Victoria & Albert Dining Scheherazade Night #8 & #9 "New Regulars"

[ehagerty]

Your pictures are always great. I can't wait to see them.

I recognize the disname from your prior comments on these reports - glad you thought enough of the reports to stop by again.

Oh my, a new V&A thread with your pictures. I'm waiting with baited breath!

..then I better get going!!

What a beautiful intro! I am excited, can't wait to see and hear more. I love to cook as well and when we go out for dinner I want something I cannot make or I want to be inspired and surprised, always up to learn.

The more I learned about cooking, the more I appreciate what goes into a meal like this.

On with the show! I love reading your reviews and seeing your photos!

Thank you!

Yeah, can't wait, we are hoping to do the chef's table this summer for our 20th anniversary with our girls and we are all enjoying reviews

I hope you are able to do this. I have not done the Chef's table yet. There's time (for me). Will you be posting?

I adore your dining reviews. Your pictures are always a delight!

Thank you - I used to not always respond to individual posters - thought maybe it was too much like drawing attention to myself and distracting from the report. Then I realized that when people take the time to comment, I ought to let them know I appreciate it. Thanks.

I am so enjoying your review and can't wait for more. Similar to what you described in your intro, I am just getting into cooking (wish my grocer had the take it/make it option!) and am very intrigued at the possibility of dining at V&A's. The one thing holding me back is I'm afraid I might be squeamish at certain ingredients. For example octopus is scaring me a bit. But the wine pairing might convince me to give it a try.
Looking forward to hearing more about your experience and seeing your pictures!

Don't let the ingredients lead you to "deselecting" an option. Words like octopus, eel and squid all conjure images of slimy, smelly, rubber bands. But that is NEVER the case here. This is the place to TRY things!

I am so happy I found your thread!!! I have always enjoyed reading your reviews and seeing your wonderful pictures!!! Can't wait to see and hear more!!!

Thanks for noticing...

Please, can I have some more?

Next helping (course), coming right up

Looking forward to more! And, I totally agree with your decision to make V&A a most do dining experience each trip! (My wallet has a complaint, but I just close him so I can't hear his gibberish!)

Will have to remember your "wallet lesson"

Hi there One of my travel mates for May told me about your V&A TR's and I read through all of them yesterday
I love all of your pictures and your detail about each dish and the wine pairing
You have really piqued my interest in eating here

We have a Wegman's here also.....my favorite place to shop and I am a fan of the "take it" versions!!! My neighbor works as a manager at the Ithaca store and the rest of his family works here locally. Our area could really use two stores because ours is sooooo busy but it looks like they will not be building any more stores in NY because of our wonderful taxes At least they have branched out to several other states so that others can enjoy Tracy

Well, I hope you plan VnA into a near-future WDW visit. In the meantime, we can enjoy the bounty of Wegmans.

 

[ehagerty]

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Tortellini

My mom ordered this dish - a perfect, balanced blend of flavors​

Bowl of Soup

...with a close-up - included here not to provide detail, but because I liked the picture

Niman Ranch Lamb with Rutabaga Turnip Kraut and Violet Mustard

Ceretto Rossana Dolcetto d'Alba 2006​

The vegetable under the lamb is salsified oyster root and serrano ham

Kraut - you were expecting a briny, limp mess?

.

 

[ehagerty]

Wine & Roses - The last of my Dolcetto

The "Two Elizabeths" - the harpist and my mom

.

 

[Pygoplites]

OK, now I'm really salivating! Love your review and pics. It's making my countdown to my next dinner there all the more exciting (16 days...yay!). I had the vegetable-ash crusted halibut last month and it was outstanding...of course, so is everything else at V&A. I'll happily endure lots of cheap eats at home in order to be able to splurge at V&A as often as possible.

 

[rascalmom]

I so wish we could try V&A on a future trip, but I'm severely allergic to fish/shellfish. The dishes seem so imaginative - not sure the experience would be the same if the chef was asked to accommodate my limitations.

Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[Pygoplites]

I so wish we could try V&A on a future trip, but I'm severely allergic to fish/shellfish. The dishes seem so imaginative - not sure the experience would be the same if the chef was asked to accommodate my limitations.

Has anyone else had this issue?

The chefs will handle food allergies with aplomb and you will have a fantastic meal! They are used to all different situations. If it's just a no fish/shellfish issue, there are many choices between the main and vegetarian menus. They will also probably let you select other non-fish courses "out of order." In other words, substitute a 3rd course meat or vegetable dish for a 2nd course seafood. Oftentimes, I will select some courses from the main menu and substitute others from the veggie menu.

 

[BriarRosie]

Thanks for letting me know you were posting this, Ellen. As always, your macro photos are amazing.

It was a pleasure sharing my wine with your family on the Wonder a few scant weeks ago!

 

[jeminni]

Wine & Roses - The last of my Dolcetto

The "Two Elizabeths" - the harpist and my mom

.

Both of these are beautiful pictures.

 

[ehagerty]

Poulet Rouge with Chanterelles, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Truffle Gnocchi

Lonardi Giuseppe Valpolicella Ripasso 2007​

Tried this dish based on the mushrooms and truffles - my notes are increasingly sketchy (it's the wine pairings....)




Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Cannellini Bean Sauce and Baby Fennel

Trinitas "Old Vine" Zinfandel, Contra Costa County 2006​

Marcho Farms Veal Tenderloin with Marble Potatoes and Sauce Soubise

Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2009​

Marble Potatoes, close up

.

 

[ehagerty]

White Chocolate Gelato with Tableside Shavings

Sherry applying the tableside shavings

Another miniature work of art, ready for consumption

Colston Bassett Stilton, 24-Month Parmigiano-Peggiano, Gouda Reypenaer V.S.O.P and Chaource Rouzaire
or
Colston Bassett Stilton, 24-Month Parmigiano-Peggiano, Gouda Reypenaer V.S.O.P and Chaource Rouzaire

Quinta do Crasto Laet Bottled Vintage Porto 2005​

The big picture - 2 different days

Stilton & Pear

Gouda (I think)

Others

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[Halle]

Great review of V &A, I think I should surprise DH with dinner there on our upcoming trip. DH hates to shop...I broke my foot and he had to go to WEGMANS....loved it and now wishes he had more time to browse!!!

 

[ehagerty]

Great review of V &A, I think I should surprise DH with dinner there on our upcoming trip. DH hates to shop...I broke my foot and he had to go to WEGMANS....loved it and now wishes he had more time to browse!!!

My dad accompanies my mom shopping at Wegmans - something he would never do at other grocery stores. And by all means, surprise him with VnA.

Well, since this popped into my radar, I guess I will post the next set of pictures while my gruel is warming....

 

[ehagerty]

The always-marvelous, don't waste my time with anything else, chocolate souffle

Coffee & Port

Mom gets a peak behinds the scenes

A quick pic with Israel (what next? celebrity Maitre d'Hotel? - could happen!)

Cheese for Chef's Table

Friandises for Chef's Table

Friandises for OUR table

.

 

[christinou]

We have the Chef's table booked for this summer and I cannot wait. Thanks for the great pictures.

 

[saintstickets]

Great thread! DW and I ate at VnA for the first time the week after Thanksgiving 2010. It was absolutely fantastic!! We have experienced 4/5 star restaurants on our frequent trips to New Orleans but few are even close to VnA when all things are considered. Also, for those who are a bit leery about the wine pairings (a full glass of wine with each course can be a bit much if you are not accustomed to it), you can request to split the wine pairings with another at your table for one price. You will receive a short glass of wine or about 1/2 glass with each course and it will be the appropriate wine...i.e. you do not share the same wine with your partner if they have fish and you have red meat for that course. DW and I did this and we left feeling "just right"!

 

[woodleygrrl]

Thank you so much for these beautiful pictures. My husband I are FINALLY going to try this in March. I have always wanted to go, but you want to know what the hang-up was? My husband did not want to have to bring his dinner jacket to Orlando. Men. For the love of God.

Well I am getting my way this time. We are going and he is going to love it.

Jennifer

 

[Zife]

Just out of curiousity, where are you linking the pictures from? I was glancing at your older reports, and none of the pictures worked, so I just assumed they had been removed. Now I notice I can't get the pictures here to work either. Wondering if perhaps my work has the site you're using blocked...

 

[ehagerty]

We have the Chef's table booked for this summer and I cannot wait. Thanks for the great pictures.

You're welcome!

Great thread! DW and I ate at VnA for the first time the week after Thanksgiving 2010. It was absolutely fantastic!! We have experienced 4/5 star restaurants on our frequent trips to New Orleans but few are even close to VnA when all things are considered. Also, for those who are a bit leery about the wine pairings (a full glass of wine with each course can be a bit much if you are not accustomed to it), you can request to split the wine pairings with another at your table for one price. You will receive a short glass of wine or about 1/2 glass with each course and it will be the appropriate wine...i.e. you do not share the same wine with your partner if they have fish and you have red meat for that course. DW and I did this and we left feeling "just right"!

Perfect!

Thank you so much for these beautiful pictures. My husband I are FINALLY going to try this in March. I have always wanted to go, but you want to know what the hang-up was? My husband did not want to have to bring his dinner jacket to Orlando. Men. For the love of God. Well I am getting my way this time. We are going and he is going to love it. Jennifer

He can always borrow a jacket - we do, every time.

Just out of curiousity, where are you linking the pictures from? I was glancing at your older reports, and none of the pictures worked, so I just assumed they had been removed. Now I notice I can't get the pictures here to work either. Wondering if perhaps my work has the site you're using blocked...

Original pictures were stored to sonyimagestation, which went out of business 2006-ish. I did manage to copy all my photos to zenfolio, but did not re-link all photos - although I did where people requested. Is there a particular thread you'd like to see?

 

[appleseed1]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Zife]

Original pictures were stored to sonyimagestation, which went out of business 2006-ish. I did manage to copy all my photos to zenfolio, but did not re-link all photos - although I did where people requested. Is there a particular thread you'd like to see?

Just this newest one would be fine, if it's not too much trouble. If it is, don't worry about it. I'm just a food porn addict