Monday, April 8, 2013

Lacroix Easter Brunch Review

The Lenten season is over. Spring is finally here. Easter has come and gone. 
And with that, I bring you - Easter brunch at Lacroix
the bastion of French cuisine housed in the luxurious Rittenhouse Hotel.



Lacroix was founded by the eponymous Jean-Marie Lacroix, who holds a revered spot amongst Philly's culinary elite. Now retired, executive chef duties were previously held by Matt Levin, who then went to the now defunct Adsum and after that, Square Peg. Ultimately though, Square Peg and Chef Levin parted ways. In any case, Chef Jon Cichon currently holds the executive chef title and as you'll see - the Chef and his staff do a marvelous job of creating a tasting of extraordinary bites and flavors.

Easter Brunch ($95 pp)

Since I'm sure you're all here for the foodporn pics and not the banter, 
I'll limit the rest of this entry to pictures and just a few words. 

Build Your Own Bloody Mary ($11)
 

Mimosa
 



The aforementioned bar to build your bloody mary's! 


Caviar Service


From top left clockwise, paddlefish caviar, wasabi tobiko, salmon roe, and white fish roe. 

Jumbo Shrimp and Sushi
 

Spicy tuna, vegetable, and eel sushi. Oysters were available as well.
 
  

  Bread Service


After the gauntlet of amuse-ish bites, it's on to the gauntlet worthy of entree status. 

Truffled Sausage Stuffed Pork Loin,  Pastrami Spiced Veal, Sesame Crusted Lamb Rack


 Diver Scallop Sausage, BBQ Spice Glazed Scottish Salmon


Sauteed Wild Mushrooms
Herb Nage


 Asparagus


 Crispy Potatoes



Cheese


 Cured Meats



Waffle Station


Chocolate Fountain
 


Fruit


Pork Pate Slider
Pomegranate-Shallot Jam
 

 Savory and sweet. I couldn't stop with one. So I had three.

Grilled Octopus
Heart of palm, Passionfruit


Sausage Beignet


Red Beet
Quinoa, truffle


Fried Chickpea Gougere


Butternut Squash


 Lamb Croissant


Blue Crab Salad
 

Oyster


Paddlefish Caviar


Smoked Fish

 

Jumbo Shrimp


Eel Sushi


Garlic Skewer

 

Soba Noodles





German Parsnip Salad
Grilled onion, mustard seed, dill


Asparagus Shooter


Almond Crusted Runny Egg
 

 This was a treat - while perfectly crusted - it was a bit bland at first. 


 But once you got some of the yolk, it was bland no more.

Duck Prosciutto 

 

Lardo?


Escargot


BBQ Spiced Scottish Salmon


Diver Scallop Sausage
 

Foie Gras and Cheese
 

I prefer my foie pure - the cheese was over the top for something that was already hefty. 

Ham


 Truffled Sausage Stuffed Pork Loin



Pastrami Spiced Veal
 

Tender, peppery, reminiscent of ... you guessed it - pastrami! 

Sesame Crusted Lamb Rack
 

Perfectly prepared, this was tender, juicy, and well crusted.

Duck Confit
 

 Unadulterated duck - pure decadence with a crispy skin. Excuse the perfectly cooked applewood smoked bacon below it.

Crispy Potatoes
Fleur de sel
 

Had to come back for seconds - these were perfect 'home' fries.


Cheese Plate


 And with this, dessert begins!

Waffle
 

Thai Thea Macaron
Condensed Milk


Lime-Strawberry Shooter



 The lime 'rind' is actually white chocolate! 


Creme Brulee
 


'Milk and Cookies'


Liquid Nitrogen Station
 





Liquid Nitrogen Milk Chocolate 
Caramel Innards


And with that, Easter Brunch est fini. 


The Easter Brunch at Lacroix is certainly a memorable experience. Typically with a buffet, the choices are laden with mediocre bites. Here, the bites are elevated and unique flavors are highlighted. The dishes aren't all complex and with good reason. When you have quality ingredients, there's no reason to muddy the waters. Lacroix lets them shine.


Lacroix at The Rittenhouse on Urbanspoon
www.lacroixrestaurant.com

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