Our first dinner in the Bay Area was at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. We previously dined here several years ago for lunch during our first extended stay in Healdsburg (we used to lodge in Napa and only do day trips to Sonoma) and also dined at Charlie Palmer's Auriole in the Mandalay Resort in Lost Wages. Though my photos don't really capture the beauty of the dishes (I hesitate to use flash in these dim, romantic settings), the proof of the pudding lies in the taste.
K ordered the Warm Baby Squash "Salad" with applewood smoked bacon, toasted brioche and a poached egg.
The Mrs sampled the White Corn Soup with crispy speck and black truffle creme fraiche.
D had the Diver Scallops En Croute which was impressive with its pastry crust and Pernod beurre blanc.
While I sampled the Smoked Shrimp & Mascarpone Tortellini with tomato broth. I am so copying the smoked shrimp part of this dish during the holiday season in some encarnation.
Though we ordered individually, we sampled each other's dishes which can get a bit messy especially but hey, we're amongst friends right?
For the entrees, K ordered what else? The Brown Butter & Thyme Roasted "Eye of Ribeye" with chanterelles and green peppercorn Bearnaise.
The Mrs selected the Brioche Crusted Alaskan Halibut.
While D ordered the Duo of Duroc pork: Honey Brined Loin & Grilled Spice Crusted Pork Belly with fresh corn polenta.
And I sampled the Rocky Jr Chicken "Cassoulet" with white bean croquette, crispy breast and thigh garlic sausage - a playful take on the traditional cassoulet.
For dessert, the girls sampled the Gingerbread with Roasted Pears and some other dessert... for the life of me, I can't remember what it was and I obviously took a photo well after the locust swarm attcked the plate.
The meal ended with complimentary sweets consisting of chocolate, a peanut butter(?) cookie and gellee.
Another great meal at the Palmer group using good ingredients and new interpretations of old classics. Will we be back? You bet!
Dry Creek Kitchen
Hotel Healdsburg
317 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 431-0330
Lunch
Friday - Sunday 12:00pm to 2:30pm
Dinner
Sunday - Thursday 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Friday - Saturday 5:30pm to 10:00pm
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