'Art for Pete's Sake

Walking around the Philadelphia Museum of Art and other smaller galleries last weekend I remembered a scene in the film "The Moderns" where an atr patron didn't like a painting because it didn't go well with blue, the color of her living room.

Moritmoto's

Here's a description with photos of the meal we had at Morimoto's in Philadelphia. As you may know Morimoto's is the restaurant of Masaharu Morimoto, best known as the current Iron Chef Japanese on the FoodTV's Iron Chef. This was probably one of THE best meals I will ever eat.

We started out with cocktails.
My friend Dawn and I each had a greenteanie which is ketel one citroen and green tea syrup garnished with lemon twist in sugar rimmed chilled martini glass.
My friend Tina had an mc² of champagne, midori and a splash of lime juice garnished with a lime wedge.
Geraud was there too but I forgot what he had.

For dinner we each had the omakase or chef’s tasting menu, a multicoure meal of whatever the chef choosed to serve us. Geraud and I each had the beverage accompaniment, drinks paired with each course.

course one
champagne veuve clicquot

toro tartare with osetra caviar, fresh wasabi and yamamomo (mountain peach as palate cleanser). the creamy fattiness of the toro (fatty tuna) was incredible.
crisp shallots give additional texture. amazing!
course two

kaori martini of cucumber gin, jalapeno (and kaori vodka?)

four kumamoto oysters on the half shell flavored with:
-ceviche
-osetra caviar
-thai jalapeno
-salsa

course three

red snapper sashimi (slightly seared) with ginger, garlic and chive, maitake mushroom and parsley

course four
bron mouchard seven-grape

kampachi yellowtail sashimi salad with yuzu sauce, chive oil and shaved fresh bonito

course five
Morimoto’s soba beer brewed with Japanese buckwheat

wasabi-yuzu sorbet with yuzu zest and wasabi beignet. yuzu is a sour japanese citrus fruit.

course six
2000 Ramsey Merlot from napa valley

lobster “epice”
pan-seared lobster with chef’s own 8-spice blend and citrus crème fraiche
the eight spices are ground ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, cardamon, chili powder and paprika.

course seven
1997 Amity pinot noir

kobe beef with foie gras over japanense yam

course eight
junmai daiginjo morimoto sake
(best sake I've ever had)

sushi
-toro
-fluke
-needlefish
-yellowtail
-giant clam
-freshwater eel

course nine
champagne veuve clicquot demi-sec

caramel sesame cake with yam and cactus sorbet, yam tuille and persimmon soup

I can hardly begin to describe how great this meal was! Flavors were crisp and distinct, never overpowered by minor ingredients. All the drinks were paired so nicely not only with each course but as transitions to the next course. The architechure of the restaurant itself was incredible with clear banquets that were colored by changing colors throughout the evening. I'm already planning the next trip.

I pieced together the descriptions above from notes I took, Morimoto's menu on his website and various online searches to clarify certain points. There may be some erros. All the photos except course one I took myself. I forgot to snap that one so I had to borrow a photo from the Nobu cookbook which has the same toro tartare.

On the Streets of Philadelphia

All Hollow Weenies (part II)

I posted all the photos from the Halloween party in the Photos section.

Like a wolf

I house/dog-sat this week. It was down a very long gravel road just past the middle of nowhere.

The two dogs I took care of were great. Both malamutes.
Summer is the older female who has such an air of nobility about her. She knows she at the top of the pecking order.


Bandit was the young pup who was very playful and not always obedient.

All Hollow Weenies (part I)

Went to the Halloween party last night.

Here's your seasonal guide to Ghetto/Last Minute Costumes:

Take a box, some tape and a yellow leagal pad....

add a $3.95 bottle of Mrs. Butterworth (I love you, Mrs. Butterworth!)...

and I have a costume for Crazy Waffle Hand Man! I'm Crazy Waffle Hand Man! Now give me some candy!!!
Oh never mind. I'll just eat this waffle.


Busted.



Party all abuzz.


Don't be scared. It's delicious food.


Carriages at Midnight.