Weekday Planner: Eastman Egg Company Dinner, Chili Fest 2016, Big Steak Big Wine Dinner, Bordeaux Dinner at Community Tavern
Big Steak, Big Wine Dinner
Fun fact: January is National Meat Month, an apt enough reason to indulge in all things burly and decadent, in lieu of any pesky resolutions. All month long, Roka Akor has been doing its part by offering exclusive cuts of Omaha Prime Beef and Japanese Mizayaki Wagyu, and they're capping it all off with a special "Big Steak, Big Wine" dinner on January 28. Joined by Brad Butcher of California's Jordan Winery, the steak-focused degustation features wine pairings with each course. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with Kusshi oysters, ama ebi sashimi, and Champagne. Course two is grilled scallop with truffle-soy butter and shaved truffles, plus Wagyu beef gunkan with seaweed tapenade and a glass of 2013 Jordan Chardonnay. Braised Wagyu short ribs are next, served with parsnip puree, crispy sunchokes, and the 2006 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. Fourth course features dry-aged Australian lamb with aka miso glaze, pickled cucumber salad, and a glass of 2008 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. The final savory course consists of a 28-day dry-aged tomahawk rib-eye with grilled wild mushrooms and the 2003 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon to match. For dessert, there's (mercifully) assorted sorbet.
"Dinner With Drew" at The Eastman Egg Company
During the day, Eastman Egg Company peddles some of the best egg sandwiches in town, satiating downtown denizens at breakfast and lunch. Now there's more opportunity to love this food truck-cum-restaurant thanks to their new dinner event series, the second of which takes place January 28 at 7:00 p.m. Dubbed "Dinner With Drew" in honor of Culinary Lead Drew Davis, the dinner serves to accentuate the company's penchant for wholesome egg fare by cooking up locally sourced, multi-course meals that go beyond sandwiches.
Chili Fest 2016 at Rockit Bar & Grill
'Tis the season for chilly weather and chili comfort food! Right on cue, Rockit Bar & Grill is bringing back its annual, crowd-pleasing Chili Fest. The week-long event entails different chili specials each weekday from January 25 through January 29, all courtesy of executive chef Amanda Downing. Offerings this year include a black bean and chorizo chili on January 25; braised pork and lentil chili on January 26; "five way" Cincinnati turkey chili on January 27; chicken tandoori chili on January 28; and beef and butternut squash chili on January 29. Each bowl costs $14.
Bordeaux Dinner at Community Tavern
In other big wine news, Community Tavern is another option for wine-paired tasting menus next week. The Portage Park spot focuses on Bordeaux for their five-course dinner on January 27, which combines dishes by executive chef Joey Beato and chef de cuisine Matt Saccaro with wine pairings courtesy of wine director Jamie McNee. The French-accented affair kicks off at 7:00 p.m. with a first course of chilled seafood and a glass of 2014 Chateau Lestrille Blanc. Second is sweet potato gnocchi with smoked chestnut cream, winter squashes, braised radicchio, watercress, and the 2012 Chateau Puy-Servain Blanc. Next is pheasant and porcini pate, paired with 2012 Chateau Divon, followed by a navarin of lamb with the 2012 Chateau Dutruch Grand Poujeaux. For dessert, it's grilled pear with bleu cheese crema, almond cake, and toffee, alongside a glass of 2010 Chateau Fontebride. The cost for dinner is $75 per person and reservations can be made by calling Community Tavern.
- Matt Kirouac