After I saw posts from the previous pop-up with Savor, I knew I had to attend the Sense and Satiety Pop-up Dinner in August; a delicious six-course dinner with wine pairings and live art was something I wouldn’t want to miss.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, however, the Sense and Satiety pop-up exceeded any I could have imagined. Savor, who is known for its meal prep services, partnered with local businesses to make this event a success. Clare Gillette, the sommelier at Classic Wine, created elegant pairings of wine to complement each dish, and the dishes themselves were an exciting culinary exploration with a theme and experience built-in. During the evening, Kay Ray from Tilt Vision Art Gallery, allowed attendees to choose colors to be used on her pallet and then painted a beautiful piece that reflected the experience of the event.
The whole thing was really quite the experience.
I had never tasted anything like the dishes that Savor prepared. Each course pushed the boundaries of my taste buds, and I was consistently surprised and delighted. From edible flowers to freeze-dried salad to Amazonian ants, this themed dinner was really an adventure.
Not only was the food delicious, but each course brought with it an experience of its own. The first course was the Tree of Life. Edible flowers hung from a tree and we were given scissors to cut them off and dip them in creamy goat cheese with honeycomb. Just sitting down at the table, I was already trying something I’d never encountered before.
The second course was a salad made to represent the forest floor. This freeze-dried salad featured the most amazing dressing I have ever tasted. The best bites had a little bit of everything in them: pistachio, escargot, the dressing, the salad. It was unlike anything I’ve ever had.
Following that was the wine-infused watermelon with Amazonian ants. Now, I certainly had never eaten ants before (or bugs of any kind for that matter) so I had some hesitation about trying this… but I’m glad I did. These artisanal flourishes came in a small jar similar to caviar and added a bit of texture and smokiness to the watermelon slices soaked in red wine. They offered guests the opportunity to scrape them off, and some did, but I didn’t want to miss out on any part of the experience. Perhaps my favorite part was using the small magnifying glass provided to see the details in the preparation.
Duck isn’t something I normally choose to eat, however, the fourth course, duck carnitas tacos, was to die for. This pair of tacos had a perfect balance of savory and spice in the sauce that I could have easily eaten three or four more.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the entree came out: smoked New York strip steak. With each course, the team of executive chefs explained the food and the story behind it. I loved hearing about how each course was prepared and learning about some of the unique (and in some cases rare) ingredients used. It helped me further appreciate how everything I was tasting was prepared and. 
The final course was a vibrant, overflowing s’mores board. We each got small individual fire pits that we roasted our own artisanal marshmallows on to combine with an array of chocolates, fruits, and cookies. It made me feel like a kid again, especially after all of the sophisticated courses before, but it tied together with the outdoors theme of the event. It was the perfect way to end the evening and everyone genuinely had a lot of fun; there was quite a bit of giggling.
While we enjoyed the smores and what felt like a campfire conversation, the artist, Kay Ray, told us the story of her painting that she had been working on throughout the evening. She was able to capture the entire experience into one magnificent piece.
Throughout the night, I sent pictures and videos to some friends of what I was doing and I definitely made them a little jealous. Because the experience was so unique, they were very interested and lived vicariously through my posts and messages.
With the overall experience of the evening, I’m glad I pushed my comfort zone with these meals because it was part of the complete experience. My palate has expanded tremendously from this dinner. Classic Wine perfectly paired each course with wine, some of which I had never heard of before, each of which came with a background and education of its own. The artwork that was created truly represented the evening and how much fun everyone had.
This was an experience that I will never forget. I’m already marking my calendar for the next pop-up dinner and planning on bringing my friends and family with me. They deserve this unique and unforgettable experience and I can’t wait to share it with them.