THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605210183
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On the Town
SOURCE: Sam Martinette
LENGTH: 67 lines
If food is art, then we might consider fine dining a form of theater, certainly performance art. The tabletop is a stage on which the chef's drama is presented by a waiter who serves much as a director might, setting the pace and controlling the action through the timing of the delivery, just as an actor delivers his lines.
That said, then it's no wonder that the Taphouse Grill in Ghent has teamed up with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Generic Theater for a special performance and cast reception set for this Sunday, following the 6 p.m. performance of ``Goodnight Desdemona (good morning juliet).''
A ticket donation of $16 entitles patrons to attend the play - a psychological comedy that twists the plots of Shakespeare's ``Othello'' and ``Romeo and Juliet'' together into a concoction that has been called ``the bard with an attitude'' - and mingle with the cast at the Taphouse Grill at an 8 p.m. reception benefiting the Foodbank.
According to Taphouse executive chef Nancy Cobb, the offerings at the reception will include a penne pasta salad with marinated mushrooms, olives and sundried tomatoes, shaved turkey and roast beef, ``warm'' or slightly spicy wings done in an Italian marinade and served with a light marinara and white sauce, as well as fruit and cheese trays, brie and fresh baked bread.
As an additional incentive for patrons to attend the Generic Theater that evening, the Taphouse is also offering a discount on dinner for those who plan to dine prior to the performance. Simply present some proof of theater reservations, or tickets, anytime between 3 and 5:30 p.m. to receive a discount.
For information on the reception or to make dinner reservations, call the Taphouse Grill (931 W. 21st St. 627-9172). To make theater reservations, call the Generic Theater (912 W. 21st St., 624-1333).
The penne pasta salad is one of the offerings on the new Taphouse menu for spring. Cobb said that it is a lot heavier on seafood, with additions such as fresh mussels on angel-hair pasta with tomatoes and capers, a tuna steak marinated in chipotle (chili pepper) sauce and grilled, and for vegetarians, a new spinach and sun-dried tomato pizza.
By the way, it takes a brave crew of actors to mingle with patrons armed with tomatoes, sun-dried or not.
Across town, the new Copacetie Cafe (455 Granby St., 623-2761), is open three nights a week (Thursday-Saturday) until 2 a.m., offering a selection of a dozen micro-brews, domestics on tap, wine by the glass, and live music. Thursday nights are Open Mike night, when musicians and bands are encouraged to try their music out, while Friday and Saturday nights the music may range from alternative rock to jazz.
There will be no cover this weekend for the acoustic jazz styling of Karl Werne and Eddie Williams, but there will be a $3 cover on Friday, May 31st for ``One Hot Foot,'' and the following night for ``Knuckle.''
Copacetie Cafe also plans a three-day music blowout for Harborfest Weekend, June 7, 8, and 9, with bands playing all day and into the evening. Bands that will appear include ``Wings For Icarus,'' ``King Baby Manchild,'' ``One Hot Foot,'' ``Crab Nebula,'' ``BLVD 58'' and ``Quiver,'' along with others to be announced.
As for the food in the evening, appetizers include a hummus dip, served with oven-baked pita chips ($4.95); a vegetarian nacho platter ($4.95); and a dozen mushroom caps stuffed with a crabmeat blend and seasoned with white wine ($7.95). A New York-style ham and cheese sandwich is $5.25, as is an Italian Meatball sandwich (both come with a macaroni salad), while a crabcake on a Kaiser roll is $6.25.
There are two dinner entrees presently; shrimp scampi (eight sauteed shrimp in a butter and garlic sauce, over a bed of rice-$8.95); and a marinated, boneless chicken breast teriyaki, also served over rice ($8.95). by CNB