As we exited Coastal Maine for points south, I had no idea how far we'd get before I was seized with hunger pangs so I had plotted out several possibilities.
Sometime around 1 PM, nearing Portsmouth NH, my hypothalamus metaphorically kicked me and we got off the pike, went back down the tight streets, found an alluring alley and ate at Cava which lists itself as both a tapas bar and a wine bar. I had no expectations and was very impressed.
Tapas being tapas, we shared the four dishes we had:
- a white corn/spicy tomato gaspacho that was magically poured 1/2 1/2 into four oversized shot-glasses,
- slices of Serrano ham on olive oiled bread with slices of Grannies with grated Spanish cheese,
- chickpea "fries" made with enough harisa to make you sit up straight on top of salad greens and crumbled feta, and
- one of the finest, if not the finest flan I have ever had with candied peanuts and a caramelized sauce that there will never be enough of on earth.
Our bill, with two glasses of wine, an iced tea and no bottled water, before tip, was $52.32
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That night we made our ritual trip to the southern coast of New England to see our bicoastal-binational friends of longstanding and after a lovely bottle of Jadot white and cheese and their reconstructed house, meandered over to Bristol to Persimmon where our friends are known to the house and I soon will as well if they keep feeding us this well.
They gave us two amuse gueules; a sort-of deconstructed prosciutto and melon in the form of a sorbetto and a knock-'em-sock-'em clam ceviche; what a start.
We all independently chose to have 2 starters each, not only so we could finish our plates like good little boys and girls but to have maximum range of the kitchen. At the top is a corn soup with "sweet corn pudding and summer black truffle vigaigrette;" then heirloom tomatoes with a cucumber sorbet, herbs, feta and EVOO; and a scallop crudo with tiny melon balls, "cucumber, grapefruit, yuzu, petite herbs and crunchy celery." They all sound too busy, don't they?, what I call "Las Vegas/Los Angeles food" but actually they were not.
Next came three more appetizers: a risotto with leeks, lobster and chanterelles; foie gras with figs, duck neck confit and caramelized hazelnuts;" and a warm salad of "native summer vegetables, herbs and flowers with vegetable crisps and creamy dill vinaigrette." In my book, the risotto was OK, the foie gras/duck perfect, but the dull sounding "warm salad" exceptional.
At this point I could eat no more, nor take any more photos, so I sat and watched as the other three polished off desserts of carrot cake, "native fruits" and a revisionist (in the best sense of the word) clafoutis with cherries inside and outside.
With no bottled water, three coffees and a bottle and a glass of wine for the four of us, the bill was no more than $70 a couple before tip.
Glad you're eating so well, John, and I can't believe how low the prices are compared to Paris these days.
Posted by: Alec Lobrano | August 22, 2011 at 07:01 PM
Well Cava was a tapas place and we only had 4 dishes and at dinner only had starters and desserts; makes a difference.
Posted by: John Talbott | August 22, 2011 at 08:06 PM