Tuesday Night Dinner

A Letter from the Chef: To the Friends of Tuesday Night Dinner

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:03:00 -0500

photo by Erica Gannett

“The time has come to follow us a little further down the rabbit hole…”

As we pass the three year milestone of Tuesday Night Dinner, I cannot help but look back with the utmost gratitude for your support of Chicago’s underground dining community. With the help of those who believed in our mission and believed in our food, we have been able to hone our craft and hopefully inspired others to do the same. Through your support we have been able to build connections in various Chicago communities, give back to the less fortunate, and draw inspiration from the city we hold so dear to our hearts. I have seen many faces come and go throughout my tenure at TND, but I believe that they have all connected with us through our commitment to community and social interaction through food.

It is with this reverence that I am proud to announce TND’s newest development: Border Oak, a seated dinner series committed to the exploration and celebration of the cuisine of the American Midlands. The American Midlands are a group of bioregions in and around the greater Midwest. At Border Oak, we will explore the diversity of food products and traditions from these regions. We will seek out products from the hills, streams, fields, lakes, and forests of the American heartland in order to celebrate our own regional terroir. We will showcase our discoveries through a nine-course tasting menu.

A major part of TND’s mission is to connect people to their food source. This is what we hope to achieve with Border Oak. We want our guests to connect with the land on which we reside in a deeply personal way. We hope to resurrect pride in the products coming from our corner of the Earth. We want to remind people that if they look past the surface, there are worlds of beauty and adventure just beyond the horizon.

The exact date/time/location/menu for the first dinner will be announced within the next week. Until then I ask you to go out and meet a farmer or a forager. Go for a walk in the woods. Take a road trip and get lost. Head north to the Lake Superior, or south to the Ozark Mountains. Build a raft and float down the Des Plaines River, or wander the Oak Savannas hunting for morels. There is a whole big world of food out there, just waiting to connect with you.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Leven, Chef & Founder

TND Presents: Safari Supper 4/27

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:09:00 -0500

Photos by Eyal Sagi

TND Presents: Safari Supper // FINAL MENU

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:19:00 -0500

Tuesday Night Dinner Presents - Safari Supper, a progressive dinner showcasing Chicago’s underground dining community. ‘Safari Supper’ refers to a dinner party in which each successive course is prepared and eaten at the residence of a different host. Join TND, Guerrilla Smiles, Feast & Imbibe, Sobremesa, and Twain Pairings for dinner on April 27th, as we take the show on the road. Our guests will travel to 4 distinct Chicago art spaces, each hosted by a different supper club. Included in the evening are paired drinks, curated art, and live music per course- all by way of one bus.

BUY TICKETS

SAFARI SUPPER MENU

5PM :: AMUSE :: 2037 W NORTH
TUESDAY NIGHT DINNER
Fava Bean Gazpacho x Country Ham Chip
x Toasted Hazelnut x Ramp Oil

SOBREMESA SUPPER CLUB
Plantain Chips w. Aji Amarillo Dipping Sauce

GUERRILLA SMILES
‘Oak Street Beach’ - Lake Michigan / Sand / Trash

FEAST & IMBIBE
Sea Urchin, Spring Peas, Sassafras
paired with F.E.W American Gin, Grapefruit, Cucumber and Egg White

TWAIN PAIRINGS
‘South By South America’
5-Alive Habanero Shrimp/Blue Grits/Brined Radish/Cilantro/Basil
paired with Alma Negra Rose 2010 (Sparkling Malbec)

:: bus departs @ 5:45PM ::

6PM
1 :: TUESDAY NIGHT DINNER
the HAUSER Gallery
230 W SUPERIOR

COURSE: ‘Overgrown Garden’-Stinging Nettle Dumplings
x Hop Shoots x Rabbit Confit x Edible Weeds
PAIRING: Dreamsicle - Orange, Vanilla, Bourbon
MUSIC: Karlis Kander
ART: Curated by Brave New Art World
Atalanta & The Lion

7PM
2 :: SOBREMESA SUPPER CLUB
The Conservatory
1942 S HALSTED

COURSE: Roasted Sunchokes, Pickled Daikon, Green Radish,
Pickled Mustard Seeds, Market Greens
PAIRING: Local Wheat Beer
MUSIC: Sonorama
ART: Curated by Flow Johnson

8PM
3 :: GUERRILLA SMILES
No Sandbox
159 N RACINE

COURSE: ‘Cracker Jack Grits’
Popcorn / Mustard Caramel / Paulina Bacon / Nuts
PAIRING: Malort Ecto-Cooler
MUSIC: No Goodbye
ART: Curated by No Sandbox

9PM
4 :: FEAST & IMBIBE
2037 W NORTH AVE

COURSE: Braised Lamb Shoulder, Yellow Foot Chanterelles,
Fiddlehead Ferns, Celery Root Crisps
PAIRING: Belleruche, M. Chapoutier, Cotes Du Rhones 2010
MUSIC: Jennifer Hall
ART: Curated by Alyssa Martinez & Jason Ticus

The Dish: Tres Leches 'Flan-ton'

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:33:00 -0500

Jacqlyn Lancaster, our logistics maven, can take the credit for conceptualizing this simple but masterful dish. We were talking back and forth about dessert ideas, about flans and custards. We talked about how we liked the smooth richness of the custards when they are just barely set, and they will just melt away in your mouth with the lingering taste of cream, egg, and vanilla. We wanted to come up with something fun and playful for our ‘Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen’ series at No Sandbox Studios and Jacqlyn came up with the idea for a ‘flan-ton’. We thought it played well to the idea of traditional ingredients from different cultures meeting on the plate, as they often do in real life.

We decided to incorporate evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk to the custard as well as some persimmon syrup. After the custard had set we froze it o make it easier to work with. Cutting appropriate sized pieces of frozen custard, we wrapped them in wonton sheets and returned them to the freezer. The last thing we wanted was for the custard to separate and break apart once the wonton hit the fryer. So freezing them again was a necessity.

We finished the dish with a persimmon glaze made by slowly cooking minced persimmon pieces with brown sugar, water, and star anise. To add a bit of brightness to the dish we made a quick avocado puree with vanilla and whipping cream, and then finished with a slice of fresh persmisson for color and freshness. - Jeremy

TND Presents: 'Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen' @ No Sandbox Studios

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:07:00 -0600

Photography by Erica Gannett

TND Presents: 'Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen' @ No Sandbox Studios

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:50:00 -0600

Photos by Jennifer Moran

TND Presents: Last Tuesdays - 'Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen'

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:19:00 -0600

Tuesday Night Dinner invites you to “Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen”-the second installment of ‘Last Tuesdays’, a winter dinner series. The series draws inspiration from Chicago’s collective food history, sourcing from little known ethnic markets and specialty suppliers across the city. At ‘Off the Boat, Into the Kitchen’, guests will experience an interpretation of Old World favorites tweaked through the lens of the Windy City. For $30, guests will enjoy a four-course plated meal from the TND kitchen, libations, live music, and art.

Tuesday Night Dinner hosts a communal dinner the last Tuesday of each month. The locations, artists, and collaborators rotate depending on each dinner. This month’s TND is on January 29th, from 8-11pm, at No Sandbox Studio located at 159 N. Racine 4th floor. Each course will be plated and then served communally.

This is a pre-sale event only, purchase your tickets HERE

Menu:
Amuse: Chicken Confit Jibarito
1) Hen of the Woods Vesuvio
2) ‘Czech me out’ Boar Loin
3) Desi Tacos - lamb breast x garbanzo
4) Persimmon Tres Leches ‘Flan-Ton’

Co-Curated with:
No Sandbox Studio
Resident artist Lindsey Clair Newman
www.facebook.com/lindseyclaire.newmanart

New Millenium Orchestra
Executive Director Dominic Johnson
www.nmorchestra.org

Free Write Jail Arts & Literacy Program
Program Director Ryan Keesling
www.freewritejailarts.org/

Strange Pelican Brewery
www.strangepelican.com

TND Presents: Last Tuesdays - 'South Side Staples'

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:15:00 -0600

The creative team at TND have devised a tour de saveur,
‘Last Tuesdays’: A winter dinner series that draws inspiration from Chicago’s collective food history, sourcing from little known ethnic markets and specialty suppliers across the city.

Please join us 11/27 at Ven Sherrod Studio for South Side Staples. The evening will feature a four-course plated meal of Chicago’s regionally influenced delectables by the TND kitchen. The evening will also feature visual artist Greta White, and live music by No Goodbye.

**THIS IS A PRE-SALE EVENT**
-Space is limited.
-$30

Purchase tickets HERE

INFO:
Ven Sherrod Studio
1906 1/2 S. Halsted
Pilsen-Chicago

Music
No Goodbye
nogoodbye.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/nogoodbyechicago

Artist
Greta White
http://greytawhite.tumblr.com/

TND's Whole Hog Cookout

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:24:02 -0500

Photos by Rafael Franco-Steeves

Tuesday Night Dinner Presents Tuesday Night Drinks: Bar Pop-Up

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:46:00 -0500

Thirsty? Yeah, so are we! Tuesday Night Dinner will be heading over to Hearty Restaurant on Tuesday, August 28 at 8pm for a night of cocktails and music. We will be serving up five specialty cocktails for guests to enjoy along with complimentary bar snacks. Live music by Briar Rabbit, Goodbyehome, and Ami Saraiya. Tickets are $5 at the door with cocktails ranging from $4-$6.

Tuesday, August 28 Bar Menu (Tentative):

Michelada
Blueberry Bramble
Spicy Mezcal
Watermelon Mint Martini
Elderflower White Sangria
Bar Snacks: curry popcorn, old bay fries, blue crab & caper jalepeno poppers

Hearty Restaurant is at 3819 N. Broadway Avenue and is accessible by the Sheridan Red Line stop. First come, first served; until supplies last. We will be shaking up cocktails til midnight.

July's Tuesday Night Dinner at SHoP in Hyde Park

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:20:51 -0500

Above Photo Cred: Julia Getts

Thank you SHoP for letting us into your wonderful space. To check out more what SHoP does please check out their website.

Thank you to Johnny Miller for creating the amazing menu card. Check out his blog for some of his amazing work.

Also a big thanks to Good Evening! They provided some sultry tunes for our guests. Want to hear more, check out their website.

Thank you to all guests who came out, we had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next’s month event. More details to come!

Meet the Team: Nick Jirasek

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:58:54 -0500

Nick throws down. He is an authority on all things culinary and is continuously experimenting with new ideas. Book in advance to hang, cause this boy’s schedule fills up quick. Be sure to check out his catering company!

Mini Q&A with Jirasek:

Pick it! Pen or Pencil?

Pen.

Favorite cut of meat?

Paleron. Shoulder cut of beef also called chicken steak but it’s beef. It’s really lean and you can handle it like a brisket.

What music do you listen to in the kitchen?

Deer Hunter

Chin Up Chin Up

Queens of the Stone Age

System of a Down

Fav line on the el?

Blue line. I use to take the train a lot. I feel focused on the el, take it all the way down to the airport and back. I would read and do homework, the Blue line library.

What television character would you dine with?

Charlie Day-Always Sunday in Philadelphia

Come hang out with Nick and the rest of the Tuesday Night Dinner crew at July’s TND.

TND: Logan Square Boil @ Bangbang Pie Shop

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:44:00 -0500

Photos by Erica Gannett, Sammy Faze

may. 29. 2012. part3.

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:21:00 -0500

may. 29. 2012. part3.

may. 29. 2012. part2

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:18:01 -0500

may. 29. 2012. part2

may. 29. 2012. part1.

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:14:00 -0500

may. 29. 2012. part1.

April TND @ Fortuna Loft

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:25:00 -0500

Rafael Franco-Steeves

Meet the Team: Selly

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:15:00 -0500

This is Selorm Yo Nkpe. Or Selly to you. He’s the man on the floor, the eyes and ears of the organization. Selly brings his superstar charm to Tuesday Night Dinner, personally greeting every guest. He is the best new friend you’ll ever have. The go-to-guy at TND, Selly has access to all levels of the events. He is happy to accommodate the needs of any guests, no matter how large or small. When Selly isn’t touching tables at TND, you can find him making moved at the Trump Tower, or developing his talents as a performance artist and MC.

TND Communal Meal & Gallery, April 24th

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:17:47 -0500

TND Communal Meal & Gallery, April 24th

January Dinner @ Fortuna Loft

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:42:35 -0600

photography by Erica Gannett and Julia Getts