Last week, I attended Overkill, a 12-course blowout dinner hosted by Brian Mercury (pastry chef, Harvest) and Mary Dumont (chef/partner, Harvest). This year the event benefited No Kid Hungry. No Kid Hungry is Share Our Strength's national campaign to end childhood hunger. Through culinary events such as this one, plus Taste of the Nation, No Kid Hungry dinners, and a series of "Food Fight" events, Share our Strength receives the support it needs to work toward ending childhood hunger.
The No Kid Hungry campaign helps connect children to nutritional programs like school breakfast, teaches families to cook through the Cooking Matters program, and so much more. Visit nokidhungry.org to learn more about Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry and how you can help.
Together with 10 other local chefs (for a total of six savory and six pastry), Mercury and Dumont put together a 12-course feast for attendees of Overkill.
But before the 12 courses began, guests were treated to punches from local bartenders and charcuterie from Moody's Delicatessen & Provisions. The spread was amazing (from sausages to cheeses to pate), and the drinks were creative and a fun way to kick off the evening. One featured bourbon, another rum, and the third gin. (The gin drink was my favorite.)
Once everyone was seated, the courses began arriving and did not stop until nearly 11 p.m. Each chef would come up and describe his or her dish, and representatives from No Kid Hungry shared information about the campaign during the dinner.
Course 1
Celery root and apple panna cotta with Jonah crab, Verrill Farm Mutsu apples, and baby celery
Mary Dumont, Harvest
Course 2
Cocoa-roasted squash with burrata, brassicas, pickled pear, and orange-maple vinaigrette
Will Gilson, Puritan & Co.
Course 3
Tortellini of bitter greens in brodo
Dave Schneller, Canary Square
Course 4
Tea-smoked duck with pomegranate, pistachio praline, pink peppercorns
Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang
Course 5
Chestnut polenta with wild boar ragout, pecorino, and fennel pollen
Mike Stark, Toro
Course 6
Warm smoked lamb breast with pickled sunchoke, apple, cardamom, and pistachio dukkah
Michael Scelfo, Alden & Harlow
Course 7
White chocolate cheesecake with pomelo, pomegranate, brown butter, and pistachio
Monica Glass, Clio
Course 8
"Crisp October": Warm pear sabayon with apple crisp, and coconut-sage ice cream
Jared Bacheller, L'Espalier
Course 9
Carrot panna cotta with quinoa cake, sunchoke vanilla puree, and fresh ginger cream
Brian Mercury, Harvest
Course 10
Chai and honey poached apple, pain d'epices, ginger mascarpone glace,
smoked walnut crumble, molasses gelee, and apple consomme
Jaime Davis, Deuxave
Course 11
Parsnip ice cream with cocoa, coffee, and hazelnut
Meghan Thompson, Townsman
Course 12
Dark chocolate cremeux with poached pears, orange blossom sauce,
ricotta creme, and aleppo crumble
Molly Rabideau, Oleana
While I attended this event as media, all opinions are my own, and I appreciate that it enabled me to connect with No Kid Hungry and to spread the word about the work they're doing. If you're a blogger, please consider joining the No Kid Hungry Blogger program.
Have you heard of No Kid Hungry and the work they're doing?