Dining Agenda: New Restaurants and Food News October 2017

On October 3rd, Harneet and Devina Baweja (Gunpowder, Madame D) will launch Gul and Sepoy. The food will be a mashup of Northern and Southwestern Indian cuisines, offering both regal and rustic fare from wild rabbit terrine with pickled fig to jackfruit and walnut galouti kebabs. An oak-paneled bar, large marble tables, and copious natural light will give the space a refined elegance fit for feasting. 65 Commercial Street; 44-207/247-1407; gulandsepoy.com

On October 6, a dozen chefs designated Maîtres Cuisiniers de France—one of the country’s most prestigious titles—will join together for a poolside vegetarian and vegan bacchanal at The Venetian. The menu will be meat-free, but hardly austere: think fried ricotta and stuffed zucchini blossoms, hedgehog mushroom cassoulet, and celeriac risotto with cheese and black truffle. 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; 702-414-9000; venetian.com.

From October 7–8, diners can head to Eataly’s Chicago outpost for pizza and pasta-focused master classes taught by James Beard Award­–winning chef Sarah Gruenberg (Monteverde) and Michelin-starred chef Davide Oldani (D’O). The intimate cooking classes include wine pairings for each dish. The event is part of a multi-city series of classes and dinners, which also includes stops in New York City (October 10–12) and Boston (October 13). 43 East Ohio St.; eataly.com.

The country’s grandest food town will hold its grandest food and wine festival from October 12–15. Celebrating its 10th year, the fete will be both star-studded (with Francis Mallmann, Mario Batali, and Nancy Silverton to start) and good-hearted, with all of the net proceeds from the event going to the Food Bank For New York City and the No Kid Hungry® campaign. Various locations; 800-764-8773; nycwff.org.

New York’s culinary superstars, April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig, The Breslin), are headed west. Their mid-October LA debut will feature Mediterranean-meets-Southern California fare, including game birds and vegetables fired in the white brick hearth that gives the restaurant its name. Beastie Boy-turned sommelier, Mike D, will help curate the wine list. 6530 Sunset Blvd.; @hearthandhoundla.

In mid-October, Chef Kwame Onwuachi will debut an upscale-casual restaurant in conjunction with the opening of the hotel, InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf. The modern Caribbean, Creole, and African-inspired menu will pay tribute to Onwuachi’s extensive travels and family heritage. On the wall: a custom mural by artist Emily Eisenhart. On the plate: Jollof rice with spring onion confit, Nigerian red sauce, and whipped ricotta; a tamarind chickpea puree; and curried goat roti. 801 Wharf St. SW; kithandkindc.com.

The Mile High City will welcome sustainable seafood gastropub Wewatta Point mid-month. The nautically-themed space will feature vaulted ceilings and a long white marble bar, providing an airy backdrop for a menu of pan-seared salmon with beurre blanc, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and crab Benedict with smoked bacon and togarashi. 1607 Wewatta St; 303-893-6779; thepointseafood.com.

Vegas’s Park MGM will welcome an outpost of beloved Chicago steakhouse Bavette’s. The space will be inspired by the opulence of the Gilded Age, featuring glowing chandeliers and jazz music; the menu will match the space in decadence, with bone-in, dry-aged rib eyes and multi-story seafood towers. Expect a mid-October opening. 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd.

This month, the hotel group sbe launches its first-ever Taste of sbe festival (October  13–November 17), a series of culinary experiences at several of its Miami properties. The proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization founded by chef José Andrés, to help bolster hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, Florida, and other affected areas. Kicking off the festivities is a winemaker dinner series at Leynia, an Argentinian grill at the Delano South Beach, which consists of three al fresco meals by Chef Jose Icardi with drink pairings from a variety of high-end winemakers: a fish barbecue paired with Veuve Clicquot (Oct. 13), a Dom Perignon dinner with offerings like lobster ceviche with pickled coconut (Oct. 20), and a tasting from California’s Honig Winery with dishes like pulpo a la parilla (charcoal grilled octopus) with grilled potato and smoked paprika sauce (Oct. 21). Each dinner accommodates 30 guests; to make a reservation, contact delanoeats@sbe.com.

On October 21, Chef Ryan Poli (The Catbird Seat) and his brother Matthew are teaming up with the James Beard Foundation to host a one-of-a-kind dinner in Nashville. The meal will be prepared by an impressive roster of local and visiting chefs including Julia Sullivan (Henrietta Red) and Jeff Michaud (Osteria) and held at First Tennessee Park. Diners will begin with appetizers in the batting cages, and then move to a table in the middle of the baseball field for dinner. 19 Jr Gilliam Wy.; jamesbeard.org.

Michelin-starred chef David Myers (Sona, Comme Ca) will open two new restaurants at the brand new Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai this month. Basta! will be sleek and sophisticated, with a giant painting of Italian goddess Sophia Loren overlooking the menu of wood-fired pizzas and handmade pasta. Bleu Blanc, meanwhile, will channel a French rustic-meets-elegant spirit with antique workbenches and indigo blue French doors adorning the space; the menu will include roasted meats and robust vegetable dishes like braised coco beans with tomato confit and coal-cooked leeks. Both restaurants are slated to open in late October. Marasi Drive; 971-4/512-5522; basta-dubai.com; 971-4/512-5533; bleublanc-dubai.com.

In late October, chef David Barzelay (Lazy Bear) and bartender Nicolas Torres are teaming up to bring inventive cocktails—featuring ingredients like fermented pluots, Rancio wine, and Pisco Moscatel—and a highly curated selection of bar snacks (think broiled oysters with lardo and fries served with allium powder) to the Mission. The space will be intimate and inspired by nature, accented with stone, leather, and old-growth bay laurel wood. 753 Alabama St.; 415-341-0020; truelaurelsf.com.

Chef Nicholas Elmi (Laurel) is expanding his growing Philly empire with a modern French restaurant. Royal Boucherie will serve oysters and other raw bar delights, plus dishes like steak tartare updated with smoked cheddar and rye and smoked duck leg served with fresh bean casserole. Expect a late October opening. 52 South 2nd St.

After a series of successful pop-up dinners, chef Maribel Rivero is bringing contemporary Peruvian cuisine to East Austin. Peru’s national dish, ceviche, will naturally be on the menu, along with anticucho skewers and an upscale take on the Peruvian classic pollo a la brasa (blackened chicken). These dishes will be served on artisan-made plates crafted from Peruvian olive wood. Expect a late October opening. 1900 Manor Rd.; yuyoaustin.com.