New Year's Eve 2011 - In Season

In keeping with the tradition we started last year, we picked our favorite restaurant of the year for our New Year's Eve dinner.  We just got back from a fabulous meal at In Season restaurant.  We tend to take the early reservations so we can get in and back home before the crazies get on the roads.  This year we were extra glad as it is raining and soon will be switching over to snow.

 

We arrived a few minutes prior to our reservation and were immediately seated.  We went with the 7 course tasting menu but passed on the wine pairings.  Though I did have a nice glass of Pinot Noir with my first few courses.  The menu was as follows:

• Jorstad Creek Oyster with Preserved Lemon and Sauternes
• Beet Cured Salmon with Quinoa, Blood Orange and Fennel Pollen 
• Black Truffle Risotto 
• Pork Belly “Monte Cristo” with Honeycrisp Apple 
• Monkfish with Salsify, Sauce Romesco and Black Olive Oil 
• Braised Veal Cheek with Aligote Potatoes and Sauce Perigord 
• Vanilla Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Consomme

The oyster was a first for both the hubby and me.  It was actually pretty good.  I'm not sure I would order it on my own, but it was definitely good.

If I were to rank order the food starting with the best, I would go with the Salmon, Veal, Risotto, Pork Belly, Panna Cotta, Monkfish, and the Oyster.  The salmon was a very interesting crisp, fresh dish.  Good news is that we were told it will be on their menu starting in the new year.  Definitely my favorite of the evening.  The veal cheek was awesome.  Braised and very tender - no knife needed.  The rest of the meal was good too - no plates went back with food left on them. 

The hubby would rank the food a bit differently.  His ranking starts with the Panna Cotta and follows with Salmon, Pork Belly, Oyster, Veal, Risotto, and Monkfish.  He would rate the Monkfish higher, but the entire dish was not as good as the rest of the menu. 

This was a great choice for our NYE dinner and solidified in my mind that this was indeed our "restaurant of the year." 

May 2012 bring you new dining experiences!

Happy eating!