What's Cookin'? Smithtown - Whole Foods Market Supper Club

What’s Cookin’? – Smithtown

 By Nancy Vallarella  - Photos by Lori Schneider

Whole Foods Market Supper Club – a must try dining experience!

Since April of last year, Whole Foods Market, Lake Grove has been hosting a monthly Supper Club.  After a short hiatus for the busy holiday months of November and December, they resumed this past January. I had the good fortune of getting in before registration closed. Although the menu appeared promising, I have to admit being skeptical due to the low price of $15.00 for a four course meal and the aspect of communal dining as I had anticipated going solo. I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. 

After checking in at the Customer Service and paying the $15.00 fee (receipt is required to be seated) I was greeted at the opposite front corner of the store by Marketing Team Leader and our hostess for the evening Lori Schneider. Lori graciously greeted us and we picked our seats. Suggestion: Get there early if you are picky about seating. 

I really lucked out at my table. Sitting next to me was veteran Supper Clubber Marilyn and her plus one Erwin.  Across from me were Jane, Jerry, Jennifer and June – no Joke!   We all began to share our love for great food, area restaurants and foodie gossip. As the first course arrived there was an abrupt and prolonged silence, generally a positive sign during food service.

Lori gave us a brief description of the ingredients used and how the recipes where developed using minimal amounts of salt and oil in keeping with the relaunch of Whole Foods Market’s Health Starts Here program.  Each dish was packed with flavor.  The full menu for the evening included: No Cream Winter Vegetable Bisque, Cilantro Lime Baked Chicken Wings with Pad Thai Kale Salad, Thai Baked Salmon with Baby Bok Choy and Honey Green Tea Granita with Glazed Pears and Pomegranates. All were very good but the clear favorite was the salmon which was expertly seasoned and cooked to perfection by in-house chefs Gavin Fitzpatrick and Siara Mole who made an appearance to take questions and pass along published copies of their recipes to take home. 

The Supper Club is usually held on a Monday night although this month will be an exception and will be held on Tuesday, February 25^th.    For the official menu check the Whole Foods, Lake Grove facebook page but early info has Spiced Sweet Potato & Broccoli Crostini, Winter Squash Carbonara, Balsamic Glazed Cornish Hen with Barley, Cauliflower & Fresh Herb Buratta and Myer Lemon Cream with Graham Cracker Sea Salt and Whole Trade Fruit planned. The four course meal is $15.00. Guests will be asked if they would like to make an additional voluntary $5.00 donation to the Whole Planet Foundation.

The Whole Planet Foundation was founded to help alleviate poverty and hunger in world-wide communities that supply products to Whole Food Stores. They provide grants to microfinance institutions which service 59 countries. These institutions offer microenterprise loan programs, training and financial services to the self-employed poor. Since 2006, over forty million dollars have been committed with a 97% repayment rate. 

Seating for this event is limited.  To register for this Supper Club event call Whole Foods, Lake Grove at 631-588-1466.

Thai Baked Salmon with Ginger Marinated Mushrooms