Bernie Lee credits women with profoundly shaping his growth as a person, restaurateur, and chef. To honor their influence, he is hosting a special event during Women’s History Month. On Monday, March 10, Lee will present an exclusive four-course wine dinner at his Clayton restaurant, akar (7641 Wydown).
“I’m not replicating their dishes,” he says, “but instead creating new ones inspired by their work and contributions to the culinary world.”
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
The evening begins with a mezcal cocktail, inspired by Lopez Real, a mezcal producer from Oaxaca, a region of Mexico Lee recently visited. “It’s incredibly challenging for women to break into the mezcal industry, especially without family ties,” Lee says. “These women have to teach themselves the craft before they can even begin production.”
Each of the four courses is paired with wine sourced from Dana Atwell of Vinoteca, featuring selections from female-owned wineries. Patricia Wamhoff, Advanced Sommelier and owner of PDW Consulting, collaborated with Lee to curate the perfect pairings. “She and I tasted over a dozen wines, and we chose four,” Lee says.
The dinner particulars are as follows:
- First Course:
- Dish: Scallop Ceviche stuffed Chile de Agua, passion fruit, Mole Negro
- Inspiration: Chef Mimi of Maíz, Oaxaca, an esteemed chef and mole master celebrated by the president of Mexico and featured in Vogue Mexico
- Wine Pairing: Mesquida Mora Sincronia Blanc, 2023 (Mallorca, Spain); producer: Barbara Mesquida Mora
- Second Course:
- Dish: Braised Young Abalone, Shiitake, Gai-Lan, Chow-Mein
- Inspiration: Mama Lee, Bernie’s mother from Malaysia, who instilled in him a love of food and cooking from the heart
- Wine Pairing: A Tribute to Grace, Grenache, 2023 (Santa Barbara, CA); producer: Angela Osborne
- Third Course:
- Dish: Lamb Biryani Pilaf, Cashew, Herbed Labneh
- Inspiration: Chef Hamishe Bahrami of Café Natasha, a trailblazing local restaurateur whose impact on the industry remains unforgettable
- Wine Pairing: Domaine Gour de Chaulé, 2021 (Gigondas, France); producer: Stephanie Fumoso
- Fourth Course:
- Dish: White Chocolate Cherry Tiramisu, salty cherry compote, pistachio
- Inspiration: Tamara Keefe of Clementine’s Creamery, a fearless entrepreneur who fought for her dreams
- Wine Pairing: El Maestro Sierra, Pedro Ximénez (Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Spain); producer: Dr. Carmen Borrego Plá
Tickets are $200 per person, exclusive of gratuity. The mezcal cocktail will be offered at 6:30, dinner is at 7:15. Reservations can be made here. (Note that prior specialty dinners at akar have sold out quickly, and this dinner is slated to include only 30 guests.)
