Where to go for my birthday is almost always the hardest dining choice I make all year. I want it to be special, and exciting, and interesting. I love La Belle Vie and The Strip Club, but should I go somewhere new?
I mean, last year Eater Minneapolis actually wrote a small article about my birthday eatings!
This year the choice was simple. I saw that Holly Carson and Jamie Malone were doing an omakase-style dinner at Sea Change. I love Sea Change. Holly and Jamie put on an amazing dinner for my very young son at the raw bar about a year ago (written about in MNMO’s blog). And I just did a WCCO story on the two chefs taking the night off by teaching at Kitchen in the Market.
Ham poached Chicken with collards
This was a 10-course meal with wine/drink pairings for just $100. This is a crazy bargain. Crazy!
Personalized Menu Nantucket Bay Scallop
If you want to dig into the details of each course, Dale, The Gastronomer, did an amazing write-up with far more gorgeous pictures than my iPhone could provide.
Our experience was slightly different – we had an amazing roast duck course, and a ham-poached chicken course.
Sweetbreads with bandaged cheddar and cauliflower
But all of our courses were glorious bites. Such high-technique, such delicious flavor, such creativity. The scallops, the smoked uni with papardelle, the sweetbreads. Oh my.
Even more thrilling were the pairings. Bill Summerville selected the wines: we experienced an amazing Pfeffingen Scheurebe from Germany, a glorious La Cigarrera Mazanilla Sherry, a Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Gamay Noir, and the delicious Domaine Bunan Bandol Mourvedre. I want all of these bottles (although I’m guessing I can’t find them in my local liquor stores!).
The omakase experience will be on-again, off-again, and Holly told me Facebook is the best place to find out about it.
We had a great time with our friends Lauren and Kethan. There’s nothing like a slow, multi-course, multi-hour eating experience with some of the most talented chefs in the Midwest. A happy birthday, indeed.
Sea Change
806 S. 2nd Street (at the Guthrie Theater)
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612.225.6499