MoMo Italian Kitchen is hosting a smokey collaboration dinner with LJ’s BBQ later this month.
Drawing on classic Texan flavors and the Italian tradition of grilling meats over an open flame known as “grigliata,” MoMo’s six course pre-fixe menu only skips out on the protein for dessert. Tickets can be purchased online and cost $125 per person. A beer or one glass of wine is included in the get-in cost, and each course has a suggested wine and cocktail pairing available for purchase.
While MoMo has been a staple of our neighborhood for decades, LJ’s may be a little unfamiliar to neighbors as it is based out of Brenham in Central Texas. Named in Texas Monthly’s 2021 compilation of the top 50 bbq joints in the state, LJ’s is a collaboration between Matt Lowery, his cousin Leah, and her husband Corey Cook. The well-reviewed joint is known for its brisket, turkey and smoked sides, with sausage earning high marks from Texas Monthly as well.
Cook is cousins with MoMo owner Wende Stevenson, which led to the idea in the first place, says Stevenson’s husband Aaron Goss.
“He called us on Thanksgiving, just to wish us a happy Thanksgiving,” Goss said. “And we just got to chatting, and kind of came up with the idea and let it kind of mule around for a little bit in our minds and decided to do in the spring.”
The dinner begins with smoked sausage and burrata crostini, followed by brisket ravioli and smoked beef cheek served with polenta as a third course. Conchiglie quattro formaggi and pheasant Marsala with braised greens, both smoked, of course, finish out the savory portion of the dinner alongside a finale of smoked pork pizza. For dessert, MoMo will prepare a smoked ricotta cheesecake.
There are two seatings available: neighbors can choose between a 5:30 early seating and a 7:30 time slot, both of which come out to the same price.
“It’s just going to be really fun,” Goss said. “It’s our sensibilities of the Italian food that is just utilizing his expertise on smoked meat.”
