Happy WIAW!
In lieu of telling you what I ate this week, I’m going share my dinner from last Wednesday night. (You’ll understand when you see this deliciousness.)
My foodie friend, Corinne, and I attended another installment of the Summer Chef Series @ ONE Midtown Kitchen. (Remember the 1st one with Chef Hugh Acheson and the 2nd with Chef Bruce Logue?)
This was a special edition, as it was Corinne’s birthday! Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…
This night we brought along friends to help celebrate. Including my hard-core friend Kathleen who miss my b-day due to breaking her writst via rollerblades. Hi Kathleen! 🙂
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Chef Ford Fry from JCT Kitchen was the guest tonight.
Sadly, he did not bring his guitar.
Ford is the chef facing the cameras with the guitar. Yes, this is local chef band - 5 Bone Rack.
The night began with a crisp Chenin Blanc. Actually, it began with a couple of glasses and bread basket since the kitchen was running behind. We didn’t complain.
They print out the menus – one of my favorite parts of the night is the menu reveal.
My inner fat kid spends the day dreaming about what might be on the night’s menu.
Amuse:
Crispy Pork Trotter with fois gras and beatrice eggplant caponata
It was heavy for an amuse, but good. Trotter still creeps me out though.
1st Course:
Heirloom Tomato Ceviche with lemon verbena, white chocolate, & horseradish granita
Love, loved the ceviche. The granita wasn’t bad, but there was a lot of it and chef Drew has done that granita a lot lately.
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2nd Course:
Maine Lobster with Carolina gold rice “risotto” and buttered pullman toast
…or if you are allergic to shellfish (or think the alternative sounds good), you were presented with a mushroom risotto.
Really, really good; however, my bad because it didn’t get as well with the Pinot Gris pairing. The lobster risotto was amazing (Corinne gave me a taste).
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3rd Course:
Roast Black Bass with tiny tomatoes, tomato water, and herb salad
This was probably my favorite course of the night. The fish was perfectly cooked – meaty rather than fishy. The tomato water was a little much but that herb salad was fantastic with the fish.
The red wine pairing was surprising. It was a nice Merlot, but didn’t wow.
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4th Course:
Housemade Heritage Pork Sausage with crisp belly, Benton’s bacon-wrapped fig, and brown butter jus
The pork belly was some of the best I’ve ever had. The texture was melt-in-your-mouth good. The bacon wrapped fig was also delicious. Perfectly crisped bacon!
The only thing keeping this from being my favorite was the sausage – it was so salty I couldn’t eat more than a small bite!
A South African wine paired with this was our favorite of the evening – it was a bigger, more complex red, my palate’s sweet-spot.
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5th Course:
Warm 70% Chocolate with almond crisp, raspberry pate, and vanilla lime sorbet
Wellll… chef’s aren’t bakers. That warm 70% chocolate hardened before it made it out of the kitchen and the almond crisp was more rocky that crispy. I could have taken a bowl of that sorbet though!
The sherry pairing was too thick and rich for the dessert. On it’s own I really enjoyed it. It would have been a great one to serve between 4 and 5 courses or in lieu of the dessert.
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Overall, we left sated and happy. Most importantly, Corinne had a happy birthday!
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Of course, I have another supper club-like even this Friday. It should be epic!
Are you sick of hearing about these things yet?
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten as of late?
OMG no way am I sick of these recaps! You do a great job of making me jealous that I didn’t eat that delicious-looking food. Keep it up!!
I want to be your restaurant buddy!!! That is all. 🙂
I would love that! 🙂
I’m sure I would have loved the Ceviche too! I always order that at restaurants if it’s on the menu
I just recently started reading your blog so I am definitely not sick of these recaps and would love for you to continue them, this was such a fun read 🙂
Thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! 🙂
Yes, I do see why you opted to post these lovely pics.
And that dessert looks soooo goood!! Gah. I never save room for dessert!
I waaaaaaaant to go to a tasting dinner like this!
No way! I love hearing about restaurant reviews like this. Everything looks great but you’re right about that dessert looking a little sloppy.
That meal looks purely amazing.
SO yummy! I kind of loved the one time I’ve had trotter. Is that weird? [I love weird food though…] It is super heavy for an amuse…especially to follow with that delicate and fresh ceviche. Ah well…
There is a restaurant here in Austin where you go through a meal like that, but you actually get to have a satisfying dessert (more than satisfying, actually…amazing!)…but it is rare, isn’t it? When you come to visit, we’ll go there. 🙂
You always eat the most delicious and beautiful looking food…lucky! That dessert looks amazing – kind of like chocolate heaven!
Come eat with me when you’re in town next!
I love that you go to these things all the time. I never really can because of the pescatarian thing, but it’s fun to see what kind of food there is.
That’s why I could never go vegetarian – but I do stick to it at home! You could probably do the Chef Series featuring Canoe’s chef…
Whoa everything looks delicious!
So decadent! Wish these kind of events happened in Pittsburgh.
Mac and cheese with greens at Wisteria last night was amazing! So were the veggies that came with my almond crusted trout!
Those supper club things look awesome and I’m definitely not sick of them yet! I’ve always wanted to go to ONE Midtown Kitchen. We went to the Iberian Pig when I visited my sister which was really good – but I think Yeah Burger and Murphy’s are my favorite places to date 🙂
You’ll have to let me know next time you come in town – if you like those places I can take you to a few that will blow your mind! 🙂
I am convinced that your while life = delicious. Yum 🙂
Aaaannndd I am in love with your hair! It suits you so well!
You’re so sweet! Thanks. 🙂
I love your wavy ‘do!
This all looks amazing!! Would love to get to do this!!
Uber yum. I love little taste plates like that. So fun. Like tapas for the non-Spanish. Glad you got to enjoy such a nice treat!
Umm hi yes I will take the 5th course. Make that two of them plus a side of just the sorbet you suggested!
I dont know if fancy restaurants even exist in my town but man I need to find something similar…. my taste buds are screaming for it! ooor I’ll just run away and come visit you!
You are welcome any time! We’d have a blast. 🙂