Love Life, Hate Kittens

[lobster bolognese - via Jeannie <3]

When someone takes you to Providence on your birthday, you can’t return the favor with Bossa Nova. You just can’t. Now you’re required to step it up. Stupid unspoken gift giving rules. My first thought was… Urasawa anyone?

Psh. Not until I whore myself out 3 more times.

After much contemplation, I felt that Melisse fit the bill. It’s elegant, it has 2 Michelin stars, it’s classy without breaking the bank.

I made ressies a month in advance and mentioned that it was his birthday and also asked for a corner booth. Romantic I know. When we arrived, we were whisked promptly to our table and there was a card! and chocolates! Awww.

Our waiter was really nice. We decided to do the tasting menu and order a couple dishes ala carte.

Highlights of the night included:

- Hamachi - Perfect recommendation! Fat, fresh pieces of yellowtail on top of a potato cake topped with salmon roe. Mmm. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever ate in my life.
- Wagyu Beef Tartare - This is so overwhelming. My initial thought was .. wow. salty. :( But as you blended everything together, it was decadent. Everything was balanced.
- Lobster Bolognese - OMG. I love pasta, I love lobster, I love truffles. How can this be any more perfect? It was rich, creamy, fresh times a million. Get this.
- Norwegian Salmon - Best dish of the night. The salmon hasn’t been on the market for 25 years (or so he said) and it was the lightest, most flavorful salmon I’ve ever had. The chanterelles were just icing on the cake.

We had some other dishes that were good but weren’t worth mentioning. Possibly because we were stuffed by the 4th course and the food kept coming. The portions as before are pretty big especially for a tasting menu. Our server brought dish after dish and ended with cookies and strawberries. It was such a nice dinner.

I noticed that each dish was meant to eat as one. When you eat the elements separately, it’s too sweet, too salty, too rich. Yet when the forces combine, it’s orgasmic.

The crowd is a bit older. The creme de la creme of the Westside yet it’s not pretentious. If my parents were white and loved each other, I would totally recommend Melisse for an anniversary dinner.


Melisse
1104 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-0881
www.melisse.com