We are serving a menu inspired by the dishes of Southeast Asia, a favorite cuisine of our featured guest artist Stina Kaczmaryn. We are using local produce from Green Acres Farm, Nichols Farm, and Seedling.

Dinner will be at an art gallery in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago.

Event starts at 7pm. First course served at 7:30pm.

• Amuse of Grape and Melon Truffles
• Stacks of Japanese Eggplant and Baby Beets layered with Local Artisan Goat Cheese and Crushed Peanuts, Spicy Green Fennel Curry
• Pork Stuffed Shrimp, Napa Kimchi, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Lime Basil Vinaigrette
• Crab and Baby Leek Gyoza Dumplings in Shrimp and Oyster Mushroom Broth
• Grilled Cobia over Sweet Curry Potato Gratin, Golden Plum Ginger Glaze and Lemongrass Salad
• Green Tea Custard, Pear poached in Elderberry liquor, Lemon Zabagione and Toasted Almonds

Music performance by Bryan Pardo and Richard Inkyu Kim

AFTER DINNER UPDATE:

It was a challenging menu to put together. We purchased all of our produce from the Green City Market and the rest of our ingredients at Golden Pacific Market on Broadway.

Our first curry was made with green curry paste, baby fennel puree, and coconut milk. This was served with pair of stacks: sauteed sweet white beets and fried japanese eggplant, each stack layered with goat cheese seasoned with red chile, vinegar, and garlic.

We made the kimchi using a 1 day pickling method but still maintained the traditional ingredients of salt, sugar, chili, garlic, and vinegar.

For the soup, I decided to season the gyoza dumpling filling only with salt and white pepper. I wanted the sweetness of the crab and caramelized leeks to remain unchallenged. The broth was lightly flavored with lemongrass, lime, and shrimp stock. The oyster mushrooms were seared and sauteed before they were introduced into the soup.

After the soup, Richard Inkyu Kim and Bryan Pardo performed their first set. Their performance was a brilliant improvisation, not regarding any certain genre but rooted in jazz and melodies. They played off each other, sort of a back-and-forth at times until they found a common theme.

Artist Stina Kaczmaryn spoke about her latest work and initiated some engaging discussions about some of the ideas and characters in her work. Her paintings and drawings will be available for viewing at the Mutherland Gallery for the rest of the month.