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This past Saturday we went to a very special lunch event at Private Social. It is the new restaurant in Uptown with Executive Chef Tiffany Derry from Top Chef Season 7 and Top Chef All-Stars. I loved her on the show and couldn't wait to go try her new restaurant. I'm so glad I came across this new event!!
"Chef Tiffany Derry is expanding her offerings at Private|Social by hosting uniquely themed lunches on the third Saturday of every month."
"The bar, featuring specialty cocktails by beverage director Rocco Milano, will be open for diners who wish to turn their lunch into a boozy one. Rocco will be creating a special batch of Philadelphia House Punch (rum, congnac, lemon, sugar, English breakfast tea, champagne) for the occasion."
This cocktail was pretty damn amazing in my opinion. If it wasn't lunch time I would've drank more. haha.
Private Social
3232 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 754-4744
http://privatesocial.com/
Price (for lunch): $$-$$$
I went with a large group of 12 people and we got a great table right in front of the kitchen viewing area. We could see her running around, super busy, doing every thing. :)
The lunch on Saturday offered:
Family-Style Pig Roast. It was so cool. We could see her carving a whole pig in the kitchen at one point. It was amazing to watch her at work.
The pork was nice and tender. I liked the seasoning on the skin.
But for our big group they only brought out 3 small plates of it (for our party of 12). It didn't seem like it was enough. We wondered if smaller tables got the same portion size... And the main dish wasn't refillable. :/
Served with bottomless sides (all farm-fresh):
- Kale Salad. Super fresh. I love the texture of the kale and it was slightly acidic from the dressing and also had buttery crouton bits and parmesan on it.
- Roasted Baby Fennel. This was my favorite side of the meal. The preparation was more like a gratin. The fennel was cooked perfectly with a slight char on top along with the breadcrumbs. I can eat just that! Good thing we can order as much as we want! haha.
- Braised Turnips with Tops. This was like braised collard greens with pork. It had a slight bitterness to it which I liked but overall pretty standard.
- Celeriac Purée. So none of us knew what Celeriac was. It's commonly misunderstood as celery root but it's actually also called turnip-rooted celery or knob celery. Everyone loved this. I loved it as well. I liked it better than normal celery root because it had less celery flavor. It was silky and smooth. And it actually paired really well with the kale salad because of the contrasting flavors and textures.
With choice of water, iced tea or soda for $20 a person. This was an amazing deal. We were there until things started running out. haha.
Since we didn't get that much pork, we kept asking for more sides. At one point the waitress said they were out of the fennel but were preparing Brussels Sprouts instead. Ooohhhh! Love Brussels Sprouts. It's currently my new favorite veggie.
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts. YUM!!!! They need to put more Brussels sprouts in the dish though. haha.
Several people came to check on us throughout the meal. At one point, one of my friends brought up the small portion size of the pork for our large group. So they went back to the kitchen and brought us another large plate of it. Wow... by then we were all pretty full but the pork was still delicious.
The place was completely full at one point. But we were one of the last groups to leave. It's not every day we get to all meet up and have a nice long lunch....with spectacular food, I might add. Also, we got to meet the Chef!!!!! They took a group of us into the kitchen to meet her. Chef Tiffany was soooo nice. Totally down to earth. She greeted us and immediately started chatting. She worked every station in the kitchen and even washed dishes at one point. I'm thoroughly impressed. The food was fantastic and so was her personality and work ethic. I will definitely be back at Private Social in the near future.
And another check on my list of Top Chefs to visit and meet!! Woot!! :D
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Since we did V-Day dinner over the weekend, I didn't expect to do anything on the actual Valentine's Day. But my bf surprised me with dinner! :D He didn't tell me where we were going but I trust his judgement after going to eat with me all these times. hehe.
We ended up at Yutaka on McKinney Ave. I've been there once before, many many years ago and thought it was fantastic. We both agreed that this is definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants in Dallas.
Yutaka Sushi Bistro
2633 McKinney Avenue, Ste 140
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 969-5533
http://www.yutakasushibistro.com/
Price: $$
They don't take reservations and I remember we waited a long time the first time I went. Surprisingly, it wasn't very busy when we arrive at 7PM. We were immediately seated. :)
We got a bunch of things to try. I've never had any of these the last time I was there.
Asian Spinach with Black Sesame Sauce $6~
This was totally interesting. I loved the presentation even though it was sooo teeny. haha. The spinach was super tender but the star was definitely the sauce. I LOVE black sesame but I've only had it in sweet preparation before. The sauce had a hint of sweetness but was still savory. The combination was great. I wish we got a giant plate full!!
Texas Roll (jalapenos, chili oil, masago, avocado, minced octopus) $8.50~
This was a great roll. The jalapeno and chili oil was what sold it. And it definitely had a kick to it. But the most important element was the avocado. It seems like they mashed it up a little so it was more of the consistency of guacamole. Creamy and spicy and yum!! The rolls were also quite small though. Sigh~
Fresh Salmon Sashimi (5 pcs) $9.50~
Super fresh and almost buttery. Delicious!
Hamachi Kama (with grated daikon) $13~
The cheek of the fish is always the best part. This wasn't as big as some of the other kamas I've had in the past but it still had quite a bit of meat on it. Fresh with just the right amount of seasoning where you can still taste the actual fish. :)
Ishiyaki Kobe Beef (cooked on a hot river stone bowl; kobe beef only) $21~
I've never done this before. It was pretty cool. The bowl is super hot with some sesame oil in it. And you cook the raw beef in the bowl yourself.
The beef was like buttahhhhhh!!! When my bf ate the first bite he actually closed his eyes. He said "this is amazing." And it was. The quality of the beef was pretty awesome. The flavor of the marinade was good too. Slightly sweet, gingery, and not too salty so it didn't overpower the beef. It was a cool experience. But we only got 7 slices of meat. I want more! haha.
It was a great dinner. The food was fantastic and it was a great surprise. :) Service was good as well. And half way through our meal the place really filled up. If you love Japanese food, definitely go check it out. You won't be disappointed! Also, they have an Izakaya/Sake Bar just next door. Next time I wanna go check that out!
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For the V-Day weekend, I chose to go to Samar with my bf. I've been wanting to go there for a long time plus my sister had gotten me a giftcard there that was almost 2 years old! Geez...how time flies...
Samar
2100 Ross Ave.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-9922
http://www.samarrestaurant.com/
Price: $$
Samar is another restaurant by Stephan Pyles that incorporates Spainish, Mediterranean, and Indian influences in the menu. They serve mostly tapas(shareable plates). The decor of the restauarant definitely gave the same feeling of those regions. It was slightly dark for my preferences but I guess it sets the mood for a more intimate setting.
At one point during dinner, they had a belly dancer come through the dining area. It was pretty cool. But they turned up the music during that part and it was a bit too loud.
Our waiter was pretty nice and attentive. He presented the specials for the day and let us look over the menu.
We got a bunch of things to try...
Foie Gras Brulee (Pedro Ximenez Quince and crispy Jamon Serrano) $9~
It was like a foie gras parfait. haha. I like the presentation and we were given these long skinny spoons to dig into the glass. I was a little confused because it didn't come with any sort of bread or anything for us to spread the foie gras on. Without some sort of carb, it was wayyy too heavy. It was like eating foie gras lard/butter or something. It was just way too rich.
Luckily we ordered some naan on the side and was able to eat them together. But as a dish by itself, they need to serve it with some bread. The first few bites were interesting and I definitely liked the crispy jamon/bacon on top. But the more we ate the richer it got. It was like putting a stick of butter in your mouth towards the end of it. We did not finish that tiny glass... Blechh.
Rosemary Garlic Naan $4~
Lots of rosemary flavor, not enough garlic. But it was warm and pillowy. I love naan!
Duck Confit Tangine (with Medjool dates, figs, and tri-color couscous) $9~
This was not what I expected. Usually I see duck confit with the bone in. But this way we didn't have to mess with it. It was really good. It was one of my bf's favorite dishes. The duck had great flavor and was super tender. The couscous was also cooked well and the mellow flavor was a great contrast after having the rich foie gras. I even put some of the foie gras with the couscous, that wasn't bad either!
The Shorba of the Day (butternut squash with cashew) $4~
This was the soup of the day. I was sold at "butternut squash". haha. One of my favorite things. It was interesting. It had sweet undertones from the squash but was still savory from all the spices. I loved the texture. It was rich, thick, and velvety, just how butternut squash soup should be. I don't like it when it's too watery. The more I had the more I liked. It was very different from your typical butternut squash soup because of the spices.
Chickpea Masala (with roasted root vegetables and minted ricotta) $8~
This was highly recommended in online reviews so I really wanted to try it. This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. It just had great flavor... I can't pinpoint any of the specific flavors, it just all worked together. Plus the different textures with the chickpea and roasted vegetables were very pleasant. I can eat it all day!
Fish Curry of the Day (with seasonal vegetables and saffron scented Basmati rice) $18~
The fish of the day was Merluza, a Mediterranean fish. The fish was fantastic. It was flaky and delicate, yet had a sturdy feel to it as well. The curry sauce paired it really well. I felt the rice was just a tad overcooked. But I personally prefer really al dente rice and pasta. This became my bf's favorite dish of the night. Mine was still the chickpeas but this was a close second.
We ended the night with dessert of course. :P
Caramelized Apple Empanada (with cinnamon ice cream) $4~
The waiter said this was one of their top sellers. I loved the cinnamon ice cream. It was richer than normal ice cream, I thought. The empanada was good, but it was quite small and you can't fully enjoy the filling. It could've been crisper on the outside too.
Saffron-Coconut Rice Pudding (cardamom) $4~
I realized that I liked the "idea" of rice pudding, but not the actual thing. It was like eating porridge in a sweeter sauce. I'm not a fan of porridge. haha. I felt it wasn't sweet enough, but then again, I didn't want it to be too sweet. There was too much of the rice flavor I guess. Something was just not great about it. We definitely could've done without it.
We ended up spending a bit more than the giftcard value. haha. But I'm glad we got to try many different things. We were very full after. I think for the 2 of us we could've done without the foie gras and rice pudding.... The service was pretty good. The waiter answered all my questions and the water glasses were always refilled. He did give me the wrong price for the fish dish though (which contributed to the higher bill than we estimated)... We had several people come by and ask us how we're doing, so that was nice.
Overall, I enjoyed the food. If you are not a fan of spices, this is not the place for you. They definitely do not hold back in that aspect.
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For our last day in LA, I found out that it was actually the first day of their restaurant week (dineLA). Tons of restaurants offer lunch and dinner prix fixe deals for a range of prices. We HAD to take advantage of this!! We wanted to go somewhere by the beach so I came across Larry's in Venice Beach.
Larry's
24 Windward Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-2700
http://larrysvenice.com/
Price: $$
It's literally a few steps to the beach. :) Most of the seating is open/outdoor/patio. Luckily it was a nice sunny day so it wasn't as cold as it had been for the previous days. We were immediately seated since I made reservations. The dining area was very bright from the sun, which was nice. It's a very casual, chill place.
Our waiter came to give us some water and take additional drink orders. He was nice but a little high strung or something? He also informed us that the entire table had to participate in the dineLA menu or none at all. A restaurant policy apparently... Looking at their regular menu vs the prix fixe, the 3 course deal was by far the better deal! Larry's dineLA lunch promotion was $16 per person for 3 courses.
1st Course:
Wild Arugula & Apple Salad (coppa, parmesan, aged balsamic vinaigrette, toasted almonds).
I ordered this. It was a giant bowl of salad! Wow... I loved the bitterness of the arugula and the sweet/tart from the apple and nuttiness from the almonds was a great addition. It was also dressed perfectly. The waiter says the chef actually likes to underdress the salad which was perfect for me. I hate it when they drown salads in dressing.
Goose and Hazelnut Terrine (huckleberry compote, toast).
This was really interesting. It was almost like a solid pate? The goose flavor was quite light which was good and I particularly liked the crunchy hazelnuts in the terrine. The huckleberry compote complimented it nicely.
Butternut Squash Soup (bacon, creme fraiche).
The flavor was very light...almost too light. It was fine, but I wish it was a bit thicker. It was a little watered down.
2nd Course:
6oz. Lamb or Dry Aged Beef Burger (brioche bun, french fries, house made pickles).
All 3 of my friends ordered this. It was the best bang for the buck. 2 of them ordered lamb and 1 got the beef. I always love brioche. My friend with the beef said it was ok. I tasted the beef patty and it was a little bland. My other friends seemed to enjoy their lamb.
One of the burgers was a little undercooked though. Slightly more pink than my friend wanted. The presentation was nice. The best part of the dish were the fries tho. They were amazing especially with this chili mayo dip of some sort!!
Mushroom Pasta (burrata cheese, fried parsley).
I got the pasta. I'm really glad I ordered this. It was a smaller portion which was good for lunch. The flavors were simple and clean. I could taste every element in that dish. The pasta seems to be homemade. The texture was great. There were lots of mushrooms and the burrata cheese just added a hint of creaminess. I totally enjoyed it!
3rd Course:
Sticky Toffee Pudding (salted caramel, vanilla ice cream).
This was pretty good. It's kind of a spice cake. The ice cream on top paired really well with it. I wish the scoop was bigger though. Also, the caramel wasn't cooked enough because it still had sugar crystals in it. But you know what? We all actually liked it cuz it added a slightly crunchy texture. hehe.
Ice Cream Sundae (marachino cherry whipped cream, assorted candy).
The presentation was so cute! It was like a little build your own ice cream station! :)
It was a good meal. We were super full after! It seems like a cool place to hang out on a lazy afternoon too. However, it seems like the chef is a bit uptight. We were told that we couldn't substitute anything because the chef doesn't want to waste time and the waiter didn't want to get in trouble. One of my friends doesn't eat onions or cheese but couldn't get it omitted on his burger. The waiter asked if he could just scrape it off because he didn't even want to ask the chef if that was a possibility. I thought that was kind of ridiculous!!! Poor waiter...we were pretty easy going, but not all customers are that way. I can see other people get angry with that type of policies.
Anyways, it was still a great finale to our trip. Afterwards, we walked around Venice beach to enjoy the sunny weather.
Until next time LA!! I'll be back soon!! :)
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