Ridgewells Catering Provides D.C. With ‘A Taste Of Spring’…

BETHESDA, Md. -- Having refined his craft under the watchful eyes of a handful of renowned chefs, including Thomas Keller and Tom Colicchio, not to mention his Associate degree in Culinary Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management, and Master of Arts in Studio Arts, it seemed like Ridgewells Catering’s new Corporate Chef Robert Gadsby needed more of a welcoming than an introduction to the District.

Yet there he stood, along with CEO Susan Lacz, inside Ridgewells’ comfortable studio space on Tuesday night talking to a few dozen of the area’s tastemakers about his new D.C. gig and, more specifically, the new spring menu he had just unveiled to his now satiated audience.

Lucky guests included DC Magazine’s Peter Abrahams and TheListAreYouOnIt.com’s Nycci Nellis.
Indeed, Robert had spent the hour or two preceding his introduction, with his team inside the building’s kitchen, slicing, torching, shaving, poaching, and otherwise cooking the evening’s gourmet seven course meal.

Ridgewells’ culinary team prepares “studies” of Hudson Valley foie gras for guests.
Guests, which included DC Magazine Publisher Peter Abrahams, TheListAreYouOnIt.com Publisher Nycci Nellis, and WTOP ‘Man About Town’ Bob Madigan, feasted on everything from Torched Yellow Tail to Sweet Corn Agnolotti to a Study of Hudson Valley Foie Gras to Poached Arctic Char to Wagyu Beef Sirloin.

The Sweet Corn Agnolotti with shaved American truffles was Chef Gadsby’s favorite of the event.

The poached Arctic char was married to langoustine, Shimeji mushrooms, and pain perdu.
And this didn’t even include the pre-dinner plates of duck consommé, BBQ spare ribs, and rigatoni or the pre-dessert cheese flight!

Fly away hunger…
Speaking of which, besides being Susan’s favorite part of the meal, the menu’s sweetest course consisted of a chocolate pudding cake, popcorn ice cream, roasted peanut caramel, and root beer gelee. Moreover, it was inspired by a recent trip to the movie theater by Ridgewells Pastry Designer Ashley Roop and accompanied by shots of specially paired liqueur.

’A Night at the Movies’ has never been sweeter!
For those Washingtonians that might have not yet heard of the Ridgewells name, the more than 80-year-old company can usually be found behind the scenes of some of the city’s most prominent social gatherings, including events for the U.S. Open, Washington Redskins, NPR, and countless other satisfied clients.

Please sir Robert, can we have some more?