It seems I'm off to New York for a couple of weeks in the summer, well their summer July to be exact. Cue *happy cupcake dance* I love these vacations because I get to eat my little heartout! So I'm starting to formulate my hitlist of must go to spots, right up there is what started as a food truck (ya'll know how much I love a food truck) and is now a store the Big Gay Ice cream shop
I'm for trying the Salty Pimp (save your chirps!)
I'm also for trying American Globs
Ok who am I kidding I'm probably going to try as much as I can and then I'll try some more! Will check back at the end of July!
Look them up: http://biggayicecream.com/about/
On a work colleague's recommendation, I made a reservation for the family to celebrate my mum's birthday at Providence in West Hollywood. We set off to our destination with no expectations and hoping it would not disappoint. Disappoint it did not!
The walls are dotted with strategically placed shells, which is fitting for a fine dining destination that offers the best the ocean can offer.
I started my evening with a pear martini, which was made up of vodka, sake and fresh organic pear juice. It was sweet and strong, just the right drink for a party. Then came the bread basket, just in time for patrons who were having pre-dinner cocktails on an empty stomach.
I opted for the salty and smoky nori bread.
Next came the amuse bouche trio of:
marshmallow rolled in wasabi dust- sweet with delicate heat
puff pastry filled with warm, pungent gruyere
shot of lime jelly topped with salmon tartare, caviar and edible gold dust- Sublime!
For starter I ordered the foie gras ravioli with truffles. The ravioli was light, in a buttery sauce and the earthy truffles went beautifully with the rich, fatty taste of foie gras. My picture does not do this dish justice. If you have the taste for foie gras, this is by far the best I've eaten.
My brother and father both had the scallops, which I had to taste, and boy am I glad I did. Firstly they're larger than the kind served in South Africa but as always they're soft and sweet. Served with a tomato and basil vinaigrette.
For main I had the Wild striped bass, Belgian endive seasoned with soy salt, crispy pork belly, yuzu kosho butter. This was set on a spinach bed and had a light red pepper sauce. The fish was cooked to perfection, although a slightly meaty fish it was moist and buttery. I expected pork crackling but the crisp pork belly added a great salty, mildly smoky flavour that worked so well. If I was pushed I would say that the red pepped sauce was slightly overpowering, but only if pushed. This is by far the best meal I have had! And it'll stay with me for years to come.
If you know me at all, you know I'm a sucker for desserts. Dessert was poached peaches with a star anise flavour on pistachio served with nectarine sorbet (i think) and a sweet bread. the peaches where sweet and tart at the same time with a lingering star anise flavour which I almost couldn't place.
The thing I loved most about this dinner was the integrity of flavours. The ability to keep the focus on the star of the dish be it foie gras, scallops, fish or peaches. the flavour combination was impeccable. http://www.providencela.com/
I was in California last week, and i thought it would be good to share the highlights of my week.
The first was a proud moment for me, finding the South African Nomu products in Monsieur Marcels French deli in the LA Farmer's Market.
Nomu had an entire shelf stand dedicated to their range of products. Proudly South African!
Lunch at La Piazza Italiano Ristorante provided a much needed break with air conditioning after walking around the Farmer's market on a sweltering LA day. The food is serious, contemporary Italian fair. I ordered the Tagliolini al Nero di Seppia which is Black Squid Ink Tagliolini Pasta with Clams, Mussels, Shrimp and Calamari on a Tomato Sauce and Parsley. Although it was a tad salty, it had a rich combination of sea and tomato flavour plus it was packed with fresh seafood. The family all enjoyed their dishes, which included raviolis and fish. It is an upmarket restaurant by US standards and mains are upward of $18.
We made it out to The Grove (situated next to the Farmer's Market) for a second time and had lunch at Morels French Steakhouse. They served a wonderful Fish (sole) and chipsthat rivals Cape Town's. A skirt steak arugala salad that almost reaches but just stops short of trumping Tasha's steak salad (Tasha's I miss you and you'd definitely make it out in LA). A seafood penne pasta special that is also rich in seafood and tomato flavour. Lastly a cheese plate that warmed my heart served with raw honey, fig preserve.
