Clio Restaurant – Boston, MA

April 29, 2013

Alice @ Nom Nom Cat Nom Adventures , , , , , , 2 Comments

When we were planning our trip to Boston, we knew we had to pencil in a special dinner at Clio. I’m absolutely fascinated by the crazy food science that molecular gastronomic wizards like Chef Ken Oringer whip up in the kitchen, so Clio was a perfect fit. From the moment we took our seats, our friendly server Katherine led us on a magical journey through ten stunning courses. We had mentioned that we traveled a long way from the land of Foiehibition and would appreciate all the indulgence we could get. They certainly delivered, and I daresay the Chef had at least a little bit of fun with it.

Clio, right at the corner of Commonwealth and Massachusetts Ave

Clio, right at the corner of Commonwealth and Massachusetts Ave

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Farewell to Foie – The Last Supper at Waterloo

July 4, 2012

Martin Nom Adventures , , , , , , 3 Comments

What better way to spend June 30th than with a double date with our friends Cassandra and Brian! Together we bid farewell to foie at my and Alice’s favorite local gastropub Waterloo & City with a 6-course menu entitled “The Last Supper.” Unfortunately by the time this entry is posted, SB-1520 would have passed and these dishes will be a fond memory. But without further ado, here is the play-by-play of The Last Supper:

Ahi Tuna & Foie Gras Torchon

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7 Days Left – Foie Gras & Jelly Doughnut

June 24, 2012

Alice @ Nom Nom Cat Nom Adventures , , , , 2 Comments

The countdown to Foiehibition currently stands at 7 days, and we’re tracking down some notable must-try dishes before then! Yesterday we spent the day at work (yes, on a Saturday) at Martin’s office in Downtown LA so it was the perfect opportunity to swing by UMAMIcatessen for the FG&J off their And A Donut menu.

The FG&J Doughnut

The menu describes it as foie gras mousse, forest berry jame, peanut. The doughnuts are all fried to order and come out wonderfully warm and crispy. (Unfortunately not as hot as we’d prefer but at least we don’t have to worry about an explosion of hot oil in the first bite!) It’s a beautiful brown roasty-toasty color and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and crushed peanuts. I loved how the sphere of dough clearly showed the trail of foie mousse pumped in on one side and the berry jam oozing out the other. If you get the perfect bite of mousse, jelly, dough, powdered sugar, and peanut crumbs, it tastes exactly like peanut butter and jelly. The mousse itself was a little too salty for my liking and it didn’t taste as buttery as I would expect, but of course, the nature of the foie yielded a nice, smooth, creamy texture. I enjoyed the pairing of the mousse with the forest berry jam; I’m a big fan of cold foie preparations with a fruit compote or marmalade.

The forest berry jame side

Sure $8 is a little steep for a doughnut but we were glad to have had the chance to try it before it became a “black market doughnut,” as our server phrased it. It was a very fun example of deconstruction and we could see why it made it on Grub Street’s list of 24 foie gras dishes to try before SB1520 takes effect. Only 7 days left, so hurry hurry if you want to experience this fascinating flavor combination on your taste buds!

How are you spending the last week before the foie ban? We knew we had to make reservations for Waterloo & City for June 30th, and we might squeeze in Animal on Friday. Any other must-haves? Let us know! :) Happy eating!

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Check out UMAMIcatessen: www.umami.com/umamicatessen

852 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

At the corner of Broadway and 9th

See their Yelp reviews here!

Cowboy Star – A Taste of the Wild West

June 1, 2012

Martin Nom Adventures , , , , , , 3 Comments

During our meal at Melisse’s Norcal vs. Socal Foie Battle we had the fortune of meeting Angie Weber, one of the owners of Cowboy Star in San Diego. So this past weekend we decided to take a trek down to the Gaslamp District for Memorial Day Weekend and paid a visit to her restaurant and butcher shop. Angie invited us to sit at the Chef’s Counter that evening and we delightedly accepted. So follows is a recollection of our taste buds’ adventure to the wild west!

View of the open kitchen from the 6-seat chef’s counter.

Read more about our visit to Cowboy Star!

Touche Pas a Mon Foie Gras – CHEFS Dinner at Melisse

May 16, 2012

Martin Nom Adventures , , , , , , 3 Comments

The other night (on Monday, May 14th) renowned chefs from Northern and Southern California united to celebrate foie gras through fundraising dinners held simultaneously at four different venues in Los Angeles for CHEFS – Coalition for Healthy and Ethical Farming Standards in an effort to overturn the ban on foie gras soon to take effect in California. We decided to splurge and come out to the one at Melisse, and the menu and experience were absolutely incredible.

With a celebrity lineup featuring Brendan Collins of Waterloo & City (easily our favorite local gastropub!), Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani of Terra and Ame, Raphael Lunetta of JiRaffe, Justin Wangler of Kendall Jackson, Josiah Citrin and Ken Takayama of Melisse (of course), and Mark Dommen of One Market, we knew we were in for a treat! From start to finish, it was a beautifully orchestrated dinner that truly does this decadent ingredient justice.

Don’t touch my foie! Alice picked up a t-shirt to commemorate the event.

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