Providence - Dine in LA Week

Sunday. July 24, 2016

Providence restaurant in Los Angeles has been on my bucket list for years. www.providencela.com.  The Chef is Michael Cumarusti and he must be so inventive to come up with these dishes we had tonight. It is a 2 star Michelin restaurant and not cheap. They have their Signature menu at $180 and with wine pairing $265. And they have their chefs tasting menu at $220 and with wine pairing at $325. This is why I have not gone. But this year they decided to participate in Dine LA Week with a special menu for $95, without wine. When Stan e-mailed and asked I jumped at the opportunity. So tonight there was four of us anticipating dinner. 

They seated us at the Chef's Table which is a private room overlooking the kitchen. Probably because they know Stan. But maybe we just looked "needy". For whatever reason we did not turn down the opportunity. 

I ordered a glass of wine of the menu. Corkage here is $50 per bottle and since I was the designated driver I needed to watch my alcohol consumption.  Stan brought 3 bottles which he generously shared. A 1999 Billecart-Salmon,   Champagne, 2009 Aubert Chardonnay and a 2009 Kistler Elizabeth Cuvee. Pinot Noir. All excellent wines. To bad I could only have a small amount of each.

We started out with 8 Amuse Buoche's, 3 on the menu and 5 comped. 

Mohito Bubble -  a mohito in a gelee bubble which when placed in you mouth melted and the liquid ran out.

Scallop Tacos - shell made of Nasturtium leaves  - what can I say - excellent.

Lobster Dumplings with Daikon Radish - it just keeps getting better.

Foie Gras Raviolio with shaved black truffles - my favorite

Cold smoked oyster, dill powder and horseradish powder - unbelievable taste 

Rock melon soup with basil seeds - inventive minds thought of this.

Smoked salmon cracker filled with salmon mousse and salmon roe on top - just a devine mouthful.

"Cigars" made of buckwheat flour, rolled around Wagu beef, umai mayonnaise - warm and delicious

Now onto to the dinner - mind you I has also ordered 6 oysters not knowing we were going to experience all these delectable, delicious bites of perfection.

Wild Fluke Sashimi, tomato gelee and dried plum.

Sea Bass with squid, mussels and clams

Liberty Farms Duck, Rhubarb, Daikon Radish and bitter greens

Also had a taste of Prawn Chips that came with Marc's salted encrusted Santa Barbara Prawns (huge) (fresh and alive in a tank) much better than those shrimp chips you get in Asian restaurants. And had a taste of Stan's Shaved Black Truffle (lots) over a poached duck egg.

The breads, Seaweed (delicious),  Brioche and a plain hard crusted roll came with butter and Normandy salt.

For dessert we had "Kawa-ishi"  - light, delicious, rolled in black sesame seeds. Have no idea what is in it but it was good.

Then they bring us a box of cookies, macaroons, lemon balls and a chocolate wafer with sea salt and nuts.

On top of that we each got a bag "high end" with a "housemade" muffin to take home.

Excellent meal, good wines, great company. So since we ordered extras, and had 3 bottles of wine that Stan brought we decided to split the bill. So my $95 "special" came to $240 with tip. It was worth every penny.  I am really tempted to save up for another dinner at Providence. It was that good. But I also would only go with certain people that enjoy this type of dining the way I do.