Monday, January 16, 2012

A Meal of a Lifetime: Guy Savoy

I've wanted to eat at Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace for a really long time now. I've gazed longingly many times at the oh-so-expensive, out-of-reach menu on my way to the spa.
guy savoy 079guy savoy 003
guy savoy 001guy savoy 004
guy savoy 081guy savoy 005
Guy Savoy is the only restaurant at Caesars Palace not on the ground floor.

My dream came true on December 25, 2011.
guy savoy 072
guy savoy 073
The experience was every bit as wonderful as I'd imagined. From our table, we could see both the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel and the beautifully lit Bellagio fountains.

Our culinary journey began before we even started perusing the menu. Right after we sat down, we were each presented with a delicate metal toothpick with foie gras wedged between perfectly triangular pieces of toast. I ate mine without even thinking about taking a photo. Not long after we ordered, we were offered bite-sized black-peppered Parmesan Belgian waffle nibbles on a tiny silver platter. I ate those without taking a photo, too.

Even so, I remember these amazing little canapes vividly. They set the tone for the rest of the luxurious meal. Seriously, have you ever gotten foie gras before you even ordered?
guy savoy 002
We were more than ready to enjoy the Menu Elegance.

The bread cart was out of control. It took our server a few minutes to list every type of bread available on the mobile patisserie.
guy savoy 011
guy savoy 021
I got a Parmesan roll and slice of caramelized onion ciabatta. I exercised restraint by getting only two types. This bread was nothing short of wondrous. So fresh. So soft. So packed with flavor. Bread! I was swooning over bread!

Amuse Bouche -- parsnip soup, toasted parsnip, scallop sashimi with cauliflower.
guy savoy 007
guy savoy 008
Creamy and crunchy on one side. Delicate and exquisite on the other.

Lobster in Steam (Homard en Vapeurs Froides), gelee, grapefruit.
guy savoy 013
guy savoy 012
guy savoy 017
As this first course was placed in front of me, the Bellagio fountains danced outside. These were mini Bellagio fountains on my own plate! Just incredible. A treat for the eyes and for the mouth. Confession: I squealed.

Intermezzo.
guy savoy 022
Fancy vegetable soup! Simple and totally delicious.

Crispy Sea Bass with Delicate Spices (Bar en Ecailles Grillées aux Epices Douces), vanilla foam, spices, crispy chard, black trumpet mushrooms, truffles.
guy savoy 024
Some of the best fish I've ever had. The crispy skin -- to die for.

Roasted Turbot Dory in Sage and Tarragon Crust (Saint-Pierre Rôti, Panure de Sauge et Estragon), creamy corn polenta, sugar snap peas.
guy savoy 027
Mr. Monkey told our server that he wasn't a fan of mushrooms. The kitchen was extremely accommodating and omitted mushrooms for him from every course except for the third course, which the chef substituted entirely with the above turbot dish. The bite I had was extraordinary. I admit I was a tad jealous of my husband.

Artichoke and Black Truffle Soup, Toasted Mushroom Brioche, and Black Truffle Butter (Soupe d’Artichaut à la Truffe Noire, Brioche Feuilletée aux Champignons et Truffe Noire).
guy savoy 029
guy savoy 030
guy savoy 032
This was my third course. I don't even like mushrooms that much (but I don't hate them enough to make special kitchen requests). This brioche, however, was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. No exaggeration. Paired with the soup, I was seriously in heaven. Maybe if all mushrooms tasted like this, I'd be a fan.

Roasted Duck with Guy Savoy Spices (Canard Rôti aux Epices de Guy Savoy et Légumes Farçis), vegetables stuffed with foie and mushrooms.
guy savoy 035
Is there any question that I went gaga over this? Best duck breast in the world. In the world, people.

Entremet -- egg nog, gingerbread, cranberry.
guy savoy 040
Miniature holiday cheer! We were so giddy about our meal at this point that we toasted our tiny glasses!

Pear and White Tea, poached pear, white tea foam, pear sorbet, pear chip.
guy savoy 041
guy savoy 046
Gorgeous, light, and refreshing. Clean and bright. Love.

Chocolate Fondant, Crunchy Praline and Chicory Cream.
guy savoy 049
I fell for the chicory cream. I fell hard. Head over heels.

Coffee.
guy savoy 053
After a couple of hours, Mr. Monkey needed a little pick-me-up.

The biggest effing mignardise cart I've ever seen.
guy savoy 056
guy savoy 057guy savoy 069
guy savoy 061guy savoy 062
guy savoy 063guy savoy 064
guy savoy 066guy savoy 067
Yeah, we indulged. I'm not sure how we did it. But we did. And we didn't even need to be wheeled out of the restaurant.

You'd think that would be the end, but it wasn't. We exited with a freshly baked breakfast cake each and several housemade candies.

Thank you, Guy Savoy. Merry Christmas indeed.

This meal was comped.

18 comments:

  1. Applause! That was fun to read! My favorite part would have been the bread cart. But that probably doesn't surprise you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. everything is so gorgeous. what a wonderful christmas meal!

    one day...

    (my word verification is antsisu...lol.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's quite a Christmas feast! The presentation on that lobster was totally surreal...glad the restaurant lived up to expectations.

    Looks like the bread cart selection rivals Joel Robuchon. And probably most bakeries.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This meal looks absolutely phenomenal!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks utterly amazing! Merry Christmas, indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my word! What a spectacular meal! I can just feel the joy coming through this post, so glad you finally fulfilled your Savoy dreams :) I would have totally squealed at that dish as well, thanks for capturing such great pictures so we could live vicariously.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree with D- this was fun to read!

    What an incredible meal. Excellent photos, they show the details so beautifully.

    I was so disappointed in our meal at L'Atelier-- we should have upped the budget and dined at Guy Savoy.

    I'm curious if they offered a wine pairing, and if so, how much it cost.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Standing ovation! ;)

    Already told H it's on our list for the next time we're in Vegas.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The ground floor is for poors.

    It sounds/looks like an exquisite meal (:

    ReplyDelete
  10. That looks fantastic. I'm a long time reader of your blog, and I have missed your commentary like on this post. Very fun to read and "enjoy" with you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ah, the post I've been waiting for. lol Looks positively divine. I kept scrolling back up to see the dishes again. I probably would have been rolling on the floor in sheer delight after the truffle course.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Weez - I am endlessly impressed with the access you're granted. GUY SAVOY!! So happy to hear you loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Comped? Wowzers! It looked amazing. I was also curious how much wine pairings were.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This meal looks exquisite. Someday, I hope to eat there too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow! What a great Christmas meal1

    ReplyDelete
  16. EVERYTHING WAS SO PRETTY!!! I don't even like most of the foods you talked about, but your pictures almost made me want to eat them :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. this was one hell of a way to spend christmas.

    and ooh, turbot! i got to try this for the first time last month too, and it was so delicious!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...