The first thing that impressed me was Brett Ottolenghi, the owner of Artisanal Foods. He was friendly and available to the patrons. He engaged me in conversation regarding the Lionfish and its invasive qualities, disturbing the Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. Brett and his chef partner Johnny Church are doing their share of reducing the lionfish population by including it on the menu, Lion Fish Ceviche. Our group of six shared dishes. My opinion is that the exotic aquariun Lionfish would be better cooked in a crispy fritter to reduce its fishiness and rubbery texture. I thought that the Pancakes Seared with Foie Gras was a delicious dish!
The two dishes that I did order were the Curry Kabocha Squash Soup and the Crisp Brick Chicken Thigh. The Squash Soup was rich and heavenly. The Chicken Thigh was organic, boneless, and stuffed with truffles. The chicken pieces were served on a mushroom bread pudding. Although it was a bit salty for my taste, I thought that this was a fantastic dish! Two of my friends vowed to return and order it! I shall return myself and order the Chicken Thigh again, with the Pancakes for dessert!