I can already hear you - 'how can you pick one thing to be the best thing you ate last year given all of the food that you shovel down during the course of the year'.
Behave, Sandi. You are being rude. This is my blog and I can make any definitive declarations that I want. This is why I have a blog you know. All my life I wanted a pedestal to stand on from which I could make declarations . . . this is my long-desired pedestal.
Sure, I ate many wonderful things last year but one thing stands out well above the rest - the Maytag Blue Cheese Soufflé with Pear Compote we enjoyed at Bradley Odgen's restaurant in Vegas.
Oh my. The heart palpitates. It does.
Remember that old Reeses peanut butter cup commercial where they blathered on about how chocolate and peanut butter were meant to go together more than anyting else in the whole wide universe? Reeses clearly didn't know a damn thing about blue cheese and pears - these two seemingly opposites are clearly meant to be together . . . not unlike Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
(Note the inane celebrity reference designed to enhance google stats although perhaps I'd have more traction with those who can actually use a PC had I used Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal - sadly this couple 'destined to be together for eternity' have apparently split up. Dear lord. No one saw that coming!)
Seriously though, the pairing (no pun intended. Well, perhaps a tad) of pungent blue cheese with sweet pear is a classic. Frankly, it doesn't matter what else you toss into the dish it will be perfect because of the presence of the blue cheese and pear side-by-side.
Palma told us how much she loved this appetizer - declaring it to be a food she'd want on her deathbed (well, actually I can't recall her exact metaphor - I was obviously drunk on Brad's killer martinis and was, as our dear friend Gail would say, 'overserved') but the exulted position that these soufflés held in her foodie estimation was such that the deathbed metaphor works.
Besides. It is my blog and I'm gonna say what I want. Please re-read paragraph two if you don't understand how that works around here.
Palma is a brilliant cook. She loves food. She knows good food. She may have some odd aversions to cilantro, tomatoes, beans, and many things green, but dammit, if she waxes poetic about a dish than you know it shall be brilliant.
Thus Paul and I were determined to order it at the restaurant. Happily it was on their tasting menu so we both selected it as our first course.
When it arrived I was confess that I was almost afraid to try it. How many times do you hear something hyped to a great extent until you race out to try it and are left somewhat disappointed. . . let down, as it were. In most cases you're let down not because the drink/movie/city/shop/restaurant/date/car/jeans/TV show/song/computer/park/lake/?/?/?/ is bad, rather it would be impossible for anything in creation to live up to the hype that has been placed upon it.
How would we smile and say 'mmmmm' if these soufflés weren't the best damn thing we'd eaten since we first tried salted caramel? How? We'd have to fake smile and then move on to the next course.
Well kids. I am here to declare that these soufflés were truly amazing. Creamy. Full of pungent blue cheese flavour. Light as air. The pear the perfect counterpoint to the cheese. Sure each bitty one probably had 500 calories but we were on vacation (sadly, my fat gut tells me that what happens in Vegas follows you home as compared to what the popular cliche may lead you to believe). It matters not . . . I'd fall off the diet wagon for these any day.
I am sure that you've heard of a pear and blue cheese tart. Hell, I've even pressed a pear and blue cheese pannini. Comparing anything else with pears and blue cheese to this dish is like comparing a Lada to a Mercedes. $ 2 Chuck to a 1996 Barolo. Meet the Fockers with The King's Speech. I won't continue for I am sick and require sleep - you catch my drift I am sure.
This, recorded for prosperity even though the snooty waiter (whom we did not much care for . . . unlike the soufflés) gave me 'looks' for taking photos, is the best thing I ate in 2010:
I agree with everything you said! LOL and Thanks. They ARE the best, (followed by butterscotch budino and Nutella gelato). I'm so glad you trust me, although the Veal Bolognese is right up there too!
Posted by: Palma | January 05, 2011 at 08:38 PM
I'm being nice... bless your heart!
My best thing had to be those ravioli in Ravenna... and they were... You guessed it...
Pear and gorgonzola!
So now I must try your souffle.
Posted by: sandi@ the whistlestop cafe | January 06, 2011 at 12:08 AM
Sold! If and when I ever make it to Vegas, I'm getting this for sure.
Best thing I ate in 2010 was an artichoke soup I had in Venice. I'll never forget it.
Posted by: Annie | January 06, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Hmmm - veal bolognese would be tasty right about now!
You'll like it Annie and Sandi
Annie - isn't it a shame thta our 'bets things' are so darn far away! ARGH Or perhaps that is a GOOD thing! LOL
Posted by: JDeQ | January 09, 2011 at 07:36 AM