Sunday evening I had the opportunity to attend Decca’s sold out collaborative dinner featuring Chef Annie Pettry and author Patricia Wells. The five-course meal inspired by Patricia’s best selling cookbooks was perfectly executed by Chef Annie, each course paired with a wine highlighting the unique flavors in each dish.
As a first timer to this NuLu district favorite, I was instantly impressed by the decor and ambiance of the historically renovated 1870s building that Decca calls home. Having arrived early, I was able to fluidly make my way through the restaurants two dining rooms, private dining area upstairs, outdoor courtyard and gorgeous brick and limestone cellar before a bulk of the guests arrived. Once they did though, it was show time.
Patricia started off the celebration by welcoming us all before turning things over to our “wine master”, who would describe each wine and its origin before each course was passed. From then on the night went beautifully and the laughter of guests, many strangers prior to this event, could be heard echoing throughout the space. In regards to the meal itself, I'm no food critic but I do have a particular palate and I enjoyed everything that touched my lips. Some of the dinner's highlights for me personally included the wine (self explanatory), the pan roasted duck with olives served on a bed of mashed potatoes and the honey lavender ice cream sandwich because well, its an ice cream sandwich. Plus I can't forget our French serenade and Chef Annie's heartfelt closing as the evening drew to a close. Guests were invited to stick around for the cookbook signing and/or a nightcap at the bar, but many took their time in doing so, choosing to stay and chat a little longer with the new friends they'd made in just two short hours.
I left that night feeling very satisfied, knowing that I'd only scratched the surface with this award winning restaurant. And if you've never been, I highly recommend you pay Chef Annie and the Decca staff a visit soon, I know I will be.
Decca is located at 812 East Market Street and is open for dinner Monday through Thursday 5:30pm to 10pm and Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 11pm. For more information head over to Decca’s website or check out their Facebook page here.
