Gaya par Pierre Gagnaire

Tonight, my mom and I ate at Gaya, one of Pierre Gagnaire's smaller restaurants with a seafood focus. Pierre Gagnaire is one of the more eccentric haute cuisine chefs, I think, and that makes his food all the more exciting.

Here's what we ate:

Amuse Bouche

Fish (trout? not sure) tapenade spoon with crackers

Fried parmesan crisps

Endives, carrots, and celery with a wasabi miso mayo

Appetizer

Blonde fois gras accompanied by mushrooms rolled in grilled endive bathed in a spinach cream

Main Course

Langoustine, three ways

1. Langoustine mousseline with risotto

2. Grilled Langoustine and artichokes in olive oil

3. Cold langoustine and cauliflower salad

Dessert

Three cheeses -- Hot italian gorgonzola on toast, creamy cow-milk cheese with julienned green mango, and fresh goat cheese fried with a (basil?) crust

A quick comment on some of the highlights...The blonde fois gras was fluffy and creamy, and not like regular fois gras at all. It was perfect with the endive, which was seared to have a hint of charring, but not enough to put you off. The langoustine three ways was amazing. Especially the mousseline. I could have cut it with a glance, it was so creamy and soft.

To top it off, we had the best wine to accompany our food. With dinner, we had a 2008 Domaine Latour Chablis. I don't even like chablis, but this was amazing. I think of California chablis as tasting bland and watered down. This Chablis was crisp, dry, and full of green apple accents. It was perfect. I also had an amazing desert wine with my cheese plate. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name, but it evoked such a warm feeling--and not just because it was highly alcoholic. It tasted like honey with a smokey after taste. I bet it would be really good with a good saucisson, and it was perfect with the gorgonzola.

And all the while, I'm hearing waves crashing and children playing. Literally. That's what they overlay on top of the quirky folksy American music à la Prairie Home Companion. The walls lined with mirrors that cascade like fish scales and the tables and walls have dark grey and blue accents.

Needless to say, it was a good meal.