The Hartford PNH’s 3rd Annual “Live Jazz Game Dinner & Pairings Night” is not your typical game dinner

October 18, 2017 – Hartford, CT

Game dinners are typically standard affairs – hunters donate some of their caught protein towards a casual shared buffet style dinner set at a lodge or VFW-type of a hall. These dinners may have some raffle items, too.

The Hartford PNH set out to create a more upscale dining experience. This is a great date-night or a dining experience with friends.

“We set out with 3 criteria for our game dinner experience,” explains Hartford PNH president, Rob Kwasnicki. “First, focus on local. Next, make it a dining experience versus just an eating activity and, third, draw inspiration from the historical dining events of Polish nobility following a hunt.”

The past two events held in their ballroom on 60 Charter Oak Ave, in Hartford suggest this 3rd annual dining event will follow the same formula.

The Setting

Guests enter through the amazing brass doors of the historic Polish National Home of Hartford’s main entrance and go up the stairs into the Chopin Ballroom. Built in 1930, this national historic landmark boasts many art-deco architectural details within the building.

It is worthwhile to temporarily ignore your eager appetite and let your eyes take in the woodwork and other original details of the Hartford PNH as you work your way to the ballroom bar and seating area.

On the ballroom stage, you will see and hear the live jazz performance of the Randy Kemp Trio.

How the Evening Flows

Ballroom doors open at 6:30pm and if you are super early, their authentic 1930 Polish Pub will be open and serving drinks, too.

Although every course will be paired with a specific beer, wine or liquor, the ballroom bar will be open for those wanting a favorite adult or non-alcoholic beverage.

For about the first 30 to 60 minutes, the first course, or the “Cordial Hour” will be served by waitstaff walking about, along with the first beverage pairing, all while the jazz band performs on stage.

About 7:00pm or 7:30pm the next course will be announced then served along with a new beverage pairing. The next few courses follow in the same fashion, with a new beverage pairing for each new course.

In between each course is ample time to socialize with other guests or grab your date for light dancing on the dance floor.

I anticipate this evening will feature these common courses:

Appetizer

Relevé

Main Course

Dessert

The Food

Locally sourced is a goal of the Executive Chef at the Hartford PNH. When the main ingredients are secured, he works out the menu and coordinates pairings with the Hartford PNH bar manager.

The menu draws inspiration from traditional Polish cuisine, as in old-school traditional, as in what nobility ate back in the 15th or 16th century, fused with modern traditional Polish cuisine.

There generally is little room left by the time dessert rolls around, but everyone seems to find the space in their bellies. Last year’s dessert featured a fresh-made, hand-made pumpkin mousse, which pretty much blew everyone away. There is no doubt the chef and his team put their heart and souls into preparing the food.

The Pairings

Beverage pairings depend on the chef’s final menu. At previous events, and from what we are told about this year’s event, the wine, beer, and/or liquor will all be Connecticut based.

The Live Jazz

The Randy Kemp Trio has been the go-to jazz performer for this event. They offer the perfect compliment to the evening’s activities and ambiance.

What the Hartford PNH states about this event

“Join us at the elegant Chopin Ballroom at the Hartford PNH, a historic landmark, for an elegant and unique dining experience and discover what our home state has to offer! Chef Jeff is bringing out his magic chef-wand to create a memorable multi-course dining experience inspired by foods enjoyed by medieval Polish Nobility. -Courses will be paired with select local wine, beer and or liquor

-Live Jazz performance by the Randy GCleph Kemp Trio

-Dance or socialize between courses

-Doors open at 6:30pm. The first course served at 7:00pm. What you can expect. Come early and enjoy the social hour featuring freshly prepared, delicious appetizers and paired cocktail, wine or beer while the Randy Kemp Trio gently play on stage. Around 7pm the 1st course will be announced and served along with the paired beer, wine or liquor. There will be ample time in between courses to socialize or softly dance to the live jazz. The reason why we sell out is that this “game dinner” is modeled after traditional meals of eastern European nobility after a hunt. It is an upscale, elegant evening out, perfect for a couple or group of friends looking for something truly unique to do in Hartford CT. We look forward to seeing you November 10, 2017!”

Tickets for this dining experience may be purchased at the Polish National Home of Hartford (Hartford PNH), located at 60 Charter Oak Ave. You may also call or email to reserve your tickets or table – 860.247.1784 / Info@PolishHomeCT.org

More information on the Hartford PNH website or at the Hartford PNH Facebook event page.

You may view the event flyer here.

About the Hartford PNH

Officially named the Polish National Home of Hartford Inc, the Hartford PNH is a national historic landmark built in 1930. It survived the Great Flood of 1936 and the Great Depression and has been a “gateway” in Hartford from day-1. It is a members club, but guests are welcomed and encouraged to visit. People have seen U.S. congressmen, state and local elected officials dining and hanging out at the PNH, as well as community and business leaders.

The Hartford PNH has a casual character that lends itself to a feeling of “being at home.” The Chopin Ballroom is an elegant space.

Inside on the main floor there is the authentic 1930 Polish Pub and Dining Room. The basement offers meeting space and a developing game room – right now it houses a very nice billiard table, and we understand darts and other games will be added.

Upstairs is the famous Chopin Ballroom, with bar, dance floor, banquet space, full stage and even original balcony seating. Above the ballroom is their Legacy Suite, which serves as a bridal suite or suite for contestants in the Miss Polonia Pageant to change clothes.

The Hartford PNH features beers from Back East Brewing Company (CT) and they also have their own exclusive beer, the PNH Hussar Ale, locally brewed for them and currently not available anywhere else. They also recently launched the PNH Hussar Mug Club.

Unusual for a Hartford establishment is their ample, free, secure onsite parking. When they are really jamming, there is a large amount of free on-street parking, too.

Membership is easy and cheap. They have two types of membership. One that is open to anyone is the Social Membership. At just $25 per year it is a deal. The other requires Polish heritage and is called Corporate Membership. “Corporate” in this context means a member who can vote on the management of the corporation, thus the “Inc.” in “Polish National Home of Hartford, Inc.”

The Hartford PNH is established in the state of Connecticut as a 501(c)(7).

– J.G. writing for the NutmegReview