Bacchanalia

Wow. Wow. That's really about all I can say. It was fantastic. Absolutely stunning. The service was excellent, the portions were good, the food was delicious, the waitstaff was friendly, and the conversation predictably geeky. I'll do a quick breakdown of what I had.

Appetizer:
Crispy Veal Sweetbreads
Crispy Chicken Thigh
Roasted Chanterelle Mushrooms
French Green Lentils, Braised Bacon

This was epic. I ordered it knowing what sweetbread was, but never having eaten it before, so I really didn't know what to expect. It was one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted.

Entrée:
Slightly Cured Duck Breast
Farro Risotto
Local Pole Beans
Pickled Sour Cherries

Er... well... I had the duck breast, but the sides were different from what was listed on the menu I downloaded from their website to make sure I didn't screw this up. The duck was amazing. Not at all as greasy as I've had in the past, cooked perfectly, and whatever sort of sauce they had with it was just... delicious... Yummy... I think my sides were... some kind of stuffed mushrooms? I didn't like them very much, but then, I don't like mushrooms. I believe someone else tried them and like them, though. The duck more than made up for that!

Cheese and Contrast:
Keen’s Cheddar
North Georgia Apples
Membrillo

This was yummy! I wasn't particularly adventurous this course, but it was good all the same. Cheddar and apples are the winsauce. The membrillo was served with some sort of breadstick thing (I apologise for the inexactness of my vocabulary!) and was pretty good, but the apples and cheese were exceptional. Actually, I think they might have been the one thing I didn't share. Wait, no, Jordan had an apple. Blast, I should have kept all this delicious food to myself.

Dessert:
Dulce De Leche
Salted Crackers
Coffee Ice Cream
Marcona Almonds

This is the only course that I really have any complaint about. The Dulce de Leche was very good, but it was also very, very rich, even by Dulce de Leche standards. The coffee ice cream, while exceptional, was not served in sufficient quantities for me to be able to eat as much of the Dulce de Leche as I would have liked. It was just too rich. It was, however, delicious. I just needed more ice cream to go along with it.

In addition to all of this food, there were various samples brought out. I don't know that I can remember them all, but I will try.

Bread: lots of grains, very nice and warm.
Soup: I don't remember what type, only it was a bit spicy and orange-coloured and exceptionally delicious.
Hot chocolate: with spices! and a giant marshmellow!
Cookies: there were several different types. I don't remember them all, but they were yummy. They were brought out at the very end, so I only nibbled on them, as by this point I was stuffed, but... they were good.

We also got coffee, and they brought out more than enough cream for me to have as much as I want, and I prefer my coffee "albino." This was a definite plus!

I tried a lot of other people's stuff too. The things I remember the most are the gnocchi, the fish (red snapper?) and the other two things of seafood, but I don't recall what they were. If the other people would update the blog, then you can find out!

Bacchanlia was well worth the price. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it means that I know don't get to play Bioshock until I get more money. But it was worth it. It was OH SO GOOD! Honestly, probably the best food I have ever had (just don't tell my mother/grandmothers).

Go there. NOW.