So when Shannon got home from work, she was ready to settle in for the night, since it seemed like nobody had any plans, but I told her that we could go out and see a movie, go to a resturant, or something, and so instead of dressing relaxed she went and put on Jeans and a Sweater.
I have been recommended Mosaix Restaurant & Wine Bar by Chris several times, but this is the first time that I've actually gotten around to going.
Now according to the Des Moines Register Review, Mosaix gets a 4* review and my probably favorite place to go, La Mie, gets a 4.5*. So I was looking forward to having a treat there, needless to say.
When we pulled into the strip mall that it's at, it initally didn't look like it was open, but I quickly realized that it was ambiance lighting. Whcih was nice. Entering the restaurant it looked fairly comfortable, with metal hangings associated with wine or food. It was nice. We walked up to the Hostess, whose area wasn't really clearly defined, and were asked if we had reservations, which we didn't, so we were suggested to sit in the Lounge, while we waited for a table.
We didn't wait for very long, which is good, cause the lounge was very smokey and was starting to bother me. When I usually go to a bar, I'm ok with a little smoke in the air, cause it's a bar, and that's where one should smoke, but the longer that I've been an ex-smoker, the more annoyed I can get with places without good filtration systems.
When we got our table, just on the other side of the wine bar from the lounge, we sat down and looked over the menu. Apprently they have a Chef exchange going on and Chef Luca Giacomel would be doing our meal for the evening, rather then the normal Mosaix fare. So even with that, I was hopeing for goodness.
The menu was very short, and not exactly cheap either. So we inspect the menu. I order a Syrah from france (considering I have a Syrah from California recently bought, I thought I'd try another one). We worked our way over the menu and after some discusssion I went with the four course meal (to share with Shannon) and Shannon ordered Filettino de Maiiale in crosta di pane alle erbe (Pork Filet in an herbal bread crust). My four courses consisted of:
Bianco di Pollo con mela verde e gherigli di noci in emulsione di rucola (Chickenbreast with green apple and chopped walnuts in an arugula emulsion)
Risotto con radicchio e asiago (Risotto with radicchio and Asiago cheese)
Tagliata di Tacchino al melograno culis di aceto balsamico (Slices of turkey breast with coulis of pomegranat and aged balsamic vinegar)
Chocolate Gellato
So while we were waiting for my first course, we figured out why where were sitting wasn't the best place. First, it was a high traffic area. We weren't right next to the kitchen door, but in the path from the kitchen to two-thirds of the resturant. Second, one of the speakers for the music, was right above our heads, so it was a bit loud (we got used to it though and it actually grew to be kinda nice). And Third, and most importantly, whenever someone actually smoked at the wine bar, the smoke wafted across the bar and assullted our table. This grew annoying. Espically when soem wine drunk lady kept talking lound and looks like she was purposefully blowing her smoke across the way.
The first course came (antipasta), Bianco di Pollo con mela verde e gherigli di noci in emulsione di rucola. It was interesting. It was layed out beautifully. With the cooled strips of tender chicken on a bed of greens and the thing slices of apples and walnuts decorating the sides of the plate. The chicken was very good with a slight sauce, which I assume is the Arugula Emulsion. I don't know if I like the Arugula taste...I don't think I've ever had it before, so I'm not sure. But it was odd to say the least. And quite a surprise to my taste buds. Shannon had about the same reaction, although I think it went beyond interesting for her and more into the "I don't need to taste that again". The portion was what you kind of expect in a nicer resturant, smaller, but more punch for the size.
We had plenty of time to talk between the first and second course, which was nice. We were in no hurry, so it let the food settle.
Our waiter delivered the second course (Primi Piatti), Risotto con radicchio e asiago. It was in a light red, deep centered plate, with a piece of cut cabbage? or some other colorful leafy vegetable decorating the dish. After the appetizer, my expectations were for more of a interesting meal, then something that I would love, but with the first taste of the risotto, I was, well, astonished. It was very good. My eyebrows actually came up in surprise. Shannon was taken with it as well, and before we had dessert, she said that it had been the high light of her meal. The rice dish the double cheese sauce was quite the dance across the pallette. I took smaller spoonfuls to make each taste linger and have more of them. It sounds a little silly, but my mouth is salivating now, the morning after, at the thought of having more of it.
Again we had a nice wait for our second course (Secondi Piatti). We talked about things like what to buy people for Christmas and what not.
The Second (main) course came. Again, the presentation was delightfully simple, yet you could tell they took a bit of effot to make it look that way. My turkey breast pieces were layered like a smile with one eye of julienned vegetables and another of cubes of what I thought was zuchini. Shannon's had a single eye of the zuchini but a smile of the herbed pork. It was actually kinda interesting cause the pork had space between the herb bread and itself. So it kinda looks like the bread had the center cut out and the pork layed inside. Certainly interesting.
So the taste. I had a sample of my vegetbales first. The julienned vegetables were good, the zuchini? was ok. But the turkey was shockingly good. Now my mom and Grandma (Dad's Mom, I don't think I remember thanksgiving at my Mom's Parents) are really good cooks, and as far as thanksgiving goes, I always look forward to their turkey, but this just blew every other turkey that I've had away. It was down right amazing. It really stood out. I quickly cut of a slice for shannon and put it on her plate to try. She was really impressed too. I sampled her pork and it was pretty good, but certainly not astounding. I was pretty happy. The cut trinagles of turkey were enjoyed to the utmost.
Shortly aftee we finished we had a short discussion with the waiter about the turkey and we were, reletively quickly, served the gellato dessert. It was in a long dish, with four little scoups of chocolate, seperated by three little triangles of pastery. It was pretty good. The pastery wasn't overly sweetened and went well with the gellato. However, as for the quality fo the gellato, it wasn't quite as good as the gellato that you could get at a place like Chocolaterie Stam. Still quite enjoyable.
Then, the bill. It was about what Chris had warned me (he said about $45 a person) and we got out of there, leaveing a nice tip for attentive service, for a few dollars under $100.
We will return, not only cause the food was good, but because we want to try the "normal" Mosaix fare.
Oh and to all of you that like the fine food, and have time, I suggest going there tonight to get a taste of their chef exchange chef...I think you'll be pleased. They told us when he'd be there, and I think tonight or tomarrow night is his last night.