CHEF JAY SPARKS FEATURED JUNE 2; JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNERS ALEX ROBERTS AND ISAAC BECKER FEATURED IN JULY AND AUGUST; ADAM KING SLATED AS UPCOMING GUEST CHEF
Minneapolis, May 31, 2011—
Gather
, the new restaurant at the Walker Art Center featuring globally inspired modern American cuisine, officially opens on June 2, 2011. Created and operated by D’Amico & Partners, Gather will serve lunch six days a week (Tuesday–Sunday, 11:30 am–2:30 pm). On Thursday evenings (5 pm–9 pm), in conjunction with the Walker’s Target Free Thursday Nights, Gather will offer a unique culinary experience: “small plates” dinner service with a new menu item each month created by a guest chef. Thursday nights will also include a full beverage menu with signature cocktails.
D’Amico executive chef
Josh Brown
’s lunch menu will feature globally inspired American cuisine served in a casual, elegant setting. Featured dishes include a salad of warm salt-roasted beets with asparagus, pistachio, parmesan, and saporoso vinegar; halibut with spring onions, favas, and morels; barbeque beef short rib banh mi sandwiches; and buttermilk-marinated chicken with artichokes, sweet peas, chard, and burrata; along with many other meat, fish, and vegetarian entrees; desserts; and wines by the bottle or by the glass.
Brown began working with D’Amico in 1997 at age 19 and has been a chef at several other restaurants including Masa and Campiello.
The restaurant’s interior has been completely redesigned by
Andrew Blauvelt
, the Walker’s curator of architecture and design. Intended to encourage social interaction among guests, the space features a myriad of “gathering points,” including a new, informal bar/lounge and a communal table for groups of up to eight. Gather’s open floor plan also offers guests a view of chefs at work in the kitchen.
The space features custom leather banquettes, armchairs, and barstools by Munich-based Konstantin Grcic, chandeliers and lighting fixtures by Jeremy Pyles of Brooklyn-based Niche Modern, table systems by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, and lace-etched candle holders by Tom Dixon.
Thursday Evening Chef-Driven Sampler Series
Each Thursday evening between 5 and 9 pm, Walker visitors enjoy free gallery admission as part of Target Free Thursday Nights. Now, a unique, chef-driven sampler series at Gather will join the Free Thursday Night lineup. The restaurant will showcase a high-profile guest chef presenting new “small plate” menu items on the first Thursday of each month. Guests can also sample free tastings of menu items on the first Thursday of each month.
Guest chefs will serve complimentary samples and be on site to answer questions every first Thursday; on subsequent Thursday evenings throughout the month, D’Amico chefs will execute the dishes on behalf of the guest chefs for Gather patrons. Thursday evening service will also include a full bar with an innovative specialty cocktail menu.
Jay Sparks
, Executive Chef of D’Amico and Partners and culinary mentor to many high-profile local chefs, will be the first featured chef on Thursday, June 2. Sparks oversees the menu development and all culinary aspects at D’Amico Kitchen, Parma 8200, Masa, Campiello, and Café & Bar Lurcat.
Alex Roberts
, winner of the 2010’s James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest” and owner of the highly-acclaimed Restaurant Alma and Brasa restaurants, will be the guest chef for the July 7 event, and his culinary creations will be served throughout July.
Isaac Becker
, winner of this year’s James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest” and chef and owner of Bar La Grassa and 112 Eatery, will be the guest chef on August 4.
Adam King
, chef at Café & Bar Lurcat, will be the guest chef on September 1.
.
Throughout the year, guest chefs will be drawn from D’Amico restaurants as well as other Minneapolis-St. Paul restaurants.
Other Culinary Developments at the Walker
Modern Events by D’Amico Catering at Gather and Walker Art Center
Modern Events by D’Amico will provide food service for all Walker Art Center events—both Walker-sponsored and private. Chef Josh Brown of D’Amico Catering will oversee menu planning for Modern Events by D’Amico.
Garden Grill opening June 4
The Walker’s Garden Grill (located on the Walker’s Vineland plaza across from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden) features grilled sausage classics, hot dogs, burgers, brats, and a variety of local beers, wine, soda, and lemonade. The Garden Grill also features happy hour drink specials on Thursday evenings from 5 to 9 pm. The Garden Grill is open Tuesday – Sunday 11:30 am – 5 pm; Thursday, 11:30 am – 9 pm.
Garden Café by D’Amico
Features salads, sandwiches, espresso coffee and tea drinks paired with a mix of sweet and savory baked goods and a selection of beer, wine, and soda.
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm; Thursday, 11 am- 8 pm.
About D’Amico & Partners
D’Amico & Partners, one of the nation’s preeminent restaurant and catering developers, owns and manages 24 restaurants in Minneapolis and Florida. Their properties include D’Amico Kitchen, Parma 8200, Campiello (2), Café and Bar Lurcat (2), D’Amico & Sons (12), and Masa—featuring upscale, contemporary Mexican cuisine. The Wall Street Journal hailed Masa one of the United States “top 10 most anticipated restaurant openings” when it opened.
About Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences. Focusing on the visual, performing, and media arts of our time, the Walker takes a global, multidisciplinary, and diverse approach to the creation, presentation, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art. Walker programs examine the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.