Michael and Tara Gallina, the husband-and-wife team behind the much-anticipated Vicia (4260 Forest Park), will host a dinner at their new restaurant March 21 on behalf of the James Beard Foundation.
The event is a part of the foundation's Celebrity Chef Tour, a dinner series that brings together James Beard Award winners and local chefs to a handful of cities across the country every year. Guests can get "a taste of what happens at the James Beard House in New York City."
The dinner at Vicia will include a cocktail reception complete with a specialty cocktail, wine, beer, and food stations inside the restaurant and at the outdoor grill. Guests can then enjoy a multi-course dinner with fare from Michael and these six chefs:
- Owen Clark of Rolf and Daughters (Nashville)
- Kevin Nashan of The Peacemaker and Sidney Street Cafe (St. Louis)
- Ryan Poli of The Catbird Seat (Nashville)
- Mike Randolph of Público and Randolfi's (St. Louis)
- Ted Wilson of Union Loafers (St. Louis)
- Pastry chef Bobby Schaffer (Chicago)
The Gallinas say they've been in conversation with the James Beard Foundation about working together since plans for Vicia were announced. The foundation offered the option of the duo traveling to New York City to cook at the James Beard House or hosting an event in St. Louis.
"We are super excited about the opportunity to cook with several of our friends and make the most of our brand new restaurant space," the pair said in an email.
It's also a chance for the Gallinas to reconnect with chefs they've worked with in the past. Michael cooked with Clark at Blue Hill in New York City (the sister restaurant to Blue Hill at Stone Barns), and Schaffer was the most recent pastry chef while the Gallinas worked at Stone Barns. They also worked alongside Poli at Stone Barns.
"Like us, they have also relocated back to the middle of the country in the last few years," the Gallinas said, adding: "It felt great to pair these guys up with some of our newest friends here in St. Louis—chefs that we've had the pleasure of collaborating with during our year of pop-up dinners."
The concept and theme for the dinner is still in development, but tickets go on sale this week here.
Tara, general manager of Vicia, and Michael, executive chef, met at Blue Hill at Stone Barns (which won the 2015 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in America) and moved to St. Louis—Michael's hometown—in 2015.
