Immediately upon deplaning from our cruisetrip, we met my cousins for dinner back in DC at our neighborhood haunt, BLACKSALT (www.blacksaltrestaurant.com) and we all pretty much had a great time.
It
was the last chance to gobble down some bread before Passover, so we
all (save my cousin who is gluten-free) enjoyed the various breads with
seasoned dipping oils. I ordered a superb Cuilleron-Villard-Gaillard
2011
Marsanne from Saint-Peray made by these superb Rhone
Valley winemakers as a joint venture. I met Yves Cuilleron many years
ago and still adore their wines. Will's eyes lit up when our server
announced the first of the season Corn Meal Battered Soft Shell Crabs
which he immediately ordered and I tasted-YUM. Soon we will get the
local ones, rather than those from the Gulf! He also ordered some of the
Wood Grilled Sardines with Braised Rapini, but asked them to omit the
Picholine-Sultana Agro Dolce, and I thought that would have been a huge
addition. He started with the WoodGrilled Baby Octopus, Spicy
Peperonata, Salsa Verde and Confit Gold Potatoes which we have always
enjoyed here, but he declared it not as good as in the past.
My
cousins tended to salads and I chose the Atlantic Dayboat Scallops,
Pancetta Vinaigrette, Fava Beans, Gnocchi, Fava Puree & Maitakes
which is definitely one of the top appetizers here not to be missed.
Such plump fresh scallops are always a treat. Having not had great fish
while on the cruise (yea, that makes sense!) I chose the Atlantic Bigeye
Tuna with Crispy Pork Shoulder, Yucca Frites, Green Chile Mole &
Black Bean Relish; what a treat and fabulous combination of flavors. We
had moved onto a Brick House 2010 Cascadia Ribbon Ridge Chardonnay from
the Willamette Valley; I have definitely added this winery to our list
to visit in July when in Oregon.
The Whole(fileted) Wood
Grilled Branzino was divine with Bean Ragout, Rapini, Olives, Baby
Chokes & Preserved Lemon. It's amazing how good and rich a fish this
is when prepared with such love.
WoodGrilled Creekstone Farm
NY Strip with Beer Batter Onion Rings, Wild Mushrooms, Bone Marrow
Butter and Blacksalt Steak Sauce was on the menu for Sam. It was also
perfect, although he insisted those fabulous wild mushrooms be on the
side. Better for the rest of us to gobble them up.
DoverSole was Pan Raosted with Asparagus, New Potato & Ramp Cream--INGENIOUS. I must make ramp cream sometime somewhere!
We
took our time, but had some issues communicating with Fernando, our
server, but nothing awful. We survived, and the place was indeed jammed
as it is every weekend night and most other nights as well.
Desserts
were needed to get that leaven in before the holiday. My cousin and I
shared the Trio of Crème Brulees, and she loved the Butterscotch, while I
adored the White Chocolate/Raspberry, but the top was the Milk
Chocolate/Hazelnut with Poached Cherries!
Banana Chocolate
Cream Pie with Thyme Honey, Roasted Pineapple and Chocolate Sauce just
seemed like overdose to me, but then, I did not taste...and it was
gobbled up as well as the Chocolate Bread Pudding; a Butterscotch Pot de
Crème, Scotch Vanilla Milkshake, Almond Brittle & Milk
Chocolate-Butter Shortbread dish that looked like tons of fun. We will
have to go back again soon for cheese :-))
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to ALL!
