Chef’s Choice

The Cat and The Mouse love chef’s choice dinners, especially when it is Chef H. We hope Chef H likes to do them too. Hopefully it lets him get a little creative and off menu. Dinner was last weekend with The Cat’s classmate.

Calf Liver “Dumpling”

In chicken broth. Chef asked us earlier if we eat calf liver, we replied yes. He made this dish, he said he didn’t want to overwhelm us. The Mouse could’ve eaten a whole bowl of this. Throw in some greens, some French bread, saimin, or rice and call it the meal. The Mouse would’ve been thoroughly happy and full. Hee hee. The Mouse wants to wrap the mixture in wonton wrappers and make wonton noodles. Mmm. Just a thought. 🙂

Caesar Salad

Topped with extra anchovies. Mmm again.

Mussels

Everyone had a herb cream sauce, The Mouse got a tomato sauce. Both were so tasty, the bowls almost didn’t have to go through the dishwasher. Just kidding. Hee hee.

Salmon Course

The Mouse forgot the whole description (there was asparagus, noodles, tomato, and black truffle) but remembers it was soooo gooood. The Cat’s classmate never tried truffle before so The Mouse gave her his, there will be other dishes in the future. Right, Chef H? Hee hee.

Pork Chop with Foie Gras

With some kinda fruit sauce. Delicious. The Mouse hopes Chef H is having as much satisfaction creating these dishes as we are enjoying/scarfing them. 🙂

Cherries Jubilee

Tableside, with flames/flambé and all. The Cat’s schoolmate was impressed.

Stay safe and well.

The Mouse

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Chef’s Choice – Epic

Dinner at The Cat and The Mouse’s favorite place, friend’s birthday.

First:

Abalone Soup

Split pea. Inventive chef.

Second:

Iced Seafood

Lobster, sashimi, poke, etc. oh my! Nom!

Third:

Salad

The Cat and guest had Caesar, Chef changed up The Mouse’s dressing to a red wine blend because of The Mouse’s dairy issue. The Mouse did get anchovies. 🙂

Fourth:

Portabello Mushroom Crusted Salmon

Balsamic vinegar glaze, tomato coulis, fiddle head fern, oven roasted tomato. The salmon soft like buttah. Mmm.

Intermezzo:

Meyer’s Lemon Sorbet

Fifth:

Snake River Farm Kurobuta Pork

Truffle madeira sauce, haricot vert beans, mushrooms. One of the best pork dishes outside of pork belly The Mouse experienced. Mmm!

Sixth:

Fresh Strawberry Jello with Fresh Mint and Gelato

The chef explained to us his fruit extraction machine that steams the fruit and extracts pure juice. He hauled it from Germany a long time ago. The Mouse wonder if the machine could work on mango. Hee hee.

Chef usually makes epic chef’s choice meals but this one was Tolkien epic. Thank Chef H!

Stay safe and well.

The Mouse

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Not Take-Out

Servers wearing masks, tables spread out. The “new normal”.

The first eat-in event for The Cat and The Mouse had to be with Chef H.

Food pics.

Location

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Almost Sunset

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The Cat’s Cocktail

Candied Hibiscus Martini. There was a taste hint li hing mui going on (The Mouse’s opinion).

Amuse-Bouche

House smoked salmon, caviar, cucumber crostini. Let the yumming begin!

Tomato Bisque, Fresh Tomato Relish

If The Mouse could presume to suggest to a executive chef, just a little side bite (1/8 of a sandwich) of a grilled cheese sandwich (The Mouse was prepared with lactase pills), would’ve been perfect. Just putting it out there. 🙂

Caesar Salad with Anchovies

Our favorite place for Caesar salad. So just another tiny “wish” for Chef. An amuse-bouche of a mini onigiri with anchovy and ume, wrapped in crispy seaweed. Again, just tossing it out there. Hee hee.

Crispy Skin Roasted Salmon, Risotto with Truffles, Pesto

The salmon so moist and well cooked, the skin as crispy as bacon. There’s an idea, okay, The Mouse is stopping, no more suggestions for Chef on this post. Hee hee.

Roast Lamb Chop, Hoisin Glaze, Fingerling Potatoes

Really yum, but by then, The Cat and The Mouse were full, so after a little bit of nibbling, most of will become The Mouse’s bento tomorrow.

Chef was happy to see us, The Mouse thinks he was happy to be back in his kitchen environment. 🙂

Stay safe and well.

The Mouse

 

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Feature Presentation

Michel’s at the Colony Surf. Chef’s choice.

Amuse Bouche

Salmon tartar on toast. If Chef allowed, The Mouse could’ve had a plate of them. Really nom!

Soup

Normally, Chef presents the famous lobster bisque, a change up. Good thing The Mouse packed lactose pills, he went through several. Hee hee.

Salad Course

Caesar salad. The bestest. The Mouse is spoiled. Other Caesar salads are no comparison (in The Mouse’s opinion).

Fish Course

Salmon, done excellently. The Cat usually shies away from salmon, she feels often times overcooked. This was perfect. Paws up.

Intermission

Pineapple yuzu sorbet. The Mouse needs a gallon of this. Hee hee.

Meat Course

Wagyu rib steak with truffle shavings. Melt in da mouth!

Dessert #1

Souffle! The Mouse’s request. Nom!

Dessert #2

Cherries Jubilee. Chef usually presents Bananas Foster, in The Mouse’s opinion, he likes the jubilee ever so slightly better. Paws up!

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Sunset Dinner

The Cat hosting one of her clients. Client won small business person of the year for his island.

First.

Sunset

Chef’s choice.

Amuse Bouche.

Tomato Bisque

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Seafood Platter

Lobster, crab, oysters, poke, hamachi sashimi, tako, ahi sashimi, oh my! Two platters full plus an overflow plate of crab claws and shrimp!

We could’ve stopped there, but Chef H is very generous.

Split Pea Bula Bula Soup

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Wine

Suggested to match the seafood.

Spinach Salad

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Veal

Crispy onions, smashed potato (both regular and Okinawan), mushroom gravy, haricot verts, grilled tomato. Nom!

Chef likes Bananas Foster for dessert. The Mouse likes the show, but really likes Chef’s souffle.

The Mouse made a slight request change, half Bananas Foster and half souffle for dessert.

Chocolate and Grand Marnier Souffle

No picture of the Bananas Foster, several pictures in previous posts.

“Having your cake and eating it too”? Hee hee.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

 

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