Dinner at Melisse

A welcome card with a box of chocolate truffles waiting on the table:

Happy Birthday!

For my birthday, we went to Melisse in Santa Monica. It was an amazing dinner! Great food and wine, good service and a wonderful “foodie” experience. Thanks! $$$$$!

We decided on the four course meal. They have a ten course meal, an ala carte menu, and a “let the chef decide” menu, but the four course menu choices were the most appealing to my tastebuds. Ready, let’s begin.

Amuse bouche – Cherry tomato with a almond panna cotta herb crust and a (“reconstituted”) tomato emulsion with an olive oil center. I love molecular gastronomy!

Six kinds of bread: french sourdough, brioche, basil brioche, chibatta, olive chibatta, and bacon focaccia to choose from: (they bring it on a platter and let you choose)

Appetizer:

Oyster Granita on the half shell with a Bombay Gin froth served on a bed of sea shells

Amuse bouche – Gaspacho tomato concentrate with a cucumber cream:

The Wine List: (and big thanks to Brian the Sommelier for his great recommendations!)

Champagne Tasting – we tried two kinds and settled on the fruity one

White Wine – a German vintage from Napa, California

Red Wine Tasting – we liked the French Cabernet Sauvignon

First Course:

Santa Barbara Spotted Prawns with a herb sauce and fresh herbs

Coconut Sweet Onion Soup with tasty “reconstituted” crisps – WINNER!

More bread!

Second Course:

King Salmon with snap peas, vegetable mix and a cucumber dill sauce

Black Truffles in a Humidor displayed tableside before shaving on to the truffle egg

Truffle Egg – poached egg with truffle froth, truffle sauce and a lot of shaved black truffle served with a thick slice of toasted and buttered brioche bread – WINNER!

The Main Course:

French Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 kinds of salt, 3 kinds of pepper for the entree

We decide to have the Cote de Beouf for two (there’s an extra charge, but it was worth it). They present it and carve it tableside.

Cote de Boeuf for two carved table side

Cote de Boeuf with sauteed mushrooms and a pastie filled with onion and ricotta cheese

NOTE: I took the rib bone home and had it for lunch the next day. It was one of the best beef ribs I’ve ever eaten!

And then Dessert! (We decided not to have the cheese plate, which I’m told is spectacular…)

Amuse bouche – caramel corn, popcorn sherbert, nut crisp with a caramel water sauce to cleanse the palette:

Chocolate souffle’ injected tableside with melted chocolate, a concentrated chocolate mousse with a mint leaf, and a chocolate tart with caramel sauce, toasted cookie crisps and painted chocolate pieces:

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!

And then a plate of petit fours as a final indulgence (which I had to take “to go”):

Chocolate filled with caramel, mini chocolate chip cookie, carmelized dough, a sugared orange gel, and a lime and yuzo macaroon. There was also a white peach slice, but that didn’t make it home.

There’s a reason Melisse is rated one of the best places in the country! If you have the opportunity and the money, I whole heartedly recommend you experience this restaurant.

Melisse Restaurant – 1104 Wilshire Blvd (at 11th), Santa Monica

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