Before leaving for the city, we had a late breakfast at The Corner in Montclair. This is a tiny breakfast and lunch spot that we have wanted to try since it opened a couple of years ago. Weekend attempts were met with long waiting times, so we deferred until now. Service was very attentive and the food was great.
Carol ordered an Omelet, which she filled with spinach, ham and goat cheese, while I had a Breakfast Sandwich of house cured bacon and an over easy egg on a house made buttermilk biscuit. I love fresh biscuits and this was fantastic. We also shared a monster sized order of matchstick fries which were quite good. We will be back.
Off to the show. No traffic today, so we cruised in to the City. The show was great...every bit as good as the movie. I highly recommend it.
We had not been to Le Bernardin Restaurant in at least 15 years and felt it was time to change that. Le Bernardin has held 3 Michelin stars since 2005 when Michelin began rating US restaurants. Getting a reservation was a challenge, but thanks to a couple of contacts we were able to secure a table.
With an hour to spare before our reservation we settled into the Aldo Sohm Wine Bar directly across the square from the restaurant to pass the time with a glass or two of wine. Aldo is the head sommelier at Le Bernardin restaurant.
Carol chose a glass of 2015 Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara. It displayed a deep rosé hue, with a berry nose. The palate was fresh and crisp.
For me I began with a glass of 2015 Domaine Aux Moines Becreau Des Fées Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc is a favorite of mine and I found this young vine wine to have terrific purity and was excellent balance.
2013 Sohm & Kracher Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner. Owner Aldo Sohm makes this wine with Gehard Kracher, son of the late Alois Kracher. This was a beautifully balanced wine with nice acidity and texture.
Time for dinner, so we headed across the square to the restaurant. The food, service and overall experience at the restaurant were worthy of the 3 stars and fantastic reputation it has earned. We were greeted (as are all diners) with a complimentary glass of Champagne. I didn’t pay close attention to the label, but it was very good. A brut for sure, it had a yeasty bouquet and palate and excellent balance.
Le Bernardin is primarily a seafood restaurant, serving pristinely fresh fish prepared simply and always perfectly cooked. For land lubbers there are a limited number of meat selections. The four course prixe-fixed menu offers an exciting selection dishes. Our meal began with a complimentary amuse-bouche of Salmon Sashimi, Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio and Lobster Bisque. Each bite was spectacular and set the stage for the meal to follow
Carol began with Warm Artichoke Panaché; Vegetable Risotto, Black Truffle Vinaigrette. Delicate and delicious is the way I described the forkful I tried.
I opted for Fluke Slivers; Sweet and Sour Plum, Grapefruit-Tea Nage. Fluke is my favorite Sashimi fish. It is delicate and full of flavor. This preparation with the fish swimming in the tea was magnificent. I could have eaten a few orders of this and been happy to call it a night.
Carol's second plate was Lacquered Lobster Tail; Herb Spring Roll, Lemongrass Consommé. Like the fluke, the consommé bath elevated the dish to new heights.
I was delighted with Seared Langoustine; Fennel Mousseline, Spiced Citrus-Sambal Sauce. Again the magic of the sauce worked in amazing harmony with the fish.
For her entrée Carol stayed with lobster and had Pan Roasted Lobster; Baby Leeks, Sunchoke Purée, Red Wine-Sauce Américaine. Completely different than her previous dish, it was just as spectacular.
I selected Sautéed Dover Sole; Celeriac Royale, Sauce Veronika. This was the most unique version of Dover Sole I ever had and like the previous dishes it was delicious. The delicate fish was perfectly cooked and sat a top another amazing sauce that enhanced each bite of the fish.
I selected a bottle of 2013 Jean-Charles Abbatucci Cuvée Collection General de La Revolution to drink with our meal. I am a big fan of Corsican wines, especially those from Abbatucci. This bottling is a blend from the original plantings of Carcajolu Biancu (25%), Paga Debbiti (25%), Riminese (20%), Rossola Brandica (15%), Biancone (10%), and 5% Vermentinu. The wine had brilliant salinity and impeccable balance while finishing with good length. A round a delicious with lots of soul that complemented the meal perfectly.
On to dessert. As you might expect, dessert was as spectacular as the meal. Carol ordered Slow Roasted Apple, Armagnac Sabayon, Brown Butter Ice Cream. It is pictured below in the background of the complimentary "Tres Leches" (Crispy Cashew Sponge Cake Sphere, Caramelized Goat’s Milk Mousse, Clementine Sorbet).
I completed the meal with Red Wine-Hibiscus Poached Pear, Buckwheat Angel’s Food Cake, Olive Oil "Snow”. A perfect ending to a perfect meal and a perfect day.
While we waited for the check, we nibbled on the complimentary cookie assortment. Pure decadence.
Saluté
No comments:
Post a Comment