Tom Douglas

Birthday Dinner at the Book Bindery/ by Shelley Lance, Blog Editor

My birthday was last Sunday, and after careful consideration, I chose the Book Bindery for my celebration dinner. (Though, since the restaurant is closed on Sunday,  my husband, Frank, and I dined on Saturday night.) My birthday dinner would be our second visit to this new restaurant which is co-owned by my friend, Patric Gabre-Kidan, and it turned out to be the perfect pick.  I love the romantic room, for one thing, with big windows overlooking the Ship Canal on one side and wine barrels on the other side.  Patric came over and chatted with us just enough to make me feel special, the service is polished, and the kitchen is run by the talented chef, Shaun McCrain.

It isn’t often that one of the highlights of a restaurant dinner is the amuse bouche, but the flavors of this little shot glass of garnet yam soup (photo top left) really popped!  We also scored a hit choosing a bottle of Sicilian wine (photo top middle). The wine alone made the evening special.

Frank ordered the sweetbreads, on a pool of cauliflower puree with a narrow strip of caramelized cauliflower and golden raisins carefully arranged alongside.  Who knew that sweetbreads and cauliflower make a divine match?

Patric sent out the hand made smoked cavatelli with foraged mushrooms and pickled pearl onions (photo top right).  I had almost ordered this, but I was wary of the “foie gras emulsion.”  The dish was, however, probably my top favorite of the evening- impeccable pasta and luscious sauce filled with savory mushrooms and brightened with the pickle-y flavor of the onions.  I will absolutely order this again.

I also enjoyed my perfectly medium rare lamb rack with excellent ricotta gnocchi and a suave piperade sauce. A great match with our fabulous bottle of wine.

We were too full for dessert, but Patric came by with two French macarons from a little box that a friend had just given him.  Those melt in your mouth morsels ended the evening sweetly.

February 9th, 2011