Less than two years ago when Jack of Cups first moved into the small space on Center Street that previously housed The Folly Beach Brewing Co. (aka The Folly Brew Pub), many locals sighed. Where were they supposed to get a good beer in a beach town where many restaurants all too often cater to the masses when it comes to what to put on tap? Well, luckily times have changed and craft beer has blown up, even on our little island where you can find a good brew at almost any bar or restaurant. And Brew Pub regulars were soon put at ease as Jack of Cups owners Lesley Carroll and Nick Della Penna quickly amassed the largest craft beer selection on the beach.
While beer and wine and sake-based cocktails were front and center in the beginning, Carroll and Della Penna still had a vision for the spot that went far beyond a great alcohol selection. They wanted Jack of Cups to also be a great restaurant, offering creative and unique Asian-inspired dishes. But the Brew Pub did not have a kitchen, so the task of converting the small bar into a restaurant and bar began.
Before long Carroll was creating some of the most delicious and interesting food on Folly, like rich curries and soups, black bean bowls, and tasty red curry mac and cheese. Word began to spread and soon the kitchen was slammed every night.
“We’re overwhelmed and more than grateful that people on Folly have been responsive and welcoming of us these past almost two years,” says Carroll, who is the creative force behind most of kitchen creations at Jack of Cups. “Chico Feo and ‘Wich Doctor paved the way for us to do Asian fare on Folly. I think that, along with the fact that we all have our own styles that are presented in a casual atmosphere has made everyone a lot more open to things they may not normally be drawn to.”
Now that Jack of Cups is established and well known for their imaginative and ever-rotating menu, Carroll wanted a chance to really showcase what she and her staff could do from their tiny kitchen. So at the end of October she came up with idea of hosting a series of pop-up dinners. The first one would be a bit of a test run, so she told regulars, friends, and made a Facebook announcement. It sold out almost immediately.
The lucky two dozen who reserved seats for the dinner were treated to a five-course fall tasting menu, with each course paired thoughtfully with either wine or beer (or both if you so desired).
The first course consisted of Brussels sprouts seared in olive oil, shaved and set in a pumpkin curry over cannellini beans in a cranberry ancho chili reduction.
The salad course was next and consisted of baby spinach with a tangy citrus vinaigrette, clementines, cinnamon pumpkin seeds and a Wensleydale cheese baguette slice.
The third course was the pasta course and consisted of a duo of sweet potato and pumpkin gnudi in a creamy Thai karee curry sauce.
The main course consisted of an apple and rosemary pork tenderloin roulade over goat cheese mashed potatoes, and joined with sweet and savory curried gravy.
The fifth and final course was a homemade tiramisu, made from lady fingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and marscapone cheese, and a sip of Thai tea.
Needless to say there was a lot of slurping and licking of plates as the event was a smashing success by all accounts. “Things went really well, and we were really excited about the outcome,” says Carroll. “It was so fun and rewarding to step outside of our comfort zone and create new things.”
Carroll says she is planning to do one a month on average, but could increase if the demand is there. Since there was not one held in November, Carroll has two more pop-up dinners slated for December, both of which sold out in under two hours. But not to worry, she has another one scheduled for early January. She says she wants each one to have a seasonal theme. She’s also creating a Facebook page specifically for the dinners so that patrons can follow and reserve their spot as soon as a new dinner is announced.
“It’s a small intimate private party, where guests get extra attention, and everyone gets to enjoy a special meal and experience together,” says Carroll. “We saw people exchanging numbers and making new friends at the last one, and I thought that was pretty amazing. I think it could also help bridge the gap between Folly and some of our surrounding areas.”
Jack of Cups is located at 34 Center St. For more information find them on Facebook.
