The Secret-Hidden Kitchen in Stockbridge MA is not exactly a pop-up, having been in the same family since 1956, but we've only been coming for a few years; and today we had a "simple" fish soup and an Italian White after a huge groaning board of amuses and afters of salad, cheese and berries with lemon curd along with delicious chocolate cookies made with the egg whites left over from making the lemon curd. A delicious luncheon with long time friends.
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The Gala Steakhouse & Bistro at the Orchards between Williamstown and North Adams MA was a place I had the most astonishing dish of 2013 but tonight was another matter.
We started off with Colette's quail which was undersalted and my cherrystone clams which (with veggies) were oversalted - humm, salt problem in the kitchen?
Then she had good product, very nicely cooked scallops with a ?kumquat relish/marmelade and I three thick, good product, very nicely cooked lamb chops.
To finish off (we had purchased two $45 3-course meals) Colette and I shared a so-so Key Lime Parfait and I am taking my fresh fruit tart to our favorite coffee/breakfast place in town tmrw.
Our bill, with no bottled water (altho' there are two freebies in our room) or coffee, was $120 before tip.
Return? I dunno; I don't think the chef was on duty tonite as he was last year when I had the best dish of the Year. The meal lacked soul. On the other hand, the music was appropriately pleasant and in the background.
