I had heard so much about The Ghetto Gourmet that I felt like it was time for me to kick it ghetto style.
The Ghetto Gourmet is a wandering supper club that is taking the country by storm from New York to The Bay Area. It began in a basement as an underground dining experience. In the beginning, Joe and Jeremy Townsend invited friends over to try new dishes. Eventually their friends started inviting other people and before they knew it, a movement was started!

On a rainy night in New York City about 25 people showed up for dinner with floor cushions and wine in hand. People came from as far as New Jersey and Connecticut to check out the soirée any foodie would love. When everyone was seated, a quick introduction is made and everyone was given the most important rule of the evening: “hold onto your fork!” The Ghetto Gourmet crew then took their places and it was on. The chef for the evening was a hipster named Richard Pinto. His menu for the night was country pate with cornichon relish and crostini, spring greens with mushroom ragout, leg of lamb with pesto, peas and fingerling potatoes, and for the dessert, an apple cobbler with ice cream. Pinto used food that was fresh and locally grown in New York. As the pate made it on the tables, several people moaned in delight. It was a light pate, and the liver did not overwhelm the palate. Then the second course of greens with mushroom ragout made an appearance.

It was now time for the musician to play as we waited for the main dish, the leg of lamb and potatoes. While we were in a swanky apartment in Tribeca that had Viking kitchen equipment, there was no oven in the apartment. Chef Rich made an executive culinary decision to grill the lamb on the roof even though it was raining. Max, the smiling Aussie, had been on the roof at the beginning of the evening preparing the grill. The music played on and the wine continued to flow as we waited for the meat hit the grill.

After Chef Rich and Max climbed back into the apartment from the window with the grilled lamb in hand, the room gave them a round of applause for their effort. The meat was tender and robust. I am not a big fan of lamb, but the seasoning and pesto gave the meat a lush taste. As if anyone could eat anymore, the dessert made its way to the table. The ice cream was from East Village Ice Cream which was fresh and creamy. Who could ask for anything more?

The Ghetto Gourmet experience ranges in price, but normally is around $75.00 plus BYOB and a floor cushion. The dinners sell out quickly so you should keep checking the website. Be ready to click and RSVP right away.

For more information about The Ghetto Gourmet.

As soon as I walked into the door, I was hit in the face by an intense waft of chocolate.  On my left, on my right, in back of me, and in front of me: there was chocolate everywhere. I was overwhelmed with chocolate options.

When my friends and I were seated, I took a deep breathe and realized that I should eat something before jumping into having dessert. Our waiter was a charming guy named Omar, who knew the menu in depth. If we had a question, he immediately had an answer.

I ordered the onion, ham, and cheddar crepe with the side of mixed greens. When the food arrived, I was impressed by the presentation of the meal. The food arrived at the table on nice white dinner plates, which accentuated the colors of the dish.

The mixed greens were fresh mesculin with a vinigette dressing. The cheddar cheese topped the light crepe packed with cheese, ham, and onions. I had a dark chocolate mocha to wash it all down.  My friend, Karma, had the minestrone soup which looked more like a potato soup. The soup consisted of mainly huge chunks of potatoes and not much else. It was tasty, but not what one would think of as typical minestrone soup.

After being so pleasantly pleased with my meal, I had to try a dessert. Since we all had a full meal, we decided to share a dessert between the three of us. It was difficult to decide what to try because everything sounded decadent. Once again, it was Omar to the rescue. After he suggested a few desserts, we tried the Intense Double Chocolate Fudge Cake. The cake came with a vanilla crème sauce, fresh fruit, and homemade vanilla ice cream. The center of the cake oozed fudge dark rich chocolate. The cake was simply delectable.

Max Brenner’s is a restaurant that is fun for family, friends, and a great place to take a date. While it is a chocolate bar, the food is fresh, filling, and great comfort food.

Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man
841 Broadway Street (b/w 13^th and 14^th Street) 
(Other Manhattan Location: 141 2^nd Avenue)