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| Glamorosi and Chef David Katz at Mémé |
Chef David Katz named his restaurant Mémé after a Moroccan word that means “grandmother”. Last week’s Mémé at Mémé Dinner held on Wednesday, June 15th, was named because his Mother (his son's Mémé), Suzanne Katz, was there to oversee a special menu that featured dishes from her birthplace, Morocco (she moved to the States at age 13). Mother and son cooked together before, back when she and a then teen-aged David worked at Ment's Seafood in Cape May, NJ.
Guests assembled at communal tables for a meal that included several vegetable salads, potato pastels with a ground beef center, pea and potato stew, lamb and turnip tagine with prunes and almonds, grilled merguez with cous cous and baked cod with heirloom tomato and lemon. Dishes were seasoned with fresh herbs and spices including parsley, cumin, and turmeric. The finale was a decadent almond-apricot cigar with orange blossom honey served with fragrant cups of hot, sweet mint tea.
This wasn't our first time at Mémé – we’ve been there on several occasions including a particularly memorable meal… Back in 2008 while on our way to set up my booth at a jewelry show, A.D. and I were in a car accident. We were very banged up and still a bit traumatized a week later when we went on our first post-crash outing to celebrate my birthday at Mémé. We were giddy because the food was so delicious (roasted beets, duck breast), and giggling because we were so happy to be alive and doing something normal again.
Chef Katz came over and sat with us before our dessert (yummy brown butter cake). As we recounted the details of our accident, it dawned on me that the relaxed (but elegant) atmosphere of the 40-seat restaurant combined with Katz' personality had the feel of dining with family. That’s my impression of Mémé - it’s comfortable, like home. Shortly after that night, I stopped by the Mémé website and discovered that was exactly the vibe Chef Katz was going for when he opened his restaurant.
They are currently taking reservations for Monday, July 18th, when Chef Katz presents Mémé’s 3rd Annual Pig Dinner. The five-course meal will feature dishes by an impressive roster of Philly's star chefs: Matt Levin (Adsum), Michael Solomonov (Zahav), Peter Woolsey (Bistrot La Minette), Terence Feury (Fork), Monica Glass (10 Arts Bistro), John Taus (The Corner), Jennifer Carroll (10 Arts Bistro), and also sommelier Michael Madrigale (Bar Boulud NYC).
For information and reservations:
Mémé Restaurant
2201 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.735.4900
Photo of Glamorosi and David Katz ©A.D. Amorosi 2011
To read my previous post about the One Night in Morocco Dinner at Zahav Restaurant with with Chefs David Katz (Mémé) and Michael Solomonov (Zahav) click here.
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