Striped Bass


Striped Bass, 1500 Walnut, Philadelphia, PA, (215) 732-4444

Instead of getting each other Christmas gifts, we instead go out for a nice dinner. 2004, it was Coleman in Blue Bell and 2003 Pasion (which remains probably the best meal I have had in Philadelphia). This year, we decided to go for Striped Bass.

We decided to go off and get the 7 course tasting menu, which, while pricey, was definitely worth it. Certainly, since it was a tasting menu, the portions were tiny, but in the end we were both completely satisfied. Here is the breakdown:

First Course--Wild Mushroom Soup with Crispy Oysters, Mushroom Fricassee and Surgula Pesto
I'm not a huge fan of mushrooms, but this soup was delicate and just salty enough with the oysters. Indeed, I think the only way I can handle mushrooms is in a soup.

Second Course--Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with Japanese Cucumber, Shiso Leaf and Sweet Miso Asian Ginger Dressing
Of course, this was one of Rick's favorites, given his love affair with sushi. I could handle it though, and the dressing was a great sweetly spicy accompaniment.

Third Course--Kamachi Ceviche with Mandarin Oranges and Lime Juice
Yes, another raw fish thing, but I can somehow handle ceviche better than regular old raw fish (Pasion converted me). Again, a nice sweet companion to the fish.

Fourth Course--Duck Confit Risotto with Glazed Turnips, Black Trumpet Mushrooms and Smoked Bacon
Mmmmm...duck. But really, this might have been my second favorite. It had this great blend of flavors and textures, with the creamy risotto broken up by the crispy bacon. And, duh, there was bacon....

Fifth Course--Sea Scallops with Veal Sweetbreads and Mushrooms
These were fine, but not out of control great. I am kind of meh on scallops, and the veal and mushrooms didn't exactly help. Here is the thing about mushrooms around here: since something like half of the country's mushrooms are grown nearby (yes, there is actually a mushroom festival, which is my own personal nightmare), I swear every chef wants to throw them into everything. It gets kind of annoying after a while, especially for a semi-vegetarian like me (i.e. the options are portabello, portabello, or portabello usually).

Sixth Course--Wild Striped Bass wrapped in Cabbage with Black Beluga Lentils, Prosciutto di Parma and Porcini Mushrooms in a White Wine Butter Sauce
Really nice. Again, lightly done and expertly cooked. Really great presentation again.

Seventh Course--Philadelphia Cheeseskate: Skate stuffed with Steak with a Parmesan crust and hot sauce.
I mean, this was just the best. Not only is it adorably similar looking to the iconic cheesesteak, but it tasted great.

Dessert--Chestnut Flan with Pineapple Coconut Sorbet
Really not a huge fan of any of the ingredients besides pineapple, and do not love flan (in other words, I'm not a flanfan), but it was good.

Striped Bass is certainly not easy on the wallet (I don't even remember how much it all was with drinks and tip, but probably upwards of $300), but it's a great meal and great dining experience with excellent service and a nice room. Everyone should go at some point, really.

Posted: Sun - December 19, 2004 at 01:04 PM         |

©