Get a taste of Tela's Market & Kitchen
The culinary project in Francisville will do pop-ups at JG Domestic.
Back in January, I mentioned an ambitious market/cafe planned by developer Daniel Greenberg for his four-story building under construction on the northeast corner of 19th Street and Fairmount Avenue.
Its working name, just to keep it off the radar, was Fairmount Grocery - a misnomer, since 19th and Fairmount is just over the line in the Francisville neighborhood.
No matter. The project is moving forward for an October opening as Tela's Market & Kitchen, named after Greenberg's beagle.
Chef Chad Williams - a former longtime Jose Garces righthand man (Amada, Chifa, his early Iron Chef TV appearances) - is executive chef.
While the market's shelves will be stocked with products from local farmers, growers, and fishermen - including seasonal produce from New Jersey and Pennsylvania farms, Viking Village Seafood, FourBarrel Coffee, and meats from Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors and DeBragga and Spitler - Williams will prepare simple meals, including hot entrees, made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads, and more for takeout or consumption in the cafe. There will be a barista station and 30 seats for dining.
Which is where Williams will really get a chance to show off. He will host family-style dinner events on weekends.
Tela's will host two pop-up dinners for 14 people at a communal table at JG Domestic (2929 Arch St.) on Sept. 15 and Sept. 29.
"Tela's Dinner Table at JG Domestic" ($85) will feature a three-course meal served family-style with beverage pairing.
The Sept. 15 event will feature a beer pairing by Gerard Olson, co-owner of Forest & Main Brewing Co., and local beer enthusiast Jonny Medlinsky. First course will be Creekstone Farm Beef Tartare; Bitter Greens with Green Goddess Dressing; Summer Vegetable and Goat Cheese Tart. Second course is Barnegat Light Seafood in fresh Seaweed Butter, Jersey Corn Chowder, Crispy New Potatoes with Smoked Garlic. Third course is Slow-Cooked Lava Lake Lamb, Warm Green Pea Hummus, Roasted Carrots with Fresh Buttermilk. Dessert is Bing Cherry Ice Cream with brown butter & cinnamon.Book seats by emailing Williams.
The Sept. 29 menu is still being developed.
This whole urban grocery store/chef's table thing is all the rage, apparently - witness Talula's Daily here as well as Court Street Market in Brooklyn and Jeffrey's Grocery in the West Village.