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Jordan Wright
December 19, 2014
Special to DC Metro Theater Arts
Photo credit – Jordan Wright
City Perch and iPic Provides a Total Entertainment Experience at Pike & Rose, Chef Switcheroo at Bibiana and Mio, Chris Pearmund’s New Wine-Opoly – Are You Smarter Than a Sommelier?, Hard Cider and Cool Notes at Iota, New Winter Menu at NGA’s Garden Café
City Perch and iPic – Roll the Credits!
Located in the Pike & Rose shopping destination in North Bethesda (Make that Rockville if you want to find it on MapQuest) iPic the latest innovation for moviegoers. The cutting edge theater concept takes it to a whole new level with features like plush leather recliners operating with the touch of a button and personal pillows and blankets. This movie theater combines the coziness of a home theater with the luxury of upscale dining. No need to stand in line for food or drink. A seat-side button beckons a server to take your order.
 Sherry Yard at City Perch with her creme puffs The theater is on the same level as City Perch restaurant and both the iPicExpress menu, called ‘dining in the dark” and the more gourmet City Perch restaurant menu, have been conceptualized by Sherry Yard, the James Beard Foundation recognized pastry chef, who has worked alongside Wolfgang Puck for many years.
 City Perch Executive Chef Matt Baker hams it up on opening night City Perch Executive Chef Matt Baker, formerly of The Occidental, helms the state-of-the-art kitchen while noted Mixologist and Master Sommelier, Adam Seger, formerly of Per Se, has designed the wine and cocktail program. Try his new “Roll in the Hay” seasonal cocktail made with Belle Isle Moonshine and Laird & Company Apple Brandy and roll the credits, please.
Mio and Bibiana Get New Chefs
Roberto Hernandez is the new Executive Chef at Mio, the place for Latin American cuisine that keeps its emphasis on the classic dishes of Puerto Rico.
 Mio Executive Chef, Roberto Hernandez makes the mofungo tableside Hernandez likes to blend modern with rustic. His mofongo, made tableside, is so authentic I thought I heard Jennifer Lopez singing “Plenarriquena”! Try the newly instituted Saturday brunch.
 Seviches at Mio And in other switcheroos Nick Stephanelli leaves Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca to open his own spot. Expect Jake Addeo to bring his sophisticated Italian cuisine to the popular New York Avenue restaurant.
Test Your Virginia Wine Savvy with Wine-opoly
Working with Vineyard Manager DeAnna D’Attilo, Chris Pearmund of Pearmund Cellars has come up with a challenging game for all you winos out there. They call it Wine-Opoly and 22 Virginia wineries have signed on to join in the fun. Using “deed cards” containing information on each of the wineries, and game cards with details on local viticulture and oenology, the board game aims to promote the Virginia wine industry. Here’s how it works. Railroads are wine trails and the “Go To Jail” card is “Go To Rehab”, which would be worse than jail, because as everybody knows, you can’t bail yourself out of rehab. Hot off the press (printing, not wine), you can snag one at Pearmund and participating VA wineries. www.PearmundCellars.com
Hard Cider and Cool Notes at Iota
Last month I dropped into Iota in Clarendon to hear a band I’d been following for awhile. Grownup Noise is a quirky, smart, tuneful group out of Cambridge, MA who write their own exquisitely melodic songs. Boston Herald’s Music Critic Jeff Gottlieb calls their latest album, The Problem with Living in the Moment, “a suite” for its sweeping orchestration. In my playbook they stand out as accomplished musicians in their own right, but they’re also nice guys, articulate and kindhearted, and a beautiful Asian kickass female drummer. Though they had originally been billed as the “B” act the headliners showed up with only two musicians giving Grownup Noise the status they deserve. Manna to their fans. Here’s the video for their single “Astronomy as Therapy” which manages to blend banjo sound with gorgeous violin strains. It puts me in mind of the soundtrack from On Cold Mountain.
 Grownup Noise at the Iota In the cozy brick-walled club I began to read over the bar menu and noticed a few hard ciders. I went with Bold Rock Hard Cider’s “Virginia Draft”, a golden-hued cider on the sweeter side from a Virginia company who now claims seven varieties, from dry to sweet to full-bodied. Instantly the crisp, clean apple taste recollected my first bottle of hard cider at the now-shuttered Les Halles. A chain of French restaurants based in New York City, it’s where Anthony Bourdain once ruled the kitchen early in his career.
 Bold Rock Hard Cider – Virginia Draft On that sunny day we were there to watch the French waiter races, a tradition that had started at Dominique’s famously posh celebrity haunt in DC and now continues with Paul bakery further down Pennsylvania Avenue. In any case, I believe I was hooked on cider that day. It’s funny how a flavor memory can bring up the people, the place and the moment in time when you had a palate epiphany. Back then hard cider wasn’t a common beverage and this was a French cider. I didn’t see it on any bar lists, and soon forgot about it.
 Scallop Crudo and Salt Roasted and Pickled Beets with House Made Goat Milk Ricotta Fast forward to a few years ago, a cosmic blip in the beverage industry, when hard cider burst upon the scene. Nowadays there are quite a few cideries, even breweries, dabbling in the production of these delicious, low-alcohol, apple-based fermented drinks and many of them are in Virginia where the apple is king. N. B. They are not “brewed” as beer is. They are “fermented”. I am not a physicist.
 Pan Seared Striped Bass with Roasted Pumpkin and Cranberry Bean-Quinoa Pilaf, Silk Road Chutney, Shagbark Hickory Syrup and Pumpkin Seed Oil and Compressed Beef Short Rib, Black Kale, Mushroom Confit and Celery Root Purée At National Geographic’s farm-to-table dinner last week, Albemarle CiderWorks “Red Hill” cider was paired with scallop crudo on Executive Chef Matthew Crudder’s 5-course dinner. The delicately dry cider is made with Winesap and Pippin apples, the perfect match for the chilled raw mollusk. Think Chardonnay as a reference point. And where’s that Christmas ham?
 Spiced Banana Cake and Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Hazelnut Praline Powder, Bananas Foster Gel and Dark Chocolate Sauce Garden Café at the National Gallery of Art
Michel Richard has done it again! The winter menu he has created for the Garden Café at the National Gallery of Art is absolutely divine!
Let’s face it. Most of us can’t afford to eat at Central Michel Richard, the chef’s pricey Pennsylvania Avenue outpost. But in the beautiful fountain-graced café, a stone’s throw from the Degas exhibit, you’ll find his latest menu has echoes of the dishes he turns out in his American-with-a-French twist restaurant.
 Pumpkin Bisque at the Garden Cafe – Roasted Fennel with Apples and Cranberries Salad – Roasted Buttermut Squash with Grains and Brussels Sprouts Designed to dovetail with the Degas exhibit, this menu is all French and keeps winter away with crusty olive fougasse; pumpkin bisque with toasted pumpkin seeds; roasted fennel with pears and cranberries; arugula salad with roasted beets, apples, pecans and champagne vinaigrette; and roasted butternut squash with Brussels sprouts. And that’s just the beginning. An entrée of braised Cornish hen with roasted lemons beckons, and crème brulee with fresh berries finishes it off nicely. Find me another menu in town as fabulous as this at $20.75 for all you can eat. I dare you!
Oh, and did I mention Richard was recently conferred with the insignia of Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur? That officially puts him in the pantheon of the Greatest French Chefs ever! Okay, Michel. You may now rest on your laurels.
Star Chefs Celebrates Our Best Chefs 
Last week I mentioned the upcoming StarChefs “Rising Stars” event was going to be stellar. And it was. Award winners were in great spirits, especially since they partied together the night before.
 Mixologist Bryan Tetorakis of Rogue 24 garnishes his cocktails – Rising Stars Gala – The team from The Rock Barn – Benjamin Thompson at center Emceeing the fabulous event was Chef/Owner of Bayou Bakery and host of Travel Channel‘s “American Grilled”, David Guas, he of the Elvis sideburns. Here are a few photos from the gala taken at Union Market’s hip warehouse event space, Dock5.
Flatbread Pizza – Fast and Fabulous at Pizza Vinoteca
These days, watching your carb intake has become more than just a diet regime. Unless you’re a long distance runner or cross trainer you might be trying to keep those flour-filled ingredients in check. But take pizza out of the equation? That dog don’t hunt, as we say down South.
 Prepping the pie This newest addition to the laidback Ballston scene, Pizza Vinoteca, has taken the guilt out of pizza by making all of their pies – not pies. That is to say they’re all made in flatbread style in a custom-designed Jade Range grill. The monster infrared grill features 16 burners that climb to a raging 900 degrees, cranking out pizzas in less than five minutes. Three woodchip smoke boxes conspire to lend a nice char and crave-able smoky flavor.
 Wild Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Leek flatbread Pizza These super-thin pizzas come in a large variety of combinations. And even though the place boasts entrees, antipasti, salads, 38 world-sourced affordable wines by the glass, plenty of local craft beers and gelati, we are here for the P-I-Z-Z-A!
 Prosciutto with Mozzarella and Arugula Divided into two categories, “Classic” and “Crafted”, our tasters fell hard for the roasted wild mushroom with goat cheese and leeks, and another made with jowlciale (tender pork cheeks), chili pesto and toasted pistachios. The tarte flambée (good, but oh so rich) was better left for athletes-in-training. With a communal table that seats 18, it’s a fun place for groups too.
Jordan Wright
December 14, 2014
Special to The Alexandria Times
Photo credit The Shakespeare Theatre Company
 Sofia Jean Gomez as Ariel Lest you forget. Ariel is the feisty sprite in The Tempest who flits around doing Prospero’s bidding. And yes, here she flies, though aided by what appears to be a ship’s thick mooring line. In a way, it’s refreshing to have it be obvious, unlike an aerialist’s metal wire that reveals itself from time to time. Once you’ve gotten accustomed to it, it seems natural. As if a floating fairy might be considered “natural”!
As you’ll recall Prospero (Geraint Wyn Davies), the former Duke of Milan, is endowed with magical powers and charges Ariel and her gang of harpies with fulfilling all of his commands – – from the murder of his brother, Antonio (Gregory Linington), who stole his dukedom while he was lost at sea, to assuring the love match of his daughter, Miranda (Rachel Mewbron), and her paramour, the smitten Ferdinand (Avery Glymph). “They are both in either’s powers,” Prospero brags upon their first encounter.
 Avery Glymph as Ferdinand and Rachel Mewbron as Miranda All this makes Ariel a very busy little spirit who must also oversee her cohort Caliban (Clifton Duncan). Once the proud owner of this island of Sycorax, he has been reduced to a firewood gatherer by Prospero. Sofia Jean Gomez plays Ariel, a hissing, clawing spitfire, with a duplicitous vulnerability. “Pardon, Master, I will do my spriting gently,” she assures Prospero, hoping to gain her freedom through obedience.
 (L to R) Dave Quay as Stephano, Clifton Duncan as Caliban and Liam Craig as Trinculo Director Ethan McSweeny presents us with a spare sand-drenched set adorned with a single shipwreck. This bold arrangement allows the playgoer to more fully absorb the characters’ relationships in this lightened up script of Shakespeare’s final play, though the stripped down interpretation yet gifts the audience with all the humor, skullduggery and romance the play affords. And although there is plenty of bloodthirsty treachery plotted by both the duke’s brother Antonio and his coterie of royal thugs, there is much lighthearted whimsy to enjoy especially when Trinculo (Liam Craig), portrayed as a hapless jester, and Stephano (Dave Quay), a hilarious drunk, pair with Duncan to create a total riot fest in a classic scene of mistaken identity – – if you can mistake three men under a gabardine cloth for a spider.
 Rachel Mewbron as Miranda and Geraint Wyn Davies as Prospero Meanwhile the lords are plotting, as embittered royalty is wont to do, to murder Prospero. But the Sorcerer’s magical powers prove too strong to overcome and Prospero drugs the lords. “What’s past is prologue,” Antonio reminds us.
Adding to McSweeny’s vision Sound Designer Nevin Steinberg conjures up some jaw-dropping audio, producing a tempest filled with such thunder claps you’d be pardoned if you thought the entire theater might succumb to a roiling sea. Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind augments the storm’s ferocity with a few masterful tricks of his own.
When at last our two lovers are joined Designer James Ortiz imagines the joyful goddesses Juno, Ceres and Iris as giant, diaphanously draped puppet masks, bringing to mind the fantastical puppetry of Julie Taymor, known best for her imaginary creatures in The Lion King.
Highly recommended.
Through January 11th at Sidney Harmon Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20003. For tickets and information contact the Box Office at 202 547-1122 or visit www.shakespearetheatre.org.
Jordan Wright
December 9, 2014
Special to DC Metro Theater Arts
 Ben Thompson of The Rock Barn with assorted charcuterie Mark your calendars now for one of DC’s best dining events. On December 16th the 2014 StarChefs Washington DC area Rising Stars Gala will be at Dock 5 at Union Market. There’s even a special VIP reception where swells can sip champagne and nibble on Petrossian caviar before the awards ceremony and tasting gala dinner. The celebration will feature local foods, chefs, bartenders, roasters, brewers, artisans and sommeliers.
The fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen will be hosted by Bryan Voltaggio former Top Chef and Top Chef Master finalist and Chef/Owner of Volt, Range, Lunchbox, Family Meal and Aggio. Co-Hosts are Jason Alley of Comfort, Bertrand Chemel of 2941, Nadine Brown of Charlie Parker Steak, Chris Ford of Range, Stefan Trummer of Trummer’s on Main, Nick Stefanelli of Bibiano and Katsuya Fukushima of Daikaya. The winning chefs will prepare all the food on this fabulous night and I will be there. Will you? For tickets and information visit www.starchefs.com/risingstars.
 Phillip Perrow and Caleb Shriver of Dutch & Co. Drum roll, please!!! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you DC’s newest culinary royalty.
DC Chefs
Kyle Bailey of The Arsenal at Bluejacket – Pork Loin, Chanterelles, Asian Pears, Red Quinoa, and Pecans
Mike Friedman of Red Hen – Cavatelli, Heirloon Squash, Mushrooms, and Sage
Matthew McGhee of RANGE – Octopus, Lentils, Wheat Berries, and Pistachio
Joe Palma of Bourbon Steak – Fluke Crudo, Furikake, Golden Beets, Herb Jus, Baby Turnips, and White Shoyu
Aaron Silverman of Rose’s Luxury – Pork Sausage and Habanero-Lychee Salad
Johnny Spero of minibar – Australian Lamb, Cucumbers, Whey, and Dill
 Beef Tartare from Lee Gregory and Thomas Leggett of The Roosevelt Virginia Chefs
Ian Boden of The Shack – Pretzel Gemelli, Virginia Ham, and Mustard Sauce
Austin Fausett of Trummer’s on Main – Duck, Foie Gras, Popcorn, Wild Rice, and Balsamic Reduction
Lee Gregory of The Roosevelt – Wagyu Tartare, Egg, Squid Ink Bread, and Pickled Watermelon
Phillip Perrow and Caleb Shriver of Dutch & Company – Rye Perfect Egg, Cured Salmon, Quinoa, and Cumin Yogurt
Joe Sparatta of Heritage – Flounder, Smoked Potatoes, Spinach, and Brown Butter
Maryland Chefs
George Marsh of Parts & Labor – Lebanon Bologna
Graeme Ritchie of Volt – Wagyu Short Rib, Malt, and Salsify
Community Chef
Mike Isabella of Kapnos – Australian Lamb with Grain Salad
Concept Chef
Nathan Anda of Red Apron – Tête de Pho
 Pastry Chef Giane Cavaliere of Rogue 24 DC Pastry Chef
Giane Cavaliere of Rogue 24 –Sour Cherries, Valrhona Chocolate, Cola and Pistachios
Maryland Pastry Chef
Sarah Malphrus of Woodberry Kitchen – Buttermilk Sorbet, Oat Granola, Sorghum and Peaches
Restaurateur
Derek Brown of Columbia Room, Eat The Rich, Mockingbird Hill, The Passenger and Southern Efficiency – Oloroso Float
DC Artisans
Dave Coleman and Mike McGarvey of 3 Stars Brewing Company – Southern Belle Imperial Brown Ale
 Austin Fausett of Trummer’s on Main – Duck, Foie Gras, Popcorn, Wild Rice, and Balsamic Reduction Virginia Artisans
Evrim Dogu of Sub Rosa Bakery – Rosemary Sea Salt Flatbread
Benjamin Thompson of The Rock Barn – Pickled Okra Dog and Assorted Charcuterie
Maryland Artisans
Jay Caragay of Spro Coffee – French Press Ethiopian Lekepipto
Bartender
Bryan Tetorakis of Rogue 24 – The Martyr
DC Sommeliers
Brent Kroll of Neighborhood Restaurant Group – Pairings with winners’ dishes
Julian Mayor of Bourbon Steak – Pairings with winners’ dishes
Maryland Sommelier
Julie Dalton of Wit and Wisdom – Pairings with winners’ dishes
Host Chef – Franck Loquet of iCi Urban Bistro – VIP reception – Petrossian Caviar
See you there!
Jordan Wright
December 8, 2014
Special to The Alexandria Times
| The Nutcracker performed by The Washington Ballet |
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One of the best ways I know of to get excited about the Christmas season is to get thyself (and thy family) to the theatre where you can watch dancers soar in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker performed by The Washington Ballet, sing your heart out to the National Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Kennedy Center, or be transported by the age-old charms of A Christmas Carol. Whether you’re a traditionalist or modernist, there’s something for every taste, and plenty of holiday spirit for the kids too and plus a whole lot of ICE! to pretend we’re at the North Pole.
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At Signature Theatre it’s zany adult fare with a new spin on the beloved seasonal revue, Holiday Follies. Directed by Walter Ware III with musical direction by the inimitable Howard Breitbart, it’s an audience song choice evening featuring four fabulous singers, Gannon O’Brien, Stephen Gregory Smith, Delores King Williams and Bayla Whitten in a cabaret set list that changes with each performance. For tickets and information visit www.Signature-Theatre.org or call the box office at 703 820-9771.
| Peter Boyer (Scrooge)-Tracey Stephens (Charity Collector) |
Tracey Stephens as Bob Marley (in the body of Mae West) |
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North Pole enthusiasts will enjoy thrills and chills at this year’s ICE! – now at the Gaylord National Resort. The fun starts at the door of this glamorous resort when you lay eyes on the 60-foot tall glass tree glowing with over 2 million lights and gaze at the nightly indoor snowfall and musical “dancing” fountains. There’s fun for the whole family at the “Christmas on the Potomac” celebration where Frosty the Snowman is the star attraction. For info visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com.
| 60-foot tall glass tree with 2 million lights |
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Carved from more than 2 million pounds of brightly colored ice sculptures and kept at a crisp nine degrees, you’ll stroll through life-size scenes of Frosty coming to life, marching through the Town Square, taking a train to the North Pole and Santa coming to the rescue to make “melted Frosty” whole again. Kids and grownups will want a turn on the two-story ice slide before checking out the interactive “Frostbite Factory”, where the Chinese artisans show off their master ice carving skills.
| Two-story ice slide |
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Afterwards head to the Atrium where little ones can hop aboard the miniature Peeps & Company Potomac Express Train or join DreamWorks’ Gingy from Shrek to decorate a gingerbread house to take home. Along the way play The Great Reindeer Roundup scavenger hunt throughout the hotel’s indoor gardens.
| Potomac Express Train |
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To learn about the many other holiday plans at the resort and to make reservations for the Brunch with Santa at Old Hickory Steakhouse, a DreamWorks’ Madagascar Crack’ A Lackin’ Cook-in Character Breakfast or buffet Dinner, a Yule log pastry making class, or a wine and cheese pairing class with the Old Hickory’s Maitre d’Fromage visit www.GaylordNationalTickets.com or call 301 965-4000.
At MetroStage the Great White Way is celebrated in A Broadway Christmas Carol, a spoof of the classic tale featuring the usual suspects – – Marley, Scrooge, Mrs. Fezziwig, The Cratchits and Tiny Tim. Set to familiar Broadway blockbusters this madcap Christmas special is performed by three phenomenal singer actors, Peter Boyer, Michael Sharp and Tracey Stephens plus alternating pianists, Howard Breitbart and William Knowles.
| Peter Boyer (Scrooge)-Tracey Stephens (Want)-Michael Sharp (Ignorance) – Photo: Colin Hovde |
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Lyricist Kathy Feininger has concocted all the belly laughs you can handle in this riotous revue that draws its musical chops from all your fave shows like Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Wiz and many, many more. More than five-dozen tunes and a whirlwind of wacky costume changes jam-pack this hilarious parody directed and choreographed by Michael Sharp. For tickets and information visit www.MetroStage.org or call the box office at 703 548-9044.
| The Little Theatre of Alexandria |
Scrooge (Mike Baker, Jr.)-Photos by Veronica Brunoo |
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For the traditionalist The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents its annual heartwarming classic, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic tale of transformation and redemption. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, the show has gorgeous costumes, ghastly ghosts and charming children. Rachael Hubbard adapts and directs this picture perfect Christmas postcard for a family friendly show that reminds us all of the true meaning of the season. If it’s a Currier & Ives Christmas you hunger for, this is the show for you. For tickets and information visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com or call the box office at 703 683-5778.
Jordan Wright
December 8, 2014
Special to The Alexandria Times
 Irinka Kavsadze as Belle, Vato Tsikurishvili as The Beast. Photo by Johnny Shryock In Ben and Peter Cunis’s original adaptation of Gabriel Bardot de Villeneuve’s classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, the audience finds themselves catapulted into a dark world of forest spirits, shapeshifters, a hideous horned beast and a vengeful beauty – – no, not the beautiful ingénue Belle – – but the prince’s spurned first love, Emmeranne, who morphs into a magnificent crow in a scene plucked straight out of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds putting death and destruction foremost on her agenda and setting up the audience for an indelibly unique interpretation. The scorned woman is an introduced character serving as the prince’s nemesis and his reality check. In this telling she is hell-bent on revenge and retribution for his fickle-minded affections.
Renata Veberyte Loman plays the hauntingly vengeful Witch and Narrator, Emmeranne, who taunts and curses the man she has transformed into a terrifying beast. “Crows don’t talk. And love never, ever hurts,” the enchantress proclaims, determined to demonstrate the opposite. Don’t look for Disney’s saucy little teapot to make an appearance. The Cunis brothers’ highly imaginative bedtime story is more in keeping with the fiendish fairy tales of the brothers Grimm, or the moralistic fables of Hans Christian Anderson.
 Renata Veberyte Loman as Narrator/Witch “Emmeranne”. Photo by Johnny Shryock. Another introduced character is the top-hatted Fantome, the Beast’s magical servant. Matthew Alan Ward gives a captivating performance in a silent role that draws on his elegant physicality and talent for mime.
Vato Tsikurishvili portrays the Prince and the Beast with both heart and soul, rendering him monstrous at times, at others, as sympathetic a character as Quasimodo. Irina Kavsadze, a delicate beauty who is the perfect foil for the diabolical Emmeranne, the fearsome beast and the castle’s living candelabras that make up the ensemble, plays Belle.
 Irinka Kavsadze as Belle. Photo by Johnny Shryock. Delivering the perfect alignment of creativity are Scenic Designer Daniel Pinha’s opulent sets and dual ramps providing both comedy and drama, Clint Herring’s original score blending new wave and classical sounds, Sound Designer Thomas Sowers’ eerily futuristic effects, Lighting Designer Brittany Diliberto’s clever transitions all of which combine to produce some splendid special FX throughout, including the Prince’s transmogrification and the creation of a projection screen in the shape of an egg through which the audience views a parallel universe depicted in silhouetted woodcuts.
Irina Tsikurishvili’s choreography adds kinetic flair to a memorable slow motion fight-and-flight scene and a romantic danse è deux between Belle and the Beast, while Costume Designer Kendra Rae draws on leather, silk, fur to reflect lost elegance and folklorica to offer a comedic relief in the costumes of Belle’s ditzy sisters played by Anna Lane and Kathryn Elizabeth Kelly.
Lest you think it’s too scary for children (though I wouldn’t recommend it for the very young), as the theatre was letting out, I asked an eight-year old if the witch had frightened her. “Not at all,” she declared, to which her father added, “She’s not afraid of anything.”
Utterly spellbinding.
Through January 11th at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington in Crystal City. For tickets and information call 866 811-4111 or visit www.synetictheater.org.
Jordan Wright
December 6, 2014
Special to DC Metro Theater Arts
 Elisabeth de Kergorlay Elisabeth de Kergolay has led a charmed life with nannies, chateaus and pied-a-terres, though that’s never stopped the beautiful young countess from using her entrepreneurial spirit to bring fresh ideas to America. Take for example her early investment in Le Pain Quotidien, the rustic chic French bakery café she invested in with Belgian chef and founder Alain Coumont in 1990. Since then the well-known communal table eatery with four locations in the DC area, has skyrocketed to 200 outlets in 17 countries. She clearly knows a great idea when she sees it.
Recently de Kergolay launched a frozen food emporium in New York City that is poised to recreate the same success she has enjoyed through her earlier business foray. Fashioned after the popular Paris store Picard, Babeth’s Feast opened on the Upper East Side in early August. The groundbreaking store offers high-end frozen foods and cooking demonstrations. Where has this clever idea been?
After learning about her venture at the opening of Daniel Boulud’s new DC outpost DBGB, Whisk and Quill was highly intrigued to learn more about this novel concept.
Jordan Wright – What is your past experience with food?
Elisabeth de Kergolay – I grew up around food, and being around Daniel when I was young was a great experience.
Tell me about your inspiration for Babeth’s Feast? How long has it been in the planning stages?
It was based on the concept of Picard from France. Arriving in New York in 2008, I like many other French people wondered, ‘Where’s the frozen food store? Where’s the Picard?’ When I realized there wasn’t one, I thought it had been tried and failed. But actually it had never been tried! So I thought about it a lot and spoke to quite a few people and decided to go ahead. I knew there was a niche for this, though it took several years to achieve. We had to do absolutely everything from the ground up – – creating and positioning the brand, selecting the products and designing the packaging.
The idea was to have a full range of products. We like to think of ourselves as a frozen grocery store where you can get anything you want for every meal of day. We have 400 products divided up into 10 different food categories. For sourcing and creating the recipes we have our chef, Susie Cover, who develops the recipes. Initially we made a list of what we liked of French-inspired foods then adapted them slightly to suit American tastes. We make over half of our products. Some are made by Susie, and some by private label, others are manufacturers’ brands made by companies who are specialists in their field. Of course we want our own products to be predominant in the future, but for the moment the remaining products are manufacturers’ brands. For that we select small companies who are specialists in their field.
Has Daniel been involved with Babeth’s Feast?
Daniel wrote a recipe for our cabbage soup using our fantastic lobster tails – – something new we had brought in for the holidays. We work with a lobster manufacturer in Maine to assure the most impeccable quality. In the future I want to explore having other chefs create dishes for us.
Are all the foods prepared?
Mostly, but some are unprepared cuts of meat and sausage and things that we source locally from the Hudson Valley. Also all our fish are raised sustainably. For uncooked products we help the customer with recipes.
Who creates the recipes?
Susie does. We brainstorm together to come up with different dishes and then she comes up with a recipe. Most of the original ones we did were traditional French, but we have moved on to curries and other things. We taste new dishes with our store team and our board to decide which we like. For the best local products, Susie also visits the food shows. For example, our ice creams are from Maine and New York, our meat-based products are prepared in Connecticut, and we produce our soups and quiches in New York.
Are they made in the sous vide style?
Ours are flash frozen, but some of the products we carry are made sous vide.
How are they readied for the table by the consumer?
Usually we have three options – bake, microwave or pan-warmed as with our velouté soups. Of course if it’s a gratin, it needs to be baked.
Do you sell any fruits, herbs, lemons or salad fixings to complement the dishes?
We have a selection of frozen herbs that have been very successful from the day we opened, like chopped onion, garlic and shallot, as well as sauces and spreads. And we have a pantry category as well. We carry crackers for the spreads, jams for our breads and sauces for our meats. Some of the jams are ours and some are French brands that are not yet known in the US.
Do you find customers buy your products to take to their weekend homes for entertaining?
Absolutely. I think the customer has yet to get used to the idea of having things in advance for special occasions as well as for regular use for whenever you need them. For me, although I still like cooking, perhaps I won’t make a side dish. I might make some fish or meat that I’ve purchased elsewhere to complement some of the side dishes that I keep in my freezer. It’s a whole way of mastering the use of frozen food. It answers many needs.
Do you ship to customers who might not have access to high quality foods?
We ship nationwide by FedEx. It’s packed in dry ice. And we deliver around Manhattan too.
What are the most popular items?
So far mostly the main courses like Coq au Vin, Veal Blanquette, Chicken Provençal and Chicken Tarragon. Also side dishes like Susie’s gratins and her favorite savory crumbles. She’s made three this season – one with Brussels Sprouts, one using tomatoes and another with butternut squash.
| Coq au Vin |
Fig and Caramelized Onion Puffs |
Tomato Crumble |
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What surprised you the most since you’ve opened?
I think really the time and the interest that people spend in the store looking before buying. When I shopped at Picard in France I was single and going out all the time, I didn’t spend a lot of time looking.
People are learning that we have a tasting area where we sample all day long. It was something that was indispensable to the success of the store. Because when they try they “get it”, and it’s so satisfactory for us. We know there’s a certain stigma attached to frozen food because the offerings haven’t been great. In France people choose to go to the frozen food store. It’s not considered a last resort.
I looked at your online calendar and your upcoming cooking demonstrations sounded exciting. I was especially captivated by the one called “Comfort Food” featuring Cauliflower Blue Cheese Velouté, Lamb Shanks, Sweet Potato Écrassé, and the Banana Apple Crumble. Are you also teaching your clients to cook at home as well as purchasing the products?
We show them how to pull it all together. When we give a demonstration we’ll use a few different products to create a meal. We want to keep it simple. We also show people how to plate the foods and show them tricks as how to serve it in their own dishes.
What other helpful tricks do you use?
We use a color code for each category of product. The idea behind this was to see exactly what the product is when it’s in the freezer. Like the breakfast products are coded yellow. That way you can see immediately what you have without having to rummage around.
Babeth’s Feast is at 1422 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10028. For more information visit www.BabethsFeast.com
 Mini parfaits
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