This was the best dinner I have ever had up to this point in my life, it was so incredibly that I will break it down into sections concerning each dish.
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Harrisa Spiced Colorado Lamb
The most incredible and tender lamb shank I have ever had. It had a wonderful bark on the outside that was crispy like a cracker when you bit into it. It was tender like a wonderful cut of brisket and the sauce it sat it was amazing. This oily and gently spicy mixture of flavor that just elevates the lamb beyond what it already was. Then on top were freshly cut green onions and this amazing creamy French Feta cheese. It tasted almost like goat cheese it was so creamy and flavorful. It cut the richness of the lamb nicely with its own full flavor. Just an amazing starter to the night.
Rating: 10/10
Turtle Soup au Sherry
It is a 100+ year old recipe that really holds up to its age, it’s still good today. I have never had turtle before, and in this case it is alligator snapping turtle. The broth itself of the soup is this rice veal fond with what I could assume was a hint of tomato cooked down into it along with the mirepoix. The turtle itself was this wonderfully tender dark meat full of strong flavor that I have not had before. The closest common analog I can come up with is this dark meat chicken that has an even more full and slightly gamy flavor that is elevated by the broth it swims in. The sherry adds a nice bite to the soup that changes up the flavor. While it personally is not my favorite addition of a flavor I can still appreciate how it adds to the complexity of the dish.
Rating: 8.6/10
Hard Cider Glazed Double Cut Pork Chop
I didn’t know that a pork chop could be elevated to such an incredible level of finesse and exquisite taste. The hard cider glaze gives this sweet punch right at the beginning that gently gives way to the savory and incredible flavor of the spice rub and pork chop itself which on its own was cooked to a perfect medium. It was perfectly moist and incredible with every single bite. To accompany such an incredible star was this great arugula salad topped with pickled green apples which sat on top of a potato latke that was absolutely inundated with bacon fat. The dichotomy between the rich salty punch of the potato latke and the tart fruitiness of the apple and arugula made for an excellent bite. I cannot sing the praises of this dish enough.
Rating: 10/10
Ponchatoula Strawberry Shortcake
I love strawberries and this dessert takes top spot in my mind for the best dessert I have had. For me it’s not too sweet, but just enough to end the night off with a nice content feeling. The syrup on top was amazing and I cannot sign off this review without mentioning the amazing texture of the shortcake. The flavor was amazing but the texture is what really hits home for me. It was almost crystalline in feel and just crumbled away in your mouth after you take a satisfying bite of it all. Enough said.
Rating: 10/10
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