We went to Manresa Restaurant in Los Gatos to celebrate Annie's birthday. We made reservations a month in advance, since this very popular restaurant garnered more attention when it was awarded 2 out of 3 stars in the prestigious Michelin Guide. When we arrived, we were seated right away. We told them that we were here for their Tasting Menu, which consists of the best plates the Chef had to offer that night.
All told, there were 4 amuse bouche, 8 entree, and 5 dessert courses. Here are some of my favorite dishes from the dinner:
Raw oyster and uni (sea urchin roe) on the half shell, with sea urchin-infused gelatin and nori (dried seaweed) flake. Wow. It went down so smoothly. *sigh*, I think I could eat a dozen more.
Mesquite-smoked foie gras with quince consomme. This is the first time I've had foie gras. It is almost pure duck fat. I wouldn't have eaten the whole thing if it wasn't for the intriguing smoke and the pleasantly sweet quince.
My favorite dish was the lobster with Indian curry, fried shallots, and mandarin oranges. The lobster was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were amazing. This is a dish that must be savored very slowly. Complete bliss.
Blood orange soup. There was more than a hint of plum in it, almost like a Choya (Japanese honey plum wine) without the alcohol. I felt it was too sweet. But the picture is pretty ;-)
The rest of the pictures are on my PicasaWeb album.
This was probably one of the best meals I have ever had. Also one of the most expensive per person, although Sushi-Man takes the cake there. But it was just one of those things you have to try at least once.
Aloha.
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