Dine @ Laurelhurst Market

7/3/2012

When it's time to eat
a menu of meat
with steaks a la carte
is a great place to start.

Laurelhurst Market in Portland
delivered a memorable menu & a meal.
For what reasons was it voted as one of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants in 2010?
I have three reasons of my own to share.

1: Epic Cocktails

My dear friend, Rebecca Pittock Shouldis (winemaker at Ghost Hill Cellars), I started the evening with an enjoyable cocktail. Please accept my apologies as I can't recollect its name. What I can remember is a cocktail menu articulated with artistry that paired well with the ambiance of the space.

2: Foie Gras Torchon

This may have been the BEST Foie Gras I have EVER had in my life. For a moment, I thought I might need a moment alone with it. Salt Cured with Toasted Brioche, Gooseberries, Spiced Hazelnuts & Rene's Microgreens. The brioche mirrored the richness of the foie gras. The gooseberries provided a juxtaposition that brought joy & nearly tears. Nearly tears, I tell you!

3: Vacqueyras

Generally, when I'm served a steak, my go to wine comes in the form of a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. After my experience with the Domaine le Sang des Cailloux, wine from Vacqueyras may be what I look for first. Grounded in earthy notes, this wine was uplifted with impressive acid for a wine that could have been served as a course all of its own.