During my visit to NYC last August I wanted to have one
truly memorable, fabulous and decadent evening with my travel crazy cousin Josh
from Kansas City (who was filming material for a pilot for the Travel Channel)
and his housemate B who was visiting on business. My strategy for this was to
pick one of the best restaurants in the city and make sure I had a booking. As
Per Se was closed for the summer my choice was Daniel, one of the few
restaurants to combine three Michelin stars with four NYT stars. I was close to
being swayed by twitter advice from Matt Preston about the awesomeness of
Corton but decided that the long running success and the more sedately
luxurious dining setting would be better.
Daniel has the choice between a la carte, three course prix
fixe ($108 + tax & tip) or tasting menu (six course $195 + $105 wine
pairings and eight course $220 + $130 wine pairings). We chose the three course
option after I made it clear to my dates that we would be sharing each course because I was blogging (quite possibly the motivating factor in me having a food blog). We chose Domaine Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis
(2009, $60) from the heavy tome that was the wine list after consultation with
the Sommelier.
Our meal began with an amuse bouche of golden beet salad,
borscht and smoked salmon to whet our appetites.
For the first course I chose the trio of arctic char, which
showcased the versatility of the main ingredient brilliantly. The confit with
tarragon and lemon balm (right) was delicious as was the pickled with yellow
tomato vinaigrette and turmeric (left); however, the standout was the tartar
with wasabi and Northern Lights caviar – a wonderful contrast of textures and
flavours.
Josh’s chilled melon veloute with Maine lobster, compressed
watermelon, lomo Iberico and espelette pepper cream was also amazing with its
subtly spiced melon veloute contrasting nicely with the delicate lobster and
more punchy combination of watermelon and ham.
B’s choice of peekytoe crab in an heirloom tomato gelée with
Thai basil, avocado, mango, lilliput capers and olive bread tuile was a
deliciously summery combination.
I chose the duo of beef for my main, which comprised of
delectably sticky Black Angus short ribs with cauliflower mousseline and lusciously
tender seared wagyu tenderloin with chantarelles, crispy potato and poached
bone marrow.
Josh had the tasting of veal with rare roasted tenderloin
with eggplant puree, amazing braised cheeks with glazed zucchini and crispy
sweetbreads with caper caponata (which was hastily remade when B knocked water
onto Josh’s plate). The sweetbreads were ‘unfortunately’ a bit daunting for
Josh, so I helped him out by finishing them.
B’s chose the Yellowfin tuna ‘a la plancha’ (Spanish for
grilled) with sweet pepper ragout, marinated anchovies, chickpea panisse,
mustard salad and iberico ham.
For dessert I was swayed by the warm guanaja chocolate coolant
with liquid caramel, fleur de sel and milk sorbet. The coulant was decadent
with its oozing salted caramel paired with a not too sweet milk sorbet… and
yes that is gold leaf on the cake.
Josh chose the lemongrass poached pineapple with coconut meringue,
lime-rum gelée
and piña colada sorbet.
B went with the caramelized hazelnut crumble with dulce de
leche cream, caraïbe chocolate mousse and horchata ice cream.
Our server decided to bring us out the lavender-honey
roasted apricots with almond milk cream, crunchy praline and apricot saffron
sorbet, compliments of the house.
By this stage we were feeling pretty full but were tempted
into further indulgence by:
freshly baked madeleines still warm from the oven,
petit
fours,
and finally chocolates.
