I thought it must’ve been an April Fools’ joke when the forecast predicted snow. Sure enough, there I was walking home with snow flakes on my nose – in April! I’ve just about had enough of this crazy weather as I began cramming for the OKAP exam. Despite neglecting my wife and leaving her to cook and clean, I did manage to squeeze in a few weekend breaks together. Last month, we went to Chicago for her friend’s wedding at the Trump Tower, which featured hip hop dancing to Bollywood music, Ganesh ganache for dessert, and the most concise Indian wedding ceremony I’ve ever attended. Last week, we scarfed down Cajun gumbo and crawfish etouffée at Tupelo, before going to watch competing college a capella groups get Pitch Slapped by Berklee’s vocal talents at the regional ICCA (like in Glee!). This weekend, we celebrated Melody’s birthday at Eleven Madison Park in NYC. We were blown away by the innovative tasting menu – a 4 x 4 grid of “themes” for four courses. My choice of “Foie Gras-Lobster-Beef-Chocolate” was a foie gras terrine and custard duo with pineapple accents, sautéed lobster with carrots, beef tenderloin cooked sous vide then roasted, and a chocolate peanut brittle (i.e. butterfinger) with popcorn ice cream. Melody’s “Oyster-Cauliflower-Squab-Pear” was raw oysters with chive jelly, cauliflower seared and poached with almonds and fruit, squab breast and leg confit with foie gras, and poached pears in liquor with gingerbread crumble. The amuse bouche consisted of cheese gougères, dashi soup served from a teapot with sesame crisps, scallop ceviche, citrusy hamachi on rice crackers, and goat cheese lollipops coated with a beet powder and playfully set in a pot of grass. The memorable meal ended with mignardes like carrot cake macaroons, basil-passionfruit kisses, and mint chocolate squares.
The attention to detail was incredible, from the delicate plating to the professional wait staff. After waving bon voyage to my parents for their upcoming trip to Europe, we returned to Boston as I prepared to hit the books again.