Vegan Harvest Pop-Up In Review

A few dozen came out last Thursday to enjoy a delicious and mysterious 4-course vegan harvest "pop-up" dinner in Worcester. The local chefs worked behind the scenes to create not only a hearty fall-inspired menu, but also to offer a delightful candle-lit evening with old friends, new friends and plenty of suspense.

Though the multi-functional location of the pop-up might be better known for its showcasing of underground music, it transformed nicely into an atmospheric and imaginative dinner venue. The room was complete with long white-clothed tables and mis-matched wine glasses.

Guests were invited to enjoy their choice of wine while waiting for the hors d'oeuvres of spinach, onion marmalade, walnuts and 'vegan feta' in endive leaves. The endive appetizers served to share amongst each table were an inventive choice with a unique variety of flavors and textures that one could find inspiring.

The second course was an ode to the season, a butternut squash and sweet potato soup served with loaves of warm fresh bread. Slicing the bread as a group was a fun conversation starter and the pieces were perfect for dipping.

There was quite a wait in between the second and third course, which gave time for guests to relax, chat, and enjoy the wine. Although the intriguing pauses in between dishes weren’t too much of a bother, it was easy to fill up on wine and delicious bread!

When the main course was ready, it came out in shifts, straight out of the oven and served with pot-holdered hands. The bowls of shells in mascarpone béchamel with caramelized mushrooms and onions were pleasantly creamy and had a baked crispy topping. Scrumptious and filling, yet almost overwhelming in its size, the shells dish was worth the wait.

As a sweet ending to the evening, the chocolate and pumpkin bread pudding was flavorful, holiday-inspired and left nothing to be desired. Following the dessert, the distinguished chefs for the evening came out to thank everyone for attending what hopefully was the first of many “pop-up” dinners to come.

Atmosphere, creativity and good vegan food made for an interesting and enjoyable evening in Worcester. Congratulations to the organizers of this event for the success of this first-time occasion, and the delectable choice of food. It can’t be said for sure where or when this tasty endeavor might return, but suffice it to say, this 4-course meal was more of an event than simply a dinner, and one that shouldn’t be missed next time it pops up.

  
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