The Inn at Little Washington

We kicked off Elaine's birthday week with a trip to the Inn at Little Washington. We were greeted with champagne upon our arrival and enjoyed afternoon tea to kill some time before our 8:30 reservation. When we entered the dining room for dinner, the maitre d' pinned a fresh flower on me. Our menus were personalized with a message that said "Happy Birthday to Elaine."

They started us off with a sampling of tastes served on spoons that included a mini-riceball, pear wrapped in prosciutto, and beet mousse. We were then served a small cup of white bean with country ham soup (fantastic - first audible moan of the meal from me).

From there, we got into the meal. My choice is first, followed by Elaine's.

First course:
Beet Fantasia: Three Varieties of Roasted Beets, Beet Mousse and Citrus Salsa (and some vodka aspic)
Wild Greenlip Mussels Baked with Herb Butter and Perfumed with Pernod

The vodka aspic was a pleasant surprise and the course got us off to a relatively light start.

Second Course:
Crispy Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras on Garlic Polenta with Virginia Country Ham
Fricassee of Maine Lobster with Potato Gnocchi, Green Grapes and Curried Walnuts

The second course arrived too quickly on the heels of the first but the foie gras was my favorite part of my meal. Second, third and fourth audible moan from me.

Main Course:
Pot-Au-Feu: Prime Tenderloin of Beef, Braised Pork Belly and Breast of Chicken Simmered in an Aromatic Broth with Winter Vegetables
Medallions of Rabbit Loin Wrapped in House Cured Pancetta Surrounding a Lilliputian Rabbit Rib Roast Resting on a Pillow of Rutabage Puree

For some reason, the word Lilliputian was severely overused on the menu and in O'Connell's cookbooks. Elaine's rabbit was the most tender I have ever tasted and the Pot-Au-Feu was very flavorful. It was long on meat and short on vegetables. Fifth audible moan of the meal.

Wine: 1996 Marchesi Di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga - the wine got better and fuller as the meal went on, prompting the occasional audible moan from me.

Dessert:
A Chocolate Menage a Trois: Black Forest Mousse Bombe, Chocolate Creme Brulee and Bitter Chocolate Souffle
Seven Deadly Sins: A Sampling of Our Most Decadent Desserts

Washed down with Courvoisier and Grand Marnier

I almost ordered without snickering. Almost. I was going to order a Sex on the Beach to wash it down but couldn't keep a straight face long enough.

All of the food was fantastic. The foie gras and rabbit were both probably the best I've had. We were too full to partake in the cheese course which was wheeled around on a cow that mooed throughout the evening (creating enough background noise to cover my exclamations). Our only complaint was the pace of the meal which was little quick.

Overall, a great meal that was worth the 2 hour trip through VA farm country.