A Gulf Oil Spill Benefit... Catered by Green Table!

Not too long ago, we had an excellent night out at the invitation of Chef K's friend, Brent, who is the award-winning chef of the small but excellent restaurant Green Table in Chelsea Market. His boss, Mary Cleaver, owner of the Cleaver Company and Green Table, was hosting a charity event benefiting the fishermen affected by the BP spill at the downtown event space 632 Hudson.

Brent got us in gratis to keep him company, but as it turned out, he was stuck in the venue's tiny kitchen making hors-d'oeuvres all night (seriously, three people working side by side in a space no bigger than 7' x 6'). So it was quite sad he couldn't join us. On the other hand, we did very much benefit from his sweat and toil -- his hors-doevres were delicious!

If you haven't been to Green Table, I highly recommend it. Brent has a light but sure touch with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and a special talent for handling seafood that comes, perhaps, from growing up in New Orleans (so the Gulf spill is an issue close to his heart). When Chef K and I visited the restaurant with Brent's wife Melissa some time ago, his crab soup three ways (bisque, gumbo and Southeast Asian -- with cilantro) was amazing, as was his crab cake (maybe the best I've ever had), scallops with fava beans and soft-shell crab. Such a treat.

At the benefit, we enjoyed mini crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, pickled okra wrapped in prosciutto and chopped shrimp and vegetables in small, crispy corn cups (see third photo below), among other treats. Mint juleps and beers were handed out in vintage Mason jars, and a live band played old-timey Southern music. There was even a whole shrimp peeling station -- very cool, although a little too much effort for both of us. We sat quietly and enjoyed the scene.