Reno Bites Kick Off Party

Sadly, the Kickoff party was the only Reno Bites Week event that I was able to attend this year. Even though I was handing out Passports and kind of occupied with that for most of the evening, I still got to partake in everything that was being offered.
Tahoe Blue’s cocktail was nice and tart. The alligator étouffée from Ben Dieken was great. I’ve never had alligator before. Is this the kind of the thing we can expect on the Feast menu? As per usual, Blend Catering’s offerings were out of this world. The pork belly was so flavorful and tender, but the chickpea thing (what even was that?) was my favorite for the night. The slider from Reno Provisions could have used a little bit more flavor/​sauce. But not bad at all. Homage’s crab and corn chowder — whoa! Loved it! I wish I hadn’t waited so long before heading to their table because I missed most of the sweets they had. But I did get to try their incredibly airy cheesecake.
Overall, a great little sampling of all of these great businesses. Thinking back on all of it now makes me even more disappointed that I missed the rest of the Reno Bites Week events. Guess I’ll just have to wait until next year!

It’s time for my favorite Reno event — Reno Bites Week.
This year the kickoff party was at Reno Provisions. A nice large venue with several different areas to mingle around with helped the large crowd traffic flow. As we checked into the free event CM Michael and his Unilocal helpers Ly and Sarah greeted everyone and handed out the limited passports for next week. I love trying to fill it with all the restaurant stamps.
Tahoe Blue Vodka was sampling the vodka is a nice summery pineapple cocktail. Joe and Ben were serving alligator etouffe, can’t wait for their new place Feast to open. They are also offering a prize to be drawn for at the chef showdown. Provisions served up pork sliders. In the very back was Whitney and Josh Deri of Blend. The had melt in your mouth pork belly and fried creamy polenta squares. I admit I snuck back for a second piece of the polenta. Back up front Nicholle, owner of Homage had pedestals of sweet treats– German pecan mini pies, cheesecake, walnut mini pies and chocolate peanut butter cups. If you thought you might share one of these treats you were totally wrong. Too delish to share. She also served an incredible crab and corn chowder– lots of crab in each bit and a hint of heat in the end. Sorry if I left anyone or any bites out. It was a busy evening
This is a great start to RBW, you get a chance to sample some of the food available during the next week and talk to many of the area chefs. Reno has a fantastic food scene DON’T MISS IT !!!

What could be more appropriate. We have a great week or so ahead of us. A journey of culinary adventure that Reno has possibly never seen before. And where do we lash the dogs to the sled? Where do we embark on this epic sojourn? A place called Provisions. And provisions were provided in abundance.
Tahoe Blue had the entrance cocktail. Just a little sip to get the appetite whet. A light lemony concoction perfect to get things going.
Immediately following that is Tournant giving up a proper honorific to Chef Paul Prudhomme in a tasty Alligator Etouffe. This was a nice start. Not to wild in the flavors but rich and balanced all at the same time. If I wasn’t excited with the soon to be open Feast… I am now! The brains/​brawn combo here isn’t just a one two punch but a three, four or even more series of hits! Loved the corn husk bowls!
From there I think the intent was to head back to the Sliders being served from the Reno Provisions counter proper. The sliders were just right and not too heavy. I personally would have loved a stronger horseradish sauce, but that is just a personal preference.
Further into the depths of the store we found ourselves at the Czyz’s demo kitchen where Blend was offering a skewer of pork belly and some sort of deep fried hummus. The pork belly made me wish I could go to every event these guys ever cater. Then I had the chickpea thing and I wanted to just book them right now for every meal of my life.
I made my Uturn and returned to the front of Provisions. My spot of drink was long gone… so I opened a tab for the House Barreled Negroni on tap. During Happy Hour this is the best deal in town for a Negroni unless you come to my house. The aging mellows the Negroni as many people know it… giving it a much more drinkable profile. Totally worth trying this one or even the one at Campo if you haven’t been a fan in the past.
After the bar I headed to my last stop… the table of Homage. Oh My Homage! That crab etc chowder was right. And by right I mean it worked so well to finish the tour around the Provisions store Reno Bites Kickoff trip. What? There’s more? These desserts are for the guests too?! Wow.
I can’t say just how great this even was because I don’t have the words to do it justice. The samples here tonight were made by the «Michael Jordan’s» of the Reno food scene. Some of the hardest working and most talented that Reno has to offer.
Speaking of hard work and oozing talent… I picked up that Unilocal Passport to Reno Bites sometime between Negroni and Negroni. ;) Unilocal of course had a great presence there, Michael T. always knows the best events to support and be involved in.
From all of the food talent and great friends I was able to catch up with, the Kickoff turned out to be an event that fired on all cylinders for me. Now if I could only get that hot girl at the Unilocal booth to come home with me…

Really fun event.
It was well organized and access to the food and drink options was smooth.
The Unilocal table was strategically placed at the entrance with the snazzy red passbooks and passbook covers decoratively arranged amid the requisite Unilocal swag.
The first drink was on the house and subsequent cocktails were $ 4 each. A great deal. Food was delicious. An Alligator Cajun dish in honor of the late great Paul Prudhomme, Pork Belly and chick pea appetizers from Blend, short rib sliders from Provisions, and a dessert table of amazing goodies from Homage. I walked away stuffed.
As usual, the company was fabulous and the organizers did a stupendous job of putting together an excellent event. A great way to kick off 10 days of all things food. Looking forward to all the good eating.