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Review content:
This was a FABULOUS dining experience. Of course, I went because I was a HUGE Stefan fan during Top Chef...and I still think he should've won.
Anyway, my hopes were high for this place when I went on Saturday and the food did not disappoint!
I tried the TRUFFLE ARANCINI WITH LEMON AIOLI, LIKE A BIG MAC, THAI LOBSTER BISQUE WITH COCONUTMILK AND LEMON GRASS, and my friends tried the KUMAMOTO OYSTER WITH ABSINTHE JELLO AND FENNEL VINAIGRETTE. I'm told the oysters were superb (but since I don't eat oysters, my favorite small plate was the lobster bisque).
For appetizers, we tried the FARMERS MARKET RED AND GOLDEN BEETS WITH GOAT CHEESE MOUSSE AND MESCLUN and CELERY ROOT RAVIOLI WITH PANCETTA AND SAGE. We all LOVED the celery root ravioli. Perfectly al dente. I hate to say it, but this ravioli BLEW AWAY the butternut squash ravioli I had at Fabio's Cafe Firenze.
For dinner, we all shared the MINI MUSHROOM RAVIOLI WITH FOIE GRAS AND BLACK TRUFFLES, LOBSTER AND SCALLOP RISOTTO WITH ENGLISH PEAS DILL AND CHAMPAGNE, and BRAISED PORK CHEEK AND CARAWAY SAUSAGE WITH SOURKRAUT PRETZEL DUMPLINGS AND BEERSAUCE. I never had pork cheek before, but it was INCREDIBLY tender and delicious. None of us could stop eating the sourkraut. My friends thought the risotto was just right.
After we literally finished off every piece of food on all the above plates, we were escorted back to the open kitchen area where we got to watch Stefan cook (I jumped up and down several times like a silly school girl when I realized I could very well have eaten something that Stefan cooked!!). He chatted with us and came out from behind the hot kitchen to pose for pictures. He was SUPER nice and friendly.
I LOVED his arrogance and cockiness on the show and I was happy to find that he has the chef skills to back that up. More than the "character" on the show, he's also a GENUINELY nice person.
After all that, we ate some more. For desert, we each had a REDWINE ICECREAM LOLIPOP, and split the MOUSSE AU CHOCOLATE WITH BAUMKUCHEN, NUTELLA CRÈME BRULEE, and LEMON GRASS AND GINGER PANNACOTTA WITH PINEAPPLE COULIS AND GRAPEFRUIT GELEE. Everything except the creme brulee was exceptionally good. The creme brulee was just ok.
The panna cotta was a must have since he made something similar in episode #9 and it was the best desert I've ever had. Each component was perfect. Next time, there's no way in hell I'm sharing this desert with anyone. GET YOUR OWN!!!
The food was beyond my expectations. The service was a bit of a disappointment, but I think the staff is just getting used to things and settling in...so I'm willing to over look the confused look on their faces for now.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place whether or not you watched Top Chef.
Pros: Amazing and unique food
Cons: servers need to stop looking so confused
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