After our Anniversary Dinner at WD~50, we knew we needed to step out of our comfort zone (sorry Cibo) and explore new restaurants. I took up the challenge of picking a spot for V-Day, and decided on Marea, Chef Michael White's shmancy Italian seafood restaurant.
I tried to keep the restaurant a surprise, but being the world's worst secret keeper, Dan figured it out pretty quickly, leaving us plenty of time to study the menu. I perused reviews and blogs, and knew exactly what I wanted to order.
We both ordered from the $89 Four Course Prix Fixe Menu
It started with a surprise Amuse-Bouche, a shot of Squash Consommé with Picked Pumpkin
It won't go into the "best thing I ever ate" category, but it amused my bouche. I really enjoyed the roasted pumpkin seeds.
For our First Course, Dan ordered a trio of Crudo:
octopus with chili oil, lemon, and parsley
marinated razor clams with fennel and peperoncino
geoduck clam with fresh chilies, lemon, and hearts of palm
And I had the nova scotia lobster with burrata, eggplant al funghetto and basil (see, you can have seafood and cheese together!).
I'm not one to go gaga for lobster, but after reading reviews of the dish, I decided to give it a chance. I am so glad I did. It was phenomenal, although that may have been due to the burrata (a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozzarella and cream) and basil. Why have I never heard of burrata before this?
For our Second Course, Dan had the Risotti with shrimp, lobster, scallops, and rouget
This would have been exceptional, had I not ordered the fusilli. Nothing on this planet can compare to Marea's fusilli, served with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow. Bone marrow! I ordered a dish that centers on bone marrow! Once again, based solely on reviews, I ordered a dish that I normally wouldn't even let Dan order.
Perfectly cooked pasta, salty, silky, rich sauce. Heaven.
Don't question it. Order it. I don't care if you're vegan. Order the damn dish.
For our Third Course, Dan had grilled a 50 day dry aged sirloin served with bone marrow panzanella. Again with the bone marrow, who knew?
I had black sea bass, with beluga lentils, puntarella, hazelnuts, red pepper sofrito. The bass was outstanding, flaky and moist, but with a perfectly seared crunch. This was my first experience with puntarella, a relative to chicory, and if you know me, you know I love my lentils. I'd say the sides were unnecessary, but I think I was just too full at this point to really enjoy them.
Finally for dessert, Dan had Affogato a zabaglione gelato served with espresso and amaretto. This came recommended to us, and I don't know why it isn't more common. What's not to love, gelato, coffee, booze? Awesome. So good in fact, that we ate half before remembering to take a picture.
I had a trio of sorbetti: cardamon, blood orange and grapefruit. They were lovely. I'm not a big fan of dessert, and I was already stuffed to the gills (pun intended), so this really hit the spot, light and tangy.
This was hands down one of the best meals I have ever eaten. The food was impeccable, and although a bit spendy, the prix fixe option really makes it worthwhile.
I will really be torn between returning to Marea, and exploring a new joint.
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