Manresa, Los Gatos

wpid-IMG_20131005_180542_669.jpgAnniversaries should be special. With this in mind Troya and I decided to visit one of the better known restaurants in the area, Manresa in Los Gatos. Any search result for Manresa leads to numerous praises, both locally and internationally, as well as numerous statements of sticker shock. So we were prepared to open up the pocket book, and then some, when we made the reservations. Like I said, anniversaries should be special.
As you approach the relatively non-descript building that houses Manresa you are instantly greeted as they open the door for you. I am not a spa person, but I imagine the service you get at a really good spa is similar to the service here. They have an almost army of service people working in unison to make you feel special. It almost feels choreographed. Not something I am used to but they do it with such grace it does not make you feel uncomfortable.
We got there early and decided to have a cocktail on the front patio and take advantage of the perfect evening. They have a long list of unique drinks that would make any mixologist smile as well as many classics. They also have many wines available by the glass and several beers. It was such a nice way to start it was almost disappointing whey they told us our table was ready.
Our table was almost directly in the middle of the whole dining area, perfect for a couple of people watchers like us. We even had a happy anniversary card on the table signed by the wait staff. You only get two options for dinner, both pre-fix menus. The first had each course listed out. The second had a long list of foods and flavors that the chefs could use in putting together your meal. As adventurous eaters, the choice, while expensive, was easy. The next option was deciding to select our own wine or partake in the wine pairing. Again, an expensive but easy choice. Then we just sat back and enjoyed the show.
Looking back, the meal was clearly separated in halves. The first half was seafood heavy with Abalone and milk panna cotta, Belon osters in lemon-seaweed ice and what was called a fall tidal pool salad. These courses were paired with several white wines, a Riesling from Germany and Sauvignon Blanc from France being the notable choices. All of these dishes and wines were good, but no home runs and we were getting a little concerned. The halfway point was the turning point of the meal, when it went from good to excellent. It started with a simple garden salad but with several sauces that made all the flavors of the salad come alive. It also included a porcini and pear soup that was phenomenal and venison with saffron and licorice. These dishes were paired with various red wines including a Nebbiolo, a Moshin Vineyards Zin, and a French Bordeaux blend that was the hit of the night.
In the end it was far and away the most expensive meal we have ever had, and while the food and wine were very good, the service made the evening. The meal took over 3 hours to complete but never dragged and we never felt forgotten. While memories of the details may fade, experience will not be forgotten. Anniversaries should be special.

Nicks Next Door

Doc and I have been to Nicks once last year and were so impressed we wanted Hill and Braxs to check it out. Since our last visit they moved and expanded. The food was very very good. I must say I was not as impressed as I was with my first visit. None of the starters for me were knock your socks off. Except for the fries that came with the Steak Tartare. They were delicious. The salad was nothing to write home about, but the mushroom soup was pretty incredible. We ordered a whole slew of entrees so we could taste a variety. My favorite was the Pan Roasted Colorado Lamb Chop Lollipops. The lamb was good and it came with rosemary gnocchi that was excellent (if you are a rosemary fan). The sea bass was ok but way to light in flavor but I guess if that was the entree you ordered with nothing else it could be enough but in comparison to the lamb it lacked flavor but I suppose that’s how it’s supposed to be made. The Caramelized Scollops were also good. The flavors were rich and creamy and the scallops were fresh. For dessert we may have ordered one of everything……my favorite was the apple tart. The crust was amazing…..flaky, buttery with a lemon apple taste to accompany it.
As far as wine goes we brought our own (Paso Robles 2009 Kukkula pas de deux and Terry Hoage 5 blocks) we did have a glass of their champagne. Not bad. We had reservations but didn’t end up getting seated for a while. They were pleasant and apologized but a complementary drink would have been much appreciated after having to wait when we had reservations. Nick is great; he seems to always be around and comes to see how things are tasting. He’s funny and welcoming. All in all a definite recommendation for dinner.