Brunch Pops Up

Combine a Love of New Haven, a love of cooking, and two ​“guerrilla gourmets” with determination— and Downtown Table, a new ​“pop-up” brunch restaurant in the heart of 9th Square, leaps beyond concept, to reality.

The two gourmets are Nadine Nelson a food consultant and culinary educator with a ubiquitous presence in New Haven foodie culture and owner of Global Local Gourmet; and Katherine McComic, a recent Yale graduate who teaches yoga, works at English Building Market, tutors children at New Haven Reads and LEAP, and still finds time to tantalize palates when cooking or baking for friends.

The entrepreneurs have teamed up to run a temporary — aka ​“pop-up” — Sunday brunch spot in the Ninth Square called the Downtown Table. This past Sunday was the first seating, with two more Sundays planned.

They said their dining experiment is not just about making money; it’s about bringing people together to ​“promote companionship” and build community using local, farm-to-table cuisine as a vehicle. Noted McComic: ​“While good nutrition is important, if we can bring people together, Yale and non-Yale, if people can connect over what’s in their hearts, I’m happy.” 

Sunday’s Downtown Table opening had two seating times and one long ​“family-style” table that stretched the lengh of the dining room, in a space that may be familiar to some as the address of the Inspired Turkey, at 82 Crown St. Owner Ide Ehigiato said that his business model has evolved to include not only his deep-fried turkey enterprise, but comedy and entertainment and event space rentals.

Chef Nelson, who is no stranger to pop-up cooking events, said that she is presently renting the kitchen and space at Inspired Turkey with help from the New Haven Department of Economic Development’s Project Storefronts as she continues with her business plan — an ambitious series of ten food-centric events.

Sunday’s artisanal menu, a buffet-style presentation with some table service, included bananas foster French toast, salmon bites, roasted collard greens, papas bravas, cauliflower fritters, vegan Hoppin’ John (a black-eyed peas dish), a host of homemade savory spreads and condiments with assorted breads, blackberry streusel muffins, and peach pound cake.

Over the course of Downtown Table’s run, the menu will change to include new additions and offerings that one can read about on the Downtown Table Facebook page.

Nelson said that there is a dearth of brunch venues in downtown New Haven, exacerbated by the closing of Ninth Square’s Yolande’s Bistro and Creperie. ​“Downtown is a busy crossroads. People should be able to come downtown for brunch on Sundays, and then take in our museums, galleries and other cultural offerings,” she said

Downtown Table has only two formal dates left on its pop-up schedule, Sept. 21 & 28, with discounted advance tickets available online. Nelson said the Downtown Table pop-up may continue beyond that — despite the scheduled departure of partner McComic, who is on her way to Madrid, Spain in three weeks for a one-year education fellowship. She described her brief foray into the restaurant business as a way of paying what may be her ​“final respects” to a city she has grown to love.