Shariq’s Département

Amidst the swirling seas of the Altantic, nestled within the arms of “Wish” restaurant in South Beach, I enjoyed and celebrated my existence, wishing for an exciting future and knowing that it will indeed come to pass.

There is something about being on the ocean that is relaxing, energizing and ultimately self-motivating (picture 1).

The birthday food celebration at Wish included: P.’s starter of lobster ravioli with a cardomon-yuzu foam (picture 2), which he really enjoyed.  My appetizer of fois gras was unusual in that it was paired with white chocoloate (picture 3)!  It took a little getting used to, but ultimately I enjoyed it.  My main was a branzino with a fregole of olives, pine nuts and frutti di mare (picture 4).  P. ate a salmon dish with risotto and mushrooms (picture 5).  My birthday dessert was a chocoloate molten cake with caramel ice cream (picture 6).  P. ate a trio of sorbets (picture 7).

Onwards and upwards - once more unto the breach!

Daniel Boulud’s opulent “DB Brasserie”, facing a magnificent waterfall with multi-colored images and sound, at the Wynn in Las Vegas, is unlike his more muted and reverent restaurants in New York. 

The service is as gracious and solicitous.  Hoever, the food is a hit-or-miss affair.  It can be sublime (my tuna appetizer, picture 1 -a fantastic vitello tonnato with crispy sweetbreads and radishes) or disappointing (my beef main -picture 2, which was very pedestrian  and P.’s salmon main - picture 3, since the texture of the fish was quite slimy, without being silky).  The much-hyped peekytoe crab salad (picture 4) that P. ate was also apparently a bit bland - it didn’t stand out.

Overall, though, this one-Michelin star effort is a very romantic experience, with the view.  P. got to celebrate his birthday again! (picture 5).  The wine from Provence (picture 6), an unusual 1999 vintage, was an excellent choice and set the tone for a French brasserie evening, where, as most of you know who have been to Paris, expect the unexpected.

With a low-key, lush, dark-wooded ambience overlooking the Bellagio casino, “Fix” surprised with amazingly well-executed dishes, making me wonder why I can’t find more restaurants with such high quality in NYC.

I started with a duck salad appetizer (picture 1) that was so tasty, harmonious and well-balanced that this dish will stay with me for a long time. The duck was cooked perfectly, served in generous portions and melded beautifully with the salad.  P.’s deconstructed Caesar got raves from him (picture 2).  Simple can be fantastic, as long as it is executed well.

We both had the same main course: a sea bass dish with risotto, baby shrimp, and lobster broth (picture 3), which was great.

Desserts were awesome!  I ate a “cake and shake” dish (picture 4), melding a delicious chocolate cake with a coffee shake…yum!  P. ate a spiraling creme brulee (picture 5) that he ate with deep intensity to a conclusion before I could have a taste (just kidding, P.!)

P. has always been a high roller and an artist, so what better way to celebrate his birthday than at the 2-Michelin star Picasso in Vegas?  The chef, Julian Serrano, of Spanish descent, obviously views himself as an avante-garde artist with his food, which did not disappoint.

The setting is a handsome, stately room with views of the Bellagio fountains which sway and swoon every 15 minutes, and the walls are graced by actual Picasso paintings. 

My first course was a delicious warm quail salad with sauteed artichokes and walnuts.  The bird was delicate and exciting, without being too gamy.  It was just the right tantalizing introduction to a high quality evening (picture 1).  P. had a cream of squash soup with shrimp, which he enjoyed (picture 2).  Our wine was a delicate 2002 Volnay with a very long finish (picture 3).

For the second course, I ate a boudin of fresh lobster, shrimp and scallops, offset by a very tasty tomato coulis (picture 4), while P. ate black bass with saffron sause and cauliflower mousseline (picture 5).

My third course of venison with apples and a zinfandel sauce was exceptional (picture 6) - I have not had better venison in the States (only Switzerland compares).  P. ate swordfish, which he seemed quite happy with (picture 7). 

The desserts were so beautiful (pictures 8 and 9) - both chocolate and both irresistable.  Petit fours rounded out the evening (picture 10).

If you are in Vegas and want to celebrate a special occasion, Picasso is highly recommended.  Just ask for a table with in front of the windows, with a direct view of the Bellagio fountains when you book.

On a recent trip to Atlanta, P. and I found a fantastic French restaurant, Trois, in midtown, which combined French classics such as P.’s appetizer, French Onion Soup (picture 1) with outrageous dishes that worked, such as my main of oxtail with scallops -yummy! (picture 2).

We were first offered a refreshing amouse-bouche of trout mousse over a slice of granny apple - the flavours really worked together (picture 3).  I started with a delicious tuna tartare with piquillo pepper, olives and warm mayonnaise (picture 4) to accompany P.’s soup.  P.’s main was a yellowfin tuna dish with salsify gratin, braised endive and a caper-raisin vinaigrette that he said was very good (picture 5).  We washed all this down with a very nice Pinot noir.

For dessert, P. had a trio (no pun intended) of ice creams (picture 6), while I had a soul-satifying warm chocolate clafoutis with vanilla ice cream, chocolate streusel and English cream! (pictue 7).

The ambience was breezy and romantic.  I definitely recommend this restaurant if you ever find yourself in Atlanta.