Food Porn 01.27.11...

~pastry symphony~

coffee semi freddo, coulant, pears, peanut butter bouche

jasmine custard, chestnut shake

bison loin sous vide, caramelized fennel, potato pancake,

black trumpets, crisp salsify, huckleberry essence

buddah's hand, grains of paradise, shiso ice

atlantic fluke, creamy lentils, crosnes, micro celery, jus de poisson

port cured foie gras, apricot marmalade, cacao nibs, hazelnuts
compressed fuji apples, tapioca, sour cherry dressing, maldon salt

flame torched wild japanese hamachi, heart of palm, coconut wafer
carica, ugli, togarashi, blood orange dressing, chili threads

Just a few "vignettes" of stills of the lastest action shots. Cooking as it unfolds which is created for pleasure...a mutually enjoyable entity to arouse the senses. Good times...

Special Tastes of Winter...

Scallops a'la Plancha

cooking fireside...hella cool!

Scallops a'la Plancha with fire roasted apples, house bacon

& butterscotch caramel
Lobster Salad "en Oeuf"
pumello, preserved ginger, golden caviar, avocado, lobster vinaigrette
whipped yuzu
Wild Japanese Hamachi "Crudo"
carica, ugli, heart of palm, micro greens, elderflower-bergamot dressing,
spicy coconut emulsion & coconut wafer

Port Wine Cured Foie Gras
apricot marmalade, hazelnuts, cacao nibs, compressed fuji apples
saba-hazelnut vinaigrette, maldon salt

Seared Loch Duart King Salmon
veal cheek strewn lentils, leeks, honshimejii, truffles, red wine sauce
celery leaf oil

Porcini Crusted American Bison Loin
celery root puree, black trumpet mushrooms, thumbelina carrots
syrah salt and a huckleberry-syrah essence

Valrhona Manjari "Coulant"
cappuccino "semi freddo", sous vide pears, blackberry sherbet, almond macaron

A little snapshot view from a little mouse in the corner...this is what one would see if they were that proverbial mouse(i hate flies). To sit back and see what takes place in our kitchen at times is simply amazing. Usually always exciting and exhilarating. Sometimes utterly wild and crazy, and sometimes, just plain shitty. The less than great visuals are more so those times when we are just stressed and anxious...fatigued and overly high strung...exhausted and tired of a staff member who sees it as their turn to bitch and complain. Whatever! Here are some shots of a dinner we did for a special client who just wanted something inspired and cool. We were happy...they were stoked! Enjoy..

An Honorable Mention...

Today, I write this birthday wish to my late, great mother, who throughout her entire life, showed me what life can be and should be like. It is through her that I learned to live...learned to love...and learned to appreciate what we as people can sometimes be blind to and overlook, yet it is right there in front of us to enjoy. It is through her passion as a person, as a writer and as a wonderful mother that I grew to be the man I am today and for that I truly respect what she had accomplished in life and am honored to be her only son. It is because of her that I have been able to become the chef I am today...to be the father I am to my two incredible children... the teacher to the many I have had the pleasant memory of working with...the artist of the inspiring craft I have chosen...the creative person of my own passion and the humble follower of her amazing ambitions. She set my course on this blessed path of faith and future and taught me what I needed to know, even when I didn't see it, want it or understand it. All that I am or can ever hope and aspire to become...I owe to her. May I always make you proud. Thank you mom.