Guest Chefs and Fried Chicken Throwdown at NOCA

One of my favorite Valley restaurants, Phoenix’s Noca, will be opening its kitchen on the second Thursday of each month, welcoming in guest chefs to create delicious bar bites along with Noca’s chef Chris Curtiss. (The bar bites menu is a collection of five or six menu items that are much smaller than an entrée but a meal can easily be made of them. In fact, you can order the bar bites as you wish or you can do a tasting of the bar bites, sample them all, for $50.)
Tomorrow night, Noca and chef Curtiss will welcome chef Doug Robson of Gallo Blanco Cafe. Here is the anticipated menu:
First Course
Duo of Hirame
Ceviche: Lime, Orange, Garlic, Onion, Basil, Cilantro, Jalapeño
Crudo: Trio of Apple
Second Course
Blue Cornmeal Crepe Enchiladas
Mushrooms, Spinach, Onions, Corn, Basil
Third Course
Butter Poached Prime Flat Iron
Pommes Purée, Balsamic Glazed Cipollini Onions, Broccoli Rabe,
Crispy Bone Marrow, Bordelaise
Dessert
Churros
Milk Jam, Mexican Hot Chocolate
Supplemental Course
Duo of Berkshire Pork Belly ($15 Supplement)
Sopa: Tomatillo, Salsa, Cotija Cheese
Slider: Spicy Napa Cabbage Slaw, Pickled Red Onion, Sweet and Sour Demi
Vegetarian and special dietary menus are available when you reserve your spot. Wine or beer pairings are available for each dish for $22.
Other good news for Noca lovers–and fried chicken enthusiasts–the Oct. 25 Simple Sunday Supper with be a three-course fried chicken throwdown between chef Curtiss and Larry White of the beloved Lo Lo’s Chicken and Waffles. Sounds amazing, right? I’m so starting my holiday weight gain early this year.
Here’s the menu:
First Course
Chopped Salad with Hard Boiled Egg, Bacon, Radish, Cucumber, Tomato, Aged White Cheddar, Creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Main Course
Choice of:
Fried Chicken (both on the same plate)
Noca Fried Chicken with Creamy White Polenta
Lo Lo’s Fried Chicken with Mac-n-Cheese
or Market Fish of Day with Mashed Potatoes, Broccolini, Shallot Jus or Fall Vegetable Risotto
Dessert
Ice Cream Sundae
Supplements: Lo-Lo’s Waffle with Butter & Syrup or Shrimp Cocktail with Spicy Cocktail Sauce
The fried chicken throwdown dinner is $35 per person. 3118 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602.956.6622,  http://restaurantnoca.com/.