jeffl1

I tried the Chef’s Tasting menu and wine pairing tonight and was sorely disappointed. A majority of the flavors I encountered were something similar to an Asian fusion rather than an exquisite French restaurant. The key disappointments to the evening were 1) A white fish that was smothered in a miso/soy sauce and 2) A calamari dish that tasted seriously like a vegetarian dumpling. The white fish wasn’t actually bad, it’s just that well I’m Asian and my aunt can make a better white fish with soy sauce dish. It also wouldn’t cost me an arm. The calamari-vegetarian dumpling thing also would’ve been fine if I was in a restaurant in china town. Once again, china town does not cost my other arm.

There was an asian fusion dish that I think was first. A cerviche style halibut maybe? It was a white fish dish that was demolished of its delicacy by an over use of salt and orange citrus juices. It was almost good.

That all said, the highlights of the tasting were 1) a tasting of a scallop in an amazing pink sauce that was served first and got our hopes up, 2) the Wild Salmon which simply melted in your mouth and 3) the White Tuna that just tasted amazing since it was served right after the aforementioned whitefish and soy sauce thing. The White Tuna also had a thicker sauce which I believe allowed the sauce to more tastefully applied to the fish rather than doused in it. Did I mention that? At least 3 of the dishes had their seafood just swimming in an overpowering sauce.

I’m really hoping there was guest chef there tonight or maybe they were trying some new dishes because I simply don’t see why anyone would visit this place for their tasting menu.

Also, the wine pairings were close but still off. I wish I had a better memory to spew out the exact pairings. All I can say is that save for think the first pairing with the cerviche thingy and the pairing with the white tuna, the wine pairings were either too overpowering or just didn’t add any complimentary flavors to the dish. It was great to taste each wine on its own at first, but disappointing when the wine had ruin my palette for dish it was suppose to compliment.