Dinner and a Show

Mr. Monkey's birthday was a month ago, but Friday night was a celebration of sorts.

Part One of our celebration was at Patina, the beautiful restaurant inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall. I loved the ripples all over the room.

Adored the orange spotted water glass.


The olive bread wasn't bad either.

We arrived at the restaurant really early, so we could enjoy the tasting menu ($100).

Amuse bouche of chestnut soup with crème fraîche foam and crostini.

Do you like chestnuts? I do. I savored every smooth spoonful of this. So good.

Marinated hamachi, geoduck, cucumber vinegar, avocado, crostini, green apple mustard.

As luscious as it was pretty! The yellowtail was so fresh and delicate and punctuated by happy chewy little slices of geoduck. And the Froot Loop-looking rings? Fabulous tangy and crunchy accompaniments.

Fall glazed vegetable mosaic, "jus de cuisson," navet oil.

What a work of art! Too bad they were just vegetables. Don't get me wrong. They were good vegetables. Maybe even great. But, really, they were still vegetables.

Butter-poached Maine lobster, salsify, butternut squash, mango, "jus de la presse."

This was lightly cooked, so that the the texture was denser and meatier than that of fully cooked lobster. With just the butter, the lobster's flavor really shone, and the sweet and starchy sides worked well.

Medallions of Millbrook venison, Lady apple, celeriac, sweet potato, "sauce poivrade."

Not the best venison we've ever had, but still very meaty and tender and not at all gamy. Don't hold all the jus against Patina -- when asked if I wanted extra jus, I said yes before I realized that it would make my plate a mess.

White truffled brie de meaux.

Creamy soft cheese with white truffles? Yes, please. Frisée was the perfect thing to cut the richness of the white truffled brie.

Although we did not partake, we admired the cheese cart.

We smelled it before we saw it.

Mr. Monkey loves French pressed coffee.

This Ethiopian blend was strong. Eight dollars' worth of strong.

Chocolate Lover's Contrast.

This delighted Mr. Monkey. I mean, just look at it.

Contemporary apple tatin with Granny Smith sorbet.

Because I'm allergic to chocolate, I substituted a different dessert. The baked apples were lovely, and the sorbet was mouth-puckeringly awesome.

Petit fours.

Mini chocolate macaron, marshmallow, fruit gelée, tiny blueberry muffin, and cashew crisp. Tiny bites of yay!

The bill was discounted because Mr. Monkey belongs to Simply Patina.

$30 off your meal within 60 days of your birthday! It should be noted that our server, James H., was fantastic -- knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Impeccable service from start to finish.

Part Two of our celebration involved these.

The Airborne Toxic Event! Third row! Neither of us had ever sat so close at a concert!

Before we went inside, I snapped these shots.

I love this hall so much. Thank you, Frank Gehry.

No photography is allowed inside Walt Disney Concert Hall. At all. Not before the artists take the stage. Not in the foyer. Not during intermission. Not even with an iPhone.


But I have my ways.

Gorgeous food. Incredible band with a quartet, marching band, children's choir, and folklórico dancers. Super close seats. And we sat the entire night because it's the effing Walt Disney Concert Hall! Nobody stood up until this last song! Yes!

Amazing.