LE COMPTOIR in K-Town. This will be long.
I’m not really a tasting menu kind of girl. In my younger days we made fun of fussy food - insert scene from L.A. Story. Now… maybe because I’m a better cook and from SoCal where sourcing and preparations are important… Or, maybe because the chefs look like they came to work on a skateboard, instead of wearing an obscenely pretentious, tall white hat - I’m digging it more. Anyway, you have to appreciate a guy who puts it all on the line at a 10 seat counter, 2 seatings, 4 nights a week, while sourcing most of the product from his own small farm.
It is theatre. You show up front at the precise time, a greeter escorts you to the lounge in the restored Hotel Normandie, later returns to escort one party at a time thru the back door to The Counter.
…Theatre doesn’t end there. The dialogue, descriptions, preparations, music, even the pre-med student “apprentice” is all calculatingly planned.
We just wanted to enjoy the evening and didn’t take pictures. But here’s a menu and photos very similar to what they prepared.
Kale Chips w/Aioli
Our Velouté was made with Castelfranco and was green. I wanted to lick the bowl then jump over the counter and demand a Viking size serving.
The different preparations and flavors that went into the "Vegetable Fruit Plate " and watching it prepared was a revelation.
Poached Egg, Beurre Noisette
Similar to the Fava Bean, Shroom, Pommes Purée… Delicious.
Squash & Farro
Sweet Potato Fed A5 Wagyu Beef
Orange flavored Sourdough Donut
Cheese!
We tried all of the supplements and the wine pairing… Why not? Don’t ask me about the wine - really not my area. But, the guy next to us shared some tasty Keller dessert wine.
Great evening!