Monday, February 18, 2013

Valentine’s Day Dinner and Night Out



Larry and I decided to ratchet it up a bit this year for Valentine's Day.  I had a Living Social certificate for a substantial amount off of a room at the Historical Rosemont Manor in Berryville, VA and we found an Inn down the street that had a Valentine's Day Dinner, so we were all set for a romantic Friday night.  

Larry got off work early and we got all dressed up and looking fine and headed out to Berryville.

They had the menu for the dinner on their website.  We had a blast pouring over it at home -trying to figure out what-in-the-heck some of these culinary goodies were.....

Valentine’ Day
At The Battletown Inn

Pre Course
Braised baby beet Carpaccio, 2 yr aged Danish Blue Affinea, grape
seed oil, aged balsamic candied pecans

OK, this was the most mystifying course of all.  What it turned out to be was a SLICE, a really THIN SLICE of beet. With about 1/4 teaspoon of Danish Blue Cheese and about a half of a pecan worth of candied pecans....

Soup
Crisp Belgium endive, smoked scallop Quenelle, wasabi tobiko,
garlic chive Consommé, Enoki mushrooms

This was a piece of endive with a rounded oblong of smoked scallop mousse - UGHHH!! The consomme was served in a mini ramekin with lots of parsley and was really good - once you got over the fact that the enoki mushrooms are really tiny and look just like sperm.....

Pasta
Maple Leaf Farms Duck Confit, hand cut papadelle,
sweet peas, braised Cipollini onions & fine herbs

Before I booked the reservation, I called ahead and asked if I could get pasta without Duck.  They said sure and the Eagle Scout who was our waiter assured me that my portion was Duck free.  Larry said he didn't know why I was so worried - the amount of Duck in the minuscule portion that we were served amounted to about the size of a pinky.  At that point we reminded ourselves that we had indeed passed a Subway on our way to the Inn...

Entree
Certified choice dry aged boneless Lager braised
short ribs, roasted baby winter root vegetables,
parsnip puree & natural braising jus

This is what I chose and it was not bad at all.  The baby winter root veggies were carrots, onions and surprisingly green beans.

Naturally fed & local Roasted half chicken
with ragout of wild mushrooms, braised leeks &
rice pilau

This is what Larry chose and after consultation with the aforementioned Eagle Scout waiter, Larry was assured that it wasn't a Cornish game hen, but that organic chickens just don't get that big.
He said that it was the best chicken he ever ate.

Butter poached cold water Lobster tail,
Pommes puree, coral cream, micro greens

We didn't go there.

Fifth Course
“Triple Threat” Chocolate
Dark chocolate strata, Belgium Bitter sweet petit four and
Mochacino malted shake

I, of course went after the chocolate.  The Dark chocolate strata was like a little bitty frosted kinda dry brownie.  The petit four was about the size of a quarter, and the Mochacino was served in a tiny beer stein just a little bigger than a shot glass. Less is more was never a concept that I appreciated and there should've been more...

Or
Spiced Rum cake with a winterberry compote & Clove honey, champagne sorbet

This was Larry's choice and we were curious as to what winterberries were.  We were not enlightened.  The really really small piece of rum cake was tasty but Larry almost missed the tablespoon of sorbet.

All in all it was a great dinner!  Service was quick and attentive and despite our misgivings we didn't even need to stop at Subway on our was back to Rosemont Manor.

Our room at the Historic Rosemont Manor (the Einstien Room) was quite small but pretty.  We jammied up and hit the bed around 9:30 and the next thing I knew, it was 1:45 am and we were asleep on top of the covers with the lights still on.

We are nothing but a pair of romantic fools, I tell ya!!!

How as your Valentine's Day???

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