A soft glow emanated from inside Flyover as the muffled sound of guests mingling with chefs Adam Wells-Morgan and Shelly La Fata held the promise of sharing a thoughtfully prepared meal. The scene was from the January 19 Celebration of Missouri Food and Wine pop-up, presented by COMO Magazine, bringing together Wells-Morgan of Flyover and La Fata of Pasta La Fata for a collaborative culinary experience.
Although diners purchased their reservations for the exclusive event weeks in advance, the location and menu were not revealed until the day before. Guests enjoyed shared appetizers followed by three carefully crafted courses — artichoke and mushroom soup, burrata tortellini, and pork tenderloin, each expertly paired with a wine from Stone Hill Winery — before a final dessert of dark chocolate and orange mousse.
Ingredients were locally sourced, with pork provided by the Missouri Pork Association. A portion of the proceeds supported Mizzou’s hospitality school.
Now comes a second serving of the exclusive pop-up in June.
Ticket buyers will be alerted to the location and the menu the day before the delectable event. The chefs preparing for the second serving of a Celebration of Missouri Food and Wine are Jeff Guinn and Mark Sulltrop. Guinn is the executive chef and food and beverage director at the Broadway Hotel, 11Eleven, and The Roof. Sulltrop, chef and owner of 44 Canteen and 44 Tavern, said he is looking forward to the celebration.
“I want to be involved to express my creativity, build meaningful relationships, and help highlight some of the very best food and wine our state has to offer,” he said.
Guinn is eager to further build the celebration’s brand and to collaborate with other chefs “to showcase to the community the abundance of amazing local food products crafted into a memorable dinner experience.”
Guinn also emphasized the significance of the event benefitting “the future leaders of our industry” through scholarships within the University of Missouri’s hospitality management program.
The secretive celebration is being jointly coordinated by COMO Magazine and John LaRocca, president of the Missouri Restaurant Association and former general manager of Mizzou’s University Club. LaRocca is also the host of “The Dish,” COMO Magazine’s monthly newsletter that explores Columbia’s food and drink scene.
“To watch these talented chefs create some amazing dishes using the best of Missouri, paired with award-winning wines from Stone Hill is a true joy,” he said. An added sense of purpose is to support the education of the future of the hospitality industry by giving a portion of the event’s proceeds to the Mizzou hospitality management program’s scholarship fund. He added, “I just sit back and watch the magic happen.”
Stone Hill Winery is on board again to participate in the second Celebration of Missouri Food and Wine pop-up.
“Great wine deserves great food, so it is always an honor to partner with some of the best chefs in the region and highlight the special food and wine being made right here,” said Nathan Held of Stone Hill Winery. Held also echoed the satisfaction of supporting Mizzou’s hospitality scholarship fund.
He said there is “an incredible lineup of some of our highest-awarded wines, and some of my favorites,” for the event, “so I have no doubt that it will be a delicious evening.”
COMO Magazine publisher David Nivens said he was “deeply appreciative” of the time and effort that went into the first exclusive pop-up.
“From my vantage point, everything went incredibly smoothly from the check-in process through closing, making the event an undeniable success,” he said. “The food was incredible, the company was delightful, the host was spot-on, and everyone I spoke with had the best time and had so many great things to say about the experience.”
SAVE THE DATE!
June 15th
The Chefs
Chef Jeff Guinn
Eleven 11/The Broadway Hotel
Chef Mark Sulltrop
44 Canteen/44 Tavern
The Experience
Four Courses
Paired with Stone Hill Winery selections
Supporting scholarships for Mizzou’s Hospitality Management program
Save Your Seat
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