This time, we were prepared...we had 3 people at computers ready to click and book.
We snagged a rezzie for the 2nd night of service and were super excited for it.
Lavender Ginger Lemonade - This drink did not have very much lemon in it...at least, none that we could really taste. I think they had used the lemon on all the other dishes and run out by the time they got around to making the lemonade! The lavender was very apparent in this drink but not annoyingly so. Normally I gag when the lavender is overwhelming but although it was apparent, it was not so strong that I'd hurl when drinking it. I just need to remember to bring my own addition for this lemonade next time since LudoBites @ Gram & Papa's does not serve alcohol.
Onion Tart, Bottarga - This was a flat bread with creme fraiche, caramelized sweet onions and bottarga (cured fish roe). This was a real hit with the table. Our waiter had recommended that we order one only since it would give all 6 of us a chance to get a taste with a couple of strips left over so a couple of us would have seconds. Well...we liked it so much we ended up ordering 2 of these.
Dorade Ceviche, Cucumber Water, Cornichons, Borrage Flower - The fish was very fresh and the cucumber water very refreshing. The taste of lemon was very strong. My dining companions who like lemon thought so too. A very clean and fresh tasting dish. The cornichons gave it the salt it needed. It could have used less lemon in my opinion.
Tomato Soup, Carrots, Squid - A good soup...again, a bit tart for my taste but the sweetness in the chunks of carrots and the squid gave it more substance than just regular ol' tomato soup.
Salt Cod Panna Cotta, Whipped Fingerling Potato, Smoked Tapioca, Black Olive Bread - This dish was a little strange for me. I always thought panna cotta would be "jigglier" and this version was a bit too solid for my idea of panna cotta. I couldn't taste the smokiness in the tapioca either.
Pig's Head Compressed and Cheddar, BBQ Gelee - Everyone was excited to try pig's head. It was really just head cheese but a lot fresher than any head cheese that you'd find in the "hood." Again, I think someone went a little too crazy on the lemon here. The acidity was very strong from the first bite. I think that really turned me off.
Egg, Sea Urchin, Caviar, Champagne Beurre Blanc - I'm not sure how to describe this dish. It was like a soup but not really. It was like a risotto...again, not really. It was like oatmeal, but not really. I enjoyed it but I was confused. The caviar was great with everything else combined. If you had everything else without the caviar it was just plain boring but the caviar livened the entire dish up.
Plancha Tandoori Octopus, Yogurt, Cauliflower, Grapefruit - Ludo does a great job with octopus. This was no different. The tandoori flavor wasn't overwhelming. The yogurt and cauliflower added some texture to the dish and per my hubby, the grapefruit complemented the octopus really well and brightened up the dish.
Foie Gras "French Dim Sum," Crispy Kimchi, Sake-Black Truffle Cream - This was by far one of the best dishes of the night. Very rich and decadent! The foie gras raviolis were great and the kimchi gave it the right amount of salt. The sake-black truffle cream was decadent.
Duck, Cherry, Spicy Saucisse, Beets, Radish - This dish really shone! I think everyone agreed on this one. The duck was prepped perfectly. The saucisse was supposed to be spicy but I could not taste the spice. The beets made a good sauce and the radish were merely garnishes on the platter. The duck was cooked a perfect medium rare and was one of the best preparations of duck that we'd ever had.
Roasted Beef, Horseradish Cream, Green Beans, Dried Mole - This was Ludo's take on roast beef. The beef was nice and medium rare. The horseradish cream not obnoxious and overpowering. Green beans had a nice texture to them and I'm not sure why the dried mole was there. That really didn't do anything for me.
Epoisse Cheese Risotto, Hazelnut, Egg Yolk, Herb Salad - This was a really good risotto. Not too heavy at all! Almost as if it were a "light" risotto. The herb salad was very acidic though. Again, I think someone just went all crazy with the lemon and decided that the dish needed to have it.
Peach Melba Vacherin, Lavender - There were 2 desserts that night; however, we decided to try one only since 2 of our dining crowd had left (parent duties) and the 4 of us were getting pretty full. The peach was very fresh and peachy. The lavender was not overwhelming. A nice, light dessert to end the meal.
Not sure why there was so much acid on the meal. I enjoyed the duck and raviolis most and cannot wait until we try them again next week. I hear that Ludo is adding new menu items as we go along so I'm looking forward to trying those too.
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