Roses are Red, Flashlights are Blue

BLUE HILL

GREG:
Blue Hill is a restaurant known for using locally grown ingredients on its menu. It's also literally around the corner from my apartment...local in another sense. In fact, I'd walked past Blue Hill dozens of times without noticing, since its unpretentious entrance sits down a short flight of stairs from street level under a simple blue canopy. Libby and I arrived to find you nursing a glass of champagne at their small bar in the front of the main room. The restaurant smelled strongly like flowers, a huge bouquet of fresh cuts sitting on the bar top. Pleasant, but didn't we just learn from Top Chef not to overwhelm your guests with scents not originating from the kitchen? We immediately broke into "supper club" mode by ordering two different types of Champagne and having a mini tasting. I liked the drier Spumante. I think you and Libby preferred the sweeter Cava, right? The bartender wasn't particularly attentive, but we weren't in any rush, so it wasn't the end of the world.

SARA:

Actually, I liked the Spumante too. I'm not big on sweet drinks unless they are served with dessert. I'm really happy they sat us in the back room instead of the front. The other tables that were back with us were empty by the time we finished our appetizers, making it feel like we had our own private patio. Plus, it didn't reek of gardenia, we didn't have to "watch our manners", AND they played jazz versions of Beatles songs. It was almost as if they did a case study on us before we arrived. All they were missing was guitar hero and the cast from Lost. Maybe they've heard of our blog and decided we were celebrity status? HA!
The waitress seemed almost a little nervous, perhaps she was tipped off from US Weekly. But she brought over my appetizer of sweet potato tortellini promptly and sweetly. The plate was deliciously paired with spinach and apples. It was a bit small though and I didn't want it to end.

GREG:

I also had the sweet potato tortellini, even though we’re supposed to order different things so this blog doesn’t get BORING. Oh well. We did our usual “pass-the-portion” game so I got to taste Libby’s crab cake and Liz’s fennel soup, both very fresh and flavorful. The crab cakes came with a mustard broth that I thought Libby would have since she’s anti-mustard, but it fortunately wasn’t too sharp or overwhelming. I thought the fennel soup could have been a bit more exciting, but the fact that it tasted like it had been farmed that morning made up for it.

SARA:

You're forgetting one of the best parts of the meal; the mini key-chain flashlights we got to take home. Luckily we were sitting in the back by ourselves, our neighbors would have hated us as we had mini-light wars while we waited for our entrees. I ate the berkshire pork, which was prepared perfectly. Honestly though, I could have used a little more sauce. However, scooping up the pork and eating it together with the brussels sprout leaves and pistachios added a lot of flavor. My favorite part of the dish was the lardo that came with it. A big ol' slab of pig fat and skin crisped wonderfully helped clog up my arteries. The side of beets we shared added some health to the meal, but the pureed squash packed on the calories and sweetness. It was my least favorite part of the meal because I could only eat small bites of it without feeling like I was sucking down a squash pixie stick.

GREG:

Well, you’re forgetting the second best part...the little carrots they brought us on a wooden block. I’m actually slightly allergic to carrots, so I probably shouldn’t have tried mine, but they looked so cute lined up like that, all crisp and crunchy, so I took a nibble, another nibble...another nibble. Yup...ate the whole thing. It’s the first time I’ve had a raw carrot in years, but it’s gourmet, so what’s a little asthma attack for the sake of culinary adventure? I mean, they picked it that morning!
Then I had the lamb and so did Liz. We both ordered medium rare, but for some reason, mine came out much redder than hers. I guess it was nice to have some variety between us, but hey, when we order medium rare, make it medium rare, no? And even though mine was prepared properly, I wasn’t blown away. It could have used more seasoning or something to enhance the flavors. I realize this was a more organic way to serve it, but I wasn’t jumping out of my seat.

SARA:

I definitely liked my meal more than you. The dessert was great, but still didn't measure up to the bread pudding at Peasant. The cheesecake came out in a cute little jam jar, but I didn't think it was creamy enough, and had an odd after-taste. Libby seemed to like it a lot, but I passed after a few bites. The chocolate bread pudding (bread pudding is now a prerequisite to us picking restaurants), was very tasty but still a little too sweet. I really enjoyed the apple cobbler. It came out sizzling warm, and smelled like it had been cooked over an open fire (it totally reminded me of Girl Scout camp).

GREG:

Thanks a lot, Sara. I can’t believe you’d choose a slice of pork over your dear old friend.

And hey, it was a very good meal and good dining experience. The ambiance was great, particularly the Beatles jazz, and the private room in the back made for some rowdiness as the night progressed. I liked the fact that the food was farm fresh and not overly prepared, but it didn’t blow me away, especially not after some of our recent meals. The service was very good, being that we were out of sight and could have easily been out of mind, and you can’t beat the convenience of a restaurant that’s literally 2 blocks from my apartment. We got home in time to watch Top Chef AND play some Guitar Hero. So yes, I’d recommend Blue Hill, but it’s not the first place I’d send an out of towner.

SARA:

But its PORK! (Thanks for pointing out my grammar mishaps Greg!)

I enjoyed Blue Hill, but in comparison to Applewood (another organic restaurant), it wasn't as inventive. The food needed a little more sauce, but everything tasted freshly killed/picked/plucked. Having a private room was a definite perk, as I would have been annoyed by the flower scent which was overwhelming. I really liked the ambiance (minus the flowers), it was homey and flowing, but clean with straight lines and offsetting whites (as if a west elm and pier one catalog had babies).

GRADES:

SARA:
Ambiance: A- (would have been A if no flowers)
Service: A
Appetizer: A-
Main Course: B+
Wine: B+
Desserts: B
Value: B

GREG:
Ambiance: A-
Service: A
Appetizer: A-
Main Course: B
Wine: B
Desserts: B+
Value: B+

LIZ:
Ambiance: A- (I agree about the flowers - but the back room was a nice little nook in the city and the music selections were great.)
Service: A
Appetizer: B+
Main Course: A- (my dish was very good but I thought the meat was a little cold by the time it was served - I still ate it all though! I wiped the plate clean with those yummy bread sticks.)
Wine: B (Pretty decent, but I wish they had a few more selections at reasonable prices)
Desserts: A+++ (Any restaurant that has banana ice cream on the menu automatically gets an A from me!)
Value: B+ (Yes it was pricey but we got little flash light key chains!)

LIBBY:
Ambiance: A
Service: A-
Appetizer: A-
Main Course: A-
Wine: B+
Desserts: B
Value: A-

Next up: Perry Street