Matteo Silverman’s GRACIOUS GOURMAND

Matteo Silverman’s food is legendary in Brooklyn. After many successful years of hosting 4CV (Four Course Vegan), he has refined and mastered his technique and style. This was obvious last Friday when he unleashed a six-course Mexican-fusion menu – plus a customized Kanon Organic Vodka martini; Sastuma Tangerine & Thai Basil.

The raw cashew-cheese Amuse Bouchce was both a visual delight in the pink root vegetable pocket, and a delicious starter that got everyone in the mood for more. The Cayuga Farms Black Bean Soup with Toasted Cumin and Citrus Sour Cream was rich, hearty, decadent, and perfect for the chilly weather. The Red Kuri Squash Crepinette with Pickled Beets and Oaxacan Mole was outstanding, complex, and thought-provoking – and how can you go wrong with chocolate for dessert combined with cinnamon and vanilla?

This was the last GRACIOUS GOURMAND until 2011, so if you missed it, I’m sorry! In the time being, don;t forget to come every Sunday from 11am- 3pm to the Gracious Gourmand Waffle Brunch featuring Chef Ayinde Howell.

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joshuakatcher, December 13th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in event, food, vegan, vegetarian

Ella Nemcova’s Kingdom of Plaisir

GRACIOUS GOURMAND was abuzz on Friday night with people anxiously awaiting Ella Nemcova (of The Regal Vegan)‘s incredible menu, featuring six courses of sophisticated flavors and textures that soon left guests joyfully full and gastronomically stimulated. The pistachio and Bing-Cherry crusted faux gras truffles over micro-greens blew my mind, and the visual presentation of the salad, complete with butterfly-shaped golden beets was a simple pleasure. The lobster mushroom entree would have pleased any ravenous foodie, swimming in a rich porcini cream sauce and paired with a kabocha puree. What was also surprising was the sparkling rose-water infused martinis with chocolate shavings featuring Kanon Organic Vodka.

Chef Ella Nemcova performed magnificently in this forum for avant garde, sustainable fare and I look forward to her sophomore performance! The next GRACIOUS GOURMAND will be December 3rd featuring Chef Matteo Silverman of 4CV. Get tickets now!

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joshuakatcher, November 21st 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in vegan

Ayinde Howell’s Second Act

crowd

“Gracious Gourmand is like open mic night for chefs”, Chef Ayinde Howell said to a packed house on Friday night, October 22, 2010. After serving up an impressive seven-course Moroccan-inspired meal, plus a carefully paired preserved lemon drop martini with date-sugar rim, featuring Kanon Organic Vodka, he also said, “Wow, I actually don’t know any of you, which is awesome!”.

chermoulatempeh

It was one of the coolest autumn nights yet, and the cozy, candle-lit back room at the Second Stop Cafe in Williamsburg glowed with warmth, local flowers, decorative gourds, and a small crowd of fashion designers, actors, foodies, and artists whose conversational din must have radiated out onto the sidewalk, drawing the curiosity of more than one passerby, who poked their heads in to see what was happening.

When I started Gracious Gourmand a couple months ago, this is exactly what I had envisioned: an intimate, decadent, and joyous gathering where exceptional food is the star.

If you have not yet come to one of our events, make sure not to miss the next one, featuring the outstanding chef Pam Brown of Woodstock’s Garden Cafe on November 5, 2010.

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joshuakatcher, October 23rd 2010 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in event, food, green, vegan, vegetarian

Veg News Gets Brutal

I recently bared all (of my ‘fridge) for Veg News Magazine‘s “What’s In Your Fridge?“. It was really hard to decide what to showcase because I love food so much! Local Farmers’ Market greens and berries, Field Roast Apple-Sage Sausage, Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream, Dr Cows Cheese, Artisana Cashew Butter… where to begin? Regardless it gave me a really good reason to go grocery shopping (something I rarely have time to do these days). Veg News Food Issue is on shelves right now and also has a feature article on my pals at Dr Cow’s Tree Nut Cheese.

DB appears in Veg News' Sept Food Issue

DB appears in Veg News

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TheDiscerningBrute, August 19th 2008 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in green, organic, vegan, vegetarian