Okay, so maybe now — just days after the National Bureau of Economic Research officially declared we are eyebrow-deep in recession — isn't the best time to talk about a $75 per person Christmas Eve feast at the ritziest of French restaurants, located on the highest wing of South Coast Plaza called “The Penthouse”.
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“Marché Moderne Vous Souhaite un Joyeux Noël”
Christmas Eve Dinner
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Five Course Tasting Menu
Amuse Bouche
“Chestnut cappuccino, in-house cured venison salami crostini”
First Course
(please choose one)
Mini risotto of assorted fresh crab, Alaskan King, Maine Dungeness, Peekie Toe
jus de clam beurré, brunoise de legumes
Petit cones of poki hamachi and tuna “parfumé au soja”, ginger and green tea ice cream
“Canard et foie gras en croute 2007”
Warm duck pâté and foie gras en croûte, sauce Porto a l'échalote
Six oysters on the half shell
Baby lettuce, wild roquette, shaved Asiago cheese,
Pomegranate and cinnamon scented vinaigrette, honey roasted pecans, julienne apples
Second Course
Buratta and zucchini blossom beignet, one langoustine roasted in lemon oil,
lightly spiced roasted pepper
or
White miso crusted black cod “pot au feu de foie gras frais”
Third Course
Roti of prime ribeye carpaccio, lemon-truffle-Reggiano salad,
smoked Himalayan salt, galette de pommes de terre
or
Roasted duck breast, chestnut, endive, porcini, vinaigrette Pedro Jimenez
Selection de Fromage du Jour (optional: $15 supplement)
Dessert
(please choose one)
Fleur d'oranger brioche Tropeziènne, yogurt honey-lavender ice cream
Valrhona Chocolate tarte, chestnut-marron glacé gelato
Assorted sorbet and warm lemon Madeleine
Menu subject to change
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.