bam bam
02-12-2009, 05:21 PM
Rio Mar has never been known for prix fixe dinners. In fact, I cannot ever remember there being one. But last night Chef Adolpho had a $60 per person dinner in support of the Crescent City Farmer's Market.
Adolpho left the dinner in the capable hands of his sous chef Josh Smith becasue has he put it "I'd go to a Farmer's Market if it was at midnight but I don't get up early enough for those things".
The dinner was set up to show off what Rio Mar does well. We gathered in the bar area, paid for the dinner and then were brought a simple cocktail made by Mitzy of blood orange juice and New Orleans Rum. I am not a huge mixed drink guy. (My balls are steel and my drink is neat.) But this was really good. Then we were brought a plate of bruschetta made with oyster mushrooms. Again very simple and very good.
We were seated against the open windows at one long communal table. In order to keep the focus on the CCFM and Josh's food, this was not a wine-centric dinner. We were given a choice of a white or red both from Spain.
The first course was a jumbo shrimp corn dog with a sweet potato crust and chili dipping sauce. By far the best dish of the night. You don't see a lot of fish on sticks. But this worked. The next course was caulifower flan. Cauliflower is a food I have loathed since birth. I never been able to get it down. I was afraid, this was might be a course I would have to pass on. But being the adventuresome sort, I took a small bite. Then another, then another and pretty soon, I had to call my Mom on my iphone to tell her I finished a plate of cauliflower.
The third course was a salad of baby greens, roasted beets, louisiana pecans and a goat cheese made locally. This was a pretty standard salad without a lot of flair that worked very nicely due to the local ingredients. It pared very nicely with both the red and the white wine that was being poured.
The main course was black drum with some roasted turnips, turnip greens topped with a bacon onion marmalade. Another dish that pared nicely with both the red and white wine being offered. I liked the combination, particularly the turnip greens with the bacon onion marmalade. The fish as is the trademark at Rio Mar was cooked perfectly. IMHO that is an accomplishment at a prix fixe dinner where you are bringing out 40 entrees at one time.
Dessert was a Louiisiana popcorn rice pudding with a crystallized cane sugar. I was too drunk to remember what this tasted like. I don't eat a ton of dessert anyway, so my opinion isn't all that valid. We were also brought out a lagniappe of homemade Meyer lemoncello. This drink smelled like a lemon orchard. I sniffed it about four times before I took a sip. A great end to the meal.
There were about 40 people who were there for the dinner and for $60 the concensus was that it was a steal.
Adolpho left the dinner in the capable hands of his sous chef Josh Smith becasue has he put it "I'd go to a Farmer's Market if it was at midnight but I don't get up early enough for those things".
The dinner was set up to show off what Rio Mar does well. We gathered in the bar area, paid for the dinner and then were brought a simple cocktail made by Mitzy of blood orange juice and New Orleans Rum. I am not a huge mixed drink guy. (My balls are steel and my drink is neat.) But this was really good. Then we were brought a plate of bruschetta made with oyster mushrooms. Again very simple and very good.
We were seated against the open windows at one long communal table. In order to keep the focus on the CCFM and Josh's food, this was not a wine-centric dinner. We were given a choice of a white or red both from Spain.
The first course was a jumbo shrimp corn dog with a sweet potato crust and chili dipping sauce. By far the best dish of the night. You don't see a lot of fish on sticks. But this worked. The next course was caulifower flan. Cauliflower is a food I have loathed since birth. I never been able to get it down. I was afraid, this was might be a course I would have to pass on. But being the adventuresome sort, I took a small bite. Then another, then another and pretty soon, I had to call my Mom on my iphone to tell her I finished a plate of cauliflower.
The third course was a salad of baby greens, roasted beets, louisiana pecans and a goat cheese made locally. This was a pretty standard salad without a lot of flair that worked very nicely due to the local ingredients. It pared very nicely with both the red and the white wine that was being poured.
The main course was black drum with some roasted turnips, turnip greens topped with a bacon onion marmalade. Another dish that pared nicely with both the red and white wine being offered. I liked the combination, particularly the turnip greens with the bacon onion marmalade. The fish as is the trademark at Rio Mar was cooked perfectly. IMHO that is an accomplishment at a prix fixe dinner where you are bringing out 40 entrees at one time.
Dessert was a Louiisiana popcorn rice pudding with a crystallized cane sugar. I was too drunk to remember what this tasted like. I don't eat a ton of dessert anyway, so my opinion isn't all that valid. We were also brought out a lagniappe of homemade Meyer lemoncello. This drink smelled like a lemon orchard. I sniffed it about four times before I took a sip. A great end to the meal.
There were about 40 people who were there for the dinner and for $60 the concensus was that it was a steal.