NY Series 2: Daniel (7/2008)

Daniel in NYC was a michelin 2 stars restaurant best known for its celebrity chef owner Daniel Boulud and clintie such as: Jay Z and Zhang Ziyi. It was the farewell dinner for Dweeb and his lovely girlfriend as they were leaving US, and what a better place to celebrate such occasion than restaurant Daniel. As we entered the dining room, our breath were taken away by the sumptuous Venetian Renaissance style dining room.

Dinner started with a two-tiered tray of canapés:

- Crisp parmesan basket with goat cheese and pine nut: crispy and creamy

- Asparagus quiche: melt in your mouth

- Heart of palm puree: very smooth

- BBQ eel with soybean puree: tender and tasty,

Appetizer 1: Mosaic of Foie Gras and Black Angus Beef Cheek, Satur Farms Beets, Wagyu Carpaccio, Peppercress

The foie gras and beef cheek terrine was exquisite, the foie is dense and melting while the cheek portion of terrine tasted like cooked daikon raddish.

Appetizer 2: Duo of Striped Bass

Sashimi with Sorrel Sabayon

Tartare with North Star Caviar, Cucumber Coulis

The fish tasted suprisingly clean.

Appetizer 3: Kataifi Wrapped Langoustines with Corn Ragout

Roasted Pork Belly, Kale, Bacon Jus
The langoustine was a bit oversalted, though qunchy and succulant, it's not the strongest appetizers. The corn ragout played a sweet complementary role.

Main dish 1: Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Chop and Tenderloin

Anchovy Stuffed Bulb Onions, English Peas, Sage Jus

Main dish 2: Duo of Dry Aged Beef:Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Shallot Confit

Seared Rib Eye with Spinach Subric, Sauteed Porcinis

Crispy Calf's Head Ballotine with Orleans Mustard

Twice Backed Yukon Golds, Gherkin-Herb Jus

While the lamb and beef dish was ordinary, the Ballotine was one of the better dishes I had in 2008, it's calf's head cooked in boiling water, deboned, then rolled into terrines. Before serving, the Ballotine was dipped in bread crumbs and pan fried. All the gelatine danced around the Bordelaise Sauce, slowly tempering my paletes. It was amazing something so humble can be so sublime.

Hazelnut Mousse with Gianduja Biscuit

Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Bittersweet Chocolate-Praline Cremeux

Amer Cocoa Sponge Cake, Caraibe Ice Cream

Crunchy Succes with Coconut Madras Curry

Poached Pineapple, Passion Fruit Chilboust, Lychee Sorbet

Tasting of Mango with Roasted Sesame

Ginger Marinated, Coulis with Cilantro, Sorbet with Kalamansi

Frankly, I couldn't remember much about the desert except that they were very good.

Overall, Daniel was a wonderful dining experience. The service was top notch, and the waiters were able to predict what the diner's needs. The matri' D came to make chat as we eagerly waiting for the next course, and introduced us to the Boulud Bar in case we were still hungry after dinner. Though with all the acclaims and celebrities frequenting Daniel, it was the classic french food with a mordern presentation which drew people back.