per se

For Valentine’s day, Ken surprised me with tickets to Book of Mormon and then a dinner at per se. When we first met, Ken asked me about restaurants and I told him my favorite restaurant in New York was per se. He said he wanted to take me there for our first date (big talker, right?) and I explained that it was a really long meal and that it would be way too much for a first date. We did eventually go there for Valentine’s day for lunch once we had officially started dating and had a great meal there. (in case you’re wondering, our first date was at Corton).

The meal at per se started a bit late since we were rushing from Book of Mormon – we started with champagne and salmon coronets:

I started with the vegetarian meal – after all, Frank Bruni loved the vegetarian tasting when he was a food critic for the NYTimes – but I switched to the chef’s tasting menu after three or four courses because I wasn’t enjoying the vegetarian choices. Photos from the evening:

The “milee crepes” presentation of foie gras (my favorite supplement):

My favorite dish of the evening, sauteed atlantic cod:

The most tender butter poached nova scotia lobster:

When I interviewed at per se, I went through an evening of service and watched the chef throw away a preparation of the lobster because it was overcooked (I would have eaten it!)

Another supplement, the papardelle pasta covered with black truffles:

The blue gin dragonfruit dessert with violet gin granite:

An amazing bottle of wine that’s older than me:

The dessert spread:

Macarons, truffles and chocolates:

My favorite part of the meal is when the server comes and explains all of the chocolates. I was *stuffed* and told Ken I wasn’t going to ask for too many chocolates, but here’s my plate:

And here’s Ken’s plate:

Another great meal at per se; we were the last ones to leave (just like when we first started dating – we always have so much to talk about!) and since we’ve gone two years in a row right by Valentine’s day, it sounds like it’s becoming a tradition!