A seven course dinner with wine pairings at Blue Hill.. There was no menu and this is what was served...beginning with a lovely sparkling burgundy accompanied by Chef's Amuse-Bouche, a ricotta/kale slider on a sweet almond bun, a nibble of thinly sliced domestic cured pig, sip of cedar roasted tomato soup and warm bread with yummy spreads.
1st course…Grilled Wahoo (from New Jersey) paired with a French Muscadet 2012
2nd course…This Morning's Egg & Long Island Squid paired with a french Laguedoc 2008. Big dish, hey?
3rd course…Housemade Cavatelli with goat belly & an immature egg paired with an Oregonian Pinot Noir 2011.
4th course…Stone Barn Pasteurized Chicken, Spelt, Hedgehog Mushrooms, Pickled Beans paired with a Sicilian Rosso. If this pix is looks s little blurry it's because I was too. Now drinking my 5th glass of wine.
5th course…Berkshire Pig, Brussel Sprouts paired with an Italian Cabernet 2009. As you can see, the whole meal is very meat centric.
Pix of kitchen and staff taken on my way to the ladies room. It ain't over yet!
By this time, I have consumed enough wine to be able to approach neighboring diners and ask if I could photograph them tackling a stalk of roasted brussel sprouts. As you can see, they very graciously consented. Please note, this vegetable seemed to be prominently included with several dishes throughout the meal. Tis the season, I guess.
6th course..Concord Grapes, Honeyed Granite and Yogurt Sorbet. I thought a granite, of any kind, an odd dessert choice for a November meal. Of course, no pairing with a concord grape dessert.
7th course…Some kind of tasteless Quince concoction that looked like a big beige blob (pix not included here). I sent it back, of course, and they replaced it with this mediocre chocolate bread pudding. As you can see, I managed to eat most of it, but that's just who I am. It was, however, paired with a most delicious Greek dessert wine.
The Finale was a selection of little yummy confection bites. For my taste, they could have skipped the "dessert courses," which were unexceptional, and gone straight to the finale. With the dessert wine, it would have been a much better ending.