FOOD FRIDAY: Romancing a Gourmet

So, you are meat and potatoes kind of person.  Burgers and beer appeal to you more than champagne and caviar.  But you wooed and successfully landed that gorgeous Gourmet you pined for.  Your Beloved enjoys funny looking food, knows all the latest hot chefs and has been to all the trendiest restaurants.  Now what?  How do you plan a great date?  How do you get that element of surprise?  You favorite pub doesn’t serve foie gras or craft cocktails.  And your Beloved wants you to (gasp!) try new things!

Do you need help impressing that Gourmet in your life?  I got your back, my friend.  Let me usher you into the world of Guerrilla Exhibit.  This most unusual pop up concept is the brainchild of Sal Muñoz, Arthur Hon and Josh Pearson.  Their mission:  good food, good wine and good company.  Guerrilla Exhibit never happens at the same spot, never offers the same menu or features the same chef, for that matter.  It is a culinary experiment that is certain to impress.  It reinvents itself with every cocktail and every dish served.  Nothing is ever old news here.  Expect the unexpected, because Guerrilla Exhibit is the Space Mountain for an adventurous eater.  So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

“Opening night.  The crowd is abuzz.  Trays of champagne breeze by.  A murmur rises.  The artist has arrived.  He’s dressed in… a chef coat.  The table is the canvas.  Spices are the paint.  The gallery is the restaurant.”  ~  Prologue, Guerrilla Exhibit

Chef-Artist Matt Smith in Action (Photo by June Suthigoseeya, Courtesy of Guerilla Exhibit)

Intrigued?  You should be.  The guys behind this culinary roller coaster seek out NOT the hot, trendy chefs.  They find the UNKNOWN kitchen heroes among talented sous chefs and brilliant cooks.  The chef-artists Guerrilla Exhibit features are those who show promise of culinary stardom but aren’t there quite yet.  These are the hot new chefs of the future!  Even your Beloved Gourmet would be stumped by the talent here.  And isn’t that what you are after?  Something new, something exciting, something completely out of ordinary?  Then don’t hesitate.  Enter the Exhibit, location classified.

Sal Muñoz (of a certain Michelin starred restaurant fame, shhhh…) will greet you and your date personally on arrival, showing that personal touch that is at work in everything here.  You will be whisked away to a fabulous cocktail party, hosted by the jovial mixology powerhouse that is Josh Pearson (he is behind the bar magic at that same restaurant).  Expect cocktails straight out of Alice in Wonderland: on recent visit a trio of citrus, with one of the drinks – an edible Corpse Reviver #2, served on lemon rind.  Edible cocktail, you ask?  You bet!  Arthur Hon (Wine Director of same establishment) will be on hand, most likely pouring sparkling wine like water:  “We will wine and dine you!  Relax and enjoy!”

Authur Hon Pouring Bubbly Like Water (Photo by June Suthigoseeya, Courtesy of Guerilla Exhibit)

You are seated and the culinary magic begins to unfold on the plate in front of you, rendering your Gourmet date speechless.  But no one should talk with their mouth full anyway.  On recent visit, I wanted to take home a vat of chef-artist Matt Smith’s strawberry cocktail sauce, served with a perfectly cooked shrimp.  Oysters with cucumber granita, pork belly with local sour cherries, roasted hen with truffles, peach pie, passion fruit ice cream… OH MY!  All the while Arthur murmurs in your ear:  “This is an Italian Reisling from Langhe… Of course, they could not put that on the label in Italy… Would you like a splash more?”  Arthur, you see, doesn’t care for empty glasses.  Courses take turns, wines are paired beautifully.  Then conversation halts.  The culinary artist takes a bow.  His work here is done.

Shrimp & Oyster Served with Strawberry Cocktail Sauce (Photo by June Suthigoseeya, Courtesy of Guerilla Exhibit)

When the applause is over, and dessert is served, Josh is behind the bar again, playing with some evil-looking bottle.  “This one is from my private stash,” he says, addressing no one in particular.  An after dinner cocktail is created before your very eyes.  Sipping the delectable concoction you look over at your Gourmet main squeeze.  Their eyes are pleading… “When can we do this again?”  Psssst, don’t panic, I will tell you… August 14th, location still classified.  I will see you there.  And… you are welcome!

Check Guerrilla Exhibit for more information.  Follow them on Twitter or Facebook for updates.

Hungry?  Want more?  Follow me on Twitter at Gourmet Rambler.