Russet: Pasta Classes, Brunch for a Bunch, and Sunday Night Tastings

At Russet, a casual, 50-seat farm-to-table BYOB located in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, Chef-Owners Andrew and Kristin Wood work closely with farmers and growers, many of whom they know on a personal level, Andrew and Kristin select the finest offerings to design their constantly-changing menu.

The farms, primarily located within 100 miles of the restaurant, include the Brendle family’s Green Meadow Farm, which has dedicated an acre field to supplying Russet, as well as Erdenheim Farm, a sustainable farm that has been operating since the days of William Penn. The Woods also use Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-Op, representing 70-plus growers, including Misty Meadow Acres, which raises Tamworth-Old Spot blend pigs exclusively for Andrew. When the necessity for sourcing beyond these and other local purveyors arises, they always seek out sustainable, organic and/or fair trade products.

Russet is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 5:30 p.m. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Monday. Check out some of their latest offerings:

Weekend Brunch

Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Chef-owners Andrew and Kristin Wood, two of the city’s emerging culinary talents, prepare seasonally-inspired brunch dishes.

Russet is byob and prepares delicious beverages for guests to mix their own popular brunch libations ($3 or $4 by-the-glass, $25 pitcher).

• Hand-squeezed orange juice is made daily
• Bloody Mary is a house recipe made with Green Meadow Farms tomato juice, lemon, black pepper, house-dried celery seed, worcestershire, two-year-old house-preserved horseradish, housemade hot sauce, house-dried cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, housemade mustard, housemade cornichon juice
• Cider from Green Meadow will be hot-mulled with cinnamon, clove and all-spice. The cider is an unpasteurized blend of no fewer than 10 apples and changes throughout the season with the harvests

Russet’s brunch is also great for groups (brunch for a bunch!). Call-ahead guests may bring 10-38 friends and family to Russet and Chefs Andrew and Kristin Wood will prepare a three-course brunch in the private dining room, which is connected to their charming backyard patio. The brunch is $28/pp and features Chef Kristin Wood’s daily pastry basket, brunch entrée and dessert.

Sunday Night Tasting Menus

This month, Chef Wood brings back his Sunday Night Tasting Menus. He offers a four-course $35 menu, which highlight what is available to him through his local farm partners. Menus are shared on on social media – Facebook and Twitter

Monday Night Pasta Class and Dinner

One Monday each month, when the restaurant is closed, Chef Wood hosts a pasta-making class for up to 25 guests. Students are taught how to make dough (Andrew grinds his own flour for this and all pasta at Russet) and roll a variety of shapes.  Afterwards, he takes all of the pasta made by the class and cooks a special dinner for the group which includes Antipasti course (house-cured charcuterie, composed salads), Pasta, and Dessert (pie, cake or tart made by Kristin Wood).

Classes are $85 per person and are held on the following Mondays: November 17, December 8, and January 12.