Private dinner with Chef Michael Patlazhan

Okay, so only a few posts in and I am already being a slacker. It has been a while, I am so sorry guys! I had one of the busiest weekends I have had in a very long time, followed by a few days of being bedridden-ly sick. But, I am back on the prowl and so excited to share this next post with you!

This past weekend was filled with birthday orders, a Friday night open bar, Sunday brunch and the most incredible private dinner with former Top Chef contestant, Michael Patlazhan. While the rest of New York was jumping at the opportunity to indulge in NYC's usual Restaurant week my friends and I decided to take the unusual approach to fine dining. Private dinners or Pop-up dining if you will is an interesting way to get foodies of all kinds around the same table, typically in the comfort of a private apartment, home or space. Lucky for me my best friend Janine scored us the last three tickets for this dinner. I have been dying to go to one of these for a VERY long time so you could understand my excitement! Janine works with someone who knows Chef Patlazhan personally as she often offers up her GORGEOUS loft style apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey for the sake of these wonderful private dinners. Just see for yourself...

Chef Michael Patlazhan is an artist, he creates works of art in the kitchen. His innovative style of cooking is not only unique and refreshing but delicate and delicious, too. You can read his bio on the Top Chef website here. I love supporting and being around creative people, it always gets me going. The dining experience alone was just so perfect as we ate for about 4 hours long! We made friends with strangers, drank endless glasses of wine and got to hang out in one of the most beautiful lofts over looking Manhattan. The dinner was BYOB so Willy and I went to our favorite liquor store which houses some of the best locally made and imported Wine, Whiskey and Gin. We got Janine a bottle of Lambrusco (her favorite), Sauvignon Blanc and this very light Alento white. We made sure we came prepared! 

I will take you course by course because it absolutely deserves it!

First up... Pistachio, goat cheese and beets topped with a dehydrated piece of rye. 

Next up... Sunchoke done three ways with grapes, wheat berries and cocao nib. A Sunchoke, also known as the Jerusalem artichoke is a root vegetable which tastes similarly to a potato. 

This Cauliflower dish was one of my favorites. This is a Cauliflower steak (I guess we can call it? lol)  with some dehydrated cauliflower on the side sitting on a bead of pistachio, raisins and capers. DELISH!

I lied! This one was definitely my favorite dish! Seared scallops with kabocha squash and yuzu. I almost licked the plate!

This dish is a piece of chuck with horseradish and carrot. As some of you already know, I am a vegetarian and have been for about 10 years now. Out of curiosity I did try the smallest piece and let me just say I almost went back to eating meat again, it was THAT good! The rest was passed on to my boyfriend who was more than excited about it. 

Last but definitely not least... This passion fruit, green tea, black tea and banana fusion was so good, we all asked for more. He passed around left over ice cream, which we all dug our spoons into. 

CHEERS everyone! Thanks for stopping by!