L'Espalier

Went to L'Espalier for Ben's birthday dinner a couple weeks ago, and finally getting around to blogging about it now. We had their "Winter Degustation" tasting menu with wine pairings. In a recession, what's there to do but to go all out? We're all doomed anyway, according to my friend Mr. Doom. Here's what we had:

First Course:
Butter poached Maine lobster with fennel brandade, almond herb jus and licorice sugar
Served with 2003 Westport Rivers “Cuvee RJR” Brut, Westport, Mass.

Second Course:
Torchon of foie gras with Muscat gelee and red wine pickled shallots
Served with Kourtaki muscat, Samos, Greece

Third Course:
Roasted Gloucester cod with broccolini, squid ink risotto and kumquat beurre blanc
Served with 2004 Domaine de L'Arlot "Cuvee Grebotte", Nuits Saint Georges, Burgundy

Fourth Course:
Thai spiced Colorado rack of lamb with sweet potato, roasted pineapple and macadamia nuts
Served with 2005 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Fifth Course:
Grand Fromage (aka cheese course)
Served with Offley 10 Year Tawny Port

Sixth Course:
Dessert Tasting - Greek yogurt sorbet and other deliciousness
Served with 2007 Banfi "Rosa Regale", Brachetto D'Acqui, Italy

The lobster was the best dish of the night, and I also enjoyed the foie gras a lot (which is unusual, since I usually find it too rich for my liking). The cheese course was a nice plated assortment of cheeses, including an Italian pecorino infused with truffles - yum! I'll have to find it for personal, at-home consumption. The wines, however, did not stand up to the food :(

Bon Chon Chicken

I had two chicken drumsticks the other night and the experience was eye-opening. A devotee of southern-style fried chicken well before Kentucky Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC, I never imagined that I'd find a better coating for fried chicken besides the traditional flour/buttermilk/spices combination you get at KFC and high-end southern joints, like Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too in Harlem. But on Saturday night, my brother and his girlfriend ordered some Bon Chon chicken and the drumsticks I ate knocked my socks off! Korean-style fried chicken has finally come to Boston, about 2 years behind NYC and who knows how long since it hit the West Coast. The NY Times has an insightful article about Korean fried chicken here. Let's just say korean-style fried chicken is utter deliciousness.

In Allston, you can get Bon Chon chicken at Privus (next door to The Kells, beware the obnoxious club music if you click on the Privus link) or you can opt for delivery, though it takes upwards of 25 minutes. The chicken comes in either wings or drumsticks, covered in either a garlic-soy or spicy sauce. I prefer the garlic-soy to the spicy sauce, and the next time Ben and I have a party at our place we will definitely have some Bon Chon on hand!