A Fancy Pants Foodie Goes Out on the Town

Something that you may or may not know about me is that I am a totally Foodie. I love food! I love cooking it, eating it, and learning about it. I am an avid Food Network watcher and a food magazine reader. I read cook books like they are novels. I really enjoy everything food. It is my dream to some day go to culinary school and become a chef.
Jeff totally supports this plan but I must pay off nursing school first (so in about 6 years, I can go).
So because food is such a big passion of mine, Jeff has become a foodie by-proxy. He too, really enjoys good food and good wine.
So all that being said, you may remember that this past weekend was our anniversary. We did not do anything that weekend because of camp. But last night, my sister and Dad watched the kids so that Jeff and I could go out (This is so sad because I can not remember the last time that the two of us went out. I think it was April on his birthday.)
So being the food lover that I am, I love to go out to restaurants, nice fine dinning restaurants. The restaurant that I chose, I read a review about in the local paper. It sounded divine and I could not wait to go. Let me tell you that the review did not do the restaurant justice. It was so absolutely amazing but I am getting a head of myself. So let me take you there.
The restaurant was call Restaurant Bloom. It is a fairly new place in the downtown area. It had gotten rave reviews. They have a total passion for food and you can really tell. The cuisine is American with an unique twist. They use fresh, organic, local ingredients with just puts the dishes over the top.
OK, enough praise and gushing (I really like the place, if you couldn't tell), onto the main event, the food.
We started with cocktails.

Jeff enjoyed the ronatage; fresh thyme, lemon, simple syrup and irish whiskey. I tried the bloom signature; vodka hibiscus/vanilla bean simple syrup with a pop rock. Both were awesome. There is not a picture of mine because I was to busy drinking to take a picture and by time I realized I want to take pictures it was gone.

With cocktails came a little surprise from the kitchen, a 'gift' they called it and boy was it. Cured walleye pate with honeydew and chili sauce. Just the right amount of heat and sweet, perfect.

Now onto the starters. We could not decide between 3 different ones so we ordered all 3, why not we were celebrating.

First is was the lightly seared tuna, orange, black olive, and arugala.
(I am going to used this word a lot), amazing. The way the black olives brought out the flavor of the perfectly seared tuna was a party on the tongue.

Next we ordered one of their signature dishes; bacon, egg and toast soup. It was a poached egg on brioche bread surrounded by bacon broth. Need I say more? Excellent.

The last starter we tried was pure comfort in a bowl; potato gnocchi "carbonara," bacon, black pepper, confit egg yolk. I could just curl up with this on a cold winter's night and be in heaven.

With dinner, we ordered a lovely bottle of wine. It was delectable. So smooth and fruity and a little earthy. It matched very well with all the food.

On to the entrees.
I had the scallops.
'scallops, toasted pasta, sugar snap peas, radish, beurre noisette pure'e

This is all I have to say about the dish.
YUM!

Jeff had the pork.
'grilled karobuta pork loin, honey glazed turnips, greens, toasted walnut'
It amazing. The pork was very well seasoned and so tender. I finished the turnips, with Jeff's permission of course.

This what he said about the dish.

Now its onto dessert. Again, being a little over indulgent, we choose 3 desserts to share. We could just not decide. I know you would have done the same.

First up

'peanut butter mousse, chocolate, bacon, banana, crispy marshmallow, sherry'
The bacon was an interesting taste combination. It just cut the sweetness. It was that sweet salty combination that we all love.

Second and I think my favorite

'cornbread pudding, basil ice cream, blueberries, mixed nut puree'
I loved the textures in the this dish. The softness and warmth from the cornbread with the coolness of the ice cream and blueberries and the crunch from the nuts, was just to pallet pleasing.

Last one but certainly not least

'peach cheese cake, parmesan ice cream, sort bread cookie, black pepper sautéed peaches'
I must say, the lightness and softness of the cheesecake was almost like a mouse. It just floated into your mouth. I liked the hint of spiciness that the black pepper gave. It was most unexpected and pleasing.

Well, that is it. We were stuffed. It was an amazing evening; good food, good wine, good conversation, and good company. Thank you to all that made it happen. If you live in the area, run to this restaurant. You will not be disappointed. I know that I will be a return guest.