*****
Saturday
11.08.2008
Martini House
St. Helena, CA
i was sooo excited to go to martini house for dinner and that paul was able to get reservations, apparently he had to call in a few favors to get us a table - we were orginally going to have dinner downstairs by the bar for more ambience but ended up being seated upstairs for dinner - the restaurant was very beautiful and had a "lodge" feel and i enjoyed being able to look into the open kitchen :) the service was impeccable and i was surprised to learn that paul helped open the restaurant...and he ran into so many people he knew in the area while we were in the restaurant - we even saw todd white who runs napa valley farms, who i met and visited when i did tastings in may with christina and eddy in may :)
so, i was so excited to learn that the restaurant only recently got awarded a michelin star :) and was really looking forward to the experience and got even more spoiled due to paul's connections
aaron taking a pic
the railings are made from the drill bits of the wine presses
the open kitchen
the ambience
the downstairs bar
the railings are made from the drill bits of the wine presses
the open kitchen
the ambience
the downstairs bar
the martini house menu
dinner menu
the chef's mushroom tasting menu
gin + tonic - paul's
dirty martini - canadian dave's
it was very good :)
the best cab i had all day, next to the 1998 barrels at montecello & conn creek
Mushroom Mousse on Puff Pastry
Puff Pastry with Polenta, Salami on Puff Pastry
Amuse Bouche - Butternut Squash Panna Cotta
King Trumpet Mushroom Salad and
Fried Chips Shaved Celery, Radish and Ricotta Salata
Meyer Lemon Dressing
Country Style Duck Terrine Leg Confit, Smoked Duck Breast and Foie gras Celery Root and
Apple Salad with Creamy Hazelnut Vinaigrette
(paul's appetizer)
Toasted Croutons and Chives
(Canadian Dave & Aaron both ordered the soup)
Duck Chorizo
Wine Country Smoked Beef Summer Sausage
Squab Salami
with Crispy Potatoes Swiss Chard,
Confit Chestnuts and Butternut Squash
Chanterelle Mushroom Stroganoff
(Aaron's entree)
with Cherry Sauce Braised Endive,
Macerated Figs and
Candied Garlic with Creamy Polenta Cake
(Paul's entree)
Rigatoni Stuffed with Leg Confit,
Hobbs Smoked Bacon and Braised Butter Beans Squab Jus
(canadian dave's entree)
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