Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Daniel
The term “fine dining”, I’ve recently learned, has perhaps been overused. Even spending $100 a head rarely gets you to a place that even Emily Post would be happy with. But when my old boss offered to treat myself and a “significant other” to dinner at the restaurant of my choice, I decided to see what the summit dining could be at Daniel, a top-rated French restaurant here on the Upper East Side. For some reason I invited my ex boyfriend. I guess I knew that, as a snob, he’d enjoy it most, know how to order, and be most comfortable.
I arrived at Daniel’s elegant interior and waited at the bar for my guest and the table to be ready. The bartender, as he waited for me to sit and collect myself, invited me to a drink. “Martini with Belvidere strait up”. And so began the best meal of my life.
Max arrived soon after and joined me for a drink. When the table was ready they took our drinks to our table and a different waiter arrived with our menus and wine list. Then the 9 course spectacle of a meal then began.
There were four different waiters -- perfectly choreographed -- that served the wine, food, and cleaned our table as we went from course to course. Reading our minds from one moment to the next, we asked for nothing and never served a course too early or late; all in an opulent dining room with tapestries adorning the walls, stenciling on the high ceilings, and fresh flowing abounding. The sound of the room was not filled with cheesy violins, live piano, or other ornaments. Rather, New York’s highest echelon of society engaged in conversation and yes, the hustle of the wait staff acutely aware of the slightest sign of need were the sounds of this great room.
Then there was the food. Oh my. We had black truffles, crab, lamb, pigs’ feet (which, incidentally, was wonderful), mushrooms, and other courses I can’t even remember. It was amazing.
So there it was, the meal of a lifetime. Everything executed with perfection. That’s fine dining. And all at the low cost of $630. I’m sure my boss is gawking at the expense report.
Dear God, I hope the expense report goes through!
I arrived at Daniel’s elegant interior and waited at the bar for my guest and the table to be ready. The bartender, as he waited for me to sit and collect myself, invited me to a drink. “Martini with Belvidere strait up”. And so began the best meal of my life.
Max arrived soon after and joined me for a drink. When the table was ready they took our drinks to our table and a different waiter arrived with our menus and wine list. Then the 9 course spectacle of a meal then began.
There were four different waiters -- perfectly choreographed -- that served the wine, food, and cleaned our table as we went from course to course. Reading our minds from one moment to the next, we asked for nothing and never served a course too early or late; all in an opulent dining room with tapestries adorning the walls, stenciling on the high ceilings, and fresh flowing abounding. The sound of the room was not filled with cheesy violins, live piano, or other ornaments. Rather, New York’s highest echelon of society engaged in conversation and yes, the hustle of the wait staff acutely aware of the slightest sign of need were the sounds of this great room.
Then there was the food. Oh my. We had black truffles, crab, lamb, pigs’ feet (which, incidentally, was wonderful), mushrooms, and other courses I can’t even remember. It was amazing.
So there it was, the meal of a lifetime. Everything executed with perfection. That’s fine dining. And all at the low cost of $630. I’m sure my boss is gawking at the expense report.
Dear God, I hope the expense report goes through!
# posted by otas : 6:00 PM
