Like Robin and Doogy, I didn’t go to Churchill Downs on Derby Day, rather I spent the late afternoon with friends at a private party. So I missed my chance to see the Queen. But, no matter, I was “Queen for a Day” at Volare last Sunday!
After church last Sunday, as is my want, I went to Volare for brunch, only to find out, once seated, that they were serving a buffet style brunch. (I know many of the Forumites, like Leah S., “think brunch and immediately visualize a buffet,” but when I, as an older single woman, go out for 'brunch,' I neither visualize nor want a buffet. ) Therefore, I was more than disappointed. I smiled at my waiter, and said “Oops, that’s not what I had in mind, “ and got up to leave.
As I was ready to exit, the gracious Majid greeted me and graciously explained that they were more than ready to meet my brunch expectations. No sooner was I reseated, than who should appear but Chef Dallas who asked what kind of omelet would I like. I replied, “Your choice, chef, as long as there will be no chicken gizzards or pork livers.”
Shortly, there appeared the most magnificent of omelets filled with crispy fried potato slices, the thinnest of pancetta slices, feta cheese and a savory melt-in-my mouth-green that will forever replace baby spinach in my minds’ palate as baby green of choice. The omelet was accompanied by a sprout salad that defied my identification. Later, when Chef Dallas returned to my table, he explained that he had found a new source for greens. The greens in the omelet were, if I remember this correctly, young snap pea greens; those. in the lemon vinaigrette dressed salad. were sunflower sprouts. My taste buds were overwhelmed. I am going to try and sprout sunflower seeds at my home. Yum, yum, yum!
And if this wasn’t’ enough, I was surprised with a special desert from Pastry Chef Josh. I believe it was his take on Derby Pie. Kern’s eat your heart out! I will never let that thick dense paste pass my lips again. His version with a warm delectable tart with the flakiest of crusts filled with pecans,amd chocolate, garnished with an edible pansy and topped with one of his special gelatos that had bits of praline crunch.
Okay, you’ve got the picture as to why I was feeling “Queen for a Day”?
So I said to Chef Josh, “That desert was beyond all, but here’s the problem: I am entertaining guests for dinner tonight, and I still haven’t figured out the desert.” He replied, “Don’t fret, I have some on my panna cotta I can send home with you.” As I have posted in previous entries, Josh Moore’s panna cotta is my all-time “I’ll die-and go-to-heaven” favorite dessert.
Food, service, restaurant, it just don’t get better than that. I was truly “Queen for a Day” and my evening dinner party was a smashing success to boot.