CCanazares on Citysearch 15 years ago
08/01/2007, 16:21 PM
Fabulous Dining Experience with my Girlfriends – Three of us came out for dinner and WOW. The dining experience reminded me of my summer in southern France where the food is phenomenal, the tables tiny, the service fantastic and the ambiance unpretentious and inviting. We lingered for three hours. A glass of sparkling Francois Montand Rose started us as we layered on the English Pea Shoot Salad, Pasta Carbonara and Oysters Rockefeller. The lemon cured salmon in the salad is delicate and a perfect compliment to the fresh pea shoots. It tastes like summer. The Carbonara is delightfully ?unmixed? I said out loud (and was immediately corrected by my foodie friend to say that the correct term is ?deconstructed? ? I?ll blame the temporary insanity on the carbonara!) with a wonderfully soft boiled egg perched precariously over the top of an amazing morsel of pork belly and surrounded by cavatelli pasta, although a tad bit firm in my humble opinion?all of it resting in a flavorful broth. I carefully stacked each element on my fork and it was a bite of heaven. The Oysters Rockefeller was plated expertly and imaginatively within little potato wraps and the sauce with that dish is terrific, too. I am starting to realize by this time that this restaurant really stands out. Then, for dinner?suffice it to say that we each enjoyed our main courses, but the absolute standouts were the duck breast and tender prime beef culotte. The beef is decorated with the most amazing duck fat french fries, and sorry, we overhead the server explanation to the next table over, it comes only with the main course ? no sides of fries available. I wanted to chime in that they ought to order it anyway, even if they were not hungry enough to eat the beef, but I kept that thought to myself. For dessert?cupcakes and lemon meringue (thank you, Chef!) and should I even get started about the meringue? Another WOW. Exceptional wines, standout food, excellent service and overall a wonderful dining experience. Thank you Fruition!