On our annual trek in New England between the Fete Nationale and La Rentrée, Colette and I found ourselves once again at Edo Sushi, one of those melangiste Asian restos serving the Princeton/Tech Corridor geeks who are all that America is great in attracting - Asians of all types, those from the Indian subcontinent, shifty looking refugees from the USSR diaspora and your New Jersey types (you know bwhat I mean, like pornography, you know).
Anyway, Colette had the triple sashimi and I the hot and sour soup and garlic shrimp, both served with a complimentary salad (they had/have no idea who I am, it's just their way of being friendly).
With all that, our bill was $23.43 before tip, a wonderful meal. Would I could get this on the Rue du Poteau.
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Tonight, we found ourselves at The Orchards in Williamstown, MA, where we've been stopping for a dozen years or so en route to Maine. We've always eaten at some of this region's most interesting places, but I got an email sayingt I could book a room, tickets for both the Clark and MassMOCA and two three course meals at it's Gala Steakhouse & Bistro for $290.00. I did a little research et voila, it was a deal. A real deal.
The chef, one Chris Bonnivier, who despite the name, is 100% American (but those French genes gotta be there) does some astonishing things with the food:
- superb amuse gueules of tuna on toast and basil spread on home-made bread,
- the BEST DISH OF THE YEAR - a tomato water, yah, go figure, it was an essence of tomato in an iced cup, incredible
- and great lobe of Hudson Valley foie gras with a perfectly off-setting slice of Meyer lemon,
- and and and two very very very good desserts of a mousse and cake.
We also had a nice Chilean Cab and one grappa - but the bill is hard to convey since we had this $290 cultural deal, so let's just say the $290 plus $60 on liquids were very well spent.
