Legal Harborside x Norwegian Skrei

Prior to this meal at Legal Harborside I had never heard of Skrei (pronounced skray) which is ultra-premium specialty Norwegian Cod fish. Cherished in culinary circles and among renowned chefs for its beautiful white meat, delicate flake, and extraordinary flavor; Skrei is sustainably fished and only available for a few months each year. In pursuit of this sought-after catch, Norwegian fishermen brave ferocious seas on the darkest and coldest January nights when the cod are migrating south from their feeding grounds in the Barents Sea towards the coast of Norway. 

Hosting us in their luxe second floor dining room, Legal Harborside started the meal with a delicate bread platter, cotuit and rhode island oysters, and jumbo shrimp cocktail served in an ice-egg! For the main event the Skrei was pan roasted and brilliantly showcased alongside bacon lardon, leeks and golden russet apples, fused by a smoked mussel chowder which was poured tableside. As a result of crossing through the cold arctic waters the cod fish is elegant and silky with firm flakes and an exceptionally clean taste. 

A sweet ending to the meal was a brûléed chocolate banana tart with coconut gelato, chocolate sauce and toasted coconut anglaise. We also enjoyed a whimsical citrus flight with lemon sponge pudding, avocado key lime tart, a grapefruit gateau and blood orange sorbet.

It is always nice to come away from a tasting having learned something new. This was a dinner that felt personal and not overly hyped, accompanied by a terrific menu and flawless service. With a folder of well designed information waiting at the table it was genuinely so nice to have an intimate meal minus the full court press.

 Legal Harborside - Floor 2
270 Northern Avenue
Liberty Wharf
Boston, MA 02210 

Sam Adams Beer Dinner @ Del Frisco's

Del Frisco's recently hosted a Samuel Adams beer dinner, where four courses prepared by Chef Derek Barragan were expertly paired with the local brewery's favorite beers. Both the chef and the brewmaster teamed up to lead a lively discussion of the pairings and spoke to how the seasonal ingredients in the dishes served to enhance the beers. 

The evening began with Sam Adams Summer Ale and multiple passed hors d’oeuvres; Smoked Salmon with salted watermelon, lemon zest and baby arugula was lovely but the Fried dough bite with mango sorbet, avocado and red chili sugar was exceptional. The "fried dough" was actually a crunchy tortilla and I appreciated how the chilly sorbets refreshing qualities matched that of the bright, crisp, lemony notes of Sam Summer. And with a dollop of creamy avocado, I could have popped an entire plate full of those. 

For the first course, a new to me barrel aged brew with intense black cherry flavors and toasted oak notes, American Kriek, highlighted the Prime Beef Carpaccio. The rich and tart flavors of the beer complimented the lighter qualities of the salad with thinly sliced beef, watercress, roquette, spiced pepitas and the ingredient de resistance, fresh bing cherries. 

Next up, the Duck Confit with rosemary gnocchi, kalamata olives and crispy fried leeks in pan jus was hearty and comforting, yet the flavor pairings were bold and unexpected. It proved to be my favorite course, matched well by the classic, full flavored Sam Adams Boston Lager. With its balanced and not overly complex qualities, I thought it was a perfect fit for all the strong components coming at you in the gnocchi. 

The main course presented us with a Prime Ribeye that came over a bed of braised napa cabbage and sweet garlic rosti. It was topped off with marjoram, the fresh herb lending delicate pine and citrus flavors. The overall smokiness of the ribeye with sweet counterparts made for a unique pairing with the mysterious and complex Thirteenth Hour Stout - named because the 13th hour is often referred to as the witching hour. It combines roasted chocolate and coffee flavors typical of a stout with an oak aged Belgian ale, where black pepper and vanilla notes come through with a hint of acidity. To be honest, I think the beer helped me to appreciate and enjoy the dish, a ribeye isn't something I'd normally order. 

A Black Lager Vanilla Ice Cream Float with shaved dark chocolate and candied pistachios was perfect after a filling meal, which was paired with a robust and smooth Black Lager on it's own.

This distinguished steak house is as much about having fun as they are serious about the food, and the same goes for our hosts from Sam Adams with respect to the beer. Everyone involved played their part in making this event memorable and I can't thank them enough. 

I attended this dinner as media, all food and beverage were complimentary.

Delighted by Del Frisco's Lunch

Last Saturday I enjoyed a leisurely media lunch for four at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in the expansive modern dining room overlooking a cloudy Boston Harbor.
My second visit was much more relaxed and intimate when compared to my first, which was a lively dinner event attended by 30 or so bloggers. It was nice to experience a different side of the restaurant and check out the mid-day menu offerings, which includes a "Business Lunch" of a starter, an entrée and a side dish for $23 from 11:30 am - 4:00 pm. I had just arrived back from Spain on Thursday night - gone into work on Friday - and was still a bit jet lagged. I almost opted out. One taste of the Shanghai Style fried Calamari ($15) and I was incredibly thankful I did not.Actually, once I had a glass of Layer Cake Shiraz ($10) in my hand and broke off a slice of their utterly perfect warm sesame studded bread loaf and slathered it with creamy butter, I was close to content. The Calamari appetizer went on to seal the deal. A bold preparation, lightly battered and fried squid is loaded with bean sprouts, scallions, crushed peanuts and mildly hot peppers all mingling in a sweet Thai chili sauce. While the sweet chili sauce added delicious flavor, I appreciated the restraint with which it was used. It highlighted the fresh ingredients without overwhelming their varied crispy textures. I particularly loved the crunch from the peanuts. After finishing my glass of red wine, I craved something light and sparkly, so I decided to pair my lunch with a cocktail. The Mod French 75 ($14) garnished with a cucumber combines Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, bitters and Moet champagne for a fresh fizzy afternoon delight. The odd dining companion out chose the fantastic looking Lobster Shrimp Club ($18), while three of us couldn't pass up the Filet Medallions Sandwich ($16).I was expecting to be overwhelmed by a massive portion, and I was in the best sense possible. While I could only manage to finish half of the sandwich, the individual halves themselves are nicely proportioned. The sandwich was deceptively easy to bite into without the ingredients making a mess or tumbling out. Bite size nuggets of tender filet medallions are paired with soft sun dried tomatoes, gridded thin red onions and just a touch of horseradish herb spread. Encased by the same signature warm and fluffy bread that I dove headfirst into at the beginning of the meal, the loaf makes an even better vessel for filet. Mine were a perfectly cooked medium rare. Well seasoned french fries accompanied my plate, while everyone else could not pass up the homemade skillet potato chips. I tried the chips and can vouch for their status. We received impeccable service which was friendly and personalized. Even though the staff was fully aware we were bloggers attending a comped lunch, this doesn't necessarily go without saying.
A small but innovative menu offers appealing dished prepared with precision. From weekday business power lunches to easygoing weekend afternoons, whatever the lunch occasion, Del Frisco's aims to personalize the experience to fit your needs.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

250 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

A small collection of nationwide restaurants that embrace the deep rooted American steakhouse tradition, Del Frisco's most definitely knows prime grade steak and lucky for us New Englanders, a thing or two about seafood. Be that as it may, there's a lot more to the recently opened Boston location than just the food. Entering into the first floor off a vibrant section of Northern Avenue, you continue up a grand staircase into an impressive space housing a swank circular bar with views of the downtown skyline; and an equally stylish dining room inlaid with plush gray semi-circular booths overlooking a stunning harbor expanse.The media dinner I attended on Thursday evening was held in the appropriately named Harbor Room, housing within its massive wine rack enclosed walls are sweeping red curtains surrounding tables boasting crisp white linens and elegant leather chairs. Commanding attention overhead are two giant chandeliers, the sparkling crystal figures hang to resemble exposed light bulbs. Spectacular, grand, impressive, massive, giant, I'm pulling out all the "go big or go home" esque adjectives; Del Frisco's atmosphere embodies that mantra to a tee. And as the rooms namesake would imply, views of the harbor aren't too shabby either. The dinner was based on a four course menu and was completely free of charge to attendees.After glancing over the regular menu, everything appears to be fairly expensive. But as usual, I've included the prices in my round up to let you be the judge. At Del Frisco's, you can't go wrong with a signature cocktail. After one a taste of the Absolut Orange Vodka that has been house infused with pineapple and shaken to creamy frothy martini perfection, "The VIP" ($13) will have you feeling just as the namesake touts. The Blackberry Ginger Cocktail ($14) made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, fresh blackberries, fresh lemon juice, mint and a splash of ginger beer was also a winner. Boasting an extensive wine list (if the glass walled wine racks were any indication) A Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington state was poured to compliment our starter courses. Once we made our way to the steak, a Cabernet Sauvignon made just for the restaurant was also nicely paired. The bread here is worth indulging. A full loaf is served warm, soft baked and studded with sesame seeds, be sure to break off a piece and slather it in some of that whipped butter. An extensive spread of shared appetizers began with the Shrimp Cocktail ($19) and Shrimp Remoulade ($19). I might skip these in favor of another appetizer, especially considering the price point. I was not impressed by the Ahi Tuna Tartare ($16). This one paled comparison to some of my Boston favorites.The appetizer worth splurging on is the Crab Cake ($19) with this one you get all the crab and none of the cake! A glorious mound of exceptionally tender and well seasoned crab meat is served over a creamy cajun lobster sauce. Order it if you are a crab lover for sure.I would also recommend the Prime Beef Carpaccio ($14) served with a creole mustard and dotted with capers, the thin but lengthy slices of raw beef were generously layered on the plate. Given a choice of salads, I opted for the Blue Cheese Lettuce Wedge ($11). With smokey bacon, fresh lettuce and springy cherry tomatoes halves the components were lovely despite an overwhelming presence of blue cheese. The dry cheese crumbles are more than welcome in abundance but all that creamy dressing was too much for the wedge to handle.For the steak course our waitress explained the degree of cooking runs towards rare, so in essence what is actually ordered medium would be cooked medium rare. (Or something along those lines, fair enough.)The supreme quality of beef was evident with each bite of my 8 oz Filet Mignon ($38) cooked to their ideal medium as desired with a fully pink center, retaining its flavorful juiciness. Vegetable sides run the gamut from simply steamed Broccoli ($10), to lightly blanched Asparagus ($11) with shaved almonds, to Sauteed Mushrooms ($10) bathing in savory pan juices. The Chateau Potatoes ($9) are a perplexing side, I guess because I am not really sure what a "chateau" potato is supposed to be. A dish of heavy waxy mashed potatoes with butter and cracked pepper are good, nothing extraordinary. A tower of the thickest Onion Rings ($10) I've ever seen are sensational, while the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese ($16) would prove more swoon worthy had actual chunks of lobster appeared within the sea of elbow pasta. Behold the dessert platter, a sampling of their Lemon Cake, Banana Bread Pudding and Molten Chocolate Cake.The Creme Brulee and Berries and Cream offer something lighter compared to a cake or bread pudding. Not that you didn't save plenty of room after all that steak! I am content to recommend any of the five as worthy contenders to end a meal here. The service executed by the waitstaff was friendly, helpful and attentive. The pacing of the meal, however, was considerably slower than expected. I took the opportunity to relish the time, enjoying the company of friends and new faces, appreciating the opportunity to sample a wide variety of their food and drink.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

250 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210