Event Horizon      12/01/2008  

Brash Young Underground Chef Aims to Ape Achatz, Copy Keller

As you may remember hearing, Mike Cirino, Serpico lookalike and king of all underground supper club chefs, has taken on his most over-the-top challenge yet. The brash young upstart, profiled recently in the Times, is seeking to single-handedly recreate the 24-course Grant Achatz / Thomas Keller dinner at Per Se in New York, Chicago and L.A.  As per the usual routine at Cirino’s club, A Razor, A Shiny Knife, guests will get to hang out in the kitchen and participate in the creation of the meal, via a 6-hour demo before the dinner. The New York dinners are $300 a person, and include a wine tasting, varietal pairings and a “special guest.” The Feedbag will be shooting this ridiculous, noble undertaking, and so we have two tickets at our disposal. Do you have a reason why they should be yours? Let us know. Otherwise write info@arazorashinyknife.com to reserve your seats and find out the location.

Date: December 12th & 13th

Cost: $300.00 per person

Menu: A reproduction of all 24 dishes that were served at Per Se on November 11th paired with similar varietals of wine

(see below)

Time: Demonstrations begin at 1pm

Canapés will be served at 7pm

The menu, after the jump.

Passed Canapés

ATLANTIC SALMON with Black Sesame Tuile and Red Onion Crème Fraîche

LAMB “BLT” with smoke lamb belly, spicy lettuces and truffle “Petit Salé”

PUFFED IDIAZÁBAL Yeast, Mustard Seed

SMOKED SALMON Yuzu, Caper

Seated Courses: (line breaks signify courses breaks)

JAPANESE SEA URCHIN “VELOUTÉ” Meyer Lemon

SUNCHOKE PURÉE with Osetra Caviar and Almond Oil

STEELHEAD TROUT ROE Coconut, Coriander, Vanilla Fragrance

PRAWN Yuba, Miso, Orange

TRUFFLE OIL-INFUSED CUSTARD “Ragoût” of Black Winter Truffles

WHITE TRUFFLES FROM ALBA Celery Branch and Celery Root Mousse

BLACK TRUFFLE EXPLOSION Romaine, Parmesan

HOT POTATO-COLD POTATO Chive, Butter, Truffle

CHESTNUT Baked Potato, Quince, Smoke

“GALETTE” OF HUDSON VALLEY MOULARD DUCK FOIE GRAS Italian Pistachio “Financier,” Compressed Red Sensation Pears and Garden Mâche

TURBOT Shellfish, Chamomile, Ginger

SWEET BUTTER POACHED NOVA SCOTIA LOBSTER MITTS Monterey Bay Abalone, Abalone Mushroom and Purée of Arrowleaf Spinach with “Béarnaise” Reduction

LAMB Fennel, Pernod, Coffee-Scented Air

SNAKE RIVER FARM’S “CALOTTE DE BŒUF GRILLÉE” “Mille-Feuille” of Yukon Gold Potatoes, Forest Mushrooms and French Laundry Garden Tokyo Turnips with “Sauce au Poivre”

BACON Butterscotch, Thyme, Pepper

POMEGRANATE Mint, Yogurt, Chili

BLACKBERRY Tobacco, Kola Nut, Nepitella

DIANE ST. CLAIR’S BUTTERMILK SHERBET Roasted Pecan Crumble and Whiskey Sour Coulis

“BANOFFEE” Devil’s Food Cake, Chocolate “Marquise” and Malt Mousse with Banana-Crème Fraîche Sherbet

SWEET POTATO Bourbon, Brown Sugar, Burning Cinnamon

per se CHOCOLATES

Comments

13 Responses to “Brash Young Underground Chef Aims to Ape Achatz, Copy Keller”

  1. diego on December 1st, 2008 7:15 pm

    I think that one of these tickets should go to the biggest most devoted feedbag reader of all. Me. I am such a devoted and addicted reader that this thanksgiving break I just sat at my computer waiting for the first article to be posted on Monday after a couple of feedbagless days which left me hollow and barren.

    In all actuality this would be a really cool event for a young cook like myself to maybe meet some of you guys and enjoy sharing my passion with people that think the same way. Oh and I’m broke so there is no way I am going otherwise.

    Diego

  2. Patricia on December 1st, 2008 10:48 pm

    Why should they be mine? Hmmm, because it’s my birthday on the 21st and my current lust object’s on the 29th, and I’m a broke grad student who would love to give this dinner as a present and would never be able to afford to otherwise; because I subscribe to every NY food blog there is-food is porn for me; because I’m new in this incredible city and this would be a serious night to remember; because I’m a frustrated chef at heart (stomach?); because I never enter any contests, and winning would be positive reinforcement. How about this one: I simply want to go. Pretty please. With sugar on top.

  3. Jodles on December 1st, 2008 11:44 pm

    I just stayed up for 3 nights in a row wiritng various research proposals and memorizing entire textbooks. This has been the semester from hell for me and as a starving student it would be a much needed and healthy break from the hell that is my life right now. A $300 dinner is something I would never have the courage to buy for myself or anyone else, so it would be nice to be able to treat a family member to it. It’s something that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would love to share it with my mom who has supported me through anything and everything imaginable. Wow, I sound sad; didn’t mean for that.

    It would be amazing, I would appreciate it, and as any of my friends can tell you, I practically memorized the menu when I read that Achatz and Keller were doing it in November. Achatz is amazing and inspirational and I understand the homage paid to him and Keller.

    Please?

  4. A Malpractice Case Against Dr Pepper - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com on December 2nd, 2008 12:32 pm

    [...] Cirino, “Serpico lookalike and king of all underground supper club chefs,” will attempt a to recreate the 24-course Grant Achatz / Thomas Keller dinner at Per Se in New York, Chicago and L.A. [The [...]

  5. susan brokaw on December 2nd, 2008 3:12 pm

    i can’t imagine a more wonderful evening…i have read TK from cover to cover and my chances of getting to the french laundry on my own are nil..to be in a kitchen and have such a learning (fun)opportunity with such a great chef attemping the nearly impossible would be the time of my life..please pick me

  6. anonymous on December 2nd, 2008 6:25 pm

    Do you remember that Lamb Bam
    that got cancelled last minute?
    The one with an extra ticket,
    and if you wrote in, you could win it?

    Back then, when I was younger,
    I thought that was a real prize…
    until my stomach got bigger
    and so did my eyes.

    Now what I’m after
    is this Event Horizon next week.
    I’d pay $300
    just to take a peek!

    But, alas, I am broke
    with no money to spare.
    Can’t afford rent,
    let alone dinner by a pair

    of kitchen superstars
    like Achatz and TK.
    What a team they must be!
    Too bad I can’t pay.

    I know the chef’s not Grant,
    or even Mr. Keller,
    but I guess this Mike Cirino guy
    is a handsome lookin’ feller.

    What’s that you say? Two seats?
    That you’re trying to fill?
    I see that you’re in need.
    So I’ll help you out–I will!

    My guest and I can join you
    at A Razor, A Shiny Knife.
    And I’ll be sure to remember
    this meal my whole life.

    Okay, maybe not,
    maybe that’s a stretch.
    But I’d certainly appreciate
    if you’d help out this poor wretch.

  7. The PitMaster on December 2nd, 2008 7:54 pm

    Someone (anonymous) is copying my schtick.
    Is it time for me to add my 2 cents (or $300)?
    Not yet, but you know I’m going to join the fray.
    Its just a matter of time…

  8. Johnny Iuzzini on December 2nd, 2008 9:29 pm

    Hey Cutlets
    You looking for a wingman? I’m your huckleberry!
    JI

  9. The PitMaster on December 4th, 2008 6:12 pm

    Long meals need long words…
    Here are mine…

    I’ve chopped and I’ve diced,
    And have been called sous.
    But to help Mike Cirino with this meal,
    There’s nothing I won’t do.

    So many crazy courses,
    Twenty four foods in all.
    Parading right before my eyes,
    To eat like Lucille Ball.

    Things that are served cold.
    Things that need some heatin’.
    Some things I’ve never heard of.
    Some things I’ve never eaten.

    Truffle oil-infused custard
    Sunchoke pureé
    White truffles from Alba
    Sea urchin “Velouté”

    Puffed Idiazábal,
    “Calotte de bœuf grillée”,
    Moulard duck foie gras,
    Dianest and “Banoffée”.

    All the rest I think I’ve eaten
    In one form or another
    But I’d like to try them all again
    For a meal that’s like no other.

    Fresh Atlantic salmon,
    Prawn with Yuba just for you.
    Nova Scotia lobster mitts,
    Smoked salmon and turbot, too

    Steel head trout roe,
    Butterscotch bacon, if you dare.
    Lamb - as a BLT,
    AND with coffee scented air

    One hot potato, cold potato
    Bourbon sweet potato, two
    Chestnut baked potato, three
    With quince and smoke, OOH OOH

    Black truffle explosion,
    Canapés that are passed,
    Blackberry and Pomegranate
    We’re at the end at last.

    All this wonderful food.
    It makes me want to dance.
    But I think I would have to wear,
    Expandable waistline pants.

    So please pick ME for December 12
    The other date won’t do.
    If I am not the chosen one,
    I think this day you’ll “roux”.

  10. In the Kitchen at the Achatz / Keller Recreation Dinner | The Feedbag on December 11th, 2008 10:09 am

    [...] may remember our post about brash young underground chef Mike Cirino, the cerebral Serpico lookalike who decided to [...]

  11. Winner Announced of Tickets to Mike Cirino’s Molecular Ball | The Feedbag on December 11th, 2008 4:46 pm

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  12. Achatz On Achatz Tribute : The Feedbag on December 18th, 2008 11:34 am

    [...] Feed: A Razor, a Shiny Knife: Achatz’s Take Earlier: In the Kitchen at the Achatz / Keller Recreation Dinner Earlier: Brash Young Underground Chef Aims to Ape Achatz, Copy Keller [...]

  13. Cathy Erway of Not Eating Out in NY : The Feedbag on February 3rd, 2009 4:22 pm

    [...] NY at Franklin Park in Brooklyn to discuss her forthcoming book, dumpster diving and the infamous 24-course Keller/Achatz supper club homage before we joined forces to come in second-to-last in a bar [...]

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