Food Group

So, the Brooklyn Food Group dinner happened on Saturday in Cobble Hill.  I arrived at 7PM and WAS NOT the first to arrive and I couldn’t believe it. I met the organizers, the logistical coordinator was a determined, fierce looking 20-something named Philiss@ and the cooks were Molly and Ben. 

I began to talk with an energetic half-Italian science teacher and a recent transplant from Chicago when we were called to our seats.  There were two long tables set with rented white dishes and flatware.  My table, in the spare room, seated 10 and the other table looked similar. At each place was a buff-colored card printed with a person’s name and the menu for the evening.  I was seated next to the logistical coordinator’s mother, who has a knack for conversation.

As the first course, they served cold peach/ginger soup, fried green tomatoes and goat cheese puffs.  There was also some type of orange aioli to dip the puffs in.  I was busy talking to a young woman about Italo Calvino and Nicole Krauss.  The woman came from Russia when she was 10 and had no discernible accent.  I think that she was the tiniest Russian Jewish woman I’ve ever met.  She made reference to her height and weight; sounds like she is 5 foot tall and 90 lbs.  Oh…My, I’m large.

When the next course, seared tuna with asparagus, roasted plum tomatoes, yogurt-caper sauce with shiitake crisps came out, I poured myself some more of the Sauvignon Blanc I had brought with me.  BFG provided some peach sangria at the beginning, and after that I just hit my bottle.  I was talking to the sociology professor at the table about his work, but somehow I got interrupted.  I probably got dragged away by the fresh bread and butter, which was fantastically perfect, as fresh bread always is.

My favorite course was the oxtail ravioli, which was made with cocoa. I WANT that recipe.  I think during that course I was talking to a former Peace Corps volunteer about her experiences in Bolivia, eating cui (guinea pig).

The piece-de-résistance was Chickpea-black pepper crepes with strawberry-cardamom jam and lamb loin. The lamb was as tender as could be.  As this point, I realized that I had been gabbing about Chicago and New York, and women’s colleges and social science research for almost three hours.  Regretfully, I left before dessert, since I had to be up before 8 the next morning to go for a bike ride before heading into Manhattan. I have lots of admiration for the talent and organization of the event planners.  They did a fantastic job, especially given that they are…maybe 25, 26 years old?  I wish I were as talented and organized as they are.  At least I have the talent and drive to eat their delicious food…and I’d happily do it again.

Explore posts in the same categories: Blogroll, food