James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner Series: Cookin' In The Bluegrass

On a warm  autumn Saturday early evening, Michael, I, and 80 guests gathered on the lawn of the The Farmhouse  tucked amid the rolling grounds of The Kentucky Horse Park for one of the final James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinners.  We,  and other guests, arrived early and lounged on the front lawn with great anticipation for the festivities to begin.

Several of the guest chefs mingled with the crowd until it was time to start.  Last nights dinner featured spectacular James Beard celebrity chefs cooking alongside very high caliber local chefs.  They gathered in the kitchen of The Farmhouse to spotlight Kentucky food and ingredients.  Chef Michael Cimarusti, partner and Executive Chef of Providence, Los Angeles, California is a  2010 James Beard Award Winner.  Chef Christopher Lee, Executive Chef of Charlie Palmer's Aureole, New York, New York was a 2006 James Beard Award Winner and earned 2 Michelin Stars at Gilt Restaurant in New York before taking over the kitchen at Aureole.  Chef Dean Corbett, Corbett's, Jack's Lounge, and Equus, Louisville, Kentucky is an instituion in the local culinary community.  Representing Holly Hill, Midway, Kentucky, was  3 time James Beard Award nominee Ouita Michel.

Those were some heavy credentials hitting the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park and the kitchen of The Farmhouse.  It promised to be an eventful evening.

It was epic.  In every way.

From the very first sip of wine and nibble of food to the last toast with dessert, the evening was a tremendous success.

Precisely at 7 p.m., the corks  popped on the front lawn for a Kentucky Wine Tasting, featuring Elk Creek Vineyards & Equus Run Vineyard and Winery.

Inside the lobby of The Farmhouse, Maker's Mark Specialty Cocktails and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale were served from a waxed dripped Maker's Mark Bar.

We sipped cocktails and mingled with the crowd while servers glided in and out with trays of passed hors d' oeuvres.  Chef Dean Corbett offered local Kentucky Bison Tartar served on on tiny crisp crostini.  It was highly seasoned with flecks of fresh herbs, very lean, and rich.  Happy Jack's Savory Pumpkin Beignet with Sapori d' Italia Aged Goat Cheese came nestled on tiny china plates with bite sized deep fried pumpkin beignets topped with a specks of tangy goat cheese.    It was a fascinating flavor profile.

Our favorite server of the evening, Marie, carried a long rectangular china serving platter with individual tasting spoons of House Cured Guanciale (cured pork jowls), with Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon and Green Apple. The crisp tartness of the apple provided crunch and acid for the Italian bacon.  I loved the delicate fresh chervil garnish that enveloped the pork jowl bites.  Marie hawked them as "the best bacon you'll ever eat."  I ate seven.

Ouita Michel is famous for her shrimp & grits.  Last night, she prepared a deconstructed passed hors d' oeurvres version of it with Kentucky Raised Freshwater Shrimp and Grits. Perched atop tall shot glasses of grits essence was a skewered ham cube, scallion, perfectly cooked shrimp, and fried cheese grits cubes.  We sucked down the skewered delicacies and shot the essence.  The combination was impeccable. It tasted like a bowl of shrimp and grits in one bite-shoot-and-swallow motion.  Salty and sweet with major corn impact.  I wanted more.

As the sun began to set under a gorgeous Kentucky sky, we were called to dinner.  We made our way into The Farmhouse, through the lobby, out the back door, past the Governor's Garden, and into the glassed-in dining room.  It was beautiful.. Every table was gilded with gorgeous glass centerpieces from Artique and set with enough stemware to fill a warehouse.  Each table had 64 pieces of stemware for eight guests.  I know.  I counted.

First Course: Diver Sea Scallop Sashimi

Butternut Squash, Endive, Green Apple, Pumpkin Seeds, and Kentucky Barrel Ale

                       Wild Horse, Viognier, Central Coast

What a way to begin a meal.  The incredibly fresh diver sea scallops were very thinly sliced and served raw

with dollops of chilled pureed butternut squash, green apple, endive, and Kentucky Barrel Ale.  Toasted pumpkin seeds added crunch while tender greens provided freshness.  Sporting a nod to molecular gastronomy, the individual pockets of  jellied flavor exploded when sliced.  Individually, they didn't make sense and were too intense.  But, when swirled together like a Jackson Pollack painting with bits of scallop shashimi, they became a unified whole.  The buttery soft briny sea scallops soaked up the vibrant endive, tart apple, and velvet squash.  It was smart and clean.  A perfect beginning.

Second Course: Bluegrass Moussaka

Socca Crepes filled with Bourbon County Pulled Lamb, Eggplant Caviar, Cream, and Fresh Tomato Coulis

                          Robert Mondavi Winery, Pinot Noir, Caneros

In complete contrast to the first course, the bluegrass moussaka was earthy and deep.  Socca crepes are made from ground chicpeas forming light as air pancakes. The crepe had the texture of a soft thick corn tortillas.  It was an utter surprise with its fluffy texture perfectly draped over fork tender brasied local pulled lamb mixed eggplant caviar.  Napped with cream and fresh tomato coulis, it was sophisticated comfort food.  Fried chickpeas tumbled by the side added crunch and earthiness.  I could have eaten only that socca lamb-filled crepe and called it a day.  It was perfect.  The soft Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir was an ideal pairing with the rustic succulent lamb soccas.

Third Course: Kentucky Farm Raised Striped Bass

Cannellini Beans, Okra, Smoked Bacon, Gallrein Farms Corn Broth, Corn Fritter and Popcorn Shoots

                            Ruffino, La Solatia Chardonnay, Toscanna IGT

The sea bass arrived on a bed of tender slow cooked cannellini beans in a pool of corn broth topped with smoked bacon and a fried corn fritter. It was moist, mild, and flaky. It held up to the robust hardiness of the beans, the smoky saltiness of the bacon, and the transparent corn broth. The fluffy fresh corn-studded fried fritter punched the corn flavor through while the bacon actually provided a meaty heftiness to the dish. The mouthfeel was velvety until the crackling bacon crunch.  Although I would have loved to have had a lemon squeeze for a bit of acidity, it was boldy seasoned and fantastic.  That being said, the bright acidity of the Ruffino Chardonnay provided the needed lift.  The sea bass was a huge crowd favorite.  Bacon makes everything better.

The food seemed to never end.  It just kept coming and coming.  The wine kept flowing and flowing. 

Were we on the Titanic's maiden voyage seated in the Grand Ballroom with American Nobility living life to excess?  It felt like it .......and it was grand.

Fourth Course: Roasted Breast of Kentucky Squab

Maker's Mark 46 Infused Squab Jus, Sweet Potatoes, Collard Greens

                             SIMI Merlot, Sonoma County

The roasted squab hit my culinary G-Spot. It was cooked to a perfect pink with crackling skin bathed in a sweet Maker's Mark 46 bourbon glaze.  Oh my.  It was a tiny thing with just a bit of meat.  With permission from our tablemates, we all ate it with our fingers gnawing every bit of flesh from the bones.  Like animals.  Maybe it was the wine.  Nope, it was the delicate tender rich bourbon-glazed squab.  There was enough squab jus puddled on the plate to swipe the meat through for unnecassary added richness.  A cubed sauteed caramelized sweet potato sat next to the shiny squab. With a mad stroke of culinary genius, Chef Michael Cimarusti perched a fois gras & ground squab stuffed collard green bundle on top of the sticky caramelized sweet potato cube. Speechless.

It was time for a needed break.  We excused ourselves from the table to step outside.  Apparently, everyone else felt the same as the entire room full of people followed suit.  We were calling a collective time out.  Everyone needed a short break from the divine culinary assault. 

I, of course, slipped into the kitchen to absorb the back-of-the-house action. It was fascinating.

Fifth Course: A Selection of Ripened and Aged Chevres from Capriole with Pear Compote

                            Champagne Veuve Cliquot, Demi Sec NV, Reims, France

The three cheese selections represented the finest from Capriole.  The goat cheese sampler was served in ripening succesion from soft and tangy to to aged and nutty.  Splendid.  Pear compote was passed as an optional topper.  It was a nice respite with calming flavors that was accentuated beautifully with sparkling dry Veuve Cliquot.

Sixth Course: Individual Apple Stack Cake with Scott County Hickory Nut Brittle and Maker's Mark Bourbon Caramelized Evan's Orchard Apples.

                             Inniskillin, Reisling Icewine, Niagara Peninsula Ontario

How could life have gotten any better?  Short bread topped with deeply caramelized sticky apples with a scoop of pristine fresh whipped cream to the side, that's how.  Better, yet? Crunchy black hickory nut brittle scattered over the top.  Again, speechless.  I'm not a big dessert eater.  I inhaled it.  The shortcake had complete soaked the sugary sweetness from the caramelized apples.  Think inverted gooey pineapple upside down cake (without the cherries).  It had that essence. Unbelievable.

Royal Cup Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffe and Tea

Wow!

The guests chefs came out to thunderous applause and were introduced and presented with traditional James Beard Certificates honoring the celebration, nurturing, and preservation of America's diverse culinary heritage and future.

Michael and I were honored and fortunate to be a part of The James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner Series: Cookin' In The Bluegrass. The food was impeccable, the people were joyous, and the atmosphere was electric.  We will never forget the evening, the meal, the service, the hospitality, or the experience.

Michael gave me a James Beard Foundation Culinary Professional Membership for my birthday.

Last night, we were invited to stop by the James Beard House the next time we are in New York.

We will.