Irvington's Good-Life Gourmet to Take Fine Resturant Dining on the Road

Next month, chef Eric C. Korn, owner of Good-Life Gourmet, will inaugurate a traveling series of Thursday-to-Saturday, prix-fixe dinner programs called "Restaurant Maise." 

A temporary restaurant will pop up every month or so at changing locations such as cocktail lounges, luncheonettes, catering facilities and possibly tea houses only to disappear as quickly as it showed up. The menu will reflect unique recipes that Chef Korn has experimented with for years.

Korn refers to the new venture as a "pop up restaurant business" because, "we find a new spot, redecorate, open for a few days, serve great food, and disappear as quickly as we opened."

He commented, "I think every chef dreams about opening a restaurant one day and while I have my sandwich shop and catering kitchen, this represents an opportunity for me to open a fine-food restaurant." Restaurant Maise is a fitting name for a chef whose last name is Korn. As he pointed out, "With the last name of Korn, how could I not tie it in?"

Good-Life Gourmet is both a high-end, boutique-style caterer and a specialty sandwich shop based in Irvington, N.Y. The shop changes its offerings frequently—usually every week. It has developed its own juice lines (3-5 Day Juice Cleanse and Good-Life Juice 'til Dinner Diet). It also conducts cooking classes.

Getting ready for the road trip

Korn mentioned that, in preparation, he has been running tests with the shop's sandwiches and welcomes the opportunity to turn flavor combinations into true restaurant dishes. He said, "We have been looking at items like our braised bacon, roasted chicken and potato latkes. Kimchi and braised pistachios are newer projects and I can’t wait to see them on fancy plates going out of the kitchen."

Restaurant Maize will conduct its first pop up at Paulie's Bar and Grill, 14 Marble Ave, in Pleasantville, N.Y. on March 15-17.

The menu for the four-course, prix-fixe dinner at Paulie's includes:

Appetizers

Braised bacon. With grilled orange and kimchi
Yukon gold blinis. Accompanied by roasted mushroom, zested lemon and grilled scallion
Duck confit tacos. Served with grilled pineapple salsa and cilantro crema
Arugula salad. With cherries, pistachio and grilled shallot

Main courses

French roasted chicken. With Southern biscuit, grilled asparagus and chipotle gravy
Duck breast. With roasted potatoes, greens and pistachio cherry sauce
Pan roasted striped bass. With elephant beans, greens and wild mushrooms
Petite fillet of beef. With a habanero potato latke, grilled asparagus and honey lime sauce

Cheese plate

An assortment of the chef's favorite cheeses.

Desserts

The dessert menu will include whimsical dishes such as “chocolate and churros” and “fancy Fruit Loops” acompanied by coffee or tea.

The cost is $55 per person; tax and tip are additional. Wine especially paired for the dinner will be available by the bottle or glass at an extra cost. Seatings are available from 6:45 p.m. Reservations can be made by emailing reservations@Good-LifeGourmet.com or calling 914-478-8080.

Korn grew up in Hartford, Connecticut and attended South Windsor High School. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio and subsequently graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City.

The Irvington shop is at 108 Main Street. 914-478-8080. www.good-lifegourmet.com

You can let chef Korn know if you would like to suggest a venue for a pop up appearance of Restaurant Maise by commenting below.