The ladies and I planned our August get together at Alden & Harlow for a Whole Garden Dinner; a summer dinner series which featured a produce-centric menu from a different local farm each Tuesday. The chef's preparations on this evening beautifully showcased the bounty of fruits and vegetables from The Food Project farms.
Seated comfortably in a gray booth and thick leather chairs set against the restaurants leafy green live wall, we opted in for the wine pairings starting with pink bubbly from France: NV Cote Mas Cremant de Limoux a Brut Rose chardonnay/pinot noir blend. (See the rest of the wines, below)
To begin the feast: Pickles! Then, plates of Fried Shishitos with anchovy and grated egg yolk and a gorgeous Vegetable Crudite with Bagna Cauda (a
garlic and anchovy infused olive oil for dipping.) The Bagna Cauda was a
sensational compliment to the french radishes, snap peas, heirloom
tomatoes and slivers of summer squash and zucchini. We had so many
vegetables between the ten of us, I got to take a large portion of that
plate home and I made an incredible salad with it the next evening.
Vegetables that beautiful could not be wasted.
Next arrives heaping vegetarian plates of Stewed Pole Beans and Seared Japanese Eggplant which is insanely good with crumbles of sheeps milk cheese, basil, fregola and garlic. The pole beans proved flavorful and hearty with cherry tomatoes and torn crouton hunks.
After we polished off the second course a platter of Grilled Potatoes smothered in Za'atar aioli with a pickled pepper and corn relish and a Kale Creste de Gallo with egg and fresh milled tomato grace us. The grilled potatoes were tasty but the Kale pasta overcooked and soggy. The latter plates outshined these. 
For the finale a dreamy Apricot Parfait with cardamom cream. It was perfect! 
Alden & Harlow brilliantly showcased the freshness of the farms produce, inventively dressing them up and incorporating flavors that shined. They expertly paired them with delicious wines. Bravo!
See my first Alden & Harlow post here.
That eggplant dish was really wonderful. I wish we had learned a bit about the farm, but overall I enjoyed the dinner... and catching up with some of my favorite people!
ReplyDeletei went there for my bday in May and dying to go back! such a unique menu. too bad about the kale pasta- it looks so yummy!
ReplyDeleteI love that place so much! I last went for the Biggie Brunch and it was so good, just as I expected!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics! I want some of that bagna cauda right now.
ReplyDeleteThis dinner looks fabulous - I'm so sad that I missed you ladies AND can't make this month's dinner either :( Christopher's schedule is giving me serious foodie FOMO!
ReplyDeleteIt was so great to see everyone! I am excited to volunteer with The Food Project this weekend!
ReplyDeleteAs always, your pictures are stunning. I love Alden & Harlow. I am kicking off my 30th birthday celebration there this weekend!
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