Gather: Bringing Back Hang Out Culture, New Orleans Style
- Oct 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 22
In times like this, it’s easy to feel like not being bothered. It’s easy to let the weight of the world blur our need for community. Between work, family, and the constant motion of life, we forget the simple joy of gathering. Somewhere along the way, we lost a piece of the fabric that kept us grounded.
Gather: A Nod to New Orleans (NO), Louisiana (LA) is bringing back Hang Out Culture, the simple act of gathering with friends, sharing a meal, and laughing without an occasion. Remember when our parents would “just hang out,” or when we’d drop by a friend’s house to catch-up? That is the essence of what this experience will be. Inspired by the warmth and resilience of New Orleans we are coming together through food, music, and togetherness. In the year of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we honor not just the flavors of the city, but the spirit of community that rose from its storm.
So come as you are. Come through and chill. Let’s simply hang out again before the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
A Culinary Journey Through New Orleans
Every dish on this year’s menu tells a story of community, tradition and Southern hospitality. Crafted by Chef Damar and Chef Chris, this seven-course, family-style chef’s table celebrates the art of gathering and the flavors that connect us.
Appetizer — Pumpkin and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
Gumbo is the kind of dish that brings any kitchen to a cultural crossroads. The word itself comes from a West African term for okra ( “gombo” ). Gumbo is a true demonstration of how African, Native American, French, and Spanish traditions came together to bring flavors that create community.
This is a hearty gumbo that captures the essence of autumn in New Orleans. This southern blend of roasted pumpkin and smoky Andouille sausage is slow-simmered in a rich broth with Creole aromatics and fall spices — served in a French bread bowl.
House Bread Offering — Creole Pretzel Bread
Warm, house-baked pretzel bread finished with a silky Creole herb cream sauce. Comforting, flavorful, and made to share; just like every good Southern table begins.
Salad — Muffuletta Chopped Salad
The muffuletta sandwich is a New Orleans institution. This staple was born from the city’s Italian immigrant community in the early 1900s. Originally created at Central Grocery on Decatur Street, it layers cured meats, cheeses, and a briny olive salad inside a round Sicilian loaf.
A fresh take on that French Quarter favorite, we're serving up crisp romaine and iceberg lettuce tossed with salami, provolone, roasted red peppers, and a house-made olive tapenade. Finished with a tomato vinaigrette that ties every bite to the heart of New Orleans.
Entrée Options — Three Options, One Shared Experience
By offering family sharing at the table, we mimic the gathering-style meals of New Orleans: a little something for everyone, everyone eating together.
Three options, one shared experience:
Beef: Seared sirloin with Cajun butter and fresh herbs
Chicken: Tender maple bourbon chicken with Creole cream
Vegetarian: Mezzi rigatoni with spinach, marinated artichokes, and sun-ripened tomatoes in a creamy Cajun sauce
Sides Dishes
Red Beans & Rice: Slow-cooked red beans simmered with smoked sausage, bell pepper, celery, and garlic.
Maque Choux (Confetti Corn): A vibrant mix of sweet corn, caramelized onions, and peppers sautéed in Cajun butter.
Coffee Course — Chicory Coffee and Beignet
A nod to New Orleans’ beloved coffee tradition. A smooth, dark roast blended with roasted chicory root gives this brew its signature dark caramel depth — perfectly paired with a soft, sugar-dusted beignet.
*Guests can upgrade to a Coffee Flight featuring a trio of blends — NOLA Chicory Brew, Creamy Praline Latte, and Maple Pumpkin Cappuccino — plus a mini beignet bag to enjoy after the event.
Dessert — Bananas Foster Live Chef Experience
And for the finale: the theatrical, the indulgent, the shareable spectacle of a live Bananas Foster station. We turn up the drama, but only because New Orleans cuisine doesn’t shy from joie de vivre. Bananas Foster was invented in New Orleans in 1951 at Brennan’s, so we’re rooting our dessert in genuine origin.
So to close the evening, our featured chefs will present a live Bananas Foster station, caramelizing bananas, brown sugar, butter, and bourbon tableside in a fiery finale. This signature dessert captures the artistry and indulgence of French Quarter dining — a little drama, a little sweetness, and a lot of soul.
As a special touch, each guest will leave with a small taste of NOLA with a sampling of chicory coffee beans inspired by the city’s timeless café culture. It’s a flavorful keepsake meant to bring the warmth of Gather back to your own table long after the night ends.
*Add-On Experiences
Coffee Flight — $15 A curated tasting of New Orleans–inspired flavors, from bold chicory to creamy praline and spiced maple pumpkin cappuccino.
Bourbon Tasting — $25 Led by our bourbon expert, this guided tasting explores three distinct pours — each paired with souvenir bourbon cards and storytelling around Southern craftsmanship.
*Add-ons are optional and invoiced separately.
✨ Join Us. Gather.
Last year’s Gather event sold out quickly — and this year will be no exception. This is more than a dinner; it’s a return to community, flavor, and connection.
Early Bird Pricing is available now — for a limited time.
Event Date: November 15, 2025
Location: The Pasfield House | Springfield, Illinois
Time: 6:30 p - 8:30 p
Before the holidays pull us in a hundred directions, take one night to slow down, reconnect, and Gather — NOLA style.
