The rehearsal dinner was pretty decent. The salad was a pretty decent caesar salad, which proved to be entertaining, as some of the guests could not identify the mysterious flavor in their dressing. The hotel made a real caesar dressing with anchovy, which I assume most people arent used to having most of the time.
The main course was grilled sea bass presented on a ortion of garlic mashed potatoes, garnished with a sprig of dill and pickled ginger and an asparagus presentation. Sea bass was alright but a touch dry, asparagus was crips and flavorful, mashed potatoes were dry and could have used some more butter and heavy cream.
Finally, the dessert was a chocolate ganache with raspberries and a raspberry topping. The ganache was decent but the crust was hard- pretty clearly these had been sitting a while.
Overall, it was pretty good, and everyone enjoyed it. The funny thing is the hotel really did not know what they are dealing with, because the groom is a gourment cook himself, and there really is no way that they could live up to his standards for his own personal cooking. In fact, I have had almost every dish above cooked by the groom, and it is only because I know he can do a much better job cooking all of the items himself that I would ever even publicly state anything negative about the rehearsal dinner.
I am finding that a lot, now. I don’t think I have ever had a meal in a restaurant that has been better than anything my dad has evercooked, and I know that when I eat at the aforementioned groom’s house, the meal will probably be the best dinner I have in months. Restaurants just can’t compete with someone who enjoys cooking and enjoys cooking for other people.
bains
This red state voter is constantly astounded while traveling in blue states that the enlightened costal intelligentsia doesn
bains
Sorry john, caught up in my own pet peeve. I’ve had numerous meals in resturants much better than I or any of my more culinary talented friends could have produced (without extraordinary thought and time)
Most often is is the unexpected, sometimes it is as expected – but one pays a premiun for the later. A family establishment in Aosta Italy, a roadside diner in Sagauche CO, an elegant French provincal place in Great Falls VA.
As always, the company and subsequently the ambiance do tend to dictate…