Escape Montclair Chef Announces Cancer-Research Benefit Dinner

On the night before his farm-to-plate five course dinner, chef Brian Gregg of Escape Montclair is teaming up with another elite chef, Chef Ian Kapitan of soon-to-open Old School BBQ and Recess Diner in Toronto, for a charity benefit meal.

Gregg and Kapitan will be serving up a five-course meal together, with 50 percent of the proceeds going toward cancer research at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center of NJ, at Escape Montclair Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. The dinner is $68 per person and participants may bring their own wines to pair with the meal.

“Chef Kapitan and I became friends while he worked at Alobar. He shares my passion for local sourcing and creating interesting and flavor-packed dishes and I know our guests will enjoy what we have cooking for them, pun intended” said Gregg in a release. “While I’m excited to have Ian at Escape and cooking alongside a chef I respect, the goal of the charity-driven dinners we do is to drive up our donations to cancer treatment and research in New Jersey and I know our December event will again exceed our expectations.”

The menu is as follows:

Amuse Bouche

Surprise of Chef Gregg

1st Course

Sea urchin, delicate squash, amaranth – Chef Gregg

2nd Course

Lobster knuckle, smoked Maitake, foie juice – Chef Gregg

3rd Course

Arctic char, cucumber, tomato gelée, rye, dill – Chef Kapitan

4th Course

Pork belly, winter succotash, blue corn, smoked pear - Chef Kapitan

5th Course

Gingerbread, apple crumb, crème fraiche – Chef Gregg

Seating for the event is very limited. To reserve a spot, interested persons may call 973-744-0712.