Gregory LaPrad Hosts James Beard Preview Dinners at Quiessence

The James Beard House has invited Quessence Restaurant’s Executive Chef Gregory LaPrad to New York City to cook for a number of renowned international chefs on July 7. Lucky for us, LaPrad is offering the Arizona public a chance to preview his James Beard dinner menu for three nights only, June 22-24.

Each of LaPrad’s five-course James Beard preview dinners kick off at 6 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvre reception in the Quiessence solarium. Nosh on chilled garden gazpacho soup, oysters with “fruits of the sea,” an array of house-cured salami and more. At 7 p.m., dinner is served, featuring the kind of farm-to-table dishes LaPrad is famous for, including an Armenian cucumber and sweet melon salad, wild river salmon with summer squash puree, and milk-braised ham and smoked pork belly with peaches. For dessert, guests will enjoy Black Mesa Ranch Goat Cheesecake with Farm Mulberry preserves, and each course will be paired with a wine exclusive to Arizona.

Rumor has it, LaPrad was invited to cook for the James Beard House after a foundation board member ate at Quiessence in 2009. And now, for $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity, you could be one of the few gastro-enthusiasts fortunate enough to sample this highly exclusive menu before LaPrad takes it to the Big Apple to surely wow the JB crowd once again. Visit this page for more information.

Quiessence is located at 6106 S. 32nd Street in Phoenix  602.276.0601