Same! You talked about this awhile back and I'm glad phase one went so well. Cheers!

So, we follow a show on PBS called "A Chef's Life." It's about a woman and her husband who run two restaurants in Kinston, N.C. 

I follow it too. Glad the fire didn't shut them down, and happy you got to visit.

Looks fantastic, Mike!

Me: Pork tenderloin with some kind of delicious Mexican sauce with garlic swiss chard and risotto croquettes.

Dinner at Blackbird. This is the first 2-star Michelin joint we've been to in Chicago.

The mostly current menu:

In order - Tomato, Gazpacho, Tartare, Sea Scallop, Pork Belly, and Strip loin (Allison ordered the strip, I was so proud)

The soup was phenomenal followed closely by scallops. Everything else wasnt quite on the same level and the tartare wasn't good. But overall, a decent meal with a not-complelety justified price tag.

So, tonight we visited Chef and the Farmer and may I just say, it was everything we hoped for and more.

We started off with flash fried collard chips. Crispy and lightly salted.

We also had grits with gumbo, andouille sausage and local shrimp. No pic on this one but I've never had grits this good.

Next up, Debbie had a Jed's salad with local greens and blue cheese dressing.

I had charred green beans with coarse mustard and muscadine grapes.

We asked the sommelier for a wine suggestion to go with our main course choices (within budget) and we were happy with his choice.

Debbie went for the tomato pie and fall veggies for her main.

I went with the sage brined pork chop with dirty farrow and sweet and sour beets. Not only was it the best pork chop I've ever had, it was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever consumed.

Finally, Debbie had a watermelon and rosemary sorbet with watermelon dice and a rosé float.

It was a meal beyond reproach and if you are ever in eastern North Carolina, get your ass here.

Oh, my dessert? A very dry Martini.

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I would have had the sweetbreads. 

 

I tried to convince the Mrs but she just started eating meat again and thought that pancreas was pushing it. 

Another amazing dinner, big bro! Appears to have hit the spot. 

You too lil bro. Good eating is good.

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That looks tasty, John.  "Risotto croquettes" look very similar to arancini, which I love to both make and eat.

Yeah, it was pretty much arancini. Which is not a bad thing!

 

Incredible looking meals, my Chicago brothers!

Edited September 23, 201510 yr by jvlgato

You all are making me jealous, but you shouldn't be, because I really enjoy what I've been eating lately -- these hairless peach things (I forget what they're called -- pluots?  nectarines?  I always get a couple of each of several things -- plums, pluots, nectarines, and one other that I always forget -- so I never know which one I'm eating).

And an apple, I know which one that is.

Edited September 23, 201510 yr by Dusty Chalk

Mike:  You dinner looks fantastic!!!

Delmonico potatoes and a four-hours-in-the-waterbath-at-118 sirloin seared my way was a pretty decent Tuesday night dinner.

A little beurre rouge on the steak, bien sûr.

That dinner looks great, Mike!

 

That looks good too!

 

Edited September 23, 201510 yr by shellylh

Massive Biscuit with my breakfast in memory of Brent's Fantasy Football season.

Hate you too.

**BRENT**

Burger and onion rings from Lil Woodies.

Did it give you one?

Double Swiss at JJs burger joint

Did it give you one?

A lil

Well of coarse it was lil.

Of course, but your discourse is coarse.

Earlier.

B.L.T. Provençale

Tres bien!

That's a pretty sweet looking BLT

Pork and Parmesan Polpette that I made this afternoon

(whimper)

Want meat ball samich nao.

Aye keed, aye keed, I may need to take this to local foodie chef restaurant place this weekend, see what she can do.

Edited September 26, 201510 yr by Dusty Chalk

Pork and Parmesan Polpette that I made this afternoon

 

 

That looks much better than my dinner - hummus and raw veggies. 

Of course, but your discourse is coarse.

Jesus!

It's like I'm mentally challenged when it comes to coarse and course! Maybe I need a nun to smack my hand with a ruler when I use the wrong one. I'll keep at it though.