If you haven’t been to Cooper’s Hawk you’re missing out on one of I-Drive’s newest gems. A growing collection of restaurants has slowly replaced the tacky, dirty shops that was once I-Drive. Cooper Hawks’s uniquely modern, yet casual, dining space is expansive and perfect for a variety of evenings from a family meal to catching a football game in the bar. The restaurant also offers an exclusive and active wine club. The wine club offers subscribers monthly wines, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events, rewards, and annual domestic and international wine trips.
Last week we were invited to attend one of these exclusive wine club events featuring Top Chef fan favorite Fabio Viviani. The evening included an interactive cooking demonstration, four-course dinner with wine pairings, and a special meet-and-greet with Fabio as well as a signed copy of Fabio’s American Home Kitchen cookbook.
All chefs are characters, but Fabio was particular entertaining as he walked us through an evening of cooking demonstrations paired with equally entertaining stories. As we learned about his Crispy Broken Potatoes a magnificent aroma filled the room as the smell of rosemary, garlic and Parmesan ignited the crowd. Following both cooking demonstrations we were lucky enough to taste some of the creations below.
Tuna Carpaccio: Arugula, Crispy capers and Yuza Vinaigrette, a fantastic start with paper thin slices of tuna accented with salty capers.
Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes: with Olives, Shaved Parmesan, Aged Balsamic, Sea Salt, Basil and Olive Oil. A colorful collection of tomatoes and authentic Italian flavors.
Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with Herb-Parmesan Crust and Tuscan Stewed Swordfish: Two entrees full of flavor resulting in the perfect land and sea side-by-side tasting.
Crispy Broken Potatoes: The best potatoes and one of the dishes created during the cooking demonstrations. The room literally smelled like Italy and I didn’t think potatoes could be so darn tasty until tasting this side.
Truffled Gnocchi: with real Italian cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano. Exceptionally rich and creamy.
Fabio’s Mom’s Tiramisu: Perfectly light and rich all in one jar. A delicious sweet treat to round out our evening!
For modern, casual, yet fun cuisine, we’d recommend checking out Cooper’s Hawk!