Friday, February 11, 2005
Because it's Winter Carnival, we got a bunch of the sisters and headed out for lunch. We ended up at Simon Pearce, where we had a tremendous meal overlooking the iced-over water. First we wandered around admiring the glassware and the pottery--I saw the wine glasses that I want for the rest of my life. The "seconds" (which are the glasses which aren't perfect and are therefore discounted) were $72 a wine glass. Jaysus. This is the problem with me being a teacher--I like nice things!
But I especially like nice food. We sat down at this beautiful, polished wood, golden table set with their glassware, with the sun streaming through the big windows over us. The capable and friendly waitress brought us the most immensely fluffy biscuits and slices of a dark, healthy tasting bread, with a mound of butter. Ordering was incredibly difficult, but I decided on the Maple Pecan Crusted Rainbow Trout with chipotle polenta in an apple maple mustard sauce. It was spectacular. The sweet maple and pecan contrasted perfectly with the slightly spiced mustard and the polenta, which had a tangy aftertaste. I didn't quite lick the plate but I did everything but. Shannah had the same thing, and I think we were both quite pleased. But oh, terror of terrors, that someone might have gotten something better. I tasted Hannah's Grilled Atlantic Salmon in a sun dried tomato caper relish, and if you like salmon or tomato, that's pretty fabulous. (I think it might be your ideal dish, Care.) I also tasted her Vermont Cheddar soup, which was wonderful but so rich it probably would have made me sick. Then I tried Emily's meal. She was the queen of ordering, sadly the only one to order the dish she got, and after I smelled it I begged for a bite and then couldn't quite enjoy my meal as much, knowing that I could have had hers. She tried the Curried Apple, Smoked Cheddar and Walnut Ravioli. I don't even LIKE most ravioli, and I think this was one of the most pleasant tastes ever to cross my palate. It came with caramelized onions and butternut squash in a balsamic vanilla reduction. I put it in my mouth and moaned in ecstasy. Then everyone else wanted a bite. Laura's eyes got wide and she said, "It tastes like I'm in a hunting lodge in the mountains." I added, "Wrapped up in warm furs by the fire." Everyone agreed. You'll just have to try it sometime to know what we mean.
But even though Em's was better, mine was great, and I finished with a Pecan Tartlet, vanilla ice cream, and drizzled caramel. I am not generally a fan of pecan desserts, but it seemed like the only natural follow-up to the fish I'd had. Putting too different a taste into my mouth would have made too jarring a transition, and I wasn't ready to give the maple-pecan up. I tasted the chocolate dessert and the Irish Mist bread pudding of Emily's. Luckily, this time I chose right. ;-)
Reading about food may be incredibly boring, but it isn't to me. (Yes, I do read menus when I'm stressed out so I'm clearly not a good judge.) At any rate...YUM!!
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But I especially like nice food. We sat down at this beautiful, polished wood, golden table set with their glassware, with the sun streaming through the big windows over us. The capable and friendly waitress brought us the most immensely fluffy biscuits and slices of a dark, healthy tasting bread, with a mound of butter. Ordering was incredibly difficult, but I decided on the Maple Pecan Crusted Rainbow Trout with chipotle polenta in an apple maple mustard sauce. It was spectacular. The sweet maple and pecan contrasted perfectly with the slightly spiced mustard and the polenta, which had a tangy aftertaste. I didn't quite lick the plate but I did everything but. Shannah had the same thing, and I think we were both quite pleased. But oh, terror of terrors, that someone might have gotten something better. I tasted Hannah's Grilled Atlantic Salmon in a sun dried tomato caper relish, and if you like salmon or tomato, that's pretty fabulous. (I think it might be your ideal dish, Care.) I also tasted her Vermont Cheddar soup, which was wonderful but so rich it probably would have made me sick. Then I tried Emily's meal. She was the queen of ordering, sadly the only one to order the dish she got, and after I smelled it I begged for a bite and then couldn't quite enjoy my meal as much, knowing that I could have had hers. She tried the Curried Apple, Smoked Cheddar and Walnut Ravioli. I don't even LIKE most ravioli, and I think this was one of the most pleasant tastes ever to cross my palate. It came with caramelized onions and butternut squash in a balsamic vanilla reduction. I put it in my mouth and moaned in ecstasy. Then everyone else wanted a bite. Laura's eyes got wide and she said, "It tastes like I'm in a hunting lodge in the mountains." I added, "Wrapped up in warm furs by the fire." Everyone agreed. You'll just have to try it sometime to know what we mean.
But even though Em's was better, mine was great, and I finished with a Pecan Tartlet, vanilla ice cream, and drizzled caramel. I am not generally a fan of pecan desserts, but it seemed like the only natural follow-up to the fish I'd had. Putting too different a taste into my mouth would have made too jarring a transition, and I wasn't ready to give the maple-pecan up. I tasted the chocolate dessert and the Irish Mist bread pudding of Emily's. Luckily, this time I chose right. ;-)
Reading about food may be incredibly boring, but it isn't to me. (Yes, I do read menus when I'm stressed out so I'm clearly not a good judge.) At any rate...YUM!!
