Dinner: Friday, May 28

Through a bit of serendipity (I was dropping off dinner and a change of clothes to Rachel at Da Vinci for her lighting tech job tonight and Mario was on his way home) we convened at Le Pigeon a few minutes before 5PM and secured seats at the bar.

First course

• Soft shell crab, cucumber, basil, harissa (Mario)
• Lamb tongue, peas, morels, truffle (Kristin)

Second course

• Sweetbreads, spaghetti, meatballs, parmesan (Mario)
• Duck, favas, dill, carrots (Kristin)

Wine: '05 Francis Tannahill Mason Dixon Syrah

I believe I was the hands-down winner on the first course. The soft shell crab was very good (though in NOLA it would be considered awfully small) and served with a great harissa spiked salad (clover?). But, zut alors! I had all the spring funk of woodland creatures and plants yearning to procreate on my plate: Bed of fresh peas and morels cooked with some creme fraiche and shallots. The lamb tongue was braised and indescribably tender except for some crunchy caramelization on one side where it was briefly grilled. Deep-fried battered shallots on top, and liberally garnished with fresh truffle. Unnnnnnnnhhhhhhh.

Second course close to a tie. Sweetbreads masterfully cooked with a golden crust on the outside and unctuous creamy inside. Spaghetti had rapini and whole garlic cloves not roasted, but somehow rendered gentle, sweet, and creamy. Meatballs were slightly chewy--pork? veal? Gorgeous.

OK, my duck tasted like it had been eating frogs, weeds, bugs. Raunchy, in the best possible way. Breast was red but not raw in the middle, cross-hatched skin cooked to crackling. Underneath a chunky mash of new potatoes, favas, dill. Topped with an intensely sweet (though unsweetened) braised julienne of carrots.

Wine was a mouthful. Velvety. Fruity but not jammy.

Very enjoyable, and I would say preferable, to sit at the bar and watch the cooking. Rucker is comfortable in his skin and friendly / chatty to patrons. Loved to see him leave his station to deliver plates to tables himself rather than risk any delay.

Gotta get my mom there...and Rachel again.