This is a post from a dinner after the "silverado trail weekend pass" wine tasting event in Napa from last fall. I was fortunate enough to be with friends who had the "insider" connections in Napa to have this amazing experience. I'll definitely be posting a few of my Michelin star restaurants that I was fortunate enough to document. :)
*****
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 martini house menu
dinner menu
the chef's mushroom tasting menu
ciroc cocktail - aaron's
gin + tonic - paul's
beautiful bellini - mine
dirty martini - canadian dave's
2006 antica cabernet sauvignon
it was very good :)
the best cab i had all day, next to the 1998 barrels at montecello & conn creek
Amuse Bouche
Mushroom Mousse on Puff Pastry
Puff Pastry with Polenta, Salami on Puff Pastry
Amuse Bouche - Butternut Squash Panna Cotta
Amuse Bouche - “Pleurotus eryngii”
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)
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Toasted Croutons and Chives
(Canadian Dave & Aaron both ordered the soup)
House Cured Charcuterie Plate
Duck Chorizo
Wine Country Smoked Beef Summer Sausage
Squab Salami
Pan Roasted Mahi Mahi
with Crispy Potatoes Swiss Chard,
Confit Chestnuts and Butternut Squash
Chanterelle Mushroom Stroganoff
(Aaron's entree)
Roasted Liberty Farms Duck Breast
with Cherry Sauce Braised Endive,
Macerated Figs and
Candied Garlic with Creamy Polenta Cake
(Paul's entree)
Squab and Seared Foie Gras “Pasta Fagioli”
Rigatoni Stuffed with Leg Confit,
Hobbs Smoked Bacon and Braised Butter Beans Squab Jus
(canadian dave's entree)
2005 Ethos Sweet Riesling
french press - ily coffee
Coconut Tapioca Pudding
Vanilla Bean Beignets
(paul's dessert)
Sierra Betty Apple Tart
Sweet and Sour Huckleberries
and Cinnamon Streusel Ice Cream
(aaron's dessert)
Chocolate Custard Cake
Espresso Mascarpone and Salted Caramel Ganache
(canadian dave's dessert)
Pear Sorbet in Wafer Cones and Snickerdodles
(this is my favorite photo in the whole set)
aaron & paul
cheers!
i was very fortunate that aaron and canadian dave were willing to share their dishes with me :) so i got to taste their appetizers, entrees, and desserts :) paul brought very good wines to accompany our meal - i really enjoyed the experience
“Pleurotus eryngii”
“Sparassis crispa”
“Grifola frondosa”
“Lactarius rubidus”
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