C.I.A. East Coast

2009-06-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

There are a number of restaurants that we could have reviewed before this one, but since this was a pilgrimage of sorts, I thought that we'd jump the line a little bit.

During a recent trip to the East Coast, we found ourselves drive south on the east side of the Hudson River near the village of Hyde Park, NY. Hyde Park is well known to many people as the home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 33rd President of the United States. It is also home to the C.I.A.

No, not that C.I.A., the Culinary Institute of America! Susan and I have visited on several occasions, the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley in California, but this is the first visit to the home office, so to speak.
We ate in the Medici restaurant, centrally located on a spectacular campus. Everyone associated with the restaurants is a soon to graduate student gaining real world experience. The unique twist is that you are advised that there will be a 15% gratuity on your bill, but that it is optional, and will go towards student programs at the Institute. Anything above and beyond goes to the server.

As expected almost everything about the place was extremely well done. I began with a ham, pea and mushroom tartlet that was excellent if a little on the cool side. Susan's salad looked like grass clipping from our lawn (as do many salads, in my opinion), but it tasted great. For entrees, Susan chose, as I knew she would, the rack of lamb. In deference to my allergies, she opted to pass on the mint jelly. That's right, I'm allergic to mint! Instead, they substituted a veal gravy that was actually a perfect compliment to the lamb.

I chose a beef shoulder that was to die for. The presentation included a squash puree that was such a great touch.

For dessert, Susan had a panne cotti, and again it was a perfect choice. While my dessert was very good, I don't think it was really as described. It was supposed to be a Brioche with rum sauce and grilled pineapple. The rum and the pineapple were both there, as was a dollop of perhaps creme anglaise, but I don't care what you call it - it was pound cake. The rum was a little over the top but still worth the effort.

After eating in Napa years ago, and having to take a second mortgage to pay for lunch, I was pleasantly surprised with the affordability of our dinner. Add in free parking and a pleasant, short walk, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

WELCOME TO DINING WITH THE CLARKS

2009-04-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Over dinner this evening, it was pointed out by a guest that Susan and I should consider doing reviews of some of the restaurants that we visit. I strongly suspect that it was because I was fairly critical of our choice this evening, with good reason I might add.

Restaurants offer a variety of components: food, service and ambiance come to mind. The late Chicago food critic, James Ward, used the phrase "bread and circuses" to address these issues. It seemed a little affected to me, but it got the point across.

I think that we all tend to focus on food when considering restaurant choices, but for me, I place a high value on service (even higher for lack of service!).

In the past several weeks, due primarily to a heavy travel schedule, we've eaten out several times from small town dives to big city stars. The results might surprise many of you....bigger isn't necessarily better.

While ambiance is definitely not to be overlooked, we hope to focus on the ambiance of the restaurant, and not of those dining with us, charming though they may be. Where possible we'll try to provide a link to the restaurant and give to the best of our faulty memories an accurate accounting of the menu items chosen.

We will welcome your comments, and make sure that they are available to others...in the interests of fair and accurate reporting.

Dining with the Clarks

C.I.A. East Coast

WELCOME TO DINING WITH THE CLARKS