fine wines from Palm Bay Imports and Stella Artois beers. Tuesday, January 24, 7:00 P.M. Taste of the California Coast Enjoy a lavish, ingredient-driven meal befitting the Studio at the Montage Laguna Beach, a luxurious dining destination strikingly perched on a seaside bluff. For this Beard House dinner, executive chef and 2009 JBF semifinalist Craig Strong has crafted a French-inflected menu that’s firmly rooted in coastal California terroir. Wednesday, January 25, 12:00 P.M. Enlightened Eaters Michael Finkelstein, M.D., is a board-certified internist and certified holistic physician whose Skillful Living concept advises individuals to approach health and wellness as a singular unit, from the food we eat to the relationships and careers we choose. He also founded and presides over the SunRaven medical facility in Bedford, New York, where gardening is featured in several projects as a powerful metaphor for how we can achieve optimal wellness in our lives. Wednesday, January 25, 7:00 P.M. East End Country Getaway Forget about braving traffic on the LIE—head to the Beard House instead for a taste of JBF Award winner Keith Luce’s finessed, forward-thinking cuisine. The chef and owner of Luce + Hawkins at the idyllic Jedediah Hawkins Inn on Long Island’s North Fork, Luce crafts elegant tasting menus inspired by ingredients from neighboring farms and vineyards. Thursday, January 26, 7:00 P.M. The Art of Indian Cuisine Celebrate India’s day of independence with this refined menu from the team at Mehndi. The elegant meal will begin with hors d’oeuvre from India’s four main geographic areas, followed by sophisticated iterations of classic dishes from the Punjabi and Mughlai regions. Plus, for those who are feeling adventurous, a henna station will be available after dessert. Friday, January 27, 7:00 P.M. From Argentina to Maine The menu at Sea Glass at the Inn by the Sea—one of greater Portland, Maine’s most coveted tables—has a surprising source of inspiration: Argentina, where chef Mitchell Kaldrovich was raised. His seasonal cuisine is an artful blend of traditional New England dishes, local Maine ingredients, and Argentine flavors. Saturday, January 28, 7:00 P.M. The Joule of Dallas When JBF Award winner Charlie Palmer decided to open his first restaurant in Texas, he handpicked longtime protégé Scott Romano to head up the kitchen. An alum of Palmer’s Aureole who most recently worked under Wolfgang Puck at Spago and Cut, Romano oversees an elegant menu of steakhouse classics inspired by the Lone Star State’s bounty. For details and reservation, visit jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308.