Behind the Scenes of an Adventurous Eating Club
We felt honored to be invited to dinner with the Gastronauts, an adventurous eating club based in New York City and Los Angeles, for their six-year anniversary. We knew it was going to be an evening to remember, but we had no idea what they had in store for us.
When we arrived at Parish Hall in Brooklyn, New York we were greeted by a friendly staff, hustling and bustling to set tables and organize bottles of wine at the newly constructed bar. Excitement was in the air as this was the first event for the new restaurant that still had yet to put a sign out front. Chef Evan Hanczor of Pig and Egg took us behind the scenes of the kitchen to give a sneak peak of the menu for the evening.
Evan talked us through the five courses, which featured black bear tenderloin, water buffalo meat, and water buffalo milk. But the real surprise was when we found out we would be served Civet Cat Coffee, or Kopi Luwak. Besides being the most expensive coffee in the world, it is most infamous for where it comes from. Known as "Cat Poo Coffee" on the streets, this name comes from the fact that the coffee beans are pulled from the feces of the civet cat. Legend has it that the civet cat eats the beans, and it's digestive fluids partially wear down the bean, removing all the bitterness and leaving you with the smoothest and sweetest black coffee you can imagine. We weren't convinced, and frankly, a little grossed out, so we had to try it for ourselves. Sure enough, it was surprisingly delicious! But at $195.00/lb, it will still have to be a special treat.
Overall it was a spectacular evening of eye-opening food experiences. Even more surprising than "Cat Poo Coffee" being delicious, was that bear fat tastes like sushi, and water buffalo milk is better than any cow milk we ever had. If you want to give Kopi Luwak a try, check out Sriwijaya Coffee, and make sure to check out Parish Hall which just opened on March 30 th .
For more food adventures, check out other episodes of Blue Ribbon Hunter here.
