...and M'am How was the Pig?

I didn't have the 5-course feast at Blue Hill. I was intrigued by the melange of offerings, but Annie wanted to go ala carte. If you go 5, you go all the way (as in all guests must participate).

First they presented us with an amuse bouche of pickled cauliflower. Extremely eager to try it, we ate the orange and green variations before snapping any photos.

I know you love that rustic wood block upon which it was presented. Ok maybe you didn't notice.

I'll take you through rest of our courses:

Butternut Squash Ravioli:

Sqaush Puree, Pecans, Apples & Sauteed Escarole

Perfect fall dish... hints of cinnamon & nutmeg. Nice combination of texture between the silky puree and the pasta.

Maine Crabmeat Salad (Annie):

I tried this... and since I ate this a week ago, I can't recall what the sauce was. I remember it being very fresh & flavorful.

Berkshire Pork:

Shelling Beans, Herb Pesto, Lardo
It was so tender and juicy. The pesto was very brightly flavored, almost fruity with an assortment of shelling beans (snow peas, string beans, etc). I am not one to finish my veggies, but there wasn't any left on the plate. Very delicious.

Annie's usual Fish Dish.

Sorry guys, can't comment. I don't like any fish, but she had a positive review. I know the red portion is Manhattan Clam Chowder and there were bits of pancetta in there as well.

Honeycrisp Apple:

Poached apple, Crisp, Saffron Cream, & Honey Ice Cream

Presented on Slate

AMAZING. Possibly one of the best deserts of my life. The ice cream is made with honey grown on the farm.

Strawberry Canneloni:

Strawberry Puree, Creme Fraiche, Balsamic Reduction, Strawberry Ice cream.

Yes dinner was pretty good... I was satisfied with the portions & the freshness of the ingredients. The story behind Blue Hill is they serve what is in season and literally what can be found on the farm that day. It's not food that overwhelms the senses, but you do feel this place is thinking about food and its preparation & presentation in an innovative way. I didn't have an OMFG moment, but I became very introspective with my meal. I wanted to connect with the flavors and get something new with every bite.

www.bluehillnyc.com

www.bluehillstonebarns.com

My stomach grumbles...

A lot is riding on the next few hours. I am going to Blue Hill's urban loculus in hopes that their $72 5-course meal somehow redefines cuisine for me. Think positive people, because if this brulee gets burnt, I have to plan out wedding scheme #5 or 15... who knows at this point. Will post photos of the meal tomorrow.

Less than A Year & a Few G's in the Bank

I'll start by saying I used to think that blogs are mostly self-indulgent ways to pollute the internet with personal views and opinions. However, in planning my wedding and trying to save a buck while doing so, I have found many great resources vis-a-vis blogs... bridal blogs to get specific; people like me struggling to meet the deadline and attempting not to go into debt for a 5-hour fiesta.

So I hope, for any of you passer-bys, that you find my stray thoughts helpful, constructive, possibly even amusing as I try to be a hopelessly-romantic cynic creating the wedding of her dreams - cheap, yet chic, and full of gastronomical delights.