This move has been extremely difficult for me and part of my New Year's resolution was to try and make a go of it. So I signed up for the Slow Food South Jersey newsletter and they were having a dinner on January 31 "Comfort in the Cold" at a restaurant Brownies Squared in Mays Landing so I signed us up.
Brownies Squared is actually a bakery but upstairs they have a room where they host "The Super Secret Supper Club." This Supper Club is where Chef Chris Groome, a graduate of Johnson & Wales (yes, my daughter attends there now) can shine. The only difference between our dinner and a dinner with the Supper Secret Supper Club is that we knew the menu. If you attend the Supper Club, it's a 10+ course dinner and you don't know the menu ahead of time. Out of 10+ courses, you are bound to like a few dishes. Best thing is that it's BYOB
Looking at the menu I wanted to bring a white and a red, but we settled on one bottle. 2010 Millbrook Block Three East Cabernet Franc, Hudson River Region, Estate Bottled. It went well with all courses, except the Shaved Fennel & Citrus Salad, but that was fine. We also shared and the 4 people sitting to my left had all been to Millbrook Vineyards & Winery and loved it. I was spreading Hudson Valley love!
The food was excellent! Chef just couldn't get by without adding a surprise dish. It was Beans, Brussel Sprouts, Garlic, and Dried Cranberries and it was delish!
The one stand out dish of the evening was the Root Vegetable "Risotto" Saffron-Creamed Kale and Housemade Pancetta. It was topped with turnips, beats and some other root veggies. There was something I learned. If you notice there is no "Risotto" in this dish, no pasta. See "Risotto" is actually a cooking method as the Chef explained. I loved the creamed kale!
We met some wonderful people at the dinner. I also got hooked up with and joined Windy Acres CSA because I so miss Sister's Hill Farm.
If you want more information on Slow Food visit Slow Food USA and join a chapter near you.
