This week I have been sharing my interview with Chef John Sheely of Mockingbird Bistro. After our conversation, I committed the deadly delicious sin of gluttony.
First up was his calamari, which was quick fried and presented with two dipping sauces: the basic remoulade and a sweet-and-spicy glaze. I’m not sure if I was supposed to, but I dipped each piece of squid in both sauces. Crazy, I know.
Next was Grade A Hudson Valley foie gras. A huge chunk was seared and served with a St. Germain glaze on top of a crouton, candied marcona almonds, and slices of roasted Fredericksburg peaches.
Then came the, as Sheely puts it, traditional bistro dish of veal sweetbreads accompanied by cippolini onions, crispy pancetta and a whole-grain mustard sauce.
The snapper is Sheely’s nod to the Gulf Coast. The pan-seared fish filet was served on top of a citrus salad with greens that came from Wood Duck Farm. The dish is highlighted with a house-made beurre blanc.
The grilled prime strip steak frites came with sautรฉed Oregon wild mushrooms (crimini, shitake, and oyster), and watercress. The steak sauce was a veal and port wine reduction.
Though the truffle and Parmesan fries were a side to the steak, these golden potatoes sticks could have taken center stage.
I finished the meal with a “very simple” (as Sheely puts it) bread pudding. I wasn’t sure where the simple came from since it’s flavored with cloves, cinnamon, Granny Smith apples, day-old bread and served with caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream.
This article appears in Oct 7-13, 2010.