Last night's dinner was here in our hotel the historic NICHOLAS de OVANDO in the Colonial Zone of downtown Santo Domingo. La Residence has long been the top French place around with a master chef from France, Denis Schetrit, who was nowhere in sight all evening. Actually nobody was in sight all evening as we chose to dine indoors where it was air conditioned. About 6 tables were occupied outside and one in each of the indoor rooms, not so hot for the top place in town, eh?
As we sat down, we were treated to digital Beatles and pretty awful (but at least not loud) music all evening. We ordered a bottle of CASILLERO del DIABOLO Sauvignon Blanc '08, the same I had enjoyed at lunch and pondered our choices. The food is traditional French with a local flair, so we chose the dishes that were less French and more local.
An amuse arrived of TUNA TARTARE and en EGGPLANT CAVIAR with tomato concasse on top. The tuna was dry and the eggplant was tasty. My CHILED CREAM of ZUCCHINI Soup was flavored with Fresh Coriander, Coconut and a milk foam with Poppy Seeds which may very well have been the hit of the evening. Will ordered the TUNA TARTARE with SANTIAGO Peppers and Guacamole which he thought was pretty awful overall. We ordered a decent bottle of red (the wine is SO EXPENSIVE here that a $10 bottle at home would be $60 here....and that's a huge markup. The taxes are so high that I just balk at the prices) from Spain, MARQUES de la CONCORDIA 2005 Crianza from Rioja that was quite nice--in a store at home it might be $15, and was over $60 here! It was great with our entrees. Mine was a FILET of POULTRY AJI CUBANILLA with Rice and Dominican Beans which were red and in a runny sauce, unlike the Cuban black beans we so often get with rice. The BEANS were the highlight of the meal. Will had the ROASTED FILET of PORK enhanced with Colombo Spices, and a white Sweet Potato flavored with pineapple.
Desserts were not winners either with my CREPES coming out more like thick blintzes and a Strawberry Filling with a yummy marmalade on the side. Will had the MILLES FEUILLES con Guineaos which was really a wafer and not a puff pastry with bananas and Rum Raisin Ice Cream, so much for the French pastry being authentic.
The price was high and the overall dining experience was elegant, but the food was not nearly as good as out lunch at PATE e PALO....so we seek better luck next time here in the capital.
