An Eventful Beginning

Huzzah! On July 9, 2015, we hosted our first feast at The Food Lounge in the California coastal town of Santa Cruz. This feast was presented with the talented chefs of LionFish Supper Club: Zachary Mazi and Tighe Mellville, and Liz Birnbaum of The Curated Feast. Liz shares her experience and the details of her experience and the bold menu, below:

Working with LionFish was a dream come true. We collaborated on every facet of the menu, down to the plating, herbs, and spices in each dish. This alone elevated the typical dining experience. I am so grateful to have found two chefs so adventurous as to take on a menu filled with ancient recipes like Ostrich Ragout from Apicius in the 1st Century BC, and to have those chefs be so creative and ready for the challenges such dishes can bring.

I brought hours of my own research to bear at this feast, including many days of final polishing before the feast. This first feast taught me a great deal about the flow of my own participation, including the best flow of the evening's script. And still, the feast went seamlessly. The night was literally a dream come true. The guests gave positive feedback, including appreciation for this newly evolved dining style. They laughed at the jokes, applauded after I introduced each course, and were eager participants in this meal. I would like to think they reaped the rewards by having such a stunningly beautiful and special meal. 

OCTOPUS CARPACCIO WITH OUZO BROTH, GREEN OLIVE OIL, GRILLED LEMON, AND DILL

The feast truly began when I walked out and began the immersive dining experience. I, in my long white gown and golden double snake necklace announced:

"Welcome Greek Senators! First, our ships sailed to the Malabar Coast for pepper, but soon we found tigers, rhinoceros, and elephants along our routes. You have on each of your stations, an animal for you to take to your own kingdom’s menageries. But these creatures seem to have been visited by King Midas, who is remembered in Greek Mythology as the man who, whatever he touched would turn to gold."

THE GOLDEN LION AND ASCLEPIAS POD. EACH GUEST RECEIVED A DIFFERENT ANIMAL, INCLUDING ELEPHANTS, ZEBRAS, CROCODILES, AND WILDEBEEST.

Guests were given the opportunity to view the menu online, on the innovative storytelling and e-book app STELLER. Below are just a few selected pages from the menu. Please view the full menu book here. It is truly a work of art.

You can view the full set of event photos, taken by the talented Liz Hodges of The Verdant Pantry, by clicking here or visiting our Facebook page.