I have some sad news to share with you, my friends. Our favorite Lavender Pear Cupcake is no more. I was informed that it was a “seasonal” flavor. (What season screams Lavender more than Spring?! I’ll deal with that later.) Anywho, this denial of light and dreamy yumminess reminded me of a delicious dinner I shared at Scott’s Seafood in Costa Mesa last week.
Before we go on, it’s only fair that I share a few things about myself that I think will help you understand where I’m coming from:
- I love pretty food and when I see it, I want to photograph it
- I’m not completely OK with food touching on my plate. I’m still working on that, but I’m making a lot of progress.
Growing up in the South, food is a big deal. So much so, that during dinner you may hear plans for the next meal or people, places and things being rated based on food. Meal time isn’t usually rushed, not even when dining out. For me, when the service is great and the food is visually stimulating, everything seems to taste that much better.
By the way, I’m not too loyal to restaurant chains, well known famous joints, the place with the most stars or the most expensive menu. Mainly because I like to try new places, support local businesses and most of all, eat good food no matter where it is. I mean, if I’m gonna spend my time, calories and cash; I want a dining experience that’s worth writing about.
I’ve had lunch at Scott’s Seafood in the past and really enjoyed it. So when I was asked to choose a restaurant for the weekly dinner I have with one of my friends, I thought about giving Scott’s a try for dinner as well.
From the time we arrived until the time we left about two and half hours later, the service was impeccable, the food was not only delicious but visually stimulating and the atmosphere wasn’t half bad either. After finding that Scott’s doesn’t serve Cakebread Chardonnay by the glass, I took my friend’s suggestion and ordered the A.B.C. Non-Chardonnay Wine Flight. I quickly got over my disappointment. It was a great start and all three tastings complimented my dinner very well. I can’t comment on the Oysters since I didn’t taste them, but I did snap a pic of them. While my friend was enjoying them, I was busy tasting the Calamari Provencale while having conversation about the sauce on them and how it paired with the wine. Once our main entrees arrived, I took one look and knew I was about to get down to business. But not before I photographed the platter of beauty. The aroma of freshly drawn butter combined with the sight of a succulent lobster tail resting alongside a bed of slender and vibrant green beans that balanced the Bliss Potatoes nearly left me speechless. That is until I saw what looked like an art display on a plate. It was a beautiful collection that included Grilled Shrimp, Fresh Ahi and Grilled Peppers. We didn’t eat this meal, we savored it.
Just when I thought I could take no more, Alex presented the dessert menu. I started with a Cappuccino that had the perfect amount of light creamy foam. Then they arrived. The Cheesecake Stuffed Beignets, with Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta, Caramel, Crème Anglaise and the sweetest fresh Strawberries. It was sweet glory on a plate, ya’ll! Now, I make some pretty decent Beignets, if I do say so myself. But these were almost too pretty to eat and tasted like…..LOVE!
I really can’t say enough about our server, Alex. This guy wasn’t just knowledgeable about the menu; his timing was perfect, never rushing our meal. He didn’t “deliver” or even “serve”, he presented each course for our dining pleasure. Alex gets extra brownie points for not giving me the evil eye when I broke out my iPhone for a little iPhoneography for this post. (Thanks, Alex!)
During all of this delectable dining, I decided to carry a light on my keychain in the future for better iPhone pics in lowlight. I also decided to get my geek on and do this post via my handy-dandy WordPress iPhone app. Yep, I love my iPhone!
Before I go, I’ll leave you with this quote from Virginia Wolf…
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
I hope you’ve enjoyed the installment of iphoneography.
Who knows where my shoes will take me next….
Looks yummie!