Greenmarket to Gotham

I'm always happy to attend food events especially at a well-establish restaurant such as Gotham Bar and Grill.  It makes it even more special when the restaurant creates a program that supports local farmers and a worthy cause.  Chef Alfred Portale is known for his passion for using fresh and seasonal ingredients, so it's not surprising that Gotham Bar and Grill is once again launching its "Greenmarket to Gotham" program.  Beginning Monday, June 11, 2012, the restaurant celebrates twelve regional farms for twelve weeks with a ($25) two-course week day lunch menu.  $1 of each menu will go towards GrowNYC Grow to Learn NYC:  the Citywide School Garden Initiative.  For a $7 supplement, you can add a dessert (desserts are usually around $14) so this a great deal.  The menu changes weekly.  It's created by Chef Portale and Chef Livio Velardo.  These vegetarian dishes design to highlight the local Spring and Summer harvest so you're in for a treat.

This week the menu features the products from Cherry Lane Farms of Cumberland County in New Jersey.  I got to sample this week's lunch menu, and the dishes are delicious.  For starter, I enjoyed the creamy green garlic soup.  I loved the contrasting texture and flavor of the raw sunchokes in the soup.  The Parmesan emulsion added a depth of savory flavor.  The entree was goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossom with smoked eggplant panisse which was so light and delicious.  The vegetables were prepared beautifully, and I enjoyed every bite of this dish.  The dessert was a deconstructed strawberry shortcake.  I loved the sweetness of the strawberries, and the slight lemony tartness of the Thai basil ice cream.  There were also some delicious petit fours at the end of the meal.  Oh, and did I mentioned the wine paring.  The sommelier chose a local Riesling to pair with the soup, and then a wonderful French Poulsard for the entree.   All in all, it was a delectable lunch.  If you haven't been to Gotham Bar and Grill or you're visiting from out of town, I suggest you take advantage of this wonderful seasonal menu while supporting GrowNYC.

Gotham Bar and Grill
12 East 12th Street
Between 5th Avenue and University Place

Green Garlic Soup - Sunchokes, Leeks, Spring Onion and New Potato Parmesan Emulsion

Cherry Lane Farm's Summer Squash - Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms, Smoked Eggplant Panisse and Sauce Vert

Strawberry Shortcake - Market Strawberries White Chocolate Ganache and Thai Basil Ice Cream

Petit Fours

Wine pairing for the Soup

Wine paring for the Entree

Disclaimer:  The lunch was hosted by Gotham Bar and Grill to celebrate the launch of the Greenmarket to Gotham program. All opinions are my own, and I did not receive any compensation for this post.