Tuesday, April 12: Krazy Kat’s, the whimsical and comfy escape at Montchanin Inn (and under the command of the decorated Admiral Cat), is hosting an Argentinean and Chilean wine tasting Tuesday with six wines and hors d’oeuvres prepared with the bold-spicy-tropical flavors of South America in mind.
The restaurant is hoping to turn wine tastings into a regular monthly happening on the second Tuesday of every month. This month’s begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and tickets, which are just $25, can be reserved by calling 888-4200 or stopping by Krazy Kat’s (528 Montchanin Road, Wilmington).
And while we’re on Krazy Kat’s, chefs Donny Merrill and Andy Matulaitis have unveiled a rather delicious-sounding new spring menu. Let’s take a look, shall we:
Introduction
* Grilled Ginger Peach Risotto – tiger shrimp, Jambon de bayonne, chive flowers 9~
* Gruyere Pierogies – braised pork belly, sambuca tomatoes, rapini 9~
* Tuna Sashimi – forbidden rice cake, grilled watermelon, brussels kim chee, mango sambal aioli 10~
* Caramelized Onion and Smoked Blue CheeseTart – pancetta chip, baby spinach, port reduction 8~
* Hudson Valley Foie Gras – vanilla pancakes, cherry confit, coffee crumble, sauterne syrup 16~
* “Surf and Turf” – braised short rib, tempura lobster, 5 spice cauliflower puree, asian pear gastrique 12~
* Presentation of Artisan Cheeses – 20~ choice of four/housemade garnishes
Soups and Salads
* Sherry Crab Bisque – lemon crème fraîche, jumbo lump crab 6/9~
* Smoked Onion Consommé – brioche, gruyere fondue, marmalade, parmesan tuille 5/8~
* Duck Confit and Endive Salad – lavender mascarpone phyllo triangles, spinach, ver jus, hazelnuts, basil syrup 9~
* Hearts of Romaine Salad – garlic anchovy emulsion, brioche, parmesan tuille, sundried tomato tapenade 9~ add chicken 6~ add shrimp 7~ add crab cake 8~
* Port Poached Pear and Arugula – goat cheese mousse, cranberries, pancetta shortbread, orange blossom honey, candied walnuts 9~
* Spring Vegetable Salad – mixed greens, carrot vinaigrette, tomato powder 6~
Seafood Course
* Pan Seared Maryland Rockfish – fennel puree, lemon ricotta squash blossom, black garlic emulsion, tomato “caviar” 15/28~
* Coquilles St Jacques – diver scallops, black trumpets, currants, apples, carrot “cookies”, tarragon soubise 16/30~
* Grilled Wild Salmon – truffled flageolet, English peas, artichoke, lobster nage, crispy skin, tendril salad 15/29~
* Pan Seared Crab Cakes – heirloom cauliflower gratin, panko tomato, caper butter 16/30~
* Beurre Blanc Poached Maine Lobster – olive oil papperdelle, patty pan, frisée, asparagus vinaigrette, tomato coulis 18/34~
Meat Course
* Crispy Seared Sweetbreads –“mac –n- brie”, rapini, porcini marsala jus 15/28~
* Hudson Valley Duck Breast – white chocolate celeriac puree, spring onions, haricot vert, marcona almonds, huckleberry banyuls gastrique 16/30~
* Black Mustard Free Range Chicken –pomme puree, sweet corn brodo, arugula basil salad, candied bacon 26~
* Tournadoes of Beef Tenderloin – marble potatoes, ramps, short rib ragout, bordelaise butter 17/32~
* Grilled Rack of Lamb – minted ricotta gnudi, baba ganoush, merguez bolognese 18/34~
* Espresso Crusted Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope –black truffle corn pudding, fiddlehead ferns, foie gras espuma 16/30~
* Daily Vegetarian Entrée
Side Dishes
Foie Gras Pomme Frites,Roasted Shallot Haricot Vert, Grilled Asparagus, White Truffle Pomme Purée, Cauliflower Gratin, “Mac –n- Brie” 8~ for each item
Wednesday, April 13: As the sagacious troubadour Fred Durst once observed, “It’s all about the he-said, she-said.”
And with that in mind, Sam Calagione and Marnie Old, co-authors of the popular book “He Said Beer, She Said Wine,” will invade World Cafe Live at The Queen Wednesday to bring their book to life.
The SOLD OUT event will pit Calagione, the mad genius behind Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, against Old, a world-class sommelier of the French Culinary Institute. In their book, the pair help readers get the most out of their beverages with perfect food pairings for wine and beer.
The dueling drinks will get real during a three-course dinner featuring head-to-head beer and wine pairings. A reception gets going at 6 p.m. and the dinner is at 7:30 p.m. Here’s the menu from Dogfish Head camp:
Reception – misc. appetizers and artisanal cheese plate with Namaste
First course – shrimp over white cheddar grits in andouille cream with Sahtea
Second course – NY Strip in butter & white truffle and parm tator tots with Red & White
Dessert – flourless chocolate cake with vintage 2008 World Wide Stout
Tickets, which are all gone, cost $60. Hopefully you know a good scalper. 
New digs: Chipotle Mexican Grill, the delicious international burrito chain with a fanatical following, opens just its second Delaware location Wednesday on Newark’s Main Street (136 E. Main St., Newark, 861-8002).
Chipotle, known for its environmental practices (three locations are LEED-certified) and fresh ingredients in making Mission-style burritos, will take advantage of locally grown ingredients. Donio Produce, based in Hammonton, N.J., provides Chipotles in the area with green and jalapeño peppers and romaine lettuce.
Those ingredients will fuel Chipotle’s burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and more. Stay tuned here for more.
Thursday, April 14: The excellent non-profit Edge of Seven, which Delaware Today profiled in our April issue, trots the globe in search of young girls in need in developing countries.
On Thursday night, the group will travel allllll the way to Kooma on the Riverfront for a special fundraiser happy hour. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., head to Kooma for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a great silent auction, all to benefit Edge of Seven.
Call Kooma at 543-6732 for info, or visit www.edgeofseven.org for info about the worthy organization.
Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17: One of the most highly anticipated culinary weekends of the year kicks off Friday with the Meals from the Masters Evening with the Masters dinner and Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch.
The brunch, which takes place Sunday at 10 a.m., happens at the sunny atrium at the Bank of America building in Wilmington. Chefs from around the country and world will descend on King Street to flex their culinary muscles. Any preconceived notions of “brunch food” can be tossed out the window. You’re just as likely to see venison and chocolate chilli as waffles and cantaloupe.
Tickets for the brunch cost $175 ($115 of which is tax-deductible) and can be purchased here.
The most locally focused Evening from the Masters starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Tickets are $75 ($35 of which is tax-deductible). Premium tickets to the Evening, which include access to the Cellar Masters’ Wine Auction, cost an even $100. This year’s program will include cooking demonstrations from Dan Butler, Dana Herbert and Julio Lazzarini.
Here is the very impressive list of chefs participating in the brunch, and dinner. The whole weekend of food, wine, auctions, and everything goes to help Meals on Wheels Delaware.
I’ll be there Sunday for brunch, so photos and recap early next week. Hopefully, my Survival Guide will get you through.
Sunday, April 17: Friends to feral cats everywhere, the non-profit Forgotten Cats, is holding an afternoon of fun with its Adoption Festival/Wine Tasting Fundraiser at the Shoppes at Louviers in Newark.
Beginning at noon Sunday, head to the Yoga Studio for a special adoption drive. Then, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., hit Deerfield Wines for a sampling of 25 wines from around the world, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live music and more.
Sip some wine, do some yoga, adopt some cats (*adorable name suggestion: Warrior I). Hard to beat a Sunday afternoon like that. Call Forgotten Cats at 792-7096 for more, or visit forgottencats.org.
