Laiola got me thinking...

Rather than trying to take on the enormous task of just reviewing restaurants,
and honestly, let's face it, I'm no food critic by any means, I got to thinking that perhaps I should expand my writing horizons a bit. Although there are restaurants that I have reviewed on here and probably will do so again in the future, please know that I do my best to be as fair and objective as possible and I typically try to go or have gone to these restaurants several times before I write about them. I just have been thinking lately that it would be a better idea to keep writing as I have been and continue to write about what I know in a broader aspect...

With that said, what do I know about? Well, my friends & family can vouch for this - I know Food.
I think everyone does to an extent. One thing for sure is that we at least know what we like and don't like, right? Of course it is also very subjective...
I, on the other hand, am extremely Passionate about and admittedly, somewhat Obsessed about Food...
What we're talking about here is not just about any old Food, but Good Food...

Great Food...

Memorable Dining Experiences
from both high-end places to hole-in-the-wall joints
that linger in your mind long after you've eaten...

Yes, that's right...

Food or Experiences that you find yourself telling others about
for weeks, months, even years after you've had it...

Food that essentially becomes an Experience and Vivid Memory in your Mind and has you wanting, yearning to go back for more...

If you read my blog, then you know what I'm talking about.

So here I am, intent upon broadening my writing horizons by penning down anything and everything Food-Related from Random Thoughts & Musings on Food to Individual Dishes that really Stand Out and Memorable Dining Experiences that are Visually and Sensually Extraordinary in My Book.
You with me? Well, alright then! Let's get this started...

I got to thinking about all of this after the Meal I had at Laiola the other night... I was really excited to try this new place after reading several reviews that, although were mixed, were mostly glowing and positive. I wanted to go there and see for myself. After our Meal there, I found that I really liked this place a lot in spite of the fact that some Dishes were a little bit hit & miss as I had read.
Let me tell you what did do it for me though. It was the Great Service and also two Dishes in particular that just knocked it out of the park. Food that was memorable enough to make me want to write about and share with you. And this was how I came to the conclusion in this instance, that I need to be writing about Individual Dishes that are remarkable and stand out in my mind.



Let me give you the Raptor Breakdown...
We walked in and were immediately struck by the warmth of the space & the lively atmosphere created by the backdrop of burnt orange walls, pressed copper ceiling and a copper food & wine bar spanning the length of the room. The place was seriously buzzin' and it was a Tuesday night. We walked in without a rez, and although it was packed we only had to wait 20 minutes for our table. The time went by quickly because the server/host kept us occupied with choosing & trying different Spanish wines of which we were unfamiliar. He was very accommodating and pretty knowledgable, which was really great. Before we knew it we were seated with our Menus and we were instantaneously on a first name basis with our server & host. I love that...

We opted to get a number of Starters versus Entrees so that we could try more Dishes and really get a feel for the Food. Although some of the Dishes were not worth mentioning here at this point, there were two Dishes that I found to be truly memorable and actually quite exceptional.

The First Dish that we fell in love with was the Grilled Young Octopus prepared with Fresh Shelling & Romano Bean Salad. One bite made us quickly forget what we were talking about and a heady silence ensued. I was reeling...
The Octopus was Grilled to Perfection, Incredibly Tender with Amazing Flavor... The Combined Flavors of the Grilled Octopus with the Bean Salad, which included Nuances of Celery, Capers and Tomatoes tossed together with a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a Beautiful Vinegar was perfectly balanced. It was Exquisite. We loved this dish... A definite Must-Try.

But it was the Next that was our Favorite Dish of All...
This was a Grilled Quail that was prepared with a Moroccan-Spiced Rub with Roasted Sunchokes and what I believe was an Artichoke Puree, and I can hardly express it better than - this Dish was Awesome!
The Skin was Perfectly Crisp and So Flavorful in Contrast to the Quail Meat which was Incredibly Tender, Substantial and Juicy...
It was Unbelievably Good and gave us both that 'Eyes-rolled back kind of reaction'...
Our reactions were so impassioned that the girls having dinner next to us couldn't help but notice and asked what we could possibly be eating that would cause such a fervent response. We breathlessly went on to tell them about the Grilled Quail and how Unbelievably Good it was. Before we knew it we actually shared a bite with each of them. Now that was some 'Food Bonding Love'...
Yes People, our socks were definitely knocked off with this Dish...
You gotta try it.

Trust me, I'm still reeling...

To get the Visual, here is the Quail Photo Shoot from that Evening...



Also, a Nice Little Tip for you - Rather than the typical serving of a Glass of Wine, they serve their Wine in Carafinas, mini carafes, that hold 250ml of Wine which is equal to 1/3 Bottle of Wine. Bonus.

UPDATE 12/17/07: Went back for the Quail and was extremely disappointed. It was nothing like the last time, unfortunately. Like I said, this place is totally hit or miss...