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Dine local at York First Friday pop-up restaurant


First Fridays in York are already a time to support local businesses, local art and local entertainment. So, why not local food, too?

Starting May 6, York’s private chef’s table supper club Underground West is expanding to host a Pop-Up Restaurant Series on First Fridays.

Underground West is known for its unique dining experiences, each focusing on local ingredients. When you dine with the supper club’s chef Sean Arnold, you know exactly what you’re eating and where your food is coming from.

Arnold, who has a master’s degree in food systems sustainability, said he prides himself on serving local foods with the philosophy that 80 percent of his ingredients come from less than 80 miles away.

This 80-80 model will continue at his new pop-up restaurant series, which will hold its first two events in the Commonwealth Room of the Yorktowne Hotel on May 6 and June 3.

“I wanted to bring my type of cooking and my philosophy of food to more people in downtown York,” Arnold said. “That’s why I’m doing the partnership to try to bring more people out to enjoy hyper-local cuisine.”

On May 6, guests can look forward to French fare, including a shrimp bisque or gratin of salmon appetizer, beef with potatoes, asparagus and mushrooms or pork and lamb cassoulet for the main dish and an apple tart with granola or chocolate cake with almond butter cream filling for dessert.

“I’m using as much local (food) as possible,” Arnold said. “I’m not compromising the menu just for the sake of having tomatoes in the wintertime or using asparagus when there’s not asparagus in season locally. I only use what I can find locally as much as possible and incorporate as little as possible from everywhere else.”

Arnold said he’s working with an organization called Sea to Table to serve the shrimp and salmon for the evening directly from regional fishermen.

Other ingredients will come from local vendors, such as Brogue Hydroponics, Dietz Produce in Central Market, Dennis Fitz Home Grown Fruits & Vegetables, Apple Valley Creamery, Caputo Brothers and Country Meadows Farm.

“These farmers are small businesses,” Arnold said. “We think of them as small agriculture, but they’re small businesses as well, and they need to be supported not just once in a while but every week and all year long, and that’s what I’m trying to do as best as possible.”

Thirty seats will be available for both the 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. pop-up dinner seatings, Arnold said. A tasting session and wine pairings will also be included.

In June, Arnold said diners can expect a Peruvian theme. But the remaining themes and locations for the rest of the year will be announced at a later date.

If you go

What: Famously French Pop-Up Dinner

When: 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6

Where: Commonwealth Room at Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., York

Cost: $90 (includes tasting session, three-course meal, wine pairings and gratuity)

What: Peruvian Affair Pop-Up Dinner

When: 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3

Where: Commonwealth Room at Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., York

Cost: $90 (includes cocktail session, three-course meal, wine pairings and gratuity)

More information: Visit undergroundwestchef.com.