Food Porn Friday- Broadway by Amar Santana

Still so bummed missing out on the first few months of Chef Amar's opening of Broadway in Laguna Beach.  I hear he was slicing pork carpaccio by the pound and serving up a storm!  Can you imagine, raw smoked pork dipped in whatever savory concoction he's offered??  Oman, I sure do crave what I can't have.  However, here's what we dined on instead (part 2 of this post below):

 

Roasted Bone Marrow with short rib marmalade, marinated anchovies, and parsley crumbs:  One of my fave dishes of the night...loves me some mushy marrow served with something textured for balance.  The bread crumb was the perfect fit with hints of parsley.  If you're not an anchovy fan (which I'm not), you will still love this dish...Anchovy aroma without the anchovy taste.

Japanese Hamachi with citrus miso dressing, avocado sorbet, wasabi tobiko, and tempura flakes.  Ingenious!  Chilled sorbet keeps the hamachi cool and refreshing from the first bite to the last.  I'd order this every time, a total HIT!

Ahi tuna tartare with pickled pineapple, curry vinaigrette, crispy shallots, peanuts, and coconut:  Just ok.  I do love curry, just not with my tuna.  The creamy coconut side helps to tone down the curry flavors but I felt it was just too overpowering for such a delicate dish.  Forgettable.

Venison chops with sweet potato, hazelnuts, mushrooms, duxelle, mustard greens, long pepper sauce.  Whenever I dine at a new establishment, I always try to order what I cannot get anywhere else.  I've only had venison prepared Vietnamese style stir-fried and downed with an ice cold beer.  This chop was simply a super fancy version of that...Asian in flavor, very robust, and surprisingly not gamey at all.

Herb Basted Mary's Chicken Breast with braised swiss chard, celery root, crispy chicken skin:  Loved the deep fried skin atop the breast, but I don't remember the last time chicken breast looked appetizing dressed up as a log...Maybe they were trying to be festive for the holidays??  Who knows, Pass!

Wild Mushroom Crusted Filet Mignon with glazed heirloom carrots, spinach, smoked marrow bordelaise:  The perfect portion of everything!  The sauce was divine, a combination of the bone marrow app we loved in the first course paired with crumbed top filet...yummms...love this dish.

Seared Maine Sea Scallops with sea urchin risotto, tempura sea beans, passion fruit, jalapeno froth:  My least favorite second course dish.  When you've had THE MOST PERFECT sea urchin risotta at Cafe Hiro (Cypress) you've got something to live up to.  This dish missed the mark on every count.  Risotto:  not cooked enough and a bit too undone for my taste.  I like it creamy and infused, not risotto with sauce mixed in.  The scallops were eh, the froth missable, and the sea beans too oily.  Pass!

Berkshire Pork Chop with braised pork cheeks, saffron glazed pear, salsify, and black garlic jus:  My FAVE second course on the menu.  The pork was cooked perfectly, a little pink never hurt no one (especially when they were serving em up raw!), and the accoutrements all served a purpose in plating a well balanced meal. 

 

Broadway by Amar Santana

328 Glenneyre St. 

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

(949) 715-8234

Overall a memorable experience made even more magical by the twinkling holiday lights, great company, and bustling Laguna nightlife.  I'd DEFINITELY venture back to Broadway when the menu changes seasonally to support the local farms.  

*Insider's tip:  Laguna during this time of year is super festive.  Make late dinner reservations and you can barhop around to the local joints and see what else the community's been cooking up.  This is an artist's enclave so galleries, boutiques, and other noteworthy beach gems line the streets.  And of course if you've never been to the Pageant of the Masters during SoCal summers, YOU MUST!!!  Total feast for the eyes!  More info HERE*

TGIF y'all!  Bon Appétit!!

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