by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
There are 17 restaurants on this year’s “Eat Up Downtown” lineup, but only one comes with an art museum to experience after dessert.
Café Nola at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Laura Street at Hemming Plaza has been part of Downtown Vision Inc.’s annual dining promotion since the program debuted.
Chef Kathy Collins has again developed a special three-course menu for the Aug. 15-28 celebration of cuisine in the urban core.
The 2011 entrée choices are Café Nola’s signature shrimp and grits, an eggplant curry, pasta with fresh tomatoes or a short rib braised in red wine.
“Shrimp and grits has always been one of our most popular dishes. We know people will expect to see it,” said Collins.
The eggplant is served with green curry sauce, coconut rice and a Thai peanut condiment.
“We always use fresh local ingredients as much as we can. I chose eggplant this year because it’s so plentiful right now,” Collins said.
She said she’s expecting rave reviews for this year’s desserts. The sticky fig pudding has been enhanced with the addition of crushed Daim Bar, a chocolate and toffee candy from Sweden.
“It’s a perfect combination. The pudding is made with fresh figs, dark chocolate and toffee sauce and the candy gives it an extra crunch,” said Collins.
Another dessert on the menu this year is taffy apple salad. Collins said it combines pineapple and marshmallows and is based on a recipe her grandmother made for family picnics.
“This is the adult version. We soak the pineapple chunks in rum and use homemade marshmallows,” she said.
As a bonus, the galleries and museum store will be open in the evening during Eat Up Downtown to allow diners to tour the permanent collection and feature exhibits after their meal.
“People come here from all over the city for ‘Eat Up Downtown.’ We wanted to showcase everything MOCA has to offer,” said Carolyn Brass, manager of special events and facility rentals.
Brass said the two-week promotion is something she looks forward to each year because it brings new patrons to Café Nola and helps the restaurant build its clientele.
Located in the heart of Downtown, near City Hall, the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse and the Northbank’s signature office towers, “this is where people go for their power lunches. ‘Eat Up Downtown’ is an opportunity to have a power dinner,” she said.
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