vernacular_life | yum yum yum

omg, I am still savoring last nights dinner at Charleston.....this was foodie heaven...

First off, cheap it aint. It was definately the most expensive dinner we've ever had (and that counts dining out in Paris), but it actually outdid The Slanted Door in SF (with Slanted door being about 1/2 of the price!)   But considering this is the last anniversary pre-baby, we went all out.

The menu is set up as a 'build your own tasting menu' and is pris fixe, so you can pick 3-6 dishes and experiment (and everyone gets dessert!). They serve a ton of wines by the glass, and recommend matching 1/2  glasses with each dish (Judd did this, I had a 1/2 glass for 3 of my dishes and another 1/2 with my last) They're probably known as much for their wine list as their food at this place, and it was nice to see the matching-glass option here.

Judd's choices:
-Beef Carpaccio (he had a really good Pinor Noir w/ this)
-Gazpacho
-Seared Duck Breast -- the wine paired with this was out of this world  -- 97 Barolo 'Gattera" Bovio for all you winos. We're def going to buy a few bottles of this.
-Grilled Lamb w/ Pommegrante (YUM - paired with the PERFECT wine)
-Port wine Ice Cream w/ Boubon cookie

Me:
-Grilled Cheese w/ black truffle & tomato bisque (YUM!!!)
-Lump Crab & Roasted Corn salad (not a 'leafy salad' salad - more of a mixed-with sauce kind) - a flavor explosion
-Sea Scallops w/ Pancetta & sweet potato puree (yum, but the ham was a bit chewy)
-Pork with butter bean risotto (very good, but not the best)
-Apple tart w/ cardamon ice cream and caramel sauce

All in all, YUM. Serious YUM.   The staff were also great - not a tiny bit of snobbiness at all, and our waitress gave us both the wine list and menu to bring home. Lots of little 'amuse bouches' scattered throughout, which was unexpected and very enjoyable.

Unfortunately, we probably won't get to go back until Judd's 40th birthday!