This past Friday I relented to my friend Carol's significant and forceful rotation of my humerus and paid her a visit in DC. Her maniacal prodding via FaceBook centered on inviting me to attend an intimate discussion of sous vide cooking with Thomas Keller ("the Man"), Eric Ziebold (former Chef de Cuisine at The French Laundry and now Executive Chef at CityZen), and moderator Michael Ruhlman (the clever and mischievous food writer of considerable note).
The event was relaxed and informative - supporting the launch of Keller's new sous vide book, "Under Pressure." It was fun to mill about with these guys and some of the other attendees, one of whom was the jovial Chef Michel Richard. As it happened, we had late dinner reservations at his 2008 James Beard Award winning Best New Restaurant: Central Michel Richard. Cut to:
We sat in the far room at Central in front of the large, open kitchen - right in the action.
^ Chef de Cuisine Cedric Maupillier sent out these devious creamy shrimp on cole slaw, with a BBQ drizzle.
^ Carol insisted on the Salad Frisee, with Lardons & Poached Egg. Amazing. As she puts it, "The ONLY way to eat frisee!" Then another surprise from the kitchen, these gorgeous mussels.
^ Entrées. The Central Cassoulet with house made sausage. And the Braised Beef Cheeks with Tagliatelle. Well, you can just imagine. This food is simply STUPID good. The entire experience has my addictive personality twitching. The energy of the room, the sights and smells - all intoxicating.
I'll be needing a fix from this place sooner than I'll be able to get one, I fear. On top of all that, as we were kind of in and out on a late dinner, it was relatively affordable - a couple of glasses of wine, we did skip dessert but had coffee...nice. Something about the relaxed atmosphere, with this level of food... the accolades are well deserved, at any rate!
, it was paid for with Cold Hard Cash, and that's that.
Looks exquisite! Being in D.C. do they serve congressmen? What's the best way to prepare them? I would think grilled well.
Posted by: Jordan Kaiser | November 23, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Cassoulet and mussels in the same meal? Absolutely heavenly!
Posted by: Babu | November 23, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Very cool Brad. More on this excursion to come I presume?
Posted by: Chris Kraft | November 23, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I guess I will have to live vicariously through you and your adventures!
Posted by: Leigh | November 23, 2008 at 12:54 PM
@ Chris, yes - I'll post more on the "Under Pressure" event soon!
Posted by: TheBrad | November 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Did Keller do a sous vide demo? Sounds like it was a great event, and those photos of the dinner at Central look amazing.
Posted by: Lindsey | November 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM
This place can't be relatively affordable. But, I would love to take an evening and enjoy the menu. Not the poached egg, though. Next time you go, bring me back something to sample.
Posted by: Mark | November 23, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Oh, no! The egg is the best part. Brad, this place looks wonderful, I hope to visit DC soon and will be sure to check it out.
Posted by: Eater | November 23, 2008 at 08:48 PM
You always come up with the coolest food finds.
Love the shrimp
Posted by: Todd Reid | November 23, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Sounds like an unforgettable meal. Always great to follow you on your adventures--looking forward to the next one!
Posted by: K | November 23, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Looks amazing!
Posted by: Mark | November 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Wow... I went to Panda Express on Friday and thought I was eating well. Man... Now I want to eat for real.
P.F. Chang's, here I come!
Posted by: Jim | November 23, 2008 at 09:49 PM
@ Jim Oy! Jimmy! He's appearing all week folks!
Posted by: TheBrad | November 23, 2008 at 09:54 PM
I found this site to be educational and informative and inspirational. I had to look up "Frisee as in Salad Frisee. Thus educational and informative.
I really have not lived under a rock....I enjoy this blog and will recommend.
Posted by: Jodie | November 23, 2008 at 10:16 PM
so... jet setting gastronomically blissful blogging... sweet!
Posted by: Unkle Pappy | November 23, 2008 at 10:36 PM
that almost, almost makes me want to visit DC...
Posted by: Jake | November 23, 2008 at 11:39 PM
It's 5:45am, & now I'm absolutely starving!! Looks phenomenal!!
Posted by: bshel | November 24, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Everything looks great! Your eye for the camera and food sure has made me hungry!
Posted by: Steve Cesare | November 24, 2008 at 08:16 AM
That trip was not one to miss. To see TK lecture on his new book must have been awesome not to mention eating at Michel's place on DC. The food looks awesome.
Posted by: Mixingrealcocktails | November 24, 2008 at 08:51 AM
The Brad's Adventures in Food: Gotta be the next best thing to being there! Definitely will add to list of Things to Do while in DC for The Inauguration!
Posted by: forestandtrees | November 24, 2008 at 01:18 PM
umm, droool umm, yeah , i think i just wet myself... sorry at a total loss for words...ummm foodism... yeah...enough said
Posted by: Sophia | November 24, 2008 at 10:11 PM
What did you drink?
Posted by: Scott Barber | November 25, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Wow. Small world.
Posted by: artemis | November 29, 2008 at 08:29 PM