Urban Farm Table at Woodrow Wilson Plaza August 5, 2010

A Summer Supper under the Stars Takes a Shine to Woodrow Wilson Plaza
Limited Tickets Remain for August 5, 2010 Debut of the Urban Farm Table on the Plaza

(July 22, 2010) It’s the first lesson every American learns as soon as they are old enough to sit at a picnic table: summer’s bounty tastes best when enjoyed outside. The event coordinators behind Washington, DC’s annual International Food and Wine Festival have tapped into the mythology of the American cookout and will up the the ante on al fresco dining with the debut of the Urban Farm Table. The occasional series of one-of-a-kind dining experiences launches Thursday, August 5, 2010 with a four-course celebration prepared by leading local chefs including Todd Gray of Equinox and Tiffany MacIssac of Birch & Barley and ChurchKey in an exceptional one-night-only setting: Woodrow Wilson Plaza.

This singular summer supper will be served at long communal tables under the stars in the center of Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004). The Washington Wine Academy will pair sippable summer wines with each dish. Tailor-made for area foodies, the Urban Farm Table on the Plaza will gather like-minded diners together in an unprecedented cityscape and share access to the producers and creators of fine food. The invitation to the Urban Farm Table on the Plaza extends the mission of the International Food and Wine Festival: to connect diners with leading local and international producers and chefs, but for an exclusive celebration.

The presenting chefs for Urban Farm Table on the Plaza are Olivier Perret of Ici Urban Bistro; Todd Gray of Equinox; Xavier Deshayes of Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center; and Tiffany MacIssac of Birch & Barkey and ChurchKey. Note: Chef bios and collaborative menu below.

Says organizer Ellen Kassoff Gray, “The Urban Farm Table on the Plaza offers much more than a barbeque with a bureaucratic backdrop. We know it’ll be a special evening for our 80 guests, and I’m sure it will inspire people to consider not just what they eat but how they celebrate community.”

The “star-studded” evening has been timed for maximum twinkle: canapes will be passed at sunset (8p.m.), and guests will be called to the table at dusk (8:45 p.m.). General admission tickets are available through [email protected]: $70; $60 for Tastepost.com members. Paid parking will available in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Menu
Urban Farm Table on the Plaza, August 5, 2010

Canape Reception
Kluge Estate and Winery Blanc de Blanc NV (Charlottesville, VA)

Olivier Perret: Ici Urban Bistro
Sweet Pea Veloute with Grilled Carolina Day Boat Shrimp, Pea Tendrils, Olive Oil Foam
Albrecht Reisling Reserve 2009 (Alsace, France)

Todd Gray, Equinox Restaurant
Grilled Golden River Trout with Summer Succotash, Benton’s Tennessee Ham, Sweet Corn Vinaigrette
Nautilus Pinot Noir 2008 (Marlborough, NZ)

Xavier Deshayes, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Fire Roasted Ayreshire Farm Beef Striploin and Stuffed Baby Zucchini with Morel Mushrooms, Roquefort Beurre “Maitre d’Hotel”
Bodega Weinert Malbec 2004 (Argentina)

Tiffany MacIssac: Birch & Barkey and ChurchKey
Jasmine Tea Mousse, Plum Sorbet with Coconut Cream and Yuzu
Saracco Moscato d’Asti 2009 (Italy)

***
Chef Biographies
Urban Farm Tables on the Plaza, August 5, 2010

Olivier Perret of Ici Urban Bistro (Iciurbanbistro.com)developed his passion for locally-sourced foods while working at his family’s produce stands in Burgundy, France. As the Executive Chef at Ici Urban Bistro in the elegant Sofitel Washington, D.C., Perret has earned a place at the forefront of contemporary French cuisine by melding his classical training with the pick of area produce.

Todd Gray is co-owner and chef at Equinox (Equinoxrestaurant.com), a premiere showcase for the organic efforts of Mid-Atlantic farmers and fishermen. Gray’s style is defined by his classical European training with a nod to this region’s traditions. His work with local school communities has placed him with a leadership role in first lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to end childhood obesity, Chefs Move to Schools.

Xavier Deshayes will be cooking in his backyard. As Executive Chef of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (Itcdc.com), the French-born Deshayes brings all that is fresh and flavorful to the table. His unique international style and painstaking attention to detail, this chef demonstrates daily that large events can be as delicious and exciting an experience as an intimate table for two.

As pastry chef of Birch & Barley and ChurchKey (Birchandbarkey.com), Tiffany MacIssac creates innovative twists on homestyle American desserts. She is known for her ability to pairing her original sweets with wine, and Birch & Barley’s +500 beers. She is a self-professed “cookie snob.”

International Wine & Food Festival Events are an off-shoot of the Washington, D.C.’s International Wine & Food Festival, the annual showcase for 600+ wines, live demo, tastings and seminars led by top international chefs. The festival is presented by The Washington Post. For additional information, images and to purchase tickets, please email: [email protected]. ###