Tag Archives: MTO Cafe

Pop Art Dining

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

One of the most fun dining trends that has been growing over the past couple of years are the so called “Pop-Ups”. Chefs create special one-night-only menus to be served from their resto or an unlikely place. What makes these so much fun and so cool is that you NEVER know what to expect. Seating is ALWAYS limited and prices range the entire gamut. Locations are as diverse as our city’s dining landscape.  Here are some to watch:

  • Project Dinner Table does their events as a fundraiser and they are limited to pleasant weather months because they are mostly outdoors (think Cashman Field, Downtown Third, Gilcrease Orchard).  Their next event is September 13th and even though this is the highest priced option on the list, they sell out FAST! They actually offer a membership so you never have to miss an event.
  • MTO’s Sunday Supper Series –usually the 4th Sunday of the month and it is always fun.  Chef Johnny Church gets some culinary buddies together and they whip up some truly inspired menus.  Past events have been Swine & Wine (My fave), Not Your Daddy’s BBQ and El Chapo’s Cantina.  Price is $65 and seating is limited to 65 people. Watch for upcoming dates.
  • Desnudos Tacos and Naked City Pizza on Paradise – The culinary brains behind these two properties – Christian Dolias and Chris Palmeri respectfully – plan to switch off every other month so one month at Desnudos and the following at Naked City.  The most recent offering at Desnudos was “Unbreakable” and it was incredible.  $75/pp and the seating is limited to 35, so my suggestion is to book as soon as you hear about it. The next event is at Naked City on Paradise – “The Mind of a Chef – Round 2” on August 24th.  $65/pp and seating is limited to 40 people, so call ASAP to reserve your seats.

What you will find at all of these events is fantastic food and artful plating in unexpected venues. The crowd will be as eclectic as the food served.  All of this is done in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.  Rarely do you have to dress up beyond business casual. What you won’t find are rules.  Rules are made to be broken and these events prove that.  Enjoy the pics from past and very recent events!

Charcuterie plate from Echo & Rig at MTO's Swine & Wine event

Charcuterie plate from Echo & Rig at MTO’s Swine & Wine event

 

"Deviled Egg" - 3 eggs, 3 ways at Desnudos' Unbreakable

“Deviled Egg” – 3 eggs, 3 ways at Desnudos’ Unbreakable

Uni, Caviar and Parmesan pasta at Desnudos' Unbreakable

Uni, Caviar and Parmesan pasta at Desnudos’ Unbreakable

Bloody Mary Mussels at Desnudos' Unbreakable - this was "

Bloody Mary Mussels at Desnudos’ Unbreakable – this was “

Beet Salad at MTO's Not Your Daddy's BBQ

Beet Salad at MTO’s Not Your Daddy’s BBQ

BBQ Braised Beef Cheeks and Creamy Polenta at MTO's Not Your Daddy's BBQ

BBQ Braised Beef Cheeks and Creamy Polenta at MTO’s Not Your Daddy’s BBQ

Sunday Suppers at MTO

Posted on by LeAnne Notabartolo

This past Sunday I went to the first of the Sunday Suppers series at Johnny Church’s MTO Café.  WHAT FUN!  Hubby John and I were seated at the bar, and while most people might be annoyed by that, I wasn’t at all.  Yes, our backs were to the rest of the room, but we had a bird’s eye view of what was going on in the kitchen!  Johnny, joined by Tim Doolittle, Vincent Pouessel, Marty Lopez and Michael Van Staden and Heidi Koval on desserts put out a fun dining experience.  Pair it with beers from downtown denizens Banger Brewing, and you have a winner!  Each Chef created an appetizer and a main course.  You chose one app and one main and one dessert and there were 4 different styles of beer to choose from, try all or just one!  Of course, John and I chose differently so we could try as many dishes as possible.  My only complaint was that I couldn’t try all of them.

Chef Johnny Church

Chef Johnny Church

When I first read about it, I thought it would be sampling menu of all, not a true supper theme.  Once I wrapped my head around the fact that it was intended to be a supper like you would get at Grandma’s house (not MY Gram’s house – she was a terrible cook.) I was hooked.  I really wanted sample sized portions of everything because the whole menu looked great, but still, I loved it!  The biggest problem was making decisions.  BTW – they offered a supplement if you wanted to try more than one, but with Restaurant Week going on (it ends today), I knew the leftovers wouldn’t get eaten.  A huge Bonus for Hubby was that it started at 5:30 so he wasn’t out too late on a “School Night”.  What was really interesting to me is that I knew almost NO ONE there.  Because I go to a lot of foodie events, I usually run into someone I know, but the only person there I knew at all was Jim Begley.

White oak grilled delta asparagus, poached Pahrump egg, frisee and Parmesan

White oak grilled delta asparagus, poached Pahrump egg, frisee and Parmesan from Chef Johnny Church

The "Covergirl" to quote Bacchanal Chef Michael Van Staden and Assoc. Beet & radish salad with hazelnut bacon vinaigrette

The “Covergirl” to quote Bacchanal Chef Michael Van Staden and Assoc. Beet & radish salad with hazelnut bacon vinaigrette

BBQ braised beef cheeks with polenta

BBQ braised beef cheeks with polenta from Chef Marty Lopez

Grilled Open Blue Cobia, Rustic Ratatouille, Confit Lemon & Capers Gremolata from Chef Vincent Poussel

Grilled Open Blue Cobia, Rustic Ratatouille, Confit Lemon & Capers Gremolata from Chef Vincent Pouessel

Plum Butter Almond Cake with Roasted Plums - from Chef Michael Van Staden

Plum Butter Almond Cake with Roasted Plums – from Chef Michael Van Staden

Berry Cobbler

Berry Cobbler from Heidi Koval

The next one is scheduled for Sunday 27 April and I suggest you make a reservation and get there early – the place was PACKED!  Johnny assures me the events will continue and change and the participating Chefs with be different each time.  Rumor has it that Naked City’s Chris Palmeri and Desnudo’s Christian Dolias are on tap for the next one.  I can’t wait!

FYI – I have been attending a LOT of beer-centric events lately and since Joseph James will be featured in two of them, I will write about those together, even though the first one was last month.