Chef’s Counter
At 5:00PM, we got dressed like real adults for the day without compression socks as well! I kept my KT Tape on for my ankle though.
We headed downstairs towards Napa Rose as we had been able to reserve the Chef’s Counter for us this evening. We were placed at the area right in front of the meat cooking stations and the main plating area.
I’m kicking myself now for not taking a photo of the menu as my husband had went with the 4 course “Vintner’s Table” menu while I had went with the 5 course “Chef’s Choice” after I had told the main chef my dislikes and likes. I also went with the wine pairings for this. My husband went with a Diet Coke. I think I made the better drink choice
I love how their bread basket had different selections, each great in their own way. I also really like bread in general as does my husband.
Bread Basket
We both were given this as the amuse bouche for the evening. It was a very sweet start to the meal but enjoyable at the same time.
Amuse Bouche - Butternut Squash Mousse, Orange Whipped Cream & Candied Pecans
View from Seats
For my initial course I was given a harvest salad with apples, field greens, a blue cheddar cheese, radicchio and cashews. I am not a huge blue cheese fan but this cheddar style blue cheese wasn’t as strong so it was enjoyable when eating it with the bitter lettuce in the salad.
Harvest Salad w/ Apples
My husband had the winner though of the two initial courses. He had a pancetta wrapped monkfish. Covering any white mild fish with fatty pork products should be amazing if done at a place like Napa Rose!
Pancetta Wrapped Monkfish
My 2nd course was the winner between our two selections. The Diver Scallop was perfectly seared and broke apart like butter. The sauce was very rich which worked well with the delicate scallop.
Pan Roasted Diver Scallops w/ Sauce of Lobster & Lemon Accented with Vanilla
My husband had a fried dove wing for his 2nd course. I think this is one of the few times he’s actually kinda felt bad for whatever food we were given but he said it was super flavorful but he would only eat it again in tasting menus.
Fried Dove
While we waited for the next course, we got to see them preparing all the plates of filet for the main restaurant!
All the pretty filets being plated
For my third course, I was given a meatloaf made of wild boar. When initially served this dish, I thought it was weird to be given meatloaf in a place like Napa Rose but once I started eating it, I was blown away. It wasn’t gamey. The butternut squash worked great with the meat and ensure it wasn’t dry at all.
Wild Boar Meatloaf
My husband actually wasn’t supposed to have a 3rd course with his Vintner’s selection, but the chef decided to serve him a 3rd course since my dinner was going to have 5 courses and he didn’t want my husband to have a lull. He really liked this even without being a mushroom fan! The mushroom flavor wasn’t overpowering as it was more like a thick flavorful soup than anything in particular. I still won between the two of us
Portobello Mushroom Bisque “Cappuccino” w/ Brandied Thyme “Froth”
We were given a palate cleanser prior to our main entrees
Lemon Sorbet
Both of us had winners for our main courses. We couldn’t decide whose was better! I was given a grilled eye of the rib-eye with top cap and potatoes. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The top cap was the perfect melty fatty beef flavor that balanced out the leaner rib-eye. The horseradish creme wasn’t too much of a kick but was great when mixed with the potatoes.
Grilled Eye of the Rib-Eye & Cabernet-braised Top Cap w/ Colcannon Potatoes & Horseradish Creme
My husband had buffalo. He loved this! He hasn’t liked buffalo previous times he has tried it but he said they must not have prepared it as well as Napa Rose did! The steak was a perfect medium rare as well and was perfectly lean. The short ribs melted in his mouth as well.
Buffalo Two Ways - Filet/Short Ribs
We were allowed to pick our own desserts (despite my husband’s vintner’s coming with a set dessert) since we both wanted chocolate.
I had their Best Hot Chocolate which came with a mini donut, pastry and almond cake. This was awesome! It was totally one of the best hot chocolates I’ve ever had!
Hot Chocolate w/ Donut
My husband had the chocolate cake with a mango sorbet. He really loved this as the cake was densely chocolatey but the richness was broken up with the tanginess of the mango sorbet.
Chocolate Cake w/ Mango Sorbet
We paid our bill and walked back to the room. We really enjoyed the Chef's Counter and will totally do it again next year after the Half Marathon. Because we hadn’t had enough food in our lives, we decided to watch Food Network with Guy’s Grocery Games and Worst Cooks in America although we both fell asleep about 15 minutes into the 2nd show. We were wiped!