417 Cooking Class: Clary's

Clary's namesake chef gives 417 Magazine readers a dose of Cooking 101.

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James Clary

The new Clary’s Restaurant, which has been operating since last summer in the location that once housed Fish, feels like a wide-open space compared to its former home. The ceilings are high, and the bar feels alive with its waterfall centerpiece. The architecture has a fluid movement and dynamic curves that are all dressed in warm and welcoming colors. Soft upholstered seating is tucked into a nook. Tall-backed booths create an illusion of privacy. There’s room for a crowd here, but it doesn’t feel like it. It feels somehow intimate in that wide-open space.

And back behind that island bar is chef James Clary’s kitchen where all the magic happens. His dishes are simply elegant and simultaneously comforting and refined. They are as surprising as they are classically delicious. You can try four of them (and watch Clary prepare them) at the 417 Cooking Class at Metro Builders Supply. He’ll start off with a crab terrine appetizer with mangoes, gazpacho and a ginger mayonnaise. It’s paired with Redcliffe sauvignon blanc. For the second course, a salad of crisp romaine with kalamata olives, artichoke hearts and capers is served with Cono Sur pinot noir. The main dish is a beef tenderloin served with three sauces and potatoes dauphinoise. Hayman & Hill Meritage accompanies it. And for dessert, you can taste Saracco Moscato d’Asti with a frozen custard–filled crepe topped with a warm blueberry sauce.

About the 417 Cooking Class

The 417 Cooking Class is a series that highlights the best local chefs and their creations, plus wine pairings provided by Vino 100. In the following pages, you’ll find recipes for the four-course dinner that James Clary of Clary’s Restaurant will prepare on May 20 at Metro Builders Supply’s sparkling demonstration kitchen.

WHERE: Metro Builders Supply,
3252 N. Glenstone Ave., just north of I-44 in Springfield
WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 20th
TICKETS: $60 per person. Contact Nicole Fuller at 417-883-7417 for details. Tickets are limited to 24 people on a first-come, first-served basis.