Mon cooks another seriously excellent meal!

Last night- I gave up unpacking boxes and putting things away - or not away because I had no place for them- and we went to our friend's house for dinner.  Our friend, Mon is a terrific chef... really he is professional level despite being a CPA and attorney with an LLM in Tax- this guy really has a way with food- sometimes in the most straightforward way but always sublime! I am sitting here remembering a meal last summer at Mon & Beth's where he made an outstanding gazpacho that I could have drunk a gallon of... but never mind about that- let's talk about last night!

presentation is the thing- he does it so well and I usually am a bit more "relaxed" in my "style" of entertaining LOL- actually my style (full stop) LOL

here is what I mean- the grilled mixed seafood ready for serving-

we started with Caviar! with every little thing you might want- tiny blinis and sour cream and capers and chopped egg yolks and chopped egg whites and chopped onions and it was so very yummy-

champagne (RH Coutier NV Brut) to start-

well we almost licked the tin clean- damned close!

then a quick taste of the grilled clams-
the wine was a Peter Michael Bell Cote Chard (too oaky for my taste so Mon opened a Gruner for me which I liked much better)

Mon was busy at the grill-

"plating" the seafood course-

the magazine worthy final showing before we devoured it! I would try to pick a favorite but it was all spectacular! Scallops- lobster tails- shrimp- king crab leg- and clams!!!!

follow up on the seafood course- a fab spring roll intermezzo - palate cleanser- salad like course---

roast pork with lettuce wraps or rice - and many choices of accompaniment for flavoring-

a 1990 Corton- Pougets which was lackluster and a bordeau (sorry it came decanted and I didn't see the bottle for visual memory)

finally the cheese course with a 30 year old tawny Grahams-

tea for me as the end of the evening came all too quickly- I almost fell asleep at the table I have been working such long hours trying to get our boxes unpacked and get settled in to the new condo in Chicago... that was day six of unpacking and we are closer.... closer.... closer - but not yet done...

so tomorrow another day of unpacking and putting away and then Tuesday I leave for a road trip with TB and Wednesday Phil leaves for Ireland-

we have a new house sitter/cat sitter who we think Lucy will really like- her name is Eva- and unfortunately we lost our dear Penny last Monday to a long term illness.  She was too fragile to make the trip north with 20 hours in the car and a stressful new home - she will be missed by all who knew her. Our sweet girl when things were easier for her- before she became so sick.

so onward we go- and now we are off to new places and new things along with the new home--- should be a fun summer! Friends from Germany visit and the kids are all headed here for a couple of Cubs games (yes they are having an amazing season so far) and we are headed to Scandinavia and the Baltics in August.... so more to follow- we have finished our year of real estate transactions (11 months to be exact) and are ready to get on with life...so come on along....

out of superlatives

We hadn't been to 42 grams since last October 28th - our scheduled return from the winter get-away being right at the time Jake & Alexa were away for a week - and then we headed to NYC and Europe for our three weeks away- so we ended up making it there on May 29th...

We were happy to book the chef's counter at the early hour because we would be back a sum total of 28 hours by the time we sat down for our meal (which still would be around 1 AM Amsterdam time...) but hey - it was so worth it! I have to tell you I have run out of superlatives to describe Jake's creativity and perfect execution when it comes to the food at 42 grams.  Some of the new courses immediately became favorites and some old favorites are still on the menu (thank God!) so we were winners all around-

so off we go - for our Friday night meal at the (no longer under the EL tracks - they were taken down) neighborhood two Michelin stars spectacular cuisine of 42 grams!

first my new favorite course and then I will get back to everything in order-

and if you think it is some kind of picnic making a meal like this for eight people - check out the kitchen staff photos interspersed between the courses- these people work hard and are busy the entire time we - the patrons are there...

so the courses in order as they are on the menu above- the champagne and red we brought to accompany this magnificent feast!

the red was very young - so we aerated it but still has lots and lots of time-

the vichyssoise -

before and after the liquid was added (do it yourself - and that is all they can trust us with - a prepared exact portion to pour over the course by ourselves- LOL)

our centerpieces are now lovely little gardens-

ah - the new favorite course!  Carabineros

hamachi

salmon (two views)

another favorite - "sunflower"

porcelet - basically pork belly perfected- LOL

OMG foie gras shaved over crispy sweetbreads! yes we had it before but the reality is so sublime there is no way memory could serve -

the A5 wagyu - a signature dish that is still "to-die-for" - now had this dish no less than five times and each time it is virtually orgasmic...

love love loved this earl grey tea course- my idea of dessert!

the palate cleanser of "tart" yuzu in a white chocolate sphere that bursts in your mouth!

the new dessert - an asian slant that I felt might take a bit of getting your palate up to speed - not unlike the first time you taste red bean ice cream - a completely new experience - which once accustomed to-  you love (or at least we do...) one of its ingredients is dulse (which is also an acquired taste - which we had in New Brunswick last summer - sun dried on the beach when the tides were out- it tastes of the sea and is a treat well known in the Maritimes of Canada.)

coffee doesn't get any better than this- I wish all coffee tasted exactly the same- well - maybe I don't because they might have to send me to rehab for an new addiction...

a final quick review of an amazing meal - thank you thank you thank you Jake, Alexa, Andrew, Daniel and staff... fabulous meal!!!

and the good news is- we are already ticketed for our next visit - when Steve & Suzanne visit from PDX this summer!  Can't wait to share this place with them!