Wednesday, March 11, 2009

POSH SUPPER CLUB presents superb cuisine and more

We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Christopher Willis at a charity benefit last year and thoroughly enjoyed tasting some of his food that evening. We were so enticed we immediately made plans to head to his restaurant POSH SUPPER CLUB (www.poshdc.com at 730 11th St, NW, previously Ortanique). Sadly, our plans were thwarted twice in a row and it took us almost 3/4 of a year to make it there.

We should not have delayed. AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU. Don't be fooled by the term "supper club" although you will often find different types of entertainment here; the star is the food! You should know it is one of the few places in town with a dress code, though not apparently enforced. The folks sitting next to us did not have the "required jackets" for sure.

The two-tiered space has a fun fish tank behind the host stand separating the large dining space with mezzanine seating balconied above. The decor is modern and snazzy with lots of metal sculptures lit from the bottom which reminded me of the Air Force monument over in Arlington near the Pentagon. The menus have metal jackets as well (a bit of a weighty problem). On the wall is a huge video screen with silent music videos (jazz) playing, which bothered me when the live entertainment began as it was just a visual distraction form the musicians as well as the food and the company. The tables have leather covers (which can be a bit tricky as they are not that even when replacing your glass). These are indeed the ONLY problems at Posh and are SO MINOR they must now be forgotten. The noise levels are decent (although one or two songs got a bit loud) and the lighting is superb despite the overall low levels throughout thanks to excellent pinpoint lights at each table.

The wine lists are varied and we had two great ones from low end to very high: STEELE 2006 Steele Cuvee Chardonnay from California is always a good bargain and goes so well with the many excellent seafood dishes. The VALL LACH 2001 PRIORAT was a huge red dream come true after it breathed for about 10-15 minutes (we opened it at the start of dinner and by the main course it was simply deep magenta bliss).

Our server KATSHA was excellent, and everyone else from the manager Theo to the rest of the staff want to make everyone happy. We could tell from chatting with neighbors that this is a big REPEAT crowd. You may know that Posh is owned by BET magnate Robert Johnson, who just happened to be there the other night and apparently dines there often; I would too! It is a spot that anyone would WANT to be seen in to begin with and then there is the food.......

Once you have ordered and settled in a basket of CHEESE BREAD comes to the table which Will instantly declared as the best bread he has ever had. Butter, Parmesan, and evenly spread spice make this a difficult to resist treat. We had three baskets delivered for the 4 of us and then had to say NO MORE!

The Grilled AVOCADO & LOBSTER SALAD (is huge like all portions here) comes with diced Maine Lobster, jicama, tomato, onion, cucumber, yellow pepper and cilantro with a CUSABI (that's cucumber-wasabi) Ranch Dressing. It is slightly spicy, but really mild. Chef Willis has an amazing way of spreading the spice thin..and even on the spicier Jerk-type dishes there is never a bolt of spice in any one bite or space...it is all even to perfection (see note on cornbread later). It is a simpler appetizer and truly a deluxe salad.

LOBSTER CRAB MARTINI is a dense treat served in a stemless huge martini glass resting in a box of ice. There are huge chunks of Lobster & Jumbo Crab with Cilantro, Avocado and cherry tomato with Sweet Cabbage shredded on top. Here again is that mild yet spread perfectly spiciness in the creamy dressing, somewhat akin to Thousand Island in taste and consistency, but definitely at a higher level. FRESH BRANZINI comes atop a Shitake Mushroom Slice with a JERK-DRIED MOREL sitting atop on a bed of Grain Mustard Beurre Blanc. The superb fish is a treat, the morel is a novelty again with that even spice and yummy almost fruity taste and the sauce is divine.

JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKES are a signature here as an appetizer or main course and may very well make the TOP OF THE LIST in TOWN in a taste test! They are fried and served with Old Bay Mustard that is tasty but not overpowering and a creamy tasty Mango-Jicama Slaw.

By now the singer, William Crue had begun to croon along with his sax player and we were all swinging to the light jazzy music. Some nights there are big bands, some nights karaoke and some nights lighter fare like Mr. Crue, who would beat any IDOL contestant in my mind. By the time we left, a number of folks had taken to the dance floor enjoying his melting tunes.

Main courses from Chef Willis were all totally impressive from the GRILLED PORK CHOP stuffed with Candied SHALLOT in a RUM CURRANT SAUCE comes with GARLIC MASH and a side of Creamed SPINACH that was to die for. GRILLED SALMON has a Roasted Corn "salsa" with Wild Rice Pilaf and Sauteed Spinach all in a Tropical Juice Beurre Blanc. Will's GRILLED HANGAR STEAK (if you liked the now defunct Les Halles, come right in here) was Molasses Rubbed and he substituted the TRUFFLE FRIES (WOW!) for the Garlic Mash; sauteed Mushrooms on the side and a Rosemary-Mustard Demi Glace.

My SEARED JAMAICAN JERK ROCKFISH is layered with thin slices of MANGO on a bed of ROASTED ASPARAGUS and topped with SWEET POTATO FRISEE. The sauce was a slightly creamy rich one with the jerk spice thoroughly spread through again. I thought this was truly one of the best fish dishes I have had in ages.

Another entree we noticed around was the CHICKEN & WAFFLES; we need to go back for this! There are also many side options and for $5.00 don't miss the CORNBREAD which comes out in a cast-iron skillet with a little potholder and sizzles on the edges as it continues to cook. This is a dessert-like sweet moist cornbread (much like spoonbread) and comes with a scoop of JALAPENO BUTTER melting on top. The jalapenos are diced small, but here you can seek out the spice or not, depending on your taste. Will declared this the other best bread he ever had!

I am sure most of the desserts are great, but we tasted only one as we were so full. The COCONUT CAKE is fried golden on the outside and served with Powdered Sugar and Whipped Cream. It is a bit of an indulgence, so coconutty, rich and creamy and then FRIED. My heartrate and cholesterol jumped to excess; but it was good.

POSH is a place to go for fun, entertainment and FOOD..don't forget that and we wont wait 9 months to go back for sure!