Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table - Christmas 2008

[TheDISneyFamily]

We recently enjoyed another wonderful family holiday dinner at Victoria & Albert's!
Here is a photo TR of our special evening...

Amuse Bouche

Deviled Quail Egg with Iranian Osetra Caviar
Smoked Trout Custard Baked in the Shell
Lobster Bisque with Vanilla Foam
Lobster Sausage
Smoked Salmon Roulade with White Sturgeon Caviar

V&A started doing a new thing awhile back. They bring out 3 different types of bread and butter throughout the dinner. This was the 1st set. You have to be careful, because all of the bread is delicious & addicting!

Another interesting thing that goes along with your V&A meal is a variety of imported sea salts.

Dungeness Crab Cannelloni with Baby Greens, Radishes and Italian Caviar

Sesame Crusted Big Eye Tuna with Tat Soi Salad and Tamari Honey Foam

Florida Black Grouper with Artichokes, Fennel, Leeks and Jamon Iberico
Caramelized Nantucket Scallops with Zellwood Corn Ragout
Monterey Abalone with Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon

Here are some close up pictures...

Oh no! Here's another bread selection. MY FAVORITE! Man, I could live on this black truffle brioche with truffle butter. I have to admit, I had a few pieces of this. I couldn't help myself. I couldn't wait to get it again when Steve & I went back for our 20th Anniversary dinner in January!

This dish was outstanding and I was in heaven. The white truffles were shaved table-side and couldn't be fresher. Drool.... drool... drool...

Poached Vermont Quail with Yellow Chanterelles, Fresh Black and White Truffles

Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Sherry Bacon Vinaigrette and 100 Year Old Balsamic

Time to show off the hard working men & women of V&A! It's always amazing to watch them work. We don't take the food for granted at all. The amount of work that goes into just one dish is mind boggling!

Here's the man, the myth, the legend, executive Chef Scott Hunnel.

Back to the food!

Minnesota Elk Tenderloin over Mustard Spaetzel and Apple-Wine Kraut

MMMMMMM..... Kobe beef & Waygu beef... Words can't explain how good this plate of food is. There is a reduction sauce in the little pitcher. The bowl of mashed potatoes has braised & shredded kobe short rib meat on it. This picture really doesn't do it justice. I wish I could include smell-o-vision, too!

Tasting of Australian "Kobe" Beef Tenderloin and Japanese Waygu Strip Loin

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Colston Bassett Stilton, Manchester Goat, Brillat Savarin and Comte des Rousses

This was on display on the cabinet next to the Chef's Table...

Now let's get to the good stuff! Dessert!

When you see this contraption come out, you know it's time for dessert. I still love watching this French coffee pot do it's thing...

"Celebes" Coffee

Death by Chocolate starts the incredible dessert parade. We each get a plate of chocolate goodness...

Tanzanian Chocolate Pyramid (yes that's real gold flakes on there)
Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle
Peruvian Chocolate Ice Cream and Puff Pastry

After that we each get a different main dessert. I don't remember who got what, because we usually play musical dishes. LOL!

Caramelized Banana Gateau

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

They brought out two of these...

Grand Marnier Souffle

This was something new! My daughter promptly stole this one because she LOVES strawberries.

Strawberry Dumpling with Meringue Crisp

Just when we thought we were done (and couldn't possibly eat anymore) they brought out a dish of gelato for everyone...

White Chocolate Gelato

...and then Chef Scott brings in this amazing silver platter with a HUGE white chocolate Yule Log. Everyone followed him in, one by one, and they all wished us a Merry Christmas!

White Chocolate Buche de Noel

We were blown away! It was so beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a better ending to such a wonderful night. We each had a slice of cake and then I told Chef Scott to please cut the rest up for everyone to share.

This was a Christmas Eve we will remember forever.

 

[java]

WOW!!
What a magical way to spend Christmas eve! You have made me want to try V&A again.

We went years ago before children. Now I am thinking it would be so fun to go back as a surprise for dh. Take the kids to the Poly for kids club and head on over.

It all looks so very beautiful and delicious! Thank you for sharing.

 

[skellingtonfreak]

Wow...that looked so delicious...everything. I can't wait to go. Thanks for sharing that amazing meal.

 

[Mich123]

Beautiful pictures! What a fabulous meal--the variety is incredible. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Uncleromulus]

What a great review! All the pictures are excellent as well. I had that quail and the pork tenderloin at our V&A dinner in late October 2008--was as good as it looks!

 

[bama4ever]

Thanks for the wonderful review! When DD is older, we will have to try it!

 

[D&R love Disney]

What a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner Fantastic pictures and the White Chocolate Buche de Noel unbelievable

 

[oybolshoi]

WOWSER!!!

Beautiful pictures and that buche de noel ... amazing!

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I'm glad that I could share our special holiday dinner with all of you!

Victoria & Albert's is a wonderful place to celebrate!

Cheers!
-Michelle

 

[BriarRosie]

You take way better food porn than I do.

Your food was way better than my meager offerings in the main dining room in October. I was impressed with that Buche de Noel.

And I liked that the chef's vision and mission were clearly visible behind him.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

What a lovely review. I can't imagine a more wonderful way to spend Christmas as a family (especially for foodies) than a dinner at the Chef's table at V & A's.

 

[tigger536]

Wow! I really want to go back to V&As! Its been so long since I've been. Thanks for the pictures. They brought back so many (drool worthy) memories! One of the times we've been to the Chef's Table was for NYE (years ago). I can't think of a better way to spend a holiday!

 

[Joie29]

Beautiful pictures--thank you for sharing! We had some of the same amazing dishes at the chef's table in January. It was fun to see them again!

That buche de noel looked incredible!

 

[davinakb]

Gorgeous V&A food porn, love the pics! Thanks for sharing your amazing dinner.

 

[ireland_nicole]

btw, what camera do you use?

 

[Beastie]

This was a Christmas Eve we will remember forever.

Thank you so much for planning this wonderful experience for us on Christmas Eve. There's nothing better than having a nice family dinner during the holidays, and having ours at the Chef's Table made it even more magical! Although I really missed Chef Aimee, it was great to FINALLY get to meet Chef Scott! I'm sure that the chefs were getting a little tired of the sound of my camera shutter clicking rapidly, lol, but they're just going to have to get used to it! During my DCP I definitely plan on making frequent visits to V&As to say hi!

 

[kabuki]

Great photos!!!!!! Thanks for letting us take a peek!

 

[tiggr33]

Thanks for the report and photos. I will be dining there on the 31st to celebrate our 5th anniv. in the main dining room. I can't wait. I just had my confirmation phone call about 20 minutes ago. I typically take pictures with a dSLR , and think I may have to bring a P&S to capture some images. What settinsg did you shoot at?

 

[Briarmom]

Wow! I want to go!