Ed's Diner - Sweet, salty, sour samba

When Ed Murrieta eats and drinks, people listen

Monday, September 10th, 2007

Posted by Ed Murrieta @ 09:29:39 am

Dessert rarely excites me. Two desserts this weekend still have my tongue wagging.

Wherever Olympic Mountain's peach sorbet is served, find it. It's luscious like ice cream. I lapped up two bowls at Asado.

Meanwhile at Pacific Grill, butterscotch budino is Italian for butterscotch pudding. But that's a simple translation. Served in a martini glass, the pudding was velvety. Caramel laced the surface. Sea salt kissed the caramel. Frisky creme fraiche crowned the dessert.

You know how you hear the ocean in a sea shell? In my tongue's memory, I'm still tasting and hearing sea salt's crystalline crunch in a luscious sea of sweet and sour.

Categories: Chefs • 7 comments

COMMENTS:

Comment by ChefGordonNaccarato @ 13:29 - Monday, September 10th, 2007

Ed-- thanks for the kind comments regarding the Butterscotch Budino.

It is my favorite dessert on our menu right now. I agree salted caramels are dee-lish.

The recipe came from my good friend Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery, Campanile and now Pizzeria Mozza & Osteria Mozza her restaurant collaborations with Mario Batali...) one of the best pastry chefs in the country.

That dessert really involves the whole mouth: sweet with the caramel, crunchy sea salt, and sour with the crème fraîche, and the luscious texture of the Italian-style pudding.

Glad you liked!

Comment by crooner @ 14:57 - Monday, September 10th, 2007

Talking about Olympic Mountain----their Buttermilk Ice Cream is to die for.

Pacific Grill had it last year to accompany another dessert, but I liked it all by its self.

Chef Gordon, are you planning to bring it back?

A recent quote from Nancy Silverton from a magazine article:
"I don't reinvent cusine. I look for themes I personally want to work with---bread, sandwiches, pizza---and perfect them."

Comment by Steeno253 @ 20:55 - Monday, September 10th, 2007

Mmm.
Olympic icecream is the best!

The Banana Bread pudding at El Gaucho is delish. It has homemade pudding with fresh bananas, caramelized sugar and caramel sauce and it is graced with Olympic Mountain vanilla bean ice cream.
By far my fav!

Comment by pegsterdtown @ 13:16 - Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Chef Gordon
My daughter Steeno253 and I went to Pacific Grill last night. We had the Butterscotch Budino and it was by far the best desert we have EVER had. DELISH.

Comment by Steeno253 @ 22:53 - Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Chef Gordon:
My mother and I dine together often, your restaurant is our favorite place to go by far. Last night was the first time that we visited during dinner service, we usually come during lunch. The lighting was perfect and the music set a relaxed mood which is very nice after a long days work.

*I recommend the "passionate kiss" coctail in the lounge. The orange zest gives it a refreshingly delicious pucker.

We look forward to meeting you sometime chef. Your restaurant is wonderful, you did not overlook a single detail. Bravo chef.

P.s. The Budino was phenomenal, it was hard sharing such a delicacy.

Comment by ChefGordonNaccarato @ 13:23 - Thursday, September 13th, 2007

Pegster / Steeno

Thank you very much for the many compliments...I would enjoy very much meeting you in person the next time you are in--please introduce yourselves.

Comment by crooner @ 10:27 - Friday, September 14th, 2007

Pegster and Steeno:

You should take Chef Gordon up on his offer. He might even tempt you with something like the Meat Candy.

I am still waiting for Chef Gordon to come out with his very own cookbook.

How about it Chef?

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