Dinner Club - June

We have started a dinner club with our good friends Tracie & Roland.  Tracie and I have been friends since our Peace College days.  So ever since they moved to Charlotte, we have enjoyed any time we have been able to spend together!

The four of us love food!  Roland worked in the restaurant industry for years so we often like to reminisce about the days of restaurant working.  Last night we brought up the whole “serving table recurring dream.”  If you haven’t served tables before you may not know what this is about… but it’s similar to the “can’t seem to make it class” dream.  It's pretty funny how the restaurant industry makes a mark on your life!  Ok sorry for the sidetrack!  Back to subject at hand…  

Last month was our initial Dinner Club meeting, where we came up with the idea of a monthly “Dinner Date.”  We went to Bask on Seaboard, which as the bad blogger that I am, I never blogged about.  But I am going to try and do a better job! 

So this month The Fig Tree was on tap!

Our table was on the porch – it was a perfect evening to sit outside.  Roland loves appetizers and he was hungry, so the ordering began…

Bison Carpaccio – with heart of palm, arugula and parmesan

The bison was so good.  It literally melted on your tongue

Crab Pagoda – crab meat with avocado salsa layered between house made potato chips

Loved the presentation.  But I felt like there was a little something missing on this dish.  It needed some more salt and maybe a little more acid (lemon juice) maybe?? 

Cheese Platter (which I unfortunately don’t remember which ones were on the plate.  Oops!)

Loved the mixture of cheeses with assorted fruit, honeycomb, and different crackers.  Also thought it was a cool touch that a fig leaf was on the bottom of the plate. Get it – fig leaf – Fig Tree Restaurant.  HA!

Cold smoked duck breast with arugula and peaches.

A special for the evening.  This was so good!  The duck was tender and flavorful and the peaches were a perfect compliment. 

Next up Soup & Salad course:

Caesar & Spinach

Corn & Stilton Cheese Soup – surprising yummy – I thought it would be too strong with the Stilton, but it was really smooth and rich.

Entrees:

   

Tracie & Roland had the 2 entrée's above. 

Grilled Provimi Veal Chop and Jumbo Shrimp over Smashed Fingerling Potatoes with Cremini Mushrooms, Capers and Sherry Garlic Butter Sauce with Asparagus

This was an amazing piece of meat.  The meat was extremely tender and flavorful.  I would go back today and get this!  DELISH!

Grilled Filet Mignon topped with Stilton Cheese and Mushroom Duxelles over Fingerling Potatoes and Wilted Arugula with Veal Demi-Glace and Asparagus (minus the Stilton)

The filet was cooked perfectly.  They had a really nice hard sear on the steak and the demi glace added a nice sweetness to the saltiness of the seasoning of the filet.

   

Joe and I went with:

Sautéed George's Bank Sea Scallops over House Made Saffron Fettuccine with Fava Beans, Roasted Red Bell Peppers and Preserved Lemon in Basil-Mascarpone Sauce

Pasta was perfectly cooked. Creamy rich goodness.  Scallops perfectly seasoned and seared!

Pork Porterhouse with Barbequed Fingerling Potatoes with Stewed Okra with pan jus.

This was one of the specials of the night.  Unfortunately the pork was over-cooked (to well-done).  I didn’t love the bbq flavored potatoes either.  Wouldn’t get this one again.

And then came the sugar!!

 

White Chocolate Raspberry Bread Pudding     Chocolate Molten Cake

And somehow I don’t have the pictures of the Beignets.  They were light and fluffy and sweet.  They came with Cinnamon Crème Anglaise that was SERIOUS.  It was so tasty I thought a spoonful of it my coffee would be perfect.  And it was!

We had such a good time.  The meal was slowly paced.  Lots of time for chatting and catching up.  Our monthly dinner dates have been our only time with Tracie & Roland so we’ve got lots to catch up on!

July’s Dinner Club is planned and I look forward to telling y’all the details!  Any suggestions? 

There are so many yummy spots in our Queen City.  And there are places on our list that we’ve never been to.  Barrington’s for instance.  How have I lived in Charlotte for over 13 years and haven’t been to Barrington’s??  Ridiculous!  We will fix this problem!