Iron Chef Beet Dinner at Moto [Feb 27 @ 7:30 PM]

After our collective joy in watching Team Moto sweep Iron Chef Morimoto (see Iron Chef Cantu vs. Morimoto), I suggested that ask Chef Cantu to recreate his triumphal beet dinner. His response is below:

homaro cantu wrote:Lets do this. Give me some dates, times, and cover counts to work with. I think we need a transmogrification series dinner. We can go nuts on this one. Oh yeah, thank you all for the support over the years. You are my favorite customers, yes I do pick favorites. I still have the LTH forum plaque hanging in my kitchen.

Thanks for for supporting us, the ride has only begun.

-Homaro and the entire team-

Let me propose two dates: Tuesday February 6 or Tuesday February 20 at 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday being a quieter night for restaurants; and the week of Valentine's Day tends to be an especially busy one).

I propose that in contrast to our two 20-course extravaganzas, we plan a more compact dinner (such as the beet dinner with a few additions or whatever transmorgrications Team Cantu has in mind). The logic being that a shorter and less expensive dinner might permit a larger attendance, since it is designed to be a celebration. It would be nice to allow members of this board who have not experienced Moto to have that opportunity, and then they can return for the full extravaganza. I am thinking of a 3-hour dinner, priced not over $100/person (not including wine, tax, tip).

Of course, Chef Cantu and others on the board can make their own suggestions as we decide how to go forward.

I think we need a transmogrification series dinner. We can go nuts on this one.

I would be interested to learn what Cantu intends to do relative to the statement above. Maybe a two tier approach, the $100 X-course dinner and for those who want to have the transmogrification experience (whatever that leads to) can dig deeper into their piggy banks.

I might do both, though if I had to pick then I would go for the transmogrification experience and pay whatever bounty is expected.

If desired, I am willing to provide raccoon for both. Again, I am not pushing my agenda, this is only if it is wanted.

Regards,

Count me in!

Sounds like a great idea - count me in.

me too... me too... =)

Oh, yeah. I'll be there for sure.

I vote for the later date so I can afford to go

February 20th is Fat Tuesday and presents a conflict with pre-existing plans.

--Matt

I'm busy the 6th, but if you have it on the 20th, I definitely want to join you.

Ah! How I wish I could make it!

...Fat Tuesday seems so appropriate though for a dinner of transmogrified extravagance.

Are we totally committed to one of these two dates? I'd like to attend this beet-stravaganza, but I'm already committed to Chuck's Mardi Gras bash on Fat Tuesday [thinking, personally, that excesses of butter and crawfish are more appropriate to the day than nitrogen-chilled beet juice].

I like a Tuesday, though.

Giovanna

Would Tuesday February 27th be better for everyone. I would need to make it 7:15, since I have a commitment in Evanston until 6:30.

The 27th, and/or one of the following Tuesdays, are better for me.

--Matt

Works here!

ditto

27th will work for me

Should work for me as well.

Likewise. The 27th is open for me.

The 27th it is.

It looks as if we have consensus on the 27th. I will wait until tomorrow and then will call Team Moto.

I am currently watching the replay of the epic battle on the Food Network. And I am sad to say that I can't make the 27th, because I have a concert. If anyone is interested in seeing string quartets that evening for free, PM me and I'll give more details.

if Feb 27th, i'm absolutely in for 2. tho i really hate beets...

I just got off the phone with Moto, and the dinner is on for February 27th at 7:30. When I hear from Team Cantu with the price (which will include service charge and tax, but NOT wine), I will post it here. I asked that dinner be complete by 11:00, so that those who have to work will not be bleary-eyed, and I indicated that we want to strike a balance between a memorable dinner and yet a dinner that is not so expensive that only a few can enjoy it.

Currently (February 19) those who have expressed interest are:

GAF
mhl
Dmnkly (2)
Cathy2
nr706 (2)
Octarine
Cynthia
Josephine (3)
TonyC (2)
Giovanna
Evil Ronnie
Lovely Donna
Gypsy Boy (2)
Bruce
jygach
aschie30
Cinny's Mom
hlkeller
dicksond (2)
susan13 (2)

Evil Ronnie and I will be there. Looking forward to it.

Yah, hey, you bet. Fer two!

GAF-- If still possible, please count me in for 3 people for the beet dinner. After seeing the actual battle, my pals cannot resist!':D'

Sorry that we can't make it, but we are taking a plane to Paris that evening ...
The French couple

I'll toss my hat in the ring too.

If there's still room, TPA and I would like to sign up for this.

If there is room I would like to join the party.
Thanks.
Jyoti