2noblecrows: Best Dinner Ever!

Kara,

I love all those "Wedding Looks", I should have the pictures back in a few weeks. But in the meantime I wanted to tell you all about our wedding dinner at Per Se. This dinner was hands down the best meal, wine and champagne I have ever had. Per Se is Thomas Keller's brainchild and opened in 2004 in the Time Warner Center overlooking Central Park. Zagat rates their decor the best in the city. Keller also owns French Laundry (Napa Valley), Bouchon Bistro (Napa, Vegas, & LA), Bouchon Bakery (Napa, Vegas, LA & NYC) and Ad Hoc (Napa).

We did a nine course chef tasting menu, which changes nightly, and it lasted over 3 hours! We had an intimate booth at the top tier of the restaurant that overlooked all the tables and the view of the park. The spot was the best in the house and made for some amazing people watching.

Chef's Tasting Menu...

"Oysters and Pearls"
*This was my favorite of the night. The dish is described as "Sabayon" of pearl tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar.

"Slow Poached Elevages Perigord Moulard Duck Foie Gras"
Sour cherry "Rocher," toasted pistachios, young turnips, lobster mushroom and arugula.
*This dish was served with 8 different salts from around the world. One was even a black salt.

"Pave of Corned Mediterranean Turbot"
Wrapped in savoy cabbage, sweetbread farce, "Pommes Boulangeres" and whole grain mustard "Beurre Blanc"
*Turbot is a dense and meaty fish and not the least bit fishy. Even non-fish lovers would enjoy this fish.

"Butter Poached Nova Scotia Lobster"
"Gnocchi Parisienne en Glacage," petite radishes, upland cress and black truffle coulis.
*This was out of this world and was my 2nd favorite dish of the meal.

"Oat-Crusted Diamond H Ranch Quail Breast"
"Jambonnette," black mission figs, cauliflower "Flourettes," glazed pearl onions, flowering watercress and bitter chocolate jus
*The Diamond H Ranch is in Ingram, Texas!

"Elysian Fields Farm's Selle D'Agneau Rotie Entiere"
"Ragout" of Brentwood corn kernels, chanterelle mushrooms, haricots verts and bernaise reduction sauce
*This was yummy lamb.

"Garrotxa"
San Marzano Tomato bread pudding, English cucumbers, ice lettuce and basil ravigote
*This dish I didn't care for.

"Chamomile Lemonade"
Lemon puree, shortbread crumble and goosenberry sorbet

"Junior Mint"
Chocolate "Bavarois," uniper ganache and peppermint ice cream

"Mignardises"
caramels, truffles, chocolates, and macaroons.

To drink I had a glass of rose champagne that was amazing and then we had a bottle of vintage Kissler Chardonnay that was the yummiest white wine ever.

In a nutshell we were in foodie heaven. This is a must for every foodie and worth every penny. (But warning this is a $$$$$ meal)

xoxoxoxoxo
Margaret