Friday, December 3, 12:00 noon
Members $60, guests $70

If you happened to be at the Beard House on October 26, you know that Michael Lomonaco’s new book, Nightly Specials: 125 Recipes for Spontaneous, Creative Cooking at Home, is filled with recipes and advice for home cooks to create dishes on the spot the way chefs whip up delicious nightly specials. Spontaneity comes in many forms. And when Lomonaco learned that chef Tim Armstrong wasn’t going to be able to prepare his scheduled First Friday Luncheon this month because Armstrong’s restaurant, the Shore House in Stamford, Connecticut, was closing, Michael Lomonaco volunteered to step in and prepare a few “lunch specials” in his stead.

Lomonaco actually consulted on Shore House, so his spontaneous act of generosity wasn’t totally out of left field. But we are very grateful nevertheless—especially since his own career has taken a few twists and turns lately, what with the closing of the critically acclaimed Latin-themed Noche, and his new post as chef of the team that’s set to revitalize Sir Terrance Conran’s Guastavino’s.

One thing remains consistent, and that’s Lomonaco’s cooking. Wine Spectator characterized his food at Windows on the World as a “lusty interpretation of traditional dishes.” New York’s Hal Rubinstein said the bold Latin flavors at Noche would “move you to dance.” Now at Guastavino’s—which will close at the end of the year to be revamped and reconceived—Lomonaco is set to move back into the modern American idiom that he champions on his T.V. shows (Epicurious andMichael’s Place) and in his new book.

One footnote is that Armstrong will be back on our calendar as soon as he settles into his new position as chef of a group of Mediterranean and Spanish eateries in Connecticut. Until then, we’re looking forward to Lomonaco’s Beard House reprise.