PHILADELPHIA, PA — Ocho Supper Club will take over Scampi’s Queen Village kitchen for four days beginning Sept. 18, giving chef RJ Smith a temporary restaurant platform while Scampi chef Liz Grothe travels in Italy.
The Sept. 18-21 pop-up will offer a five-course tasting menu at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., priced at $130 per person before tax and gratuity. An optional three-glass Pennsylvania wine pairing will cost an additional $50.
The temporary residency puts Smith’s Ocho concept inside Scampi while Grothe is away on her annual research trip. Ocho will also hold an industry night Sept. 21 from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Smith said Grothe’s experience developing Couch Cafe before opening Scampi helped make the collaboration appealing.
“I really look up to Liz Grothe, and her similar journey with Couch Cafe,” Smith said. “We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to host an Ocho experience in her space.”
The tasting begins with two amuse-bouches: Trinidad doubles with whipped chickpea and ricotta, and curried oxtail festivals with curried honey and white pepper.
A madai aguachile with sorrel, salsa verde and cilantro follows, along with plantain coco bread served with peekytoe crab, harissa yogurt and preserved lemon.
Later courses include glazed summer squash with ajo blanco, squash miso and Valley Milkhouse Clover, followed by berbere-spiced duck with red pepper chutney and aromatic rice. A turmeric tart with hibiscus mousse, rhubarb jam and lime curd closes the menu.
Ocho will also offer a separate small-bites menu on Scampi’s patio. An Ocho plateau combining both amuse-bouches and the madai aguachile will cost $41, while individual offerings range from $16 for the turmeric tart to $34 for the plantain coco bread.
The wine pairing will draw from Scampi’s beverage program and involve Camuna Cellars, Fell to Earth Vermouth and other local suppliers.
Reservations for the pop-up are available through Resy and OpenTable.
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