Well, we’ve debated it, and this surely ranks up there with the best meals we’ve ever eaten. We’re in Walla Walla, which has been written up often as the new foodie destination. From what we saw of the menus as we walked about town (very inventive and ambitious), and from the meal we had tonight, the writers are not blowing smoke. This is the real deal.
Loni’s birthday is the 9th, but since we’re here we decided to celebrate a few days early. I went online and read reviews from Trip Advisor and Yelp, and got excellent reccos for half a dozen places here. I chose a French place for some reason, and are we glad. As a total dining experience, this was first class. Not fancy-smanchy French. Just done right. The chef is French-trained, but has her own California touches to lean things out. The place is called Brasserie Four, has no sign out front, only a small lettering on a lower corner of the window to identify it. No need for more, the locals know the place, and it was 2/3 full when we arrived at 6:00. We spent the next 2 hrs and 40 minutes grinning like fools. Part of the time is due to the service being, well, relaxed. But we were in no hurry, and it was a pleasure not to be rushed through a meal just so the restaurant could turn over the table. At the table next to us was an elderly couple (it’s nice to be able to say that of someone else at this point in our own lives), married for over 60 years, and the husband being a native of Walla Walla. We know all this because the wife loved the chance to boast about her town, its history, and her family to outsiders. They own a ranch, now sublet to others, including a winemaker. They also own a place in Palm Desert where they retreat during the winter months. She offered to snap our picture (above) when she saw me messing with the camera.
I couldn’t decide on the wine, so the waitress offered to bring me samples of the two I was considering. When did that ever happen in LA? Never. We declined the Muscadet as too floral and not minerally enough, and opted for a local Sauvignon Blanc (Caderetta ‘09), which was very nice but not a wowser. It did go with all the courses we had. And wooeee, did we have the courses. We started with a pate that was scrumptious. It came with a nutty mustard, some gherkins, local Walla Walla sweet onions, and paper-thin sliced apple drizzled with chestnut honey from England. Oye.
It was so rich, we kept saying we’ll have to take part of it home. Kept saying it until the last bite had disappeared on that excellent French bread. Next up were salads: a “trois” for Loni of beets, carrots and fennel, and a Caesar for me. Both were outstanding.
Halfway through this, we thought we could stop and be very satisfied; but we soldiered on. For entrees, Loni had “Supreme de Volaille,” a chicken breast with a light cream sherry sauce, and I had a bouillabaisse. Now, I really like seafood, and bouillabaisse has almost always proved to be a disappointment. The seafood generally is way overcooked, and the broth nondescript. Well, that mold was broken tonight. Everything was perfectly done, with a light wine broth full of great herbs and spices. Mussels, clams, sea scallops, and halibut, and all of them cooked to perfection. I was in heaven. I forgot to photo the dish before I started. It was mounded high above the bowl with the shellfish. Those are the empties at the left. Those bread slices are for sopping up the juices. Oh, yeah.
Truly outstanding. You’d think that any rational person would stop here. That’s a lot of food we’ve consumed. But, the grey cells sluggish with a bottle of wine, the dessert menu got its due. Loni could go only for a creme brulee (which was excellent), but I opted for a chocolate mousse with a chestnut wafer base. Loni had a local-roast decaf (great), but I fell for a 20-year-old tawny Port to complete this ridiculous decadence.
Um, did I mention we drove here on the scoot?
No comments:
Post a Comment