My first serious dining experience was at the Herb Farm around 2011. It changed my life and is still one of my all-time favorite meals. Chef Chris Weber presented a perfect menu that opened my soul to artistic possibilities of food. And I’ve been hooked ever since. The cozy ambience, the single seating and group experience, the amazing wine cellar, and charming details like feeding the pigs between courses. These all contribute to a magical experience.
This was my second visit years later. Chris had just returned from a tour abroad and was excited to retool the menu with his recent inspirations. My expectations were unreasonably high. And again, the ambience and meal created a special night to remember. There were a couple of notes that I think Chris missed on this attempt. Which I hate to admit given the great respect I have for his food. But the crab course was visually uninspiring and the mushrooms in the Earth Salad course were a bit fibrous. But I definitely plan on returning for a different season.
Truffledom: Confit sturgeon with grilled sturgeon cordata-gelee and Oregon black truffle. Water buffalo tartar, white truffle mayo, yeasted cracker. Black truffle soup, red beet cream. Treveri Cellars sparkling brut rose.
Whiteness of the Veil: Celery root agnolotti, oyster cream, pea shoots, shaved white truffle. 2005 L’ecole barrel-fermented semillon, Columbia Valley.
Fresh King Crab: Alaskan King Crab, grilled leeks, caramelized sunchokes, with Oregon black truffles. 2012 Ashan Cellars chardonnay, Celilo Vinyard
An Earth Salad: Ember-roasted pumpkin, black trumpet mushrooms, truffled kale chips, black pudding. 2009 Facelli Winery sangiovese, Sagemoor Vineyard.
Guinea Hen: Rotisserie Guinea hen, black truffle ragout, guinea hen hunter’s-style sausage, potato butter. 2011 designee cabernet franc, Conner-Lee Vineyard,
Terrine: Terrine of Puyallup Valley foie gras, preserved apricot, oxidized wine and white truffle syrup, farm greens.
Oh Sweet Truffle: Oregon black truffle ice cream, caramelized apple, pie dough, lemon thyme. 2005 Thurston-Wolfe 8 year cask-aged tawny port.
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