Dine in LA Week at Providence

Monday, July 15, 2019

Going to be a bit more restrained this time around for Dine in LA Week. Only booked one dinner this time. Our selection was Providence restaurant. www.providencela.com.  One of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. Prix Fixe menus only. And Monday's no corkage on the first two bottles. Otherwise $50 per bottle. Service is superb.

We got there early and had to wait for our dining companions so headed to the bar for a cocktail. I had some concoction that was really good. Can't remember all that was in it but it had vermouth and brandy also with a fruit enhancement. Their cocktail menu changes every few months.

Dinner started out with an array of five  amuse bouches. A "Summer Soup", made with tomato and lime. Had a slight fish taste to it. Very slight, not off putting but interesting. Served in a type of shot glass. Next was mini quiches made with fresh crab. Just a bite or two.  An tray of  cracker topped with salmon and salmon roe with horseradish. Two bites. Then the best mussels I have every had. Small, steamed, black mussels. Never had a mussel taste so good.  A semi rolled nasturtium leaf filled with Kamachi collar. Again just one bite. Everything was excellent and very well presented. Almost like an art show.

Then on to the Dine in LA menu. Started off with Amber Jack sashimi with creme fraiche, rice crackers  and nasturtium leaves.

Next was a piece of black cod that melted in your mouth.

For my main I chose Liberty Farms Duck, a nice piece of breast with a cherry sauce and a piece of duck sausage rolled in pastry.   Excellent quality and cooked perfectly and seasoned correctly.  You  had a choice of salmon, duck or with an $40 supplement you could have A5 wagyu beef.

I opted for an extra - a piece of truffle brie cheese with a truffle infused dressed greens and toast.  Cheese was just a bit cooler than room temperature and was perfect consistency for spreading on the small pieces of toast.

Other add ons a couple of people opted for was the Risotto with black truffles and the soft poached egg in the shell topped with Uni. Served in the cutest cup that was on a replica of a duck foot.

We had a loaf of Red Fife sourdough bread served with a salted butter from Normandy infused with kelp foraged from Santa Barbara.

Desserts were an assortment. Milk chocolate peanut butter mousse, pot a chou, tomato jam. basil infused white chocolate.  Then a plate of hand painted bon bons.

We all got a housemade apple muffin to take home. This is a tradition at Providence.

All the food was excellent. Innovative, great flavors and just top notch quality. You pay for it but it is superb.

I brought a 2009 Domiane de Montielle, Les Sizies, 1st Cru, Beaune, Burgundy. Decanted it at home. Excellent wine  A 2009 Sea Smoke Southing, Pinot Noir opened up quite nicely after being poured.  Probably should have been decanted before.  We had a 1995 Blanc de Millenaires, sparkling wine which was a bit yeasty which I like.  Since there were two Pinots on the table Stan decided not to open the pinot he brought and purchased a wine off the list. NV Camille Saves, Grand Cru Rose Champagne. Outstanding wine.  He said the wine list price was what the stores were getting retail on it so that is what he thought it was a bargain on the wine list.  Since he bought a bottle from the wine list they did not charge us corkage for the third bottle.

Nice to go to a high end restaurant where the wait staff and sommelier's know your dining companions. I always feel we get extra attention. Maybe not because the attention that the staff gives to each diner is outstanding.