Charlie Trotter's: The Full Details

As previously posted, L and I had the pleasure of dining at Charlie Trotter's kitchen table last Friday night. It was an epic meal that started around 8:40 and ended somewhere around 1:30. I will detail the menu here, with some assorted food photos included. We totally went for broke on this meal and did both the tasting menu AND the wine pairing. It was astounding. Without further ado, I present to you Friday, June 6, 2008: An Evening at the Kitchen Table! Please note, this is my menu and I don't eat red meat. L will have to post the other courses from the red meat menu, which included some black buck and Japanese beef short rib. Here goes nothing!

• Razor Clams with Lemon & Chervil, Uni with Apple & Yuzu, Soft Shell Crab with Heirloom Tomatoes (Champagne Varnier-Fanniere "Cuvee Saint Denis - Blanc de Blancs" Brut NV)
• Chilled Snow Lake Trout with Indian Celery & Watercress (Rias Baixas "O Rosal" Santiago Ruiz 2006)
• French White Asparagus with Fava Beans & Sorrel (Knoll "Kreutles" Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2005)
• Globe Artichoke Soup & Spun Honey with Mint - photo below! (Condrieu "Les Chaillees de L'Enfer" Domaine Georges Vernay 2005)

• Grilled Cockscomb with Mizuna - photo below! (Chassagne-Montrachet "Premier Cru - La Maltroie" Philippe Colin 2005)
  

• Roasted Quail with Grilled Ramps & Ginger (Pommard "Premier Cru - Les Rugiens" Annick Parent 2001)
• Maine Day Boat Lobster with Elephant Garlic - photo below! (Eyrie "Reserve" Pinot Noir, Willamette 2002)
  

• Squab Breast with Hazelnut & Pearl Onion Marmalade - I didn't actually have this course, instead I had something with fish, but it was mistyped on my take-home menu (Valpolicella Classico Superiore "TB" Bussola 2003)
• Grilled Portuguese Cobia with Porcini Mushrooms (Barbera d'Alba "Conca Tre Pile" Poderi Aldo Conterno 2004)
• Japanese Kampachi with Roasted Eggplant (Priorat "Clos de L'Obac" Costers del Siurana 2003)
• Warm Ossau Iraty with Dried Cherry & Brioche - photo below! Check out the jumbo wine glass for this course, which is lined up against our other glasses for comparison. The biggest one can hold 2 bottles of wine. (Elderton "Command" Shiraz, Barossa 2003)
  

• Fenugreek Sherbet with Shaved Celery
• Dessert (Andrew Rich "Ice Wine" Gewurztraminer, Washington-Oregon 2006 / Chambers "Rosewood" Muscadelle, Rutherglen NV) - photo below!
  
• Stewed Rhubarb with White Chocolate Yogurt & Coriander Shortbread (bottom left)
• Okinawan Sweet Potato Sorbet & Vanilla Bean Marshmallow (bottom center)
• Milk Chocolate Semifredo with Star Anise & Red Wine (bottom right)
• Venezuelan Chocolate & Grilled Nopales with Agavero Jelly & Kaffir Lime (top left)
• Plate of nibblies (Top right - I can remember a little cookie with topping, a coated Macadamia nut, and a little mochi. There were 2 other snacks, maybe L can remember.)
  

This was actually the most expensive and extensive meal that I've ever eaten in my entire life. It was totally amazing, definitely one of those things that you file away as a once in a lifetime experience. I was basically full until the following day at like 2 or 3 pm. I stopped eating my full plate around the 7th or 8th course. I would take a nibble of food and a sip of wine and then I'd sit back and groan. It was a crazy experience. I have never been more full in my life.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the food porn!

xoxo,
KK