Chef's Tasting Menu at SHO Shaun Hergatt

My cousin, a former chef and current foodie, was in town the weekend of April 15th for a visit from Wisconsin. My first choice for a fancy Saturday dinner was SHO Shaun Hergatt since that was by far my favorite meal from 2010 and I had just been to runner-up Aldea for my birthday. My cousin was super impressed with the restaurant and wanted to go for the Chef's Tasting Menu, which was also an unusual treat for me, since the Parents usually want to go with the three-course prix fixe (most of the time for good reason, based on available selections).

The food and experience was just as good as it had been on my first visit. SHO certainly has inventiveness and consistent quality down pat. The staff is also fantastic - friendly and welcoming with not a snobby bone in anyone's body.

The lighting wasn't good enough for me to photograph the menu, and it was too long to transcribe into my BlackBerry at the time, but I think I have cobbled the menu together pretty well from memory. A few details may be off here and there, but I think I've captured the the gist of the dishes. Pictures courtesy of my cousin and his iPhone.

Canapes

Goat Cheese Panna Cotta, Beet Jelly, Hazelnut

Foie Gras Truffles

Amuse

Carrot Foam, Gnocchi, Cognac

Garden of Spring

Tendrils, Cucumber Blossoms, Orange Ricotta, Fava Bean Puree, White Balsamic

Otoro

Sesame Ginger Dressing

64 Degree Knoll Krest Egg

Chilled White Asparagus Soup, Caviar, Herb Crumb

Seared Lobster

Baby Bok Choy, Cucumber, Coconut Red Curry Sauce

Lamb Tenderloin

Lamb Belly, Lamb Sweatbread, 3 Potatoes [Yukon, Blue, and Russett(?)], Roasted Garlic, Scallion Spear, Onion Yogurt Sauce

Grilled Pineapple

Passion Fruit Creme, Black Sesame Tuille, Coconut Ice Cream

Carmello

Chocolate Biscuit, Caramel Dome, Crunchy Toffee Ice Cream


Assorted Petit Fours

I also took my cousin to Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien for lunch on Saturday (the line was insane because it was raining, but of course the burger was well worth the wait) and to Mile End in Brooklyn for Montreal smoked meat and poutine (below) on Sunday. The wait was 25 minutes because it was a gorgeous day, but the food was again well worth it. Montreal smoked meat is like a cross between pastrami, corned beef, and Texas BBQ brisket; in other words, Heaven. Highly recommended!