All food photos by Jessica White | Above: The King’s Meal / Beef Cheeks, Carrot, Potato, Cabernet Sauvignon / Inspired by the painting “Apollo”
Chris Barnum-Dann, chef-owner at Midtown’s Localis (derived from the Latin, meaning “belonging to a place”) takes his locally sourced, farm-fresh and seasonal cuisine seriously—so much so that Eater named it one of “California’s 38 Essential Restaurants.” While the menu at Localis rotates with the seasons, Barnum-Dann is looking to a new source of inspiration for his menu: local art. Corey Bernhardt, an artist who has himself created some of the chef’s tattoos, has teamed up with Barnum-Dann to serve up painting-inspired dishes that will be available on a tasting menu at Localis through the end of October. For example, a piece called Tendings depicting goldfish swimming around a beehive has given rise to Honey Fish, a halibut en papillote (that is, in a wrapper) served with a honey dashi. Other creations take a freer interpretation, like Emerald Cocoons, which features spinach and fennel ravioli stuffed with black cod chorizos and spiced mousse, all inspired by a piece called The Capsule, which depicts a black widow creating a fantastical, multicolored den. Reservations are between 5–8 p.m., and the full eight courses generally run from two-and-a-half to three hours long. Five courses starts at $79, and it’s $109 for eight, wine pairings not included. For more info, visit Localissacramento.com.
Risotto with Wings / Carnaroli Rice, Foraged Mushrooms, Lemon / Inspired by the painting “Catacombs”
Intermezzo: Pomspider / Pomegranate, Lemon Verbena / Inspired by the painting “Harvest Flight”
**This write-up first appeared in print on page 8 of issue #277 (Oct. 24 – Nov. 7, 2018)**
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