On 4/22/2023 at 3:47 PM, Kim Shook said:A couple of nights ago was take-out. Caesar salad:
Completely crappy Cheesy Garlic Bread:
Barely warmed, cheese not fully melted and no garlic flavor at all. Pizza was decent, though:
Last night was date night at a new (to us) place called 21 Spoons. It was named best locally owned restaurant in VA by Southern Living magazine this year. We really enjoyed everything and will definitely be back. We started with cocktails:
Cirrus vodka & tonic and a Three Crosses bourbon – both companies are local. This place really focuses on local goods, as much as possible. And I’m madly in love with my glass and the swizzle stick:
I found the swizzle sticks on Amazon and put them on my wishlist, but no luck so far with the glasses.
We had the bread service:
Farmer’s loaf, zucchini, and honey beer. The beer flavor could have been more pronounced and the zucchini bread was the best either of us has ever tasted.
I had the Bacon wrapped duck breast, sautéed Swiss chard, roasted and smashed red potatoes, with a pear gastrique:
The gastrique was absolutely perfect and elevated excellent potatoes to extraordinary. The chard was the best preparation I’ve ever tasted. I rarely order duck breast because of how weird some chefs are about cooking past medium-rare, which I detest. It literally becomes like a wad of wet paper towel in my mouth that, no matter how hard I try, I cannot get down. But this chef was happy to do medium. And it was perfect:
I was heating it up for lunch today (4/22) and nibbled on a cold piece and it was STILL tender and moist. Amazing. Eating the leftovers, I’m thinking about how good duck and roast potato hash would be.
Mr. Kim had the house made pappardelle noodles, pan seared shrimp, local mushrooms, asparagus, basil, pea-shoot pesto, and shaved Parmesan:
It sounded a bit overreaching to me. Like there was too much going on. I was wrong. This was perfectly balanced and the thinness of the mushrooms and asparagus made them almost a part of the pesto – more flavoring than substance. And the mushrooms were very mild, so it didn’t taste funky to me. But there were enough larger pieces of both that it pleased Mr. Kim. My only issue is the flower. I mostly find flowers decorating food to be dumb.
Dessert was roasted strawberry panna cotta, but I knew I couldn’t eat it, so I ordered it to take home:
We had one bite there:
It was sublime. I make a roasted strawberry cheesecake and it had a similar flavor.
Thought about you Kim Sunday morning. Lovely meal above.
The duck.
We are having weekend house guests in a couple weeks. Planning a menu, and want to use duck as a second plate after a fresh spring roll. Main is set in stone---a Fishermans stew. Clams, mussels, cod, salmon, swordfish, shrimp...
We have not had duck in a while. Our local favorite market closed Fall 2018. They stocked D'artargnan products. Out of sight out-of-mind I have not thought of it much.
Recent delivery from WildFork, I ordered a couple smoked duck breasts. Fully cooked. Tender, juicy. Not at all 'over-smoked'. I think meant to be a charcuterie room temp sliced deal. I cross hatched, rubbed with miso, then chili crisp and warmed in the oven 225º low and slow while prepping other things. Two minutes too long under the broiler last minute, but still excellent. 1/3rd left over, next day tacos.
I like that it is fully cooked so a google search for 'smoked duck appetizers' has many ideas. (my menu needs easy prep-ahead options without fussy tending)
Noodle bowl Friday, then Saturday next night tacos. (and one of our favorite hot sauces. YellowBird, Amazon)
WildFork duck, 8$ for 7ounces. Not just for holidays anymore.
