I was able to participate in an extravagant dining experience, which consisted of 8 courses over the duration of about 4 hours. I have no idea if the items in my review are typically available on menu; the food was phenomenal.
The first course was a seared scallop. The sauce over it and the bed of greens blended perfectly with the dish. A beautiful start to the evening, it's rare I get scallop so expertly prepared.
The second course was tempura shrimp sushi with seasoned Kewpie mayo and what tasted like eel sauce. Topped with tobiko (fish roe) and a wasabi aoli on the side. It was delectable.
The third course was a pear salad with the same greens and sauce as was present on the scallop. In addition pine nuts, feta cheese, and balsamic glaze were added. The crisp texture and flavor of the pear with the savory cheese and sweet dressing was fantastic.
The fourth course was absolutely one of my favorites. A lobster ravioli topped in with lobster bisque, absolutely masterful. The seasoning and cheese inside the ravioli was incredible, I would eat this every day.
The fifth course was pan seared duck with a saffron sauce and potato fondant. The crispiness of the duck with the melded fats and saffron nearly brought me to tears. It was tender and rich, I brought any and all leftovers from the rest of the dining party home with me. This was, hands down, the best duck I have ever been served at a restaurant.
The sixth course served as a pallet cleanse. It was a delightful lemon and huckleberry sorbet. A sweet brittle pastry (the name escapes me) was adorned on top that was as delicious as it was fragile. The sorbet was refreshing and sharp, the freshness truly served its purpose.
The seventh course was the main star of the evening, beef Wellington. The cut of meat was flawless, the preparation and cooking was executed at a level I rarely see done with beef. Perfectly pink and tender, juicy, all of the body of the dish was present. The pastry was flaky and rich, the mushrooms perfectly accented the meat and gravy. If I could cement the experience into my mind flawlessly I'd give up many a memory to hold onto this one. This will be a dish all future beef Wellington will forever attempt to surmount in my mind.
The eighth and final course was a raspberry tart topped with a chocolate mousse. The pastry was flaky and buttery. The mousse was rich and decedent a-top a perfectly set raspberry filling. Had I any less resolved I'd have snatched a second from my neighbor at the table.
A huge thank you to everyone involved. Your hard work and incredible execution of this has left what will be a cherished dining experience.
All in all, an absolutely delightful time. I would encourage anyone who has the chance to participate in an event such as this to do so with rapid and fervent haste.
