Gastro Porn

1. * SAUL restaurant @ Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Last weekend my partner in crime, Lily, and I started our Michelin Star Challenge.  Our first choice was Eleven Madison.  We tried several days to get a reservation but no luck.  Who were we kidding?  This place was recently donned 3 stars and just released their new book so how did we ever think we would get into this place for our first shot… even this year!  I even called other 3 star rated restaurants in hopes that we could get started with a bang.  No such luck.

We finally decided to bring it to our home borough of Brooklyn.  We nabbed a reservation for 3 at Saul Restaurant in Cobble Hill.  As the day neared… our 3rd had to bail.  

Oh… the challenges that we’re facing already!

So it was just me and Lily.

We had met for an early dinner and decided to go for the tasting menu.  The tasting menu is an 8 course meal that gives you a bit of everything great that Saul has to offer. We shared our desserts (as you’ll soon notice). 

This is what we had:

Apple Sauce Soup
with curry

Crudo of Japanese Yellowtail
marinade of citrus extra virgin olive oil, cilantro, peppers

Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi
sugar snap peas, parmesan, prosciutto

Grilled Spanish Octopus
slow cooked pork belly, grilled scallion, kohlrabi, sriracha chili, honey, lime, sesame

Sautéed Striped Bass
spring vegetable ragout, smoky ham hock broth

Foie Gras Terrine
duck confit, brioche, cherry

Roasted Breast & Confit Leg of Squab
potato puree,brussel sprouts

Milk Thistle Farm Pannacotta
poached rhubarb

Warm Chocolate Cake Bread Pudding
squash, pear ice cream

The meal was really spectacular.  Every dish was flavorful and was brought to us in a timely manner.  The ambience of the restaurant, itself, was humble but posh.  Not overwhelmingly huge but quaint.  A lot of older couples and a few 30 somethings here and there- and my 20 something date.  

Our take aways from our 1st restaurant adventure:  

1. If you’re on a date and decide to go with the tasting menu, wear something flowy and/or loose.  Your stomach will be bursting and you’ll thank us later for it.  
2. Me: get a better camera or shoot with more light!