Happy Valentines Day Chef's Degustation Tasting @ Restaurant Eve

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Chanel Valentine Heart Chain Classic Flap in Fuschia (Hot Pink/Purple) Lambskin--yes, THAT Limited Edition one from 2004!!! LOVE LOVE this bag, the chain detail is stunning!!!

Went to Restaurant Eve in Old Towne Alexandria tonight to celebrate with an early Valentines Day Tasting Course (so we can have tomorrow to celebrate Chinese New Years!!!)

Peter had actually planned this all out and researched places for us to dine at and then gave me some choices, we ended up selecting Restaurant Eve because

-It was a Washingtonian Top 100 Best Restaurants we had not yet been to (it's #9 on the list)

-The Chef's Degustation Menu had received rave reviews from other foodies

-Tom Sietsema, Washington Post Food Critic, even loved it (though I wouldn't say we always judge a place based on his or any one person's review)

-Most importantly, the sampling of tasting courses menu on their website made our mouth water!!

PZ Outside Restaurant Eve--there's still snow everywhere and many side streets were still piled with many feet of snow making it impossible to walk around in nice shoes =(

PZ--Seven White Blazer, Paul Smith Striped Shirt, COH denim, Ferragamo Deeper Black Loafers

Inside the Little Hallway Entrance at Restaurant Eve--so cozy and romantic!!

Me--Roberto Cavalli Black Hooded Cape (it's such an overwhelming piece but its been perfect this winter in keeping my whole body warm while I'm outside with a dress on underneath--and it fits over anything even pieces with puffy sleeves!)

Restaurant Eve Lobby--loved the artwork and bright colors everywhere!

Me--Prada Black Fox Cape/Bolero, Lanvin Pink Leopard Strapless Dress, Roger Vivier Pink Heart Rhinestone Shoes, Chanel Valentine Heart Chain Fuschia Lambskin Classic Flap

The Tasting Menu Dining Room was very cozy and had a warm feeling, though we did feel there were a bit too many servers/wait staff just gathered at the center station thru out the meal

We even liked the table setting, butterfly napkin holder and plates!! 

Kicking off the Chef's Degustation Menu (we chose the 9 course option--there is also a 5 course and 7 course available)

Chef's Compliments...triangle pate, fried ham and cheese croquette with mustard and foie gras on toast---sooo creamy and amazing!!!

The second Chef's Compliments: butter poached lobster with cream sauce and something else i can't remember LOL

Palate Cleanser--best tasting palate cleanser i've ever had!!  It had fruit with aloe jelly and some whipped cream which wasn't whipped cream but much lighter but very very refreshing...

How many more of these will there be, right?  I mean, we already have 9 courses waiting for us--anymore of these Chef's Compliments and we'd be full before our tasting begins! 

(not that we're complaining at all) =)

Our Chef's Degustation 9 Course Tasting begins................

Marinated Hamachi with Lemon Vinegar Gel, Pine Nut Lace and Lemonade Powder--the mix of flavors with the gel and the salty powder was a culinary explosion in your mouth (in a good way)

Parmesan Creme Brulee with Black Perigord Truffles and Micro Greens Salad--this actually had a light glazed slightly sugary crust still like a creme brulee would except the red onions and the micro greens reminded you quickly that this was a savory not sweet and boy was it YUMMY

Jamon Iberico de Bellota with Soft Boiled Egg Emulsion and Milk Poached Salsify--Peter's new love as mentioned in a previous post...this $99/lb Jamon is not your ordinary ham.  It's funny cos we even scoff at prosciutto that tastes too similar to ham LOL 

But yah this literally was melt in your mouth good and the light sprinkles of rock salt really brought out the flavor even more!

Biretta of Bellwether Farm's Ricotta with Perigord Truffles and Leek Fondue--our least favorite mostly because we're not huge fans of ricotta cheese

The in between course-wait time was a bit long, Peter and I usually don't love spending hours and hours at a restaurant even for a tasting unless I guess we were sitting at the Chef's Table and watching him cook and chatting...we DID have a bit too much time here at Restaurant Eve...

Rockfish with some cooked apples--quite yummy too

Pan Fried Veal Sweetbreads with Brussels Sprouts, Baby Turnips and Cumin Vinaigrette--one of our favorites...words cannot describe how such a simple looking dish could be such a burst of flavors and not to mention so juicy and tender!!

Polyface Farm's Pork Belly with Braised Shallots, Poached Cipollinis, Garlic Crisps and Pork Jus--Peter and I LOVE pork belly and as anyone who's eaten at Teppenyaki restaurants with us, I'm the crazy person who eats everyone else's fatty parts which the chef usually trims off and throws out--well, when I'm there, they give it to me LOL

Except this pork belly was perfection--crispy on the skin, and a good combination of fat and juicy meat

Optional Cheese Course Peter Ordered--at first he was worried it would be "meh" cos our cheese expectations are so high these days with a Cowgirl Creamery practically in our fridge!!  But he was not disappointed.  Restaurant Eve managed to put together an amazing cheese plate that also had a nice touch of fixin's with each cheese so we didn't feel like they just sliced it and dumped it on our plates...the accompaniments were a very nice touch and went very well with each cheese we sampled

Another Chef's Compliments--this time it's dessert and its a chocolate profiterole filled with coffee flavored cream

Peter and I felt we could have left happy and full at this point...

But there was more to come!!

Tapioca Pudding with Blood Oranges and Crunchy Sweet Breads--LOVED LOVED this, the blood oranges were sooooo sweet and the tapioca reminded me of the chinese kind i love except this was a little heavier but still very yummy!!!

Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Pumpkin Seeds and Dried Apricot Mousse (I still like Hook's Panna Cotta better...sowee)

Gingerbread Dacquoise with Gingersnap Ice cream--it was MEH =(  Didn't like this at all, couldn't put my finger on it and Peter didn't like it either but at this point I was so stuffed it was okay LOL

Oh and just in case we were not super stuffed, they brought this out at the end of the meal heehee 

We made it home somehow...Peter practically had to roll me out of the car!

There's TWO Peters!!! 

Roger Vivier Hot Pink Satin Rhinestone Heart Shoes---aren't they AMAZING...yes, I trekked out in these despite the recent snow, they came home all okay though so no worries!!

Me--Lanvin Pink Leopard Strapless Dress, Roger Vivier Hot Pink Satin Rhinestone Heart Shoes

This Lanvin dress is so cool, reminded me of the "Flintstones" and what Pebbles would wear hehehe...oh yah I also have this dress in BLUE but it has one puffy shoulder, so special and totally different!!

 

Goodnight with Love from Peter & Cory =)

XOXO

Comments

[Cory Style]

Tanya! Sorry for the super delay...was away on travel and was in and out the past couple months.

I got mine from a resale boutique as its from 2004 and they only did it that one season in Spring 2004 for Valentines Day.

The one you linked me to (I know the listing ended already) is authentic, the seller is an amazing Chanel vintage finds girl. Definitely recommend her! :) Best of luck!!

[Tanya]

hey i love the chanel bag . could you please ell me where did you get it from ? and is this authentic ? :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180771336921#rpdId

[Cory Style]

Happy Valentines Day and Chinese New Year :) hehehe...i feel hungry now too thinking about last night's dinner

Thanks Andrea =) Stay warm and hope you had a wonderful weekend!!!

[Andrea]

I'm so hungry now! Very cute post for Valentine's Day.

[Cory Style]

Oh wow you're fast LOL!!!

Thanks Nina!!! I LOVE those shoes, been waiting for the chance to wear them again!!

[nina]

Cory!!!!! i love those heart shoes. I remember you showing me and i loved them but they are just so stunning on. Maybe its cause of ur tiny feet, my giant 6.5 might make them not look so cute.