the dinner on sunday june.20th was amazing! we got to meet a lot of new and great people (shout out to neil, ken, brian, marcos, david, eric!) and have old ones that keep our dinners energetic (jorge!). The weather could not have been better, allowing us to do the cocktail hour on the steps out front, alla 227! We got everyone geared up with Mikey's Herradura Anejo-watermelon-basil-ginger drink, far too delicious! This was paired with some corn cups filled with a papaya and mango salsa, with spring onions and ginger chicken. Dinner got going with an avocado and cucumber soup poured over achiote wok seared crab legs and shaved radish. The soup was velvety and crisp a beautiful summer starter. Next we moved into Braised ox-tail spring rolls, with a black bean and papaya salsa, shredded carrots and a sauce we made by reducing the braising liquid and fortifying it with port. There was an earthiness from the ox-tail punctured by pops of light bright acid. The entree was roasted pork tenderloin stuffed with a apricot-cumin jam, cooked down with grape tomatoes, this also was reduced as a glaze after we sliced the pork. This was served alongside glazed bok choy, with minced shallot and garlic, Roasted Michigan marble potatoes with chili, Steamed enoki mushrooms, and pea sprouts. The pork was off the hook, so moist, with a perfect balance of sweet and savory. It was also comforting to utilize the local farmers market for much of our product. The sweet ending was a five spice flan, with a orange compote and caramel tuille, we finished with a dollop of cajeta and a dusting of five spice powder. The flan was a silken delight with some savory flavors nicely balanced by the sweetness of dessert.

and to close the evening stephen leonard performed and sang some amazing tunes for all of us! the crowd was mesmerized by his talent! he even did a cover of lady gaga! it was pretty amazing! stephen, please come to all of our dinners!!!

we are toying with the date for july. we have had a lot of requests to do it on a saturday night, and i think that is finally going to happen in august! we are trying to solidify the date, but it will be on a saturday that month, so get ready all! i will put the pay now button up this weekend for july's dinner!

til' then,

mikey + brian