experiment #23 - Sustainable Cobaya

Experiment #23 is in the books. Chef Alejandro Piñero of Sustain Restaurant + Bar took us on a trip to Southern Italy with a menu inspired by the foods of Siciliy and Sardinia. You can read my recap here on Food For Thought, see all the pictures in this Sustainable Cobaya flickr set, and read another recap from one of our diners at the (aptly named for this particular menu) Befuddled Brain. Thanks to Chef Piñero, GM Jonathan Lazar, owner Brian Goldberg, sommelier Daniel Toral, and all the rest of the crew at Sustain; and most of all, as always, to all of the guinea pigs whose support makes these events possible.

Here's the complete menu, with links to pictures:

L'Apertivo

Arancia Rossa e Averna

Gamberi

Lardo e Ricci di Mare

Andrea Franchetti "Guardiola" Etna, Sicily 2010

Seppie

"Oliva" e Frissée

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna, Sicily 2010

Malloreddus

Ragu di Cinghiale

Arianna Occhipinti "SP68" Vittoria, Sicily 2010

Testa di Capra Arrosto

Cerevella di Capra, Patate e Cavolo Nero

Andrea Franchetti "Passopisciaro" Etna, Sicily 2008

Pannacotta al Cardomomo

Arancia Rossa, Torta all'Olio d'Oliva

Sebadas

Miele Sardo e Sorbetto al Latte di Mandorle

experiment #23 - 3/26/12

Time for another experiment!

Quick Details:
Date: Monday March 26, 2012
Price: $90 (inclusive of tax & tip) + optional pairing (price tbd)
Start time: 7:00pm

We will be doing a drawing for seats from all requests received over the first 48 hours, with additional requests filled, if possible, in the order they're received.

Please send an email (use the "contact the underground" link to the right) to request seats, and let us know how many you're requesting.

You will be advised by Thursday March 15 if your request has been confirmed. You'll then need to book your seats by Tuesday March 20, or we may need to release them to the waitlist to ensure all spots are filled.

We have limited seating and while we try to accomodate everyone who is interested, that is usually not possible - most events are filled very quickly.

When your seat request has been confirmed, please book it using the PayPal link which will be set up on the Cobaya website. Please do not book unless and until you've received a confirmation. When you do receive the confirmation, please book your seats through PayPal promptly. There will be a short window of time to book before seats need to be released back to the waitlist to make sure they're filled.

Confirmed and paid-up attendees will receive an e-mail the day before the event, confirming the location and other details.

A brief, but important, refresher course on the whole Cobaya thing: there is no "menu". There are no choices. You'll be eating what the chef chooses to make for the night. If you have food related allergies, strict dietary requirements, religious restrictions; are salt sensitive, vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan; don't like your meat cooked medium rare, or are pregnant: this meal is probably not for you. Do not expect white-glove service. Don't ask for your sauce on the side. Just come and enjoy.

Plus some new legalese: please note that if you're requesting a spot, you understand that any food or beverages you consume are at your own risk, that you voluntarily assume any and all risks, known and unknown, and voluntarily release the organizers of the event from any claims, including personal injury and wrongful death, resulting in any manner from your participation in this event, whether caused by negligence or otherwise. Hopefully it won't come to that.

As always, thank you for your support.

FOR CONFIRMED SEAT REQUESTS ONLY:

cobaya #23

1 seat $90.00 USD 2 seats $180.00 USD pairing for 1 $40.00 USD pairing for 2 $80.00 USD

experiment #22 - School of Cobaya with Chef Michael Bloise

Another experiment completed. This time, Chef Michael Bloise (currently at Sushi Samba Dromo on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach) sent everybody back to school with a "School Lunch" themed dinner. You can read recaps at Food For Thought, The Chowfather, and Blind Tastes, and my pictures are in this School of Cobaya flickr set. It's a shame I didn't get better pictures, as Chef Bloise really did an outstanding job both conceptualizing and executing his theme, right down to the brown bags with a "Love, Mom" note inside. This was a lot of fun.

Here's the menu:

Apple Juice Box

Unfiltered Apple Juice, Vanilla, Acai Vodka

Brown Baggin' It

Lunchables - Rabbit Ham, Truffled Mozz, Manchego-Thyme Crackers

Taco Belly Trio

Lamb, Mint, Blood Orange

Pork, Melon, Nuoc Cham, Thai Basil

Tuna, Butter, Garlic, Soy

The Tray

Country Fried Beef Tongue with Foie Country Gravy

Paiche/Linguica Corn Dog with Kabocha Mustard

Spicy Pork Cheek Empanada with Black Bean Ice Cream

Scallop Tater Tots with Kimchi Ketchup

Vegetable Medley Pudding Cup

Tripe Churros

Berry Cobbler with Tempura Bone Marrow

Panna Cotta Spaghetti

Many thanks to Chef Bloise and all his "cafeteria" crew, and as always, to all of our guinea pigs who make these events possible.

experiment #22 - 1/30/12

Time for another experiment! Short notice!

Quick Details:
Date: Monday January 30, 2012
Price: $75 (inclusive of tax & tip)
Start time: Likely 7:30pm

No film crews this time we promise!

We will do a similar routine as the last several dinners, with a drawing for seats from all requests received over the first 48 hours, and additional requests filled, if possible, in the order they're received.

The rest of the drill is mostly the same as always: please send an email to request seats, and let us know how many you're requesting.

You will be advised by Monday January 23 if the request has been confirmed. You'll then need to book your seats by Thursday January 26, or we may need to release them to the waitlist to ensure all spots are filled.

We have limited seating and while we try to accomodate everyone who is interested, that is usually not possible - most events are filled very quickly.

When your seat request has been confirmed, please book it using the PayPal link which will be set up on this page. Please do not book unless and until you've received a confirmation. When you do receive the confirmation, please book your seats through PayPal promptly. There will be a short window of time to book before seats need to be released back to the waitlist to make sure they're filled.

A brief, but important, refresher course on the whole Cobaya thing: there is no "menu". There are no choices. You'll be eating what the chef chooses to make for the night. If you have food related allergies, strict dietary requirements, religious restrictions; are salt sensitive, vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan; don't like your meat cooked medium rare, or are pregnant: this meal is probably not for you. Do not expect white-glove service. Don't ask for your sauce on the side. Just come and enjoy.

Confirmed and paid-up attendees will receive an e-mail the day before the event, confirming the location and other details.

As always, thank you for your interest.

FOR CONFIRMED SEAT REQUESTS ONLY:

cobaya #22

1 seat w/o pairing $75.00 USD 1 seat with pairing $100.00 USD