HaVen's Todd Erickson heads to The Fed for a Texas-style mash up

By Lesley Abravanel | Lank@aol.com10/22/2012

One never knows who or what's going to pop-up at The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, that something is HaVen Gastro Lounge's Todd Erickson, who will be duking it out Texas-style vis a vis a five course menu "accentuating tried and true Texan mantra." For those not of that mentality, the menu is going to be divied between the chefs and into a few categories: Deep Fried, Tex Mex, Game, BBQ and Sweets. The dinner will be paired with Austin-based Spoetzl Brewery beers, namely Shiner Bock. You, the people, will vote for the winner based on taste, plating and originality. As for why Texas, well, Erickson hails from Dallas and Cesar Zapata is an Art Institute Houston grad and spent his 'formative' chef years under the tutelage of James Beard-nominated H-town chef Timothy Keating. The menu is family style and costs $75 per person. Tickets are available on the website. And now for the most important--the menu:

Big-D vs. H-Town

-FRIED-

Chopped beef, roasted jalapeño, fried egg, Texas toast

-TEX-MEX-

Hatch roasted chicken, melted leek tamale

charred sweet corn salsa, queso de cabra

-BBQ-

Smoked short rib, Texas chili, sweet potatoes, spicy pickles

-GAME DUO-

Battle Quail

-DESSERT-

hummingbird cake + cream cheese mousse

melted pecan praline, caramelized pineapple