New Years Eve

New Years Eve PushStart
Yeah, I recognize that it's not Christmas yet and it's just barely Hanukkah (Happy Hanukkah, by the way!) but I just wanted to put this together since folks like to do a little planning in advance. And rightfully so, since a lot of these dinners are super expensive and sell out very quickly.

This year, we're going to celebrate NYE in Birmingham, AL with our dear friend, Jason Wallace in his amazing photography gallery and studio.  But don't worry, y'all are invited too!  Here's the menu chock full of ingredients that are traditionally guaranteed to bring good fortune and full bellies in the next year:

New Years Eve
MENU:
(includes wine pairings and evening champagne)

-Cocktails and canapes
-Queso fresco, salted cucumber noodle, marinated grape, pistachio praline, chicory
-Sweet potato dumpling, baby kale, pickled mustard seed, baby kale
-Sous vide pork loin, white bean puree, garlic confit, coriander brown butter, braised collards, cilantro croquant
-Pink grapefruit sorbet, pomegranate syrup, candied lemon
-Ancho chile chocolate cake, white chocolate cremeux, banana chip, cajeta, smoked salt
-Candy and cordial

$100 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)

Y'all, I know that most of you are in the Atlanta area (although we do have one follower in Dubai) but I guarantee it's totally worth the drive to come and have dinner with us.  Make a romantic little weekend getaway for NYE and come, why don'tcha?!  If you're not already on our mailing list, please sign up in the subscription form to the right and wait with baited breath by your inbox.  You'll begin receiving all kinds of invites, in no time!  All you have to do to come to dinner is respond to them as quickly as you can.  We look forward to having you soon.  I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holiday and if we don't see you, a great new year!

Holiday Animal Amnesty!
Thursday, December 22nd

This week, we're giving all those geese, turkeys, pigs, and cows a bit of a reprieve considering all the sacrifices they're going to be making for the winter holidays.

Beside winter veggies don't get nearly enough attention so for this dinner, we're in full worship mode.  Check out the menu below and get on the list.  Support your local farm and in this case your local farm animals!  Gobble gobble.

MENU:
(includes wine pairings)

-Cocktails and canapes
-White bean soup, garlic confit, porcini goat cheese, fennel marmalade
-Sweet potato dumpling, green pumpkin seed sauce, charred shallot, crispy smoked chile cornbread, aged jack cheese
-Maple roasted winter squash, eggnog ice cream, crushed ginger biscuit, orange three ways
-Candy and cordial

$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)

If you're not on our invite list yet, please subscribe in the box to the right and get ready!  You'll receive a notice in your inbox.  Be sure to respond as soon as you can.  We tend to sell out very quickly.  Thank you so much for the love and support.  We're looking forward to having you all around our table soon!

Y'all come eat!
We're stepping back in to the kitchen again this weekend for a dinner on Friday, December 16th, 2011.  Winter veggies are in full effect and we're happy to be tucked away in the warm kitchen with all the burners going.  Have a look at the menu below and see what you think.
MENU:
(Includes wine pairings)
-Cocktail and canape
-Manchego flan, crispy black bread,  roasted heirloom beet, salted cucumber, shallot caramel
-Crispy potato dumpling, pork carnita, spiced kabocha squash puree, brussels sprouts, cotija
-Roasted persimmon tartlet, Haitian rum semifreddo, vanilla honey, golden raisin puree, smoked chile praline
-Candy and cordial

$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)


Please be sure to add your name to our mailing list in the subscription box to the right and wait for the invitation.  When you get the email respond ASAP with how many in your party and a good contact number.  We have been selling out quickly so I will be sure to get back in touch with you to give you the heads up if you're on the list or not.  Thank you so much and we can't wait to feed you!

PushStart's Cena Tica
Thursday, December 8th

So, I'm sure by now you've heard me gush about our recent trip to Costa Rica!  Ten days in "the happiest country on earth!"  Did wonders for the spirit and definitely helped in working up a solid appetite.  In honor of our trip back "home," we've brought back some menus inspired by the comida tipica of the Tico kitchen.  I wouldn't go as far as to say that these are truly authentic plates as much my honest try at honoring the food traditions of my adopted nation, my home away from home.  We would love to have you in to share a meal with us...and don't worry, I won't pull out the slide show of our photos.  I promise.  NO, seriously.
MENU:
(includes wine pairings)

-Cocktails and canapes
-"sopa negra": Black bean broth, poached quail egg, pancetta lardon, cilantro goat cheese, lime gelee.
-Sous vide breast of chicken, ceviche de platano, charred serrano, chicharrones de pollo, jasmine rice puree
-"Torta chilena": crepe terrine, dulce de leche, compressed pear, lemon cream
-Candies and cordial

$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)

If you haven't done it already, subscribe to our mailing list to the right.  We'll send out invites via email.  If you'd like to join us (and we'd love to have you) please respond to the dinner email invite as fast as possible with how many in your party and a good contact number.  We'll be in touch.

THANKSGIVING!
Well, all the rumors you've heard are true!  I'm going to be spending Thanksgiving in Costa Rica with a beautiful woman and for all the obvious reasons, I'm SO excited!

But, since we aren't gonna be here for the biggest food holiday ever, and we don't want to miss all the fun, we're going to be serving our turkey dinner a week earlier! Wanna come?  Here's the menu:

MENU:
(includes wine pairing)

-Cocktails and canapes
-Grilled romaine, charred onion, cornbread, pistachio praline, shaved garrotxa, cranberry vinaigrette.
-Pumpkin seed crusted turkey, huitlacoche bread pudding, salsa pipian, roasted king trumpet mushroom
-Budin de calabaza, creme fraiche ice cream, chile spiced macadamia, sweet curry marshmallow
-Candies and cordial

$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)

You probably know what to do but in case you don't, check it out...subscribe in the box to the right.  You'll get an email invite, you'll respond, you'll come eat!  Just like that.  But as you may have already heard, we sell out pretty quickly so respond ASAP.  We'll get back to you and let you know what's up.  We can't wait to have you!

November 10th & 12th

Fall is in full swing and football season and is going full bore.  While I can't say that I'm the biggest fan of the gridiron, I can say that I love some good pig skin.  How about THAT for a good food lead-in!?

This week's menu has got stadium chow on the brain and even though you won't find and buffalo wings, if you look real hard you'll see where some of these dishes came from.  If you're not on our mailing list, be sure to subscribe at the right and receive an invitation to our game day dinner.

MENU:
(includes wine pairings)

-Cocktails and canapes
-Celery root soup, pickled carrot, chipotle molasses, buttermilk panna cotta, cornbread
-Slow cooked chicken, grain mustard panade, crispy onion, roasted red cabbage, pretzel puree
-Mexican hot chocolate cake, malt ice cream, dulce de leche, black salt, kettle corn
-Candies and cordial

$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)

Homecoming!
I've always thought that the best part about traveling was getting to come back home.  That first night back in your own house, your own space, your own bed is always so good!  After a successful, albeit insanely busy, weekend in Birmingham, we're home and ready to serve up more dinners in our own little space.  AND we're doing THREE of them!  Thursday, Friday and Saturday we'll be filling up our table with amazing people and delicious food.  Oh my GAW, you should totally come!
The weather is definitely cooling down and we'll be celebrating the amazing fall food the South-by-way-of Latin America has to offer.
We can't wait to see you all back around the table this weekend!


MENU:
(Includes wine pairings)


-Cocktails and canapes
-Ahi tuna tiradito, pink grapefruit, charred vidalia, avocado, crispy farmers bread, sea beans.
-Beef skirt vaca frita, black bean froth, spinach flan, garlic confit, shaved Thomasville Tomme.
-Buckwheat crepe, chestnut mascarpone, maple-vinegar gel, raw and candied orange.
-Candies and cordial


$50 per diner suggested donation
(cash only please)


Does everyone know how this whole thing works?  First, if you're not on the mailing list, you need to subscribe in the box to the right.  Then when you get an invitation in the mail, respond as quickly as you can. Don't forget to tell us which night you'd like to come, how many are coming with you, and a good contact number.  If you're in, we let you know where our space is and you come for dinner.  We've only got a limited number of seats each night so if you're not in time, we'll put you on the waiting list.  It's so good to be home!