A Report on Carillon’s Fantastic Tasting Menu

Due to a series of very fortunate events, I ended up getting to go try Carillon’s tasting menu when I thought I wouldn’t get to this week. It was INCREDIBLE. Also, for the record, Carillon is pronounced “Carol – yawn” and you don’t need reservations. Also it turns out that the 3-Course Tasting is $30 and you choose from the whole menu any 2 apps and any 1 entree. Pair with wine for $12. AWESOME.

Tuna Tartare: easily the best thing we had, paired perfectly with a smooth, not-too-sweet Riesling. Served with a fantastic balsamic reduction (stripe on the right side), candied almonds, and granny smith apples atop. The green is pea soup, but I don’t like peas so I can’t really pass judgment on it.
Pistachio-crusted Scallops: the menu item we’d all been waiting for since we saw the menu didn’t disappoint: the crust was sweet and heavy on the pistachio, the scallops cooked to perfection. BUT, I didn’t like the chanterelle mushroom puree–I didn’t feel like it fit in flavor-wise. Which is fine, since the scallops were good enough to stand on their own. But consider yourself warned.

Pan-Seared Mero: I couldn’t order meat in the entree because it wasn’t free range, but I’m glad I couldn’t. This Japanese Sea Bass was excellent, flaky, and the sides–heavenly. The cherry pinenut chutney and raw cauliflower (we call this frice in the Paleo world) with parsley added delicious layers to the fish, while the brown butter yogurt provided a smooth creaminess. It was a skillful combination.

Texas Coffee-Rubbed NY Strip: two out of the four of us tried this, and they cleared their plates. The candied garlic was a novel concept not so well executed, but the parsnips three ways (in the crock) seemed great and the meat was cooked perfectly. Another companion ordered the tenderloin, but again I didn’t try it so I can’t offer any commentary.

That friend was IN LOVE with the steak knives though. She might buy them for Christmas presents. They’re heavy-handled, slightly curved, and very ergonomic (she’s a nurse). So that’s an added bonus.

As far as the wines went, they went from great to not-that-great as the meal progressed, but I’m also not a huge white wine fan and I was eating all fish–though I wish restaurants would be bold enough to pair a light pinot with fish–but the meat-eaters didn’t seem overly thrilled with their entree wines either.

Overall impressions were overwhelmingly good: the sense that we’d found a hidden gem, a hotel/conference center upscale restaurant with a steal of a deal on its tasting menu ($30 thru Saturday, $38 usually). Definitely worth trying!

SIDE NOTE: For anyone who follows my Paleo baking experiments over at The Label Says Paleo, I’ve produced my first real winner. Whoopie Pies with Buttercream icing–paleo!!