2020 Pork & Cork Featured New Venue, Young Chef
Pork and Cork has become a staple in okPORK’s yearly calendar. This year’s edition featured a young chef and one of the best, newest venues in OKC.
On October 1, 23-year-old Chef Ryan Hunt brought four amazing pork dishes to life. Forty guests arrived at Birra Birra, a modern Italian eatery that has grown in popularity since it opened. Ruffino wines were featured with each course.
The night’s menu was outstanding! It all started with Italian Nachos featuring pork belly that was braised to perfection. The blend of fresh hummus, chipotle aioli and sauteed bell peppers only enhanced the appetizer experience. A Prosecco D.O.C. provided a light, fruity start for the evening.
Course two was the favorite of the night. Wagyu and pork loin meatballs with Birra signature red sauce, fresh sage and basil were so tender and full of flavor. The three giant meatballs were very filling, and we hope to see them on the menu at Birra Birra sometime. The Ruffino Modus was a rich, silky mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a distinctive character. It certainly went well with the pork meatballs.
Next up was a large, center-cut pork chop that was perfectly pink, flavored just right and drizzled with a lemon demi glaze. The chop sat atop a creamy mushroom risotto with cherry tomatoes and spinach. Riserva Ducale Oro with its spices and lingering finish of chocolate and coffee beautifully enhanced the flavor of the night’s main dish.
Finally, Chef Hunt tamed everyone’s sweet tooth with blueberry sweetbread toped with sweet corn and bacon ice cream. You may not have experienced sweet corn and bacon in your ice cream, but we highly recommend it. The savory elements in the ice cream were perfect for the sweetness of the blueberries in the bread. Ruffino Moscato D’asti was a wonderful dessert wine with its flavors of sage and fresh white stone fruit.
After all that pork and cork goodness, all the guests were smiling and exclaiming how they couldn’t believe they’d eaten it all. We call that a good night! Keep the name Ryan Hunt in mind. He has a bright future and if this meal is an indicator, his career as a chef will be a distinguished one.
Thank you to everyone who attended the event to support okPORK’s non-checkoff activities.
