Crescent City Farmers Market Dinner at Rio Mar

[bam bam]

Rio Mar has never been known for prix fixe dinners. In fact, I cannot ever remember there being one. But last night Chef Adolpho had a $60 per person dinner in support of the Crescent City Farmer's Market.

Adolpho left the dinner in the capable hands of his sous chef Josh Smith becasue has he put it "I'd go to a Farmer's Market if it was at midnight but I don't get up early enough for those things".

The dinner was set up to show off what Rio Mar does well. We gathered in the bar area, paid for the dinner and then were brought a simple cocktail made by Mitzy of blood orange juice and New Orleans Rum. I am not a huge mixed drink guy. (My balls are steel and my drink is neat.) But this was really good. Then we were brought a plate of bruschetta made with oyster mushrooms. Again very simple and very good.

We were seated against the open windows at one long communal table. In order to keep the focus on the CCFM and Josh's food, this was not a wine-centric dinner. We were given a choice of a white or red both from Spain.

The first course was a jumbo shrimp corn dog with a sweet potato crust and chili dipping sauce. By far the best dish of the night. You don't see a lot of fish on sticks. But this worked. The next course was caulifower flan. Cauliflower is a food I have loathed since birth. I never been able to get it down. I was afraid, this was might be a course I would have to pass on. But being the adventuresome sort, I took a small bite. Then another, then another and pretty soon, I had to call my Mom on my iphone to tell her I finished a plate of cauliflower.

The third course was a salad of baby greens, roasted beets, louisiana pecans and a goat cheese made locally. This was a pretty standard salad without a lot of flair that worked very nicely due to the local ingredients. It pared very nicely with both the red and the white wine that was being poured.

The main course was black drum with some roasted turnips, turnip greens topped with a bacon onion marmalade. Another dish that pared nicely with both the red and white wine being offered. I liked the combination, particularly the turnip greens with the bacon onion marmalade. The fish as is the trademark at Rio Mar was cooked perfectly. IMHO that is an accomplishment at a prix fixe dinner where you are bringing out 40 entrees at one time.

Dessert was a Louiisiana popcorn rice pudding with a crystallized cane sugar. I was too drunk to remember what this tasted like. I don't eat a ton of dessert anyway, so my opinion isn't all that valid. We were also brought out a lagniappe of homemade Meyer lemoncello. This drink smelled like a lemon orchard. I sniffed it about four times before I took a sip. A great end to the meal.

There were about 40 people who were there for the dinner and for $60 the concensus was that it was a steal.

[Isabella Maja]

Thanks for the report, Bam. Enjoyed the details. I could smell that Lemoncello!

That Adolfo is really on the ball this week stirring up local interest!
We went to the Asada Night at La Boca on Monday night.
I'm hoping our table will chime in on reporting what a great meal we had.
I'm afraid, however, we are all still too full to report!

[edible complex]

"The fish as is the trademark at Rio Mar was cooked perfectly. IMHO that is an accomplishment at a prix fixe dinner where you are bringing out 40 entrees at one time."

so why can't those bozos on Top Chef ever put out a decent fish dish to serve 4 to 6 people???

[flyinbayou]

My one regret is why didn't you let us know this was going on?

[Isabella Maja]

Sign up for Rio Mar's newsletter & you'll be informed of all
kinds of events!

[bam bam]

My one regret is why didn't you let us know this was going on?

Unlike the other members of the food media, I do not consider promotion to be part of my job. I am strictly a critic.

[dragongrrl]

pretty soon, I had to call my Mom on my iphone to tell her I finished a plate of cauliflower.

bam bam called his Mom. How is Betty?

[JudiB]

Thanks for the report, bambam, it all sounds delicious.

Chef Adolpho and company were busy bees this week. I think it's quite an accomplishment that they pulled off two such dinners, one at LaBoca on Monday and one at RioMar on Wednesday. I love that this one was based on the Crescent City Farmers Market.

[justagirl]

Get on Rio Mar's email list and you'll be notified of all their exciting events. I'd say go ahead and sign up for La Boca's as well. And Pellicano and Martinique...you get my point. lol

[bam bam]

bam bam called his Mom. How is Betty?

I embellished a little bit. I never got through to Betty. The prison was in lockdown. But I am bringing the grandkids for their twice a month visit. I'll keep you posted on how she is doing.