Jamie’s Brain

My mom came to visit me, and I wanted to go someplace nice to dinner with her, so I went on several recommendations and made a reservation at Aqua.

As soon as we were seated and looked at the menu, my mom got a little nervouse because she was not familiar with many of the items. Our waiter was fabulous in that he made her feel very comfortable. He explained everything with great detail in a non overwhelming or arrogant way. He also made me feel comfortable when I ordered things by stating that such and such was an ‘excellent choice’, and why it was a good choice.

The food was, as expected, exquisite. They gave us a complimentary apertif of carrot soup and tuna mouse. We each had a glass of riesling, which was the best I’ve ever had. We had a cold shellfish platter, followed by one order or their signature Tuna Tartar. The raw tuna is diced and seasoned with, of all things, a traditional combination of Lebanese spices (cumin, etc.), all brought together by a raw quail egg. The restaurant divides up the dishes that you are splitting for you, which is quite nice.

Right when we were full, our entrees came out: I had the monkfish, and mom had the salmon, both of which were wonderful. The salmon was very moist, which is a rarity in most restaurants. Unfortunately we could only eat half. But, we still managed to get a split desert - the coffee chocolate mousse bar. Then they sweeten you up for the check with some delicate tiny candies.

For both of us it was $200. The menu works is a limited fashion - a $68 price fixe for either an app, entree, dessert, or 2 apps and an entree. There is also a five course tasting menu, selected by the chef, for in the $90s. A wine companion is extra.

Aqua is definitely one of the top restaurants I’ve ever eaten at, and look forward to returning in the near future.

So with my free time that I have a lot of lately, I’ve been getting really into cooking. I dished out some money for some better kitchen gadgets, like knives that really cut, and have found it to be the best money spending decision I’ve made in a while. So I watch The Food Network and have fallen in love with Rachael Ray’s cooking show 30 Minute Meals. I can watch it and then go print the recipe from the website. It’s fast and easy stuff to make that is so good. I’ve been impressing people right and left, which makes me feel good. And Donnie is definitley happy with my experimentation. I like her show particularly because she combines all different kinds of ethnic foods in a friendly way. She gives tips on how to cook stuff that I would otherwise have never known - and it wouldn’t tell you those types of things in the recipe. For instance, don’t add the salt to boiling water for pasta until it starts boiling or it can stain the bottom of the pot. It took me a couple of episodes to see that EVOO = extra virgin olive oil. But I like it. I also like that the show is not freakishly Martha Stewart polished. Sometimes she spills or miscuts things, or stumbles her words. It more realistic and thus makes me feel more like “I can do that!”.