September 9, 2023 with Melissa Cottingham

Chef Mel has had a passion for culinary arts since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, she began cooking at twelve alongside her mother Beverly. She took her talents to Los Angeles, CA, where she worked in TV, film and commercials, before deciding to pursue culinary arts. She currently is the Owner & CEO of the pop up restaurant, Melnificent™, a mixture of traditional and gourmet style chicken wings in Los Angeles, CA.

MENU

To Start:
Mini Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
Hot Pepper Jelly | Maple Honey Butter

1st
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Pickled Okra | Fried Green Tomatoes | Hot Bacon Dressing

2nd
Hickory Smoked Blackberry Bourbon Ribs
Crispy Garlic | Scallion

3rd
5 Cheese Mac & Cheese

4th
Southern Fried Chicken Wings
Jezebel Hot Sauce

Palate Cleanser
Lemon Sorbet

Dessert
Grilled Marinated Nectarines
Creme Anglaise | Brown Butter Crumble

August 24, 2019 with Ari Kolender

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Ari Kolender began his culinary career in 2005, working in some of LA’s best kitchens, including Providence and Red Medicine. In 2012, he moved home to Charleston, SC, to work with the opening teams of The Ordinary and Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop, where he was nominated as a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Chef Award. In 2015, Kolender moved back to Los Angeles to helm Hayden Wine Bar where his seasonal menu has been mentioned in the LA Times, LA Weekly, Food & Wine, Bon Appetite amongst other publications. Sadly Hayden closed just a couple of months ago which has led Chef Ari to eat+drink along with a few new projects including upcoming Found Oyster in East Hollywood.

MENU

The Beginning
Bar Oysters from Morro Bay, California

The Middle
Lowcountry Boil
head on blue shrimp, peewee potatoes, yellow corn, linguica sausage

Munak Farms Heirloom Tomato Salad
lemon cucumbers, mint, cilantro

Olive Oil Braised Coleman Farms Fennel
white wine, green olives, orange, red chili

Grilled Peads & Barnetts Pork Chop over Stewed Cranberry Beans

The End
Sea Canyon Pear Eton Mess

July 27, 2019 with Eric Nelson Brown

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Another excellent dinner with Chef Eric Nelson Brown - the blonde, surfer boy from Vermont who makes sushi...yes, SUSHI! Eric is an amazing chef at pretty much everything he sets his mind to because he's as hardworking and diligent as they come. Eric is by far the most requested eat+drink Dinner Series chef we have ever had and I finally nailed him down to return for his third visit to LA. Chef Eric Nelson Brown is kicking ass and taking names as eat+drink Austin (yes, TEXAS).