LionFish SupperClub has become known around town for their Tuesday night pop-up dinners at the Santa Cruz Food Lounge. Many of us have hopped on board to travel the globe with the Fish, as they sample regional cuisines from around the world. The most compelling LionFish pop-up cuisine by far has been Vietnamese street food. Chefs Zachary Mazi and Tighe Melville teamed up with Philip Manzanares of Fogline Farms to create the most wholesome chicken pho I have ever tasted. Locals crowded out the venue with record-breaking turnouts both nights. Who knew Santa Cruz needed Vietnamese street food so badly?
But, these “Tasty Tuesdays” are just a sample of what LionFish can pull off in the kitchen. Earlier this month I attended the LionFish SupperClub August member dinner, intimately set in Tighe’s back yard and served by the two chefs. Each guest was greeted personally and made to feel welcome as we all mingled and drank wine. The dinner was scrumptious, of particular note were the lavender sausage stuffed figs, the dueling melon gazpacho and the duck with chili-caramel sauce and roasted veggies. After dessert, we continued talking into the evening as the outside light grew dim, golden orbs glowing above our heads and a fire crackling in the background. So, this is LionFish, I thought, and this is a sit-down meal done right.
The SupperClub started out as just that – Tighe and Zachary cooking delicious sit-down meals made from fresh, local ingredients and serving them to friends in Tighe’s backyard. For them, it’s all about exploring good food, good company, and stimulating conversation in an intimate setting. They love to pour themselves into each dish and watch people’s faces light up as they take that first bite, and they love seeing what happens when like minds are joined together around a dinner table.
The LionFish SupperClub’s upcoming dinner, “A French Quarter Dream,” is poised to take things to the next level. On September 5, the SupperClub chefs will team up with Chef Evan Rotman of Chef Evan Presents to host their most extravagant evening yet: a six-course New Orleans inspired meal, with paired wines and cocktails, table side flambé and live entertainment. Mixologist Andrew of 515 Kitchen & Cocktails will be on hand to craft his signature cocktails.
Having studied under Chef Paul Prudhomme at K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans, Chef Evan will help recreate the magic and theatricality of dining in one of America’s top culinary destinations.
Info: Saturday, September 5, 6 p.m. LionFish SupperClub. Tickets: Full experience: $125; Dinner without wine: $90.
