If you have ever read Anthony Bourdain’s books, you find out how treacherous it is to really be in the restaurant business. Many of us who enjoy cooking fantasize about owning our own restaurant and whisking up delicious things for a house full of smiling patrons ready to sing your praises, but it usually is not that glamorous. Bourdain’s book details the good, the bad, the ugly of how owning a restaurant can be a really dirty business. Only few are cut out for the long hours, grueling inventory process, and low success rate. They say only 60% of new restaurants survive their first year, and usually people who “dream of opening a restaurant” fail very quickly.
With this said I was incredibllllyyy skeptical of Peacock’s Pantry. The owners have no formal culinary training, the husband and wife team are a dentist and a consultant, and they opened Peacock’s Pantry to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a restaurant. I was even more worried for this place since it had just taken the spot of “Main Stream” on Main St. which closed in about 14 seconds. However, when the Groupon presented itself I snatched it up, Peacock Pantry is in my neighborhood and I had some girlfriends say it was really good, so whyyy not. I love a good Groupon, you never lose. (Except the one for Rowland Fine Dining because that was disgusting, more on that later)
Peacock Pantry is the exception to Bourdain’s rule. The our server was so nice (cute) and attentive, he really set the mood for a great evening. I ordered the half portion of the pork chops with fig, brussel sprouts, and these delightful little Gruyere potato pancakes. It is strange but I really don’t think I have ever tasted a meal this hot in a restaurant. I know that seems like a dumb thing to write, but looking back at all of my dining experiences no matter how good the food was, it probably sat on a heating line for a few minutes before it got to my table. My pork chop was still bubbling at the crispy parts and warmed inside out in a way that only happens when something has just been lifted from grill to plate. This pork chop was the Beyonce of meats, beautiful, thick, and golden brown, I felt ugly in its’ presence. Smothered in a thick jammy fig sauce, it did not mask the flavor, but enhanced it with a nice seedy texture. I was amazed that it was the half portion because I think it would be quite a feat to finish two of these chops, but maybe I am a wimp.
I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly…
Trey went ahead ordered the burger and declared it was one of the top three burgers he had ever had in his life. I would have to agree and say that it was incredibly fresh, clearly made from scratch, and was served on a lightly sweetened onion roll which gets points in my book since most buns are dry and dull. Peacock’s Pantry is definitely a fine dining restaurant, but I am lobbying hard that they do a Monday night burger deal because they would kill it.
This sounds bizarre but the food has a certain feel about it, I am not talkin’ about that Sarah Michelle Geller movie Simply Irresistible where people feel the emotions she feels when they eat her cooking, but it truly does taste like it was made with love and care. Like your mother made you a birthday dinner or something.
The co-owner, John Purcell came out and spoke to us about the cooking style his wife/Chef Elizabeth Lee who uses. He says she never orders anything she hasn’t truly inspected and deemed top quality. He said she is almost irritatingly specific with what ingredients she wants to use and spares no expense to get the freshest the market has to offer (I hope this sentence doesn’t land John in the dog house). Currently Peacock’s Pantry is only open for dinner Thursday-Saturday with a tempting menu for Brunch on Sunday. This restaurant is giving hope to all of us out their who want to dream big and have a passion for cooking. John and Elizabeth say they want Peacock Pantry to be their full time jobs as they enter retirement, and I want to pop in for a burger or one of their other incredible looking entrees in years to come. Next time you have a date night, business dinner, are looking for a brunch spot, or just want a bangin’ burger, hit up Peacock’s Pantry in the fan, you will feel right at home.
Me and Chef Elizabeth Lee
