Bay Area Series 2: The Chez Paniesse (06/03/08)

Chez Paniesse has to be one of my top 3dinner experiences, topping the megastar restaurants such as Jean & George and Jeol Robuchon.

I did not take any pictures that night, since I had low expectations coming in.

The first course: Aspragus Herbs Salad with Mayor Lemon Dressing.
This is the best salad I ever had. Every ingredient, from the peeled asparagus, the herbs, the lemon juice, to the silky olive oil, was singing.

Second course: Mussels with Curry Sauce
The ingredients are similar to that of "mussles steamed with white wine". However, when the dish is coming to our table, we were overwhelmed by the smell garlic and the shallots from far. The mussels were not overcooked, the curry sauce was perfectly seasoned.

Third course: Roasted Filet Mignon with Potato and Peas with Beef Jus
The filet nignon is nicely roasted at low temperature to rare, and is cut into slices. Although the beef is very tender, it is rather ordinary comparing to its sides. The potatoes and spring peas are lightly cooked in olive oil resulting in a vivid texture while perserving the natural swetness.


Dessert: Cherries with Chocolate Cream
It is basically a black forest with flours being replaced by cream. The sweetness of the dish is just right while the cherries integreates nicely into the background. The cream is very rich, and tenderly enwraps my tongue. A very sweet finish.