Dinner and a Movie at the Cascade Theatre was so much fun in January that come Friday, we’ll enjoy the first of a four-part encore. Bravo!
It’s the same concept – popular culinary-themed films, food demos and delicious samples – with just a few changes.
Last time Dinner and a Movie’s name left some people with the expectation of a full meal and movie for their $10 admission fee, rather than a movie and some samples. The good news is that many area restaurants benefited afterward. This time the food-film series is called Cooking at the Cascade.
Last time the films were held each Wednesday, a school night for many of us. This time the Cooking at the Cascade series will be held each Friday – traditionally a TGI-can-sleep-in-tomorrow night.
Last time the series began at 6:30 p.m. (see school night, above). This time it begins at 7 p.m., which allows working folks a chance to get home, change into play clothes and anticipate a night of grown-up fun.
Which reminds me, last time some of the movies were kid-friendly. This time they are not, not, not. No children, please.
Last time we featured four chefs – one each night – who joined me for on-stage demonstrations of meatballs and marinara, macaroni and cheese, pies and chocolate truffles. I hope you tried all the recipes. They were (are) delicious.
This time we will feature eight chefs: Each night one of your favorite “mixologists” will join me on stage before the film to show how to make a summer drink (available – if you can believe it – for sale to drink during the film at the Cascade concession stand).
Likewise, each night a chef will join me on stage after the movie to demonstrate a quick summer recipe that complements the movies’ themes. Samples galore.
As with Dinner and a Movie, for one month during Cooking at the Cascade the theatre stage will be transformed into the Cascade Kitchen, thanks to Carmona’s Appliance Center’s generous loan of a cooktop, oven and refrigerator.
For our July 31 finale, in addition to a chef on stage with me, we’ll project a live remote video feed of Backyard Destinations’ Big Green Egg experts as they barbecue outdoors.
The participating businesses and their movies are, in order of appearance: Pio Loco and Downtown Eatery: Fried Green Tomatoes; Tapas and Market St. Steakhouse: Like Water for Chocolate; Maritime Seafood & Grill and Thai Bistro: Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, and Tapas Restaurant & Bar, Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant and Backyard Destinations: Spanglish.
These fun Friday foodie films are possible thanks to Cooking at the Cascade’s sponsors: Carmona’s Appliance Center, the Cascade Theatre, Enjoy magazine, Pages, Jefferson Public Radio and of course, your favorite online news source, anewscafe.com.
I’ll do better this time, too. I won’t bend over to open and peek inside a lighted oven or refrigerator behind the movie screen during the film, because any kid will tell you that one sheet, plus one flashlight, plus one body equals an amazingly crisp silhouette.
I’ll do a better job gathering all my supplies in advance, too, so Bruce need not race down to Market Street Steakhouse to borrow a pasta pot.
Once again, admission is a bargain price of $10 per night or $30 for the series. It’s a terrific gift for a foodie, inside the blessedly air-conditioned historic Cascade Theatre. Cooking at the Cascade is a delicious way to kick off the weekend. But most of all, it’s a way to support our precious Cascade Theatre while being entertained, and learning food and drink tips from some of the north state’s most respected chefs and mixologists.
See you Friday.
