River (Re)Run Dinner at MCCC

Past event
Apr 13, 2019, 5:30 to 8 PM

For those of you who remember Plainfield's River Run, no explanation is needed. For those who don't: River Run was a restaurant in Plainfield, 1991-2010, first in the tiny building that later became Blinking Light Gallery and then in the space now occupied by Positive Pie. It served piles of great food, much of it Southern-inspired -- catfish, fried chicken, jambalaya, grits -- but also pancakes smothered with maple syrup, omelets, grilled bacon and gallons of cinnamon-scented coffee. Firefighters and the road crew would open the place in the early hours, but gradually, as the day wore on, they would be replaced by lawyers and Goddard students, artists and house painters, aging hippies, builders, loggers, parents toting babies, writers, office workers, in short, all kinds of Central Vermonters.

Owned and operated by Mississippi-born chef Jimmy Kennedy and Plainfield native Maya Kennedy (now Maya Boffa), the place grew to become a culinary landmark. In 2001 Jimmy and Maya and Marialisa Calta of Calais toasted the roadhouse eatery by writing "River Run Cookbook" (Harper Collins).

Sadly, good things come to an end; River Run is no more. Jimmy and Maya closed the restaurant after nearly two decades and moved on to new ventures, though Jimmy still runs a catering business. Their patrons and friends wished them well, but also wished, longingly, that River Run was still in operation.

But now: GOOD NEWS!

The Maple Corner Community Center in Calais, as part of its thematic dinner program, will attempt to recreate for at least one night the River Run experience. On the night of April 13, a Saturday, the community center will host "River (Re)Run," a fundraiser to support MCCC programs and building needs. On the menu will be deep-fried catfish, of course, but also gumbo (hot enough for firefighters), pulled pork, slaw, cornbread and other sides, including vegetarian options. Yes, Jimmy will be cooking! And, yes, we will be raffling a copy of the out-of-print but still popular, and useful, "River Run Cookbook" and maybe even a few bottles of "Jimmy's Kennedy's Tried & True BBQ Sauce."

Note: For more information and to sign up (reservations required), please go to www.maplecornercc.org.

Hope you join us!

Dirk Van Susteren,
MCCC board

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