The Reluctant Vegetarian presents: Harvest Moon 2011

Thursday night, fall arrived; simmered, chopped, stirred and served by Chef Iccha Devi Ra.  The chef calls herself, “The Reluctant Vegetarian”, however, her 14 delighted guests might agree that the chef was anything but reluctant as she delivered a delectable 11 course meal.

Upon arrival, the feast for all the senses began as the guests were bedazzled by sparkling, glittered pumpkins, multicolored squash and dimly lit candles.  Erica Jones of “A Social Life” created the perfect intimate table decor as exquisite as the meal to be served.  The meal began with an Amuse, a French culinary term meaning “to please the mouth”.  Indeed this appetizer not only pleased 14 palettes, but introduced the concept of food as an eclectic cultural experience.  The chef served Tamales, a traditional Mexican dish, but infused African American culture by filling them with collared greens and black eye peas; traditional soul food items.

As the 11 course meal continued, the table saw 3 types of biscuits with goat milk, sweet milk, and buttermilk, faux lamb burgers served with mini watermelon salad, golden beat soup with apple pear chutney so delicious that beet skeptics became beet lovers, candied caramel apples, and so much more.  The mouth watering marathon went on, as did the clinking of forks and red wine glasses, not to be drowned out by the food induced camaraderie and laughter.

The night ended with a perfectly textured sweet pumpkin risotto and blackberry pink pepper reduction served with a Brazilian rum cucumber drink specialty.  The Chef then thanked her guests and proclaimed that “Sometimes less is more, but in the fall season, when the harvest is plentiful, more is always more for vegetarians!”  The ambitious and talented chef could not have made a more truthful statement after serving such a delightful meal.
Reviewed by Taaj Abdur-Rahman