NOtaBLE - New Years Eve Party

Alright, so I admit that I haven't been too great at updating this blog. Truth is that I've been very busy stuffing my noggin' with good eats at NOtaBLE. So it wasn't such a big surprise to everyone who knows us that that's exactly where we ended up going for New Years' Eve.

Unlike years past where we have been to restaurants that made things a touch easier on themselves by doing a set course menu (aka prix fixe)...NOtaBLE did two seatings of à la carte. TWO!! Now, for those who do not know, à la carte (pronouced  /ælæˈkɑrt/) is french meaning "according to the menu". Or in layman's terms...it is a reference to a menu of items which are priced and ordered separately.

You can view the whole delectable New Year's Eve menu here.


Confit of Brome Lake Duck, Alpindon cheese gratin, roasted pear salad

Lobster and leek risotto, butter poached loster claw, Asiago cheese



1/2 dozen Pristine Oysters - On the half shell, Thai mango relish
(These were so good that I had another order all to myself)

From the Rotisserie - Prime Rib of 28 day-aged beef, oxtail and celery root pave



Double baked warm chocolate cake, chocolate sorbetto


Our entertainment for the evening was provided by Los Morenos. Their sound is a cross of many styles such as rumba, flamenco, jazz, and funk with an infectious dance beat that kept the dance floor packed all evening. I would love to see them play again in a heartbeat.

Of course, it has to be said that Chef spoiled us all by making homemade S'mores for us to all nosh on after we all rang in the New Year. I'm going to be honest here and say that I have never in the past been a fan of S'mores (I know....what's wrong with me?! I think it's the camping aspect of it that turned me off of them) but I'm a convert after eating these ones. You can just taste the LOVE...and look, you can see chef in action making them on the rotisserie! Also love the fact that everything is made from scratch. 'Nuf said.

Homemade S'mores

   



NOtaBLE - the restaurant

Have you ever been somewhere and had that perfect dish...One that you could eat for the rest of eternity? I've found my weakness at Chef Michael Noble's restaurant NOtaBLE. Seriously, where do I even begin?

Since our very first visit, it has become our most favorite restaurant to eat at. The place is hip, and happening...and who can resist all the feel good gourmet comfort food? It's also a place where I can safety say that I've eaten (and drank) my way through the constantly revolving seasonal menu several times over.

I'm salivating. I just can't help it. Even the thought of my next visit makes me hungry. Feeling...a bit like Pavlov's dog but I honestly can't help it. Besides, it's not every day that you can say that you have eaten food cooked by the first Canadian chef who competed against Iron Chef Morimoto on Iron Chef Japan (Episode 724 - Battle Potato).


Salmon Hash - the dish that started our "love affair" with NOtaBLE.

We found out about NOtaBLE via our friends Joanne and Jeff (Hi guys!), and now we are utterly and completely hooked. We've have laughed, cried, partied and even opened and closed the place on one occassion. Really, I should just let the photos speak for themselves. Yum! 

** Note: I'm normally too much of a glutton to remember to take photos before I tuck into the dishes (hence only one of the three tasting menus I've tried so far have actually made it up).

 

Butter Poached Venison. OMG ~ Enough said!
Chef, may we please have this on the menu all the time? Please please please??

  

AAA 28 day aged rib-eye - 12 oz

Spragg Farms Pochetta (available on Sundays)

  

Naturally-raised Chicken (available on Saturdays)

The NOtaBLE Burger inspiration - Wild Boar

 

Whole Grilled Sea Bream, lemon, thyme, buerre rouge

 

12 hour-braised & rotisserie-finished Galloway beef sandwich, mustard slaw

Market Menu

And finally, my favorite market menu yet - 1.5 pounds of amazing lobster! This menu was created in celebration of NJ's father who was a lobster fisherman. I have to say that I'm normally not a big lobster fan (I prefer crab)...but this was hands down THE BEST lobster I have every eaten. Look....I even remembered to snap all four courses of this one :)



 If you live in Calgary and you haven't been yet...you are missing out. Seriously. Go already.