While Valerie slumbers upstairs a bit earlier than usual, I feel like it's safe to write about our anniversary dinner.
I've eaten at
Cabo's Corner Bistro before; once when I was a college freshman with my Dad and brothers, and again for Valerie and my wedding rehearsal dinner three years ago. I remember clearly enjoying the food both times, and tonight was no exception.
We were treated to a complimentary appetizer for our anniversary (they asked if it was a special occasion when I made the reservation), and I don't mean simply nice bread or grilled portobello mushrooms, either. Our dish was seared ostrich loin, sliced thin and served chilled over a small bed of sprouts with three sauces artfully spread on the plate. Let me tell you, ostrich is one of my favorite new meats. The chef expertly seasoned the cut, and there was a distinct pastrami-like characteristic that set off my taste buds.
Valerie's entrée was Chilean sea bass with Parmesan gnocchi (nyo-kee), wilted spinach, and diced tomatoes all in a fresh lemon sauce. The gnocchi were the perfect texture - pillowy soft on the pallet without falling apart, but not gummy at all. The bass was tender and delicious as well.
My dinner was the beef tenderloin special - cooked almost rare with demi-glace, roasted young carrots and cauliflower, and garlic mashed potatoes. My steak was juicy, perfectly seared, and intense beefy flavor. The mashed potatoes were my preferred consistency - creamy with some discernable pieces of the tuber. Also worth noting were the portions for both of our meals. There was just the right amount - enough to satisfy, but nowhere near the heaping modern American meal sizes.
For dessert Valerie chose the frozen chocolate mousse topped with toasted pistachios. The plate was decorated with a thick strawberry sauce, and garnished with fresh strawberries and tiny Champagne grapes (probably pinot noir). My confection was vanilla bean crème brulée with a veritable fruit basket on top: fresh raspberries, golden delicious apple slices, blackberries, strawberries, and some Champagne grapes of my own. Both treats were amazing.
Certainly a dinner like this doesn't happen often, but for those special occasions such as Valentine's Day and our anniversaries, a meal such as tonight's is well worth it. Having dined at Cabo's now thrice, I'm still impressed. This is one of the finest restaurants in the city of Richmond boasting an incredibly creative chef.
