Dinner and movie has new meaning
Hunter Wheat and Lacey Pritchard will try to build upon their success founding successful businesses on fellowship with a new movie house and bar opening today. They caught lightning in a bottle in 2014 with Bleu Garten, an outdoor food truck park at NW 10 between Harvey and Hudson. Now the duo seeks success indoors with Banquet Cinema Pub, 800 NW 4, which features a pair of 75-seat screening rooms decked out with abbreviated tabletops for ticket-holders to set their slices of pizza, craft cocktails and popcorn. Residing in 12,750 square feet once upon a time employed to display Chryslers and Pontiacs, Banquet's lobby is open and inviting enough many likely will hang out there whether or not they have tickets to a show. I was able to pop in for a preview of the kitschy menu of noshes from chef Jeff Patton, previously of Mary Eddy's at the 21c. Patton and his crew work in a small kitchen outfitted with a deck oven and a couple of induction burners. There is no deep-fat fryer. From his deck oven, Patton delivers pizza made from house-made dough he dresses with a variety of toppings, drizzles and sauces. I tried the Chick N Chong (chicken, bacon, ranch dressing, caramelized onions and a Buffalo sauce made from Fresno chiles), True Grit (speck ham, Taleggio, oregano and Sunshine beer jelly), Field of Dreams (Yukon potato, roasted mushrooms, pickled beets and kale-pistachio pesto), and Pineapple Express (barbecue sauce, pineapple, bacon and jalapeno). Pizza is sold by the slice and whole pies. Among those I tried, the True Grit and Field of Dreams stood out. Also tried the Baked Wings, which were tasty thanks to a bath of Patton's crack-butter sauce. Everything on the dining menu is under $9 except whole pies, but the best bargain is the popcorn. No, it isn't sold by the bucket, but it only costs $2. Well, that's only partially true. For an extra buck you can add crack-butter sauce and fresh chives, and there's no way you want to order the popcorn without it. The menu also has a pair of salads and plenty of desserts. The cocktail menu includes six signatures. I tried the Weekend at Bernie's, and despite my profound hatred for that film franchise, I definitely would throw down $8 for the cocktail bearing its name thanks to New Amsterdam gin, pineapple juice, lavender simple syrup and prosecco. The new cinema will operate Tuesday through Sunday. It will close at 11 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. It opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Get updates on titles and showtimes at banquetcinema.com.
Chefs Feast `Unmasked'
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma hosts its 32nd annual Chefs Feast on March 1 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63. Just days before Fat Tuesday, this year's Unmask Hunger theme goes along with 2019's fashionably late Mardi Gras. Chefs from 18 restaurants
and food businesses will be on hand serving food, along with an auction of oneof-a-kind auction items, a wine and whiskey pull, and for the first time live music. Tickets for the event are $175 and $2,000 for a table of 10. Early entry tickets are available for an extra $25. Buy them at chefsfeast.org.
Soul Food Fest returns
Oklahoma City's annual Soul Food Fest is Friday, meaning anyone looking for a free meal at noon should go to Kingwood (formerly Grace Living Center NE), 1921 NE 13. Chef Margaret Wright's annual odyssey already has commenced with a small army working on ribs, fried chicken, pig's feet, pot roast with all the trimmings, plus dessert. The event is for dine-in only and is free of charge. Donations for the home's activities fund are welcome as are interactions with residents.
Nibbles
Chef Taylor Desjarlais has left Cafe Cuvee to join the kitchen at Osteria, the concept from chefs Jonathon Stranger and Fabio Viviani. … Chef Kevin Lee recently left the kitchen at Vast to become culinary director for The Social Order Dining Collective. Meanwhile, he still has a stake in the fast-casual concept Gogi Go, which will expand into Edmond later this year. Meanwhile, Gogi Go has some new chicken for you to try in its signature bowls and burritos. Instead of grilled chicken, Gogi Go now offers Korean fried chicken and ovenroasted chicken thighs.